What is the Shaji Kumar Hematology Research Award?

The Shaji Kumar Hematology Research Award supports innovative research in hematologic malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma and provides funding opportunities for early-career investigators.

Who is eligible to apply for the award?

Faculty within 10 years of completing fellowship training and current hematology or oncology fellows are eligible to apply.

How much funding is available?

Faculty awards provide up to $50,000 per project and fellow awards provide up to $25,000 per project.

What is the abstract submission deadline?

The abstract submission deadline is August 15, 2026.

Conferences

Catalog

Abstracts

Calendar

2026 National Summit on Hematologic Cancers: Defining the Standard Where the Guidelines End

Venue: Music City Center, 201 Rep. John Lewis Way South, Nashville, TN, United States

Start Date: October 16End Date: October 17, 2026

Overview

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Our Speakers

Planning Committee

Hetty Eileen Carraway, MD

Conference Co-Chair

Cleveland Clinic

Nitin Jain, MD

Conference Co-Chair

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Shaji K Kumar, MD

Conference Co-Chair

Mayo Clinic

Navneet Majhail, MD

Conference Co-Chair

Sarah Cannon Cancer Network

Michael Byrne, DO

Planning Committee

Tennessee Oncology

Bhagirathbhai Dholaria, MD

Planning Committee

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Praveen Ramakrishnan Geethakumari, MD, MBA

Abstract Committee

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Swapna Thota, MD

Abstract Committee

UTHSC- Memphis

Paolo Strati, MD

Abstract Committee

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Ashwin Kishtagari, MD

Abstract Committee

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Indumathy Varadarajan, MBBS

Abstract Committee

University of virginia

Anthony Hunter, MD

Abstract Committee

Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Faculty

Vinod Pullarkat, MD

Associate Chair

City of Hope

Martha Mims, MD, PhD

Associate Chair

Baylor College of Medicine

Jerald Radich, MD

Session Chair

Fred Hutch

Larry D. Anderson, MD, PhD, FACP

Moderator

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Noopur Raje, MD

Moderator

Massachusetts General Hospital

Jorge Cortes

Moderator

Basem M. William, MD

Moderator

Ohiohealth

Marlise Rachael Luskin, MD

Moderator

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Vivek Patel, MD

Moderator

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Danielle Brander, MD

Moderator

Duke University School of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute

Catherine Marcucci, PA-C

Moderator

Justine Wilson - Miller, PharmD

Moderator

Rhiannon Dorris, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS

Moderator

Heena Westlake Kurish, BCOP

Moderator

Kathryn E. Kennedy, ARNP

Moderator

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Lindsay Adkins, BSN, RN

Moderator

Sarah Profitt, PharmD, BCOP

Moderator

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Kayleigh Marx, PharmD, BCOP

Moderator

Sagar Lonial, MD

Moderator

Emory University School of Medicine

Natalie S Callander, MD

Moderator

University of Wisconsin

Aziz Nazha

Topic Presenter

Muhamed Baljevic, MD

Topic Presenter

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Andrew Jallouk, MD

Topic Presenter

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nisha Joseph, MD

Topic Presenter

Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University

Peter Voorhees

Topic Presenter

Sattva S Neelapu, MD

Topic Presenter

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Folashade Otegbeye, MPH, MBBCh

Topic Presenter

Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Andrew Srisuwananukorn, MD

Topic Presenter

Daniel DeAngelo

Panelist

Gabriela Hobbs

Panelist

Gurbakhash Kaur

Panelist

Emily Curran , MD

Panelist

Ryan Cassaday, MD

Panelist

University of Washington & Fred Hutch Cancer Center

Aref Al-Kali, MD

Panelist

Mayo Clinic

Amie Fonder, PA-C

Panelist

Rajshekhar Chakraborty, MD

Panelist

Eytan Stein

Panelist

Yasmin Abaza, MD

Panelist

Northwestern University

Patricia Bulger, MSN

Panelist

Tycel Phillips, MD

Panelist

City of Hope

Stephen Anthony Strickland, MD

Panelist

Alexander Perl, MD

Panelist

University of Pennsylvania

Erin Taylor, PharmD

Panelist

Darby Siler, PharmD

Panelist

Benyam Muluneh, PharmD, BCOP

Panelist

Bita Fakhri, MD, MPH

Panelist

Our Agenda

Day 1: Friday, October 16th, 2026

All timings are in Central Time (CDT, GMT-05:00) time.

07:00 AM - 07:50 AMRegistration, Breakfast, & Exhibits

07:50 AM - 08:00 AMWelcome

08:00 AM - 09:00 AMSession 1: The Access & Equity Imperative in Hematologic Malignancies

Session Chair: Paolo Strati, MD

08:00 AM - 08:15 AM

The Geography of Cellular Therapy – Folashade Otegbeye, MBBCh, MPH

08:15 AM - 08:30 AM

The Economics of Innovation

08:30 AM - 08:45 AM

Community–Academic Partnerships That Work

08:45 AM - 09:00 AM

Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A

09:00 AM - 10:00 AMBreakout Sessions – The Data-Free Zone I: High-Stakes Decisions Without Guidelines

09:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session 2A: Pediatrics

09:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session 2B: Adults

Moderators:

Basem M. William, MD; Vivek Patel, MD

09:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session 2C: APP & Pharmacist

Moderators:

Rhiannon Dorris, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS; Heena Westlake Kurish, BCOP

10:00 AM - 10:45 AMBreak & Exhibits

10:45 AM - 11:45 AMBreakout Sessions – Rare & Refractory: When Evidence Disappears

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session 3B: Adults

Moderators:

Martha Mims, MD, PhD

Panelists:

Aref Al-Kali, MD; Eytan Stein ; Yasmin Abaza, MD; Stephen Anthony Strickland, MD; Alexander Perl, MD

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session 3C: APP & Pharmacist

Moderators:

Catherine Marcucci, PA-C; Justine Wilson - Miller, PharmD

Panelists:

Amie Fonder, PA-C; Kathryn E. Kennedy, ARNP; Patricia Bulger, MSN

10:45 AM - 11:45 AMSession 3A: Pediatrics

11:45 AM - 12:45 PMBreakout Sessions – Clinical Decision-Making in Newly Diagnosed Disease

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM

Session 4B: Adults

Moderators:

Noopur Raje, MD; Sagar Lonial, MD

Panelists:

Muhamed Baljevic, MD; Gurbakhash Kaur ; Rajshekhar Chakraborty, MD

11:45 AM - 12:45 PMSession 4A: Pediatrics

11:45 AM - 12:45 PMSession 4C: APP & Pharmacist

11:45 AM - 12:45 PMSession 4D: Adults

12:45 PM - 01:45 PMLunch & Exhibits

About 2026 National Summit on Hematologic Cancers: Defining the Standard Where the Guidelines End

Overview

Faculty and committee

Our Speakers

Planning Committee

Faculty

Conference program and agenda

Our Agenda

Venue and map

Registration and pricing

Exhibitors and sponsorship