ASH Announces 2025 Hematologists Honored With Highest Distinctions for Excellence in the Field

ASH recognizes 11 hematologists with top awards and distinguished lectures

(WASHINGTON, June 18, 2025) — The American Society of Hematology (ASH) will recognize 11 hematologists who have made significant contributions to the field with several honorific awards and prestigious lectures at the 2025 ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando, Florida, on December 6-9. These individuals are pioneers of progress - from advancing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, laying the foundation for gene therapies, and deepening our understanding of how blood cancers develop to shaping the next generation of hematologists.

“ASH is honored to celebrate hematologists whose contributions and leadership have redefined what is possible in the field,” said Belinda R. Avalos, MD, ASH president. “Collectively, their work has made a significant impact on the lives of patients with blood disorders, leading to more effective treatment options and better overall care.”

The 2025 recipients are:

Rainer Storb, MD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Wallace H. Coulter Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hematology 

Dr. Storb, a physician-scientist, is being recognized for more than 60 years of groundbreaking achievements in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), a hallmark treatment for multiple blood disorders. He was instrumental in the creation and refinement of HSCT, as well as in advancing the understanding and treatment of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease. His research has helped establish more effective and less toxic transplant approaches.  

Dr. Storb’s interest in bone marrow, sparked while a medical student in Germany, led him to the lab of past ASH President and Nobel Laureate E. Donnall Thomas, MD, at the University of Washington, where he contributed to the development of HSCT and its subsequent translation to humans. He and Dr. Thomas led the development of HSCT as a cure for aplastic anemia and other blood disorders, including leukemia, and, together with Dr. Paul Weiden, they were the first to recognize the graft-versus-leukemia effect. This mechanism is responsible for decreasing the likelihood of leukemia relapse following transplant and has paved the way for modern immunotherapies, which have saved countless lives.  

One of Dr. Storb’s most notable accomplishments is the development of the non-myeloablative conditioning regimen and transplant, sometimes called the “mini-transplant,” which involves minimal pre-transplant radiation, is less intense than standard transplantation, and depends on the graft-versus-tumor effect. These innovations significantly expanded access to transplants, enabling older and medically frail patients to successfully undergo the procedure.   

Dr. Storb is a pioneer, leader, and mentor whose mentees have spearheaded significant advancements in transplant for hematologic disorders. He has previously been recognized for his work with ASH’s Henry M. Stratton Medal (1997), E. Donnall Thomas Lecture and Prize (2005), and Mentor Award (2012).  

Dr. Storb, in collaboration with his colleague Dr. Brenda Sandmaier, is currently involved in research on targeted radiotherapy to reduce the risk of relapse in patients with hematologic malignancies who have undergone transplant at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.    

Diane Krause, MD, PhD, Yale School of Medicine
ASH Advancing Inclusive Excellence Award 

Dr. Krause, a physician-scientist, is being recognized for her commitment to removing barriers that prevent the full participation of all who are interested in hematology. She has made meaningful contributions at the individual, institutional, and systemic levels by recruiting, supporting, and championing individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, including - but not limited to - those identifying as LGBTQ+ and those facing social or economic disadvantage. Dr. Krause leverages her own experiences to create an environment where all trainees feel safe, valued, and respected, better enabling the next generation of hematologists to pursue and be successful in their careers. Dr. Krause believes that scientific innovation depends on creativity, which is enhanced when people of different backgrounds and viewpoints work together – creating a richness of ideas that leads to greater innovation and discoveries benefitting not just hematology but the broader scientific community.

Jorge Di Paola, MD, Washington University in St. Louis
Sophie Lanzkron, MD, MHS, Thomas Jefferson University
ASH Mentor Award 

Dr. Di Paola, the recipient of the ASH Mentor Award in basic science, is being honored for his role in helping teach and inspire the next generation of pediatric classical hematologists. Dr. Di Paola, whose lab focuses on the genetics of bleeding and clotting disorders, leads his trainees by example, with an inclusive and nurturing spirit. He credits his mentors for shaping and supporting him on his journey from medical school in Argentina to residency, fellowship, and research in the United States, and he brings that experience to his mentees. Dr. Di Paola’s genuine investment in his trainees’ professional and personal success, coupled with a commitment to scientific excellence, has propelled dozens of young clinician-scientists on the path to success.

Dr. Lanzkron, the recipient of the ASH Mentor Award in clinical science, is being honored for providing hands-on, lifelong mentorship to physician-scientists passionate about improving care for patients, especially those living with sickle cell disease. Her guidance is tailored, academically challenging, and validating, with many trainees crediting her for helping them navigate imposter syndrome as young members of the field. Dr. Lanzkron has served as a vital role model to a pool of mentees from numerous backgrounds and specialties. Her emphasis on taking risks, pivoting from failure, pursuing new opportunities, and prioritizing work-life balance has helped her mentees realize and act on their potential, establish fulfilling careers, and lead change in the field.

Nancy Speck, PhD, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania 
E. Donnall Thomas Lecture and Prize   

Dr. Speck, a renowned researcher, is being honored for her pivotal work in hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. Her discovery of the transcription factor complex “core binding factor” has enabled significant conceptual insights into embryonic blood cell formation. One subunit of core binding factor is the transcription factor RUNX1, encoded by a gene responsible for blood cell creation. This factor is mutated in individuals with familial platelet disorder with associated myeloid malignancy - a condition that predisposes patients to developing myelodysplastic syndromes and leukemia. Dr. Speck is a first-generation college graduate whose decades of research have had a profound impact on both classical and malignant hematology.

Radek Skoda, MD, Baylor College of Medicine
Ruben Mesa, MD, Atrium Health Wake Forest
Ernest Beutler Lecture and Prize 

This lecture and prize recognizes the exceptional contributions of Drs. Skoda and Mesa to the understanding and treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Dr. Skoda was instrumental in identifying the genetic basis for MPNs, while Dr. Mesa significantly advanced the development and evaluation of several MPN therapies.  

Dr. Skoda, the recipient of the Ernest Beutler Lecture and Prize in basic science, is being honored for his role in discovering a frequently occurring mutation in the JAK2 gene and providing mechanistic insights into the development of MPNs. Under his leadership, Dr. Skoda’s research team at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland determined that the mutation leads to overactivity of the JAK2 protein in a single blood stem cell, allowing it to divide rapidly and displace normal blood cells. His work provided the foundation for developing JAK2 inhibitors - therapies used to manage symptoms in individuals with MPNs.  

Dr. Mesa, the recipient of the Ernest Beutler Lecture and Prize in clinical science, is being recognized for his essential work in clinical trials of JAK2 inhibitors, including those for ruxolitinib, the first JAK2 inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for myelofibrosis. He led the development of two standardized tools for assessing symptoms in patients with MPNs: the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form (MPN-SAF) and the Myelofibrosis Symptom Assessment Form (MSAF). These patient-reported outcome measures were critical in supporting the approvals of multiple JAK2 inhibitor therapies and have become the gold standard for patient-reported outcome assessments in drug development across medical disciplines. 

Together, the work of Drs. Skoda and Mesa has paved the way for the development of four FDA-approved JAK2 inhibitor therapies for MPNs, offering patients reduced symptoms and a better quality of life.   

Chiara Bonini, MD, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele 
Ham-Wasserman Lecture 

Dr. Bonini, a physician-scientist, will present the Ham-Wasserman Lecture and discuss her pivotal contributions to gene therapy for blood cancers. Under Dr. Bonini’s leadership, her Italy-based lab became the first to use genetically modified lymphocytes, or white blood cells, to treat patients who had undergone stem cell transplantation. This groundbreaking work led to the approval of the first cell-based gene therapy for cancer in Europe. She also pioneered T-cell receptor gene editing, a technique that reprograms T cells to recognize and attack diseases, including cancer. Dr. Bonini began her research in gene therapy more than 30 years ago, at a time when the field was still in its early stages. Throughout her career, her work has been critical to advancing novel cancer therapies that have improved outcomes for patients around the world.


Karina Yazdanbakhsh, PhD, New York Blood Center Enterprises
David A. Williams, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School
Henry M. Stratton Medal 

Dr. Yazdanbakhsh, the recipient of the Henry M. Stratton Medal in basic science, is being recognized for her outstanding research in transfusion medicine, which has led to advances in the understanding and treatment of several classical (non-malignant) blood disorders. Her research explores the interplay of the immune system with platelets or red blood cells in blood disorders, including in the context of transfusions, where they can lead to immune-mediated complications. Dr. Yazdanbakhsh’s research into the patterns of immune dysregulation - which increases susceptibility to illness, infection, and inflammation - in patients living with sickle cell disease is providing the foundation for more targeted, effective therapies, while informing strategies to mitigate immunologic adverse responses to blood products and improve their transfusion management. Her contributions to the field extend beyond scientific research; Dr. Yazdanbakhsh also serves as a dedicated advocate, leader, and mentor.  

Dr. Williams, the recipient of the Henry M. Stratton Medal in clinical science, is being honored for his vital contributions to the understanding of hematopoietic stem cells and viral vectors, which have led to landmark clinical trials of gene therapy for inherited blood disorders. Dr. Williams is a former ASH president and pioneer of gene therapy, having been the first person to demonstrate gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells in mouse models using retrovirus vectors, and his research laid the groundwork for rFN-CH-296 (RetroNectin), a standard reagent used in gene transfer. Dr. Williams’ work directly enabled the development of groundbreaking gene therapies for severe combined immunodeficiency, chronic granulomatous disease, cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, and sickle cell disease, offering additional therapy options and renewed hope for patients living with these debilitating blood disorders. His laboratory focuses on GTPases, proteins that play a crucial role in cellular processes, and identified the molecular causes of three different rare hematologic conditions due to mutations of RAC2, RHOH, and SEPTIN6.

Mark Dawson, MD, PhD, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre 
William Dameshek Prize 

Dr. Dawson, a clinician-scientist, is being celebrated for his contributions to the understanding of epigenetics, the process by which our DNA is accessed to turn genes on and off, and its relationship to the development of hematologic cancers. His lab, based in Australia, is credited with identifying how various epigenetic proteins, including BRD4 and KAT7, influence gene expression to maintain cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. He has pioneered molecular insights into how cancers co-opt the activity of epigenetic proteins to evade recognition and eradication by the immune system. Dr. Dawson is a leader in the new and rapidly expanding field of cancer cell plasticity, whereby cancer cells use epigenetic mechanisms to rapidly adapt to cancer therapies. His discoveries have shaped how hematologists think about epigenetic regulation of hematologic malignancies and have provided the field with novel epigenetic therapies and cutting-edge strategies to improve clinical outcomes for patients with blood cancers.

These awards and lectures will be presented during the 67th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, December 6-9, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

Learn more about ASH’s most prestigious awards and lectures.

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The American Society of Hematology (ASH) (hematology.org) is the world’s largest professional society of hematologists dedicated to furthering the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting the blood. Since 1958, the Society has led the development of hematology as a discipline by promoting research, patient care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology.

The Blood journals (https://ashpublications.org/journals) are the premier source for basic, translational, and clinical hematologic research. The Blood journals publish more peer-reviewed hematology research than any other academic journals worldwide.

Contact:
Claire Whetzel, 202-629-5085
[email protected]