PRESIDENTS
MARTINELLI GIOVANNI
As of 1 Janury 2018, Professor Giovanni Martinelli is scientific director of Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) Srl – IRCCS, in Meldola (FC), Italy.
Until December 2017, Professor Giovanni Martinelli was associate professor of Hematology at the Institute of Hematology “L. & A. Seragnoli”, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Orsola-Malpighi at the University of Bologna, Italy. His main fields of research are AML, ALL and CML, including research on targeted therapies in major hematological syndromes: Acute Leukemias, CML (both Philadelphia-chromosome positive and non-positive), and hypereosinophilic syndrome.
CERCHIONE CLAUDIO
Since 2018, he works in Hematology Unit of Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS. He also has spent international research experiences in Friedrich-wilhelms universität, Bonn, Germany, in Universitade de Coimbra, Portugal, collaborating in their clinical and research projects, and in MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA, where he was nominated Ambassdor of SOHO (Society of Hematologic Oncology). He is member of the editorial boards of many scientific journals, and member of several international societies, including the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO), American Society of Hematology (ASH), European Hematology Association (EHA) and Italian Society of Hematology (SIE). In 2018/2019 he was nominated by EHA as one of the winners of Clinical Research Training in Hematology.
KANTARJIAN HAGOP M.
Hagop Kantarjian, M.D. is professor and chair of the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he is also the Samsung Distinguished Leukemia Chair in Cancer Medicine. He is also a non-resident fellow in health policy at the Rice University Baker Institute. Doctor Kantarjian has received several prestigious honours and awards including the 37th Jeffrey A Gottlieb Memorial Award (2012), the John Mendelsohn Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award (2008), the Joseph H. Burchenal Memorial Award (2013),the Charles A. LeMaistre, M.D. Outstanding Achievement Award in Cancer (2014), and America’s Top Doctors, Castle Connolly Medical (2003-present). He was also selected the top Castle Connolly National Physician of the Year Award for Lifetime Achievement (2014). Doctor Kantarjian’s research focuses on translational-clinical developmental therapeutics in leukemia.
SCIENTIFIC BOARD
KONOPLEVA MARINA
Dr. Konopleva is a Physician-Scientist, Professor, and active member of the clinical faculty in the Departments of Leukemia and Stem Cell Transplantation. Her laboratory is studying novel agents in acute myeloid and lymphocytic leukemias, focusing on BCL-2 targeting and agents targeting leukemic microenvironment and metabolism. Dr. Konopleva has extended her research to include clinical translational investigations and has developed clinical trials based on laboratory discoveries. These include BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax, inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation, CXCR4 inhibitors, AKT and mTOR inhibitors and hypoxia-activated prodrugs. She has also been an active mentor to trainees including undergraduate, medical and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows who have trained under her direction in support of her various laboratory grants and projects.
ELIAS JABBOUR
Dr. Jabbour joined the MD Anderson Cancer Center faculty in 2007 and is currently a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Leukemia. He is actively involved in developmental therapeutics research in leukemia. Over the past 5 years he has assisted in developing chemotherapeutic and biologic agents in leukemias and contributed to the development of others. These include: 1) the Hyper CVAD-ofatumumab regimen in ALL; 2) clofarabine in myeloid malignancies; 3) hypomethylating agents in AML and MDS; 4) Tyrosine kinase therapy in CML; and 5) triple therapy in AML.
DAVER NAVAL G.
Dr. Naval Daver is Assistant Professor in the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Daver received his medical degree at Grant Medical College and Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals, in Mumbai, India. He went on to complete a research fellowship followed by a clinical residency and a clinical fellowship in oncology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Dr. Daver is board certified in Oncology, Hematology and Internal Medicine. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Society of Hematology.