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)
Register for HDHM Conference / Apply for Travel Award
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 registration. 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
Time |
Topic |
7:30-8 a.m. |
Registration and breakfast |
8-8:20 a.m. |
Opening remarks Mel Mann, M.B.A., M.Ed. Mission Speaker for Blood Cancer United (10-minute presentation and 5-minute questions) |
8:20-9:50 a.m. |
Session 1: The impact of germline variants and genomic abnormalities 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 Elad Ziv, M.D. University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA Insights into genetic architecture of gene expression across genetic ancestries Joselle Cook, Ph.D. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN Who Gets MGUS/MM and Who Gets Studied: Biology and Early Detection Rosalie Griffin, Ph.D. (Discussion leader) UT MD Anderson, Houston, TX 30-minute call-to-action discussion |
9:35-10 a.m. |
Coffee break |
10-10:45 a.m. |
Keynote Elaine Mardis, Ph.D. Institute for Genomic Medicine; Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH Genomic profiles and outcomes inform prognostic risk adjustment for Blacks with an AML diagnosis |
10:45 a.m.-noon |
Session 2: Prognostic and therapeutic implications of the molecular landscape and microenvironment Edward Briercheck, M.D., Ph.D. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA Geographic EBV variants confound disease-specific variant interpretation and predict variable immune therapy responses Gareth J. Morgan, M.D., Ph.D. NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY Differentiating the racial and temporal incidence of multiple myeloma Manoj Bhasin, Ph.D. Emory University, Atlanta, GA Ancestry-Driven Immune Rewiring in Multiple Myeloma: Insights from Single-Cell Profiling Michelle Lee, M.D. (Discussion leader) Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30-minute call-to-action discussion |
Noon |
Lunch |
1:30-3 p.m. |
Session 3: The impact of social determinants of health on outcomes Ruiqi Jin, Ph.D. American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA Poster Highlight: Risk Factors for Financial Toxicity in Adult Survivors of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Findings from a Longitudinal Cohort Study Kimberly Bertrand, Sc.D., M.P.H. Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA Socioenvironmental context in MGUS and multiple myeloma Robin Yabroff, Ph.D. American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA Health insurance coverage, financial toxicity, and access to care for individuals with blood cancer Theresa Keegan, Ph.D. (Discussion leader) University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 30-minute call-to-action discussion |
2:45-3:10 p.m. |
Coffee break |
3:10-3:50 p.m. |
Patient Advocacy Session Tamara Mobley, B.A. Multiple Myeloma Survivor, Emory Winship Cancer Center, Atlanta, GA Survivor Story: Multiple Myeloma Robin Pierce, B.A. Lymphoma Survivor, Emory Winship Cancer Center, Atlanta, GA Survivor Story: Lymphoma Jean Koff, M.D., M.S. (Discussion leader) Emory University, Atlanta, GA 20-minute call-to-action discussion |
3:50-5:35 p.m. |
Session 4: Developing strategies to increase access to clinical trial enrollment and access to state-of-the-art care Ajay Nooka, M.D., M.P.H. Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA Clinical disparities in MM: Clinical trial enrollment of AA pts w/ MM- CAR T access Carma Bylund, Ph.D. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Changing the Conversation: Clinician Education to Improve Representation in Clinical Trials Lynn Durham, Ed.D.; Atira Goodwin Georgia CORE, Atlanta, GA Improving Access to Blood Cancer Trials: A Collaborative Approach in Georgia Gina Aracena, M.A. Lymphoma Research Foundation, New York, NY Breaking Barriers: A Pilot Program for Hispanic/Latino Clinical Trial Inclusion 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 Chijioke Nze, M.D. (Discussion leader) UT MD Anderson, Houston, TX 30-minute call-to-action discussion |
5:35-7 p.m. |
Poster session and happy hour (Held within poster session at Spotlight tour at 6 p.m.) |
Day 1 - Friday June 5, 2026
Saturday, June 6
Day 2 - Saturday, June 6
Time |
Topic |
8-8:30 a.m. |
Registration and breakfast |
8:30-9 a.m. |
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 |
9-10:40 a.m. |
Session 6: Advanced tools for modeling disparities in drug metabolism and biologic processes Elisa TenHacken, Ph.D. Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY Tumor microenvironmental remodeling in African American DLBCLs harboring mutations in the DNA repair pathway. Nicole Peiris, Ph.D. Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA Influences of germline variants as cancer vulnerabilities Irum Khan, M.D., M.S. Northwestern University, Chicago, IL Examining the biologic impact of social stress in leukemia Lee Cooper, Ph.D. Northwestern University, Chicago, IL Computational pathology for reducing health disparities Irum Khan, M.D., M.S. (Discussion leader) Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 30-minute call-to-action discussion |
10:30-10:55 a.m. |
Coffee break |
10:55 a.m.- 12:10 p.m. |
Session 7: The global burden of hematologic malignancies 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 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 Eloisa Riva, M.D. Hospital de Clínicas, Montevideo, Uruguay Global Burden of Multiple Myeloma: Insights from the GEM Study on Diversity, Risk, and Outcomes Michelle Hildebrandt, Ph.D. (Discussion leader) UT MD Anderson, Houston, TX 30-minute call-to-action discussion |
12:10 p.m. |
Lunch |
1:20-2:20 p.m. |
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 p.m. |
Session 8: Developing a funding strategy to address disparities Melissa Darbandi, B.S. Director of Institutional and Community Partnerships, Lymphoma Research Foundation, New York, NY Lore Gruenbaum, Ph.D. Sr. Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Blood Cancer United, New York, NY Ola Banjo, Pharm.D. Sr. Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, Norwalk, CT Joanne Elena, Ph.D., M.P.H. Scientific Director of Clinical and Population Sciences, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA Deirdra R. Terrell, Ph.D. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK; ASH HIP Program Christopher Flowers, M.D., M.S., F.A.S.C.O. (Discussion leader) UT MD Anderson, Houston, TX 30-minute call-to-action discussion |
3:40-3:50 p.m. |
Closing remarks |
3:50 p.m. |
Adjourn |
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