Irene Ghobrial, MD Director of the Clinical Investigator Research Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is being recognized today as the recipient of the prestigious William Dameshek Prize. The Dameshek Prize is given annually by The American Society of Hematology (ASH) to an individual, younger than 50 who has made outstanding contributions in hematology.
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.
While Ghobrial has made many significant contributions to her field, her most notable research accomplishments include leading PROMISE, the first screening study in the US and the first study to ever screen high-risk individuals. PROMISE detected MGUS/SMM, a precursor molecule for myeloma, in more than 30,000 individuals deemed to be at high risk of developing myeloma, many of whom are African American and first-degree relatives of patients with myeloma. Dr. Ghobrial and her colleagues are also pioneering early-intervention prevention strategies for myeloma using CAR-T cells.
The award will be formally presented to Ghobrial during the 64th ASH Annual Meeting, December 10-13, 2022, in New Orleans, Louisiana. ASH will also recognize additional exemplary hematologists who have made significant contributions to the field during the Honorific Awards at the Annual Meeting.
"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. "ASH values opportunities to recognize leaders and role models with diverse perspectives, talents, and experiences, who are dedicated to furthering the future of hematology."
