Conferences & Events
Health Disparities in Hematologic Malignancies: From Genes to Outreach
Hosted by UT MD Anderson and Emory Winship Cancer Institute, the Health Disparities in Hematologic Malignancies Conference focuses on advancing understanding of the biological, genetic, social and environmental factors that affect the outcomes of blood cancer treatments, with the goal of developing strategies to improve care for all patients regardless of background.
We specifically would like to discuss and debate emerging concepts on how these considerations combine to determine clinical outcomes. We are strongly encouraging participation of trainees from participating institutions and from programs such as the Lymphoma Scientific Research Mentoring Program, the BMSF Diversity in Clinical Trials Award Program and the ASH Minority Recruitment Initiative. We will also be including NIH officials, journal editors and patient/health advocates. We expect a lively debate that will inform, connect and educate participants.
Conference Details
Dates: Friday, June 5, 2026 and Saturday, June 6, 2026
Conference Location: Loews Atlanta Hotel, 1065 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Accommodations: Loews Atlanta Hotel, 1065 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Registration and Travel Award
Registration is Free (and required)
Travel Awards and Poster Abstracts
On Friday, June 5, we will host an Abstract Poster Session. A travel award providing hotel accommodation + up to a $600 reimbursement for travel expenses is available for selected trainees. To apply, trainees must select the travel award option and submit the documents below during . Abstract and travel award applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with submissions accepted until April 20, 2026. Priority will be given to trainees presenting a poster during the June 5 session.
The following documents are required to apply for a travel award:
- CV/Biosketch
- Short statement from you about why you want to attend i.e. career path (200 words or less)
- Statement from your mentor/department chair stating why they support your attendance as part of your professional development (200 words or less)
Conference Agenda
Friday, June 5
Day 1 - Friday June 5, 2026
7:30 am |
Registration and Breakfast |
8:00 am
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Opening remarks Mel Mann, M.B.A., M. Ed. Mission Speaker for Blood Cancer United (10 min presentation + 5 min questions) |
8:20- 9:50 am |
Session 1: The impact of germline variants and genomic abnormalities |
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Lara Sucheston-Campbell, Ph.D. Wayne State University, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI Genetic Risk and Immune Recognition in Hematologic Malignancies Using All of Us |
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Elad Ziv, M.D. University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA Insights into genetic architecture of gene expression across genetic ancestries. |
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Joselle Cook, Ph.D. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN Who Gets MGUS/MM and Who Gets Studied: Biology and Early Detection |
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Discussion leader: Rosalie Griffin, Ph.D. UT MD Anderson, Houston, TX (30-min call-to-action discussion) |
| 9:35 -10:00 am | Coffee Break |
| 10:00 -10:45 am | Keynote: Elaine Mardis, Ph.D. Institute for Genomic Medicine; Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH Translational genomics; co-led ancestry-aware AML risk models. |
| 10:45-12:00 pm | Session 2: Prognostic and therapeutic implications of the molecular landscape and microenvironmen |
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Edward Biercheck, M.D., Ph.D. Ohio State University, Columbus, OH Geographic EBV variants confound disease-specific variant interpretation and predict variable immune therapy responses |
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Gareth J. Morgan, M.D., Ph.D. NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY Differentiating the racial and temporal incidence of multiple myeloma. |
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Manoj Bhasin, Ph.D. Emory University, Atlanta, GA Ancestry-Driven Immune Rewiring in Multiple Myeloma: Insights from Single-Cell Profiling. Discussion leader: Michelle Lee, M.D. Emory University, Atlanta, GA (30-min call-to-action discussion) |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:30-3:00pm | Session 3: The impact of social determinants of health on outcomes |
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Ash Alpert M.D., Sc.M., M.F.A. Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT Improving Experiences & Outcomes for Transgender People with Cancer |
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Kimberly Bertrand, Sc.D., M.P.H. Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA Socioenvironmental context in MGUS and multiple myeloma |
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Robin Yabroff, Ph.D. American Cancer Society, Atlanta GA Health insurance coverage, financial toxicity, and access to care for individuals with blood cancer |
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Discussion leader: Theresa Keegan, Ph.D. University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA (30-min call-to-action discussion) |
| 2:45-3:10 pm | Coffee Break |
3:10-3:50pm
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Patient Advocacy Session Tamara Mobley, B.A. Multiple Myeloma Survivor, Emory Winship Cancer Center
Robin Pierce, B.A. Lymphoma Survivor, Emory Winship Cancer Center
Discussion leader: Jean Koff, MD, MS. Emory University, Atlanta, GA |
| 3:50 -5:35 pm | Session 4: Developing strategies to increase access to clinical trial enrollment and access to state-of-the-art care |
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Ajay Nooka M.D., Sc.M., M.F.A. Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA Clinical disparities in MM: Clinical trial enrollment of AA pts w/ MM- CAR T access. |
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Carma Bylund, Ph.D. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Changing the Conversation: Clinician Education to Improve Representation in Clinical Trials |
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Lynn Durham, EdD; Atira Goodwin Georgia CORE, Atlanta, GA Improving Access to Blood Cancer Trials: A Collaborative Approach in Georgia |
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Gina Aracena, M.A. Lymphoma Research Foundation, New York, NY Breaking Barriers: A Pilot Program for Hispanic/Latino Clinical Trial Inclusion |
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Whitney Meeks, M.S.N., R.N. Blood Cancer United, New York, NY The Clinical Trial Support Center: A Patient-Centered Model for Expanding Access to Clinical Trials |
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Discussion leader: Chijioke Nze, M.D., UT MD Anderson, Houston, TX (30-min call-to-action discussion) |
| 5:35-7:00 pm | Poster Session and Happy Hour (held within poster session- @ Spotlight tour at 6:00 pm) |
Saturday, June 6
| 8:00- 8:30 am | Registration and Breakfast |
8:30- 9:00 am
|
Session 5 Project Highlight: Reducing Ethnic Disparities in Acute Leukemia (REDIAL) SPORE Philip Lupo, Ph.D., M.P.H. Emory University, Atlanta, GA Reducing Disparities in Acute Leukemia: Findings from the REDIAL SPORE. |
| 9:00- 10:40 am | Session 6: Advanced tools for modeling disparities in drug metabolism and biologic processes |
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Elisa TenHacken, Ph.D. Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY Tumor microenvironmental remodeling in African American DLBCLs harboring mutations in the DNA repair pathway. |
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Nicole Peiris, Ph.D. Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA Influences of germline variants as cancer vulnerabilities |
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Irum Khan, M.D., M.S. Northwestern University, Chicago, IL Examining the biologic impact of social stress in leukemia |
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Lee Cooper, Ph.D. Northwestern University, Chicago, IL Computational pathology for reducing health disparities |
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Discussion leader: Irum Khan, M.D., M.S. Northwestern University, Chicago, IL (30-min call-to-action discussion) |
| 10:30 -10:55 am | Coffee Break |
| 10:55 - 12:00 pm | Session 7: The global burden of hematologic malignancies |
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Katherine Antel, M.B. Ch.B., F.C.P (SA), Ph.D. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC Bridging Diagnostic Gaps in Lymphoma: Liquid Biopsy Approaches in Resource-Limited Settings |
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Caitlyn Duffy, M.D., M.P.H. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN Addressing global disparities for pediatric blood cancers in low-and middle- income countries |
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Eloisa Riva, M.D. Hospital de Clínicas, Montevideo, Uruguay GELAMM: Grupo de Estudio Latinoamericano de Mieloma Múltiple. |
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Discussion leader: Michelle Hildebrandt, Ph.D. UT MD Anderson, Houston, TX (30-min call-to-action discussion) |
| 12:10 pm | Lunch |
| 1:20&苍产蝉辫;–&苍产蝉辫;2:20辫尘 | Keynote: Electra Paskett, Ph.D., M.S.P.H. Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH Strategies to increase clinical trial participation and care in rural populations |
| 2:20 – 3:40 pm | Session 8: Developing a funding strategy to address disparities |
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Melissa Darbandi, B.S. Director of Institutional and Community Partnerships, Lymphoma Research Foundation, New York, NY |
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Lore Gruenbaum, Ph.D. Sr. Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Blood Cancer United, New York, NY |
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Ola Banjo, Pharm.D. Sr. Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, New York, NY |
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Joanne Elena, Ph.D., M.P.H. Scientific Director of Clinical and Population Sciences, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA |
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Deirdra R. Terrell, Ph.D. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK; ASH HIP Program |
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Discussion leader: Christopher Flowers, M.D., M.S., F.A.S.C.O. UT MD Anderson, Houston, TX (30-min call-to-action discussion) |
| 3:40 -3:50 pm | Closing Remarks |
| 3:50 pm | Adjourn |
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