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

Trusted by Thousands of Attendees
Across Our Events

25+

Email if you have questions[email protected]

Our Speakers

Planning Committee

Hetty Eileen Carraway, MD

Conference Co-Chair

Binaytara

Nitin Jain, MD

Conference Co-Chair

Binaytara

Shaji K Kumar, MD

Conference Co-Chair

Binaytara

Navneet Majhail, MD

Conference Co-Chair

Binaytara

Michael Byrne, DO

Planning Committee

Binaytara

Bhagirathbhai Dholaria, MD

Planning Committee

Binaytara

Praveen Ramakrishnan Geethakumari, MD, MBA

Abstract Committee

Binaytara

Swapna Thota, MD

Abstract Committee

Binaytara

Paolo Strati, MD

Abstract Committee

Binaytara

Ashwin Kishtagari, MD

Abstract Committee

Binaytara

Indumathy Varadarajan, MBBS

Abstract Committee

Binaytara

Anthony Hunter, MD

Abstract Committee

Binaytara

Faculty

Vinod Pullarkat, MD

Associate Chair

Binaytara

Martha Mims, MD, PhD

Associate Chair

Binaytara

Jerald Radich, MD

Session Chair

Binaytara

Larry D. Anderson, MD, PhD, FACP

Moderator

Binaytara

Basem M. William, MD

Moderator

Binaytara

Marlise Rachael Luskin, MD

Moderator

Binaytara

Vivek Patel, MD

Moderator

Binaytara

Aziz Nazha

Topic Presenter

Binaytara

Muhamed Baljevic, MD

Topic Presenter

Binaytara

Andrew Jallouk, MD

Topic Presenter

Binaytara

Nisha Joseph, MD

Topic Presenter

Binaytara

Sattva S Neelapu, MD

Topic Presenter

Binaytara

Daniel DeAngelo

Panelist

Binaytara

Gurbakhash Kaur

Panelist

Binaytara

Emily Curran , MD

Panelist

Binaytara

Ryan Cassaday, MD

Panelist

Binaytara

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

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

10:00 AM - 10:30 AMBreak & Exhibits

10:30 AM - 11:30 AMBreakout Sessions – Rare & Refractory: When Evidence Disappears

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Session 3A: Pediatrics

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Session 3B: Adults

Moderators:

Martha Mims, MD, PhD

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Session 3C: APP & Pharmacist

11:30 AM - 12:30 PMBreakout Sessions – Clinical Decision-Making in Newly Diagnosed Disease

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Session 4A: Pediatrics

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Session 4B: Adults

Panelists:

Muhamed Baljevic, MD; Gurbakhash Kaur

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Session 4C: APP & Pharmacist

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Session 4D: Adults

Moderators:

Marlise Rachael Luskin, MD

Panelists:

Daniel DeAngelo ; Emily Curran , MD; Ryan Cassaday, MD

12:30 PM - 01:30 PMLunch & Exhibits

01:30 PM - 03:00 PMSession 5: When CAR-T Fails: Resistance, Relapse, and the Next Move

01:30 PM - 01:50 PM

Understanding Antigen Escape: Biology & Early Signals

01:50 PM - 02:10 PM

The Post–CAR-T Playbook: What Comes Next? – Sattva S Neelapu, MD

02:10 PM - 02:30 PM

Beyond Current CAR-Ts: The Cellular Therapy Arms Race

02:30 PM - 03:00 PM

Panel Discussion: Tough Questions, Real Decisions

03:00 PM - 03:15 PMBreak & Exhibits

03:15 PM - 04:15 PMSession 6: Plenary: Where Are We Now, and Where Are We Going?

03:15 PM - 03:30 PM

AI in Hematology Practice – Aziz Nazha

03:30 PM - 03:45 PM

AI-Accelerated Drug Development & Trial Design

03:45 PM - 04:00 PM

The “Living Drug” Autopilot

04:00 PM - 04:15 PM

Structured Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A

Day 2: Saturday, October 17th, 2026

07:00 AM - 08:00 AMBreakfast & Exhibits

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

Overview

Faculty and committee

Our Speakers

Conference program and agenda

Our Agenda

Venue and map

Registration and pricing

Exhibitors and sponsorship

Our Speakers

Our Agenda