Irene Ghobrial, MD
Irene Ghobrial, MD, Director of the Clinical Investigator Research Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, has received the William Dameshek Prize. This award is given annually by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) to an individual younger than age 50 who has made outstanding contributions in hematology.
Dr. Ghobrial is being honored in recognition of her research on the mechanisms underlying disease progression in myeloma. Through her work, she has challenged standard myeloma patient care by leading screening for early detection of the disease, uncovering novel biomarkers for risk stratification, and disrupting the traditional myeloma treatment paradigm with innovative trials in smoldering myeloma.
In addition to many significant contributions to the field, Dr. Ghobrial led the PROMISE trial, the first screening study in the United States and the first study ever to screen high-risk individuals. -PROMISE detected monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance/smoldering multiple myeloma, a precursor molecule for myeloma, in more than 30,000 individuals deemed to be at high risk of developing the disease, many of whom are Black and first-degree relatives of patients with myeloma. Dr. Ghobrial and her colleagues are also pioneering early-intervention prevention strategies for myeloma using chimeric antigen receptor T cells.
Acknowledging Other Leaders in Hematology
The award will be formally presented to Dr. Ghobrial during the 2022ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition, to be held December 10–13, in New Orleans. ASH will also recognize additional exemplary hematologists who have made significant contributions to the field during the Honorific Awards at the meeting.
Jane N. Winter, MD
“We applaud this year’s Honorific Award recipients, all of whom have made tremendous contributions to our field. They have dedicated their careers to advancing patient care, research, and education, all of which directly improve the lives of people with blood disorders,” said ASH President Jane N. Winter, MD, of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago. “ASH values opportunities to recognize leaders and role models with diverse perspectives, talents, and experiences, who are dedicated to furthering the future of hematology.”
