Meet the 2026 National Summit on Hematologic Cancers Co-Chairs

The 2026 National Summit on Hematologic Cancers brings together global leaders in blood cancer research and care. Meet the co-chairs and explore how this Nashville conference is driving innovation, collaboration, and equity in hematology.

Key Takeaways

• The 2026 National Summit on Hematologic Cancers will take place October 16–17 in Nashville, bringing together leading global experts in hematologic malignancies.
• Organized by Binaytara, the summit emphasizes research, collaboration, and improving patient outcomes.
• Co-chaired by Drs. Navneet Majhail, Nitin Jain, Shaji Kumar, and Hetty Carraway—renowned clinician-scientists in hematology and oncology.
• Features the Impact Pitch (Shark Tank-style) competition, awarding up to $50,000 via the Shaji Kumar Hematology Research Awards.
• Designed for early-career investigators, clinicians, and researchers, with programming on cutting-edge therapies, access, and equity in care.
• Abstract submission deadline: August 15, 2026 (rolling review).

Overview: 2026 National Summit on Hematological Cancers

This October, Binaytara’s National Summit on Hematologic Cancers will take place in Nashville, Tennessee; and as the name suggests, it promises to convene top healthcare stakeholders in the field of hematologic malignancies from across the United States and the globe. The Summit has a strong research bent: the signature Shark Tank-style Impact Pitch will determine the recipients of the Shaji Kumar Hematology Research Awards of up to $50,000 per awardee, a funding opportunity designed to advance the careers of early-career investigators (and refresh audiences’ attention with a little science-meets-showtime flair). The conference’s two-day program features an internationally significant roster of speakers, presenters, and panelists, each initiating important conversations on the biggest issues in the field of hematologic malignancies.

The Summit is one of Tennessee’s biggest hematology events—its scope being one of its draws, of course, as the conference is geared toward improving patient outcomes through the interdisciplinary collaboration of faculty, attendees, and research award candidates. But with so many moving parts, October feels like it’s right around the corner.

Luckily, the 2026 National Summit on Hematologic Cancers Co-Chairs are more than up to the task. Meet the clinician-scientists heading up the landmark hematology conference: Drs. Nevneet Majhail, Nitin Jain, Shaji Kumar, and Hetty Carraway.

The Heme Team: Meet the National Summit on Hematologic Cancers Co-Chairs

Dr. Navneet Majhail: Advancing Transplant and Health Outcomes Research

Navneet Majhail, MD, MS, FASTCT, is the Physician-in-Chief of Blood Cancers at Sarah Cannon Cancer Network and the program medical director for the Sarah Cannon Transplant & Cellular Therapy Program at TriStar Centennial Medical Center. His health outcomes research spans health policy—issues like health disparities, quality of care, and survivorship—to the prevention and management of early and late complications of hematopoietic cell transplantation (a blood stem cell transplant, which replaces dysfunctional marrow with healthy stem cells to treat blood cancers and disorders). Dr. Majhail is a Member of the Binaytara Board of Directors, a testament to his interest in and commitment to minimizing health disparities. He brings a rich background in cellular therapies and transplant to the National Summit on Hematologic Cancers.

Dr. Nitin Jain: Driving Innovation in Leukemia Therapies

Nitin Jain, MD, is a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He earned his medical degree from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) before completing residency and fellowships in the United States, eventually settling at MD Anderson. He has a robust research background, particularly new drug developments relating to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); he is the Principle Investigator of several related ongoing phase I-II clinical trials. Since 2021, the decorated hematologist (Dr. Jain was awarded the Sardari Lal Kalra Gold Medal in Microbiology from AIIMS and the Merit Award from ASCO, for two) has served as Director for MD Anderson’s Leukemia CAR-T Program within the Department of Leukemia, MD Anderson.

Dr. Shaji Kumar: Leading Research in Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Disorders

Shaji Kumar, MD, is the National Summit on Hematologic Cancers’ all-rounder: a consultant, professor, and researcher in the field of hematology and oncology at Mayo Clinic. Just like Dr. Jain, he received his medical degree from All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) before receiving further education and eventually practicing in the United States. The hematologist’s research interests are translational, centering on multiple myeloma, amyloidosis, and other plasma cell disorders. Outside the lab, he continues to engage with the research community: Dr. Kumar serves as an editorial board member or reviewer for Blood, Leukemia, and American Journal of Hematology, among other scientific publications. He is also, of course, the eponymous figure behind the Shaji Kumar Hematology Research Awards, which will honor outstanding hematology research at Dr. Kumar’s own conference.

Dr. Hetty Carraway: Translational Leadership in Leukemia and Clinical Strategy

A hematologic oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute, Hetty Carraway, MD, MBA, serves as Vice Chair of Strategy and Enterprise Development. She is nationally recognized for her expertise in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)—for which she received the Binaytara Distinguished Faculty Award in 2026. As a translational clinical scientist, Dr. Carraway’s research is focused on experimental therapeutics of acute leukemias and myeloproliferative diseases (rare, chronic blood cancers).

“I feel fortunate to be an oncologist and believe in the dedication to medical education,” Dr. Carraway told Binaytara. “[I] hope that it will lead to a better future for all patients diagnosed with cancer.”

With clinical rigor grounded in and spurred by compassion, Dr. Carraway joins her colleagues and co-chairs in making the National Summit on Hematologic Cancers a translational educational event, ever geared toward improving patient outcomes in hematology.

$50,000 Research Awards and Impact Pitch: Join the Chairs in Nashville

Join Drs. Nevneet Majhail, Nitin Jain, Shaji Kumar, and Hetty Carraway at the National Summit on Hematologic Cancers in Nashville, Tennessee on October 16 - 17, 2026. If you are an early-career hematology investigator interested in the Impact Pitch or the Shaji Kumar Hematology Research Awards, consider submitting an abstract to the conference. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the deadline of August 15th. If the spotlight isn’t for you, the National Summit on Hematologic Cancers has a breadth of offerings for lookers-on, from the "gray zone" case-based discussion model, collaborative consensus-making, and working group discussions on access, equity, and implementation across diverse hematology care settings.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Hematologic Cancers Summit

What is the National Summit on Hematologic Cancers?

A premier U.S. hematology conference focused on research, clinical innovation, and collaboration in blood cancers.

Where and when is the 2026 event?

October 16–17, 2026, in Nashville.

Who should attend?

Hematologists, oncologists, researchers, trainees, and early-career investigators interested in hematologic malignancies.

What are the Shaji Kumar Hematology Research Awards?

Competitive awards (up to $50,000) supporting early-career researchers, presented during the Impact Pitch session.

How can I participate in the Impact Pitch?

Submit an abstract by August 15, 2026; selected applicants will present at the summit.

What topics will be covered?

Leukemia, multiple myeloma, cellular therapy, clinical trials, health equity, and real-world care challenges.

Who organizes the summit?

The event is hosted by Binaytara with leadership from top U.S. cancer centers.