American Society of Hematology Funds 10 Treating Fairly Research Awards to Protect Critical Hematology Research

Award supports independent investigators in hematology whose research confronts inequities in blood diseases amid shifting federal funding priorities

(WASHINGTON, April 21, 2026) — In an effort to counteract federal cuts to health equity outcomes research, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) is awarding 10 Treating Fairly Research Awards of $200,000 each to independent investigators whose work aims to close outcome gaps in hematologic diseases. ASH’s new $2 million investment keeps critical hematology research moving forward despite shifting federal priorities and reinforces ASH’s commitment to sustaining innovation and careers in hematology.

“ASH has long recognized the importance of understanding what drives different outcomes among different populations,” said Robert Negrin, MD, 2026 ASH President. “The reality is that thousands of grants have been indiscriminately cut, and every year of stalled or diminished investment means patients continue to face preventable gaps in care and outcomes. That is why ASH’s Treating Fairly Research Award is so critical – this work cannot wait. We are proud to support researchers who aim to improve outcomes for patients across communities.”

The Treating Fairly Research Award was launched as part of the Society’s roughly $9 million increase in award funding for the #Fight4Hematology, which brings ASH’s total awards commitment to $20 million in 2025-2026. ASH's #Fight4Hematology campaign aims to address ongoing threats to hematology research.

Each recipient will receive $200,000 which may be used over a period of one, two, or three years to continue their work. The funded awardees will examine the underlying cause of disparities in health outcomes or develop targeted interventions to address why some populations experience a disproportionate burden of disease.

The 2026 ASH Treating Fairly Research Awardees are:

• Kira Bona, MD, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Targeting poverty to improve ALL trial outcomes: a randomized phase III trial evaluation of the RISE intervention
• Wendy Cozen, DO, MPH, The Regents of the University of California, Irvine, Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma in Native Hawaiians: a new risk group?
• Susan Creary, MD, MSc, Nationwide Children's Hospital, FATHER: Fertility and parenthood: a tool to help engage men with sickle cell disease in reproductive planning
• Kellie Machlus, PhD, Boston Children's Hospital, A novel role for placenta megakaryocytes in pregnancy-related thrombocytopenia
• Sudipto Mukherjee, MD, PhD, MPH, Cleveland Clinic, Improving clinical trial participation in older adults with hematologic malignancies using a data-driven approach for smart geographical trial matching
• Charity Oyedeji, MD, Duke University School of Medicine, Sickle cell disease functional assessment validation and refinement (SILVR) study
• John Quigley, MD, University of Illinois, Identifying health inequalities in venous thromboembolism risk assessment models
• Joseph Shatzel, MD, Oregon Health & Science University, Impact of repleting iron deficiency without anemia on pregnancy outcomes
• Deirdra Terrell, PhD, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Breaking new ground: uncovering what's been overlooked in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
• Samantha Vogt, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University, The inflammatory environment in HIV-associated Hodgkin lymphoma

“ASH will continue to fight for robust, sustained federal support for biomedical research, but we cannot stand by while shifting priorities threaten to stall lifesaving work,” said Dr. Negrin. “The Treating Fairly Research Award is one way we are stepping up to keep hematology research moving forward so patients are not forced to wait decades for the advances they urgently need.”

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. Join the #Fight4Hematology by visiting hematology.org/fight4hematology.

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:
Melissa McGue
[email protected]