The American Society of Hematology (ASH) has announced the recipients of the 2023 Honorific Awards, to be recognized at the 65th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition in December.
The Honorific Awards recognize exemplary hematologists who have made significant contributions to the field. This year’s recipients include pioneering researchers, innovative clinicians, and selfless mentors who have advanced hematology through a variety of vital contributions. The 2023 Honorific Award recipients are:
Wallace H. Coulter Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hematology
Blanche P. Alter, MD, MPH, National Cancer Institute
Dr. Alter, a renowned physician-scientist, is being recognized for a lifetime of accomplishments that revolutionized research for inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS). She spearheaded the first interdisciplinary clinical research program dedicated to investigating cancer-prone IBMFS such as Fanconi anemia (FA), dyskeratosis congenita (DC), Diamond-Blackfan anemia, and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. Her research has been invaluable in developing screening recommendations to detect cancer early and help patients live longer.
She was the first researcher to prospectively investigate and quantify cancer rates in FA and DC through a groundbreaking pilot study. Later, at the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Alter established a clinical research program that brought together epidemiologic and prospective studies on cancer and genotypes in major IBMFS. Her research has created a comprehensive body of knowledge about these disorders and their manifestations, diagnoses, and genetic causation. Her work has become the model other researchers use to study the mechanisms of cancer development.
Ernest Beutler Lecture and Prize
Johnny Mahlangu, MMed, MBBCh, University of the Witwatersrand
Dr. Mahlangu is recognized for his involvement in the development of new therapies for hemophilia for the past 20 years. He recently worked on development of the first gene therapy for hemophilia A, offering patients the opportunity to lead more normal lives. Prior to this, individuals with hemophilia relied on clotting factor replacement, which often resulted in unwanted side effects and inconsistent effectiveness.
Takehisa Kitazawa, DVM, PhD, Chugai Pharmaceutical
Dr. Kitazawa is recognized for his development of a blood coagulation factor for hemophilia A that leads to effective hemostasis. With a background in veterinary medicine, Dr. Kitazawa chose to focus his career on drug discovery, aiming to create a transformative therapy for those with critical illnesses. His goal was realized through the successful creation of a coagulation factor and the development of a drug that challenged conventional approaches for treating hemophilia A.
ASH Award for Leadership in Promoting Diversity
Alexis A. Thompson, MD, MPH, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Dr. Thompson is honored for her exemplary leadership in addressing the health care needs of an underserved population, specifically patients with hemoglobinopathies, with a focus on sickle cell disease (SCD). Her research has resulted in the introduction of innovative treatments for patients with SCD and thalassemia, as well as other hemoglobinopathies. Furthermore, she has actively advocated for the inclusion of underrepresented patients in clinical trials, both on national and international levels. Dr. Thompson was the 2018 ASH president and has since continued her tenure with the Society in various roles, including mentoring trainees through the ASH Minority Medical Student Award Program.
William Dameshek Prize
Omar Abdel-Wahab, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Dr. Abdel-Wahab is recognized for his trailblazing research characterizing the genetic mutations that drive blood cancers. His work has focused on understanding the underlying recurrent mutations in the RNA splicing mechanism leading to the development of myelodysplastic syndromes and leukemia. This discovery has paved the way for the development of multiple drugs targeting RNA splicing activity. Additionally, his research has played a pivotal role in securing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the first targeted therapies for patients with systemic histiocytic neoplasms.
E. Donnall Thomas Lecture and Prize
Katy Rezvani, MD, PhD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Rezvani, a renowned transplant immunology expert, is honored for her contributions to cancer research. In her laboratory at MD Anderson Cancer Center, she leads a team investigating new approaches to harnessing the immune system against cancer. Her expertise lies in optimizing cell therapies, particularly natural killer (NK) cells and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, to target and eliminate cancer cells. Dr. Rezvani has been at the forefront of developing CAR-NK constructs using donated cord blood units. By overcoming challenges encountered with autologous CAR T cells, this paradigm-shifting approach has the potential to reduce toxicity and improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies.
Henry M. Stratton Medal
Basic Science: Rodger McEver, MD, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Dr. McEver is recognized for his pivotal discovery and characterization of the PSGL-1 protein, which plays a crucial role in bridging the processes of blood clotting and inflammation. His main research focuses on understanding how platelets are recruited to sites of injury and infection. Dr. McEver’s contributions have ranged from basic discoveries regarding the biophysical properties of cell interactions to clinical advances, such as the development and approval of the anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody crizanlizumab for the prevention of vaso-occlusive crises in patients with SCD.
Translational Research: James B. Bussel, MD, Weill Cornell Medical School
Dr. Bussel is honored for his invaluable contributions to the development of agents that increase platelet counts in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and other conditions. His achievements include the discovery that giving intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) to mothers can raise platelet counts in cases of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, a treatment now used around the world. He has also increased the understanding of how IVIG treatment prevents platelet destruction. His work has played a critical early role in the development of many medications used to treat thrombocytopenic conditions.
ASH Mentor Award
Stephan Sallan, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
For Dr. Sallan, mentorship remains the most rewarding aspect of his career. He has mentored hundreds of individuals throughout his career who have become leading investigators in hematology and oncology. His motivation to mentor others stems from the early impressions his own mentors made on him, encouraging him to push the boundaries of cancer medicine while remembering to find joy in his work and to always pay it forward.
He began his journey in pediatric hematology 50 years ago after seeing treatment advancements for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) skyrocket, with breakthroughs such as immunologic cell surface markers, molecular measures of leukemia, and targeted therapies and immunotherapies. His research focuses on gaining a deeper understanding of the genetic underpinnings of ALL and the reasons for disease recurrence and drug resistance.
Helen Heslop, MD, DSc, Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Cell and Gene Therapy
Dr. Heslop is known for her inclusivity and commitment to helping her mentees advance in their careers. One of her remarkable achievements is her ability to nurture a diverse group of mentees, including female physician-scientists and individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds in hematology. Many of her mentees have become successful independent investigators. Among those she mentors, Dr. Heslop is recognized as an ideal leader who is patient and kind and who consistently prioritizes her trainees’ success.
Dr. Heslop’s primary research focuses on the development of adoptive immunotherapies. By genetically modifying cells, she has worked to improve hemopoietic cell transplantation and cancer therapies. She strives to translate her findings from the lab to clinical trials to improve the lives of individuals with cancer and blood disorders.