Shaji Kumar Hematology Research Award

Samuel Urrutia, MD, is one of the 2026 recipients of the Shaji Kumar Hematology Research Award. Dr. Urrutia, a Marrow Transplant Specialist from Siteman Cancer Center, received the faculty grant of $50,000 for his project "Implementation of whole-genome sequencing for acute myeloid leukemia in Latin America." The award was conferred at Binaytara's National Summit on Hematologic Cancers.

In Paraguay and Peru, the genetic tests doctors need to choose the right leukemia treatment must be sent to outside labs, where they can cost more than $3,000, about two-thirds of the average Paraguayan’s annual salary, and take up to two months to come back. Dr. Urrutia’s project brings that testing home, using whole-genome sequencing in local labs to replace several separate tests with one and return results in five to 10 days, early enough to guide treatment during a patient’s first hospital stay. By expanding to 40 more patients and measuring the approach’s costs, the work aims to build an affordable, sustainable testing program that could serve blood cancer patients across the Andean region.

"With this award we will be able to bring state-of-the-art diagnostics to inform leukemia treatment and prognosis in two countries in Latin America," said Dr. Urrutia. "This funding will serve as the foundation of an international genomics consortium for leukemias in the region."

Learn more about Binaytara's Impact Pitch and other funding opportunities.