Paul Richardson, MD is the Clinical Program Leader and Director of Clinical Research at the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the RJ Corman Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. A leading authority in the treatment of multiple myeloma, Paul Richardson, MD has been instrumental in advancing novel therapies that have transformed patient outcomes. His work has been central to the development and approval of groundbreaking agents, including thalidomide, lenalidomide, bortezomib, pomalidomide, panobinostat, elotuzumab, daratumumab, and more recently, ixazomib, selinexor, and mezigdomide. Paul Richardson, MD has led numerous pivotal trials that have reshaped standards of care, most notably the VISTA trial, which established bortezomib-based therapy as frontline treatment, and the international DETERMINATION study, which helped define the role of autologous stem cell transplantation in the era of novel agents. His research integrates translational science with clinical innovation, exploring combinations of small molecules, targeted therapies, and immunotherapeutics to optimize outcomes for patients across the spectrum of multiple myeloma. In addition to his research, Paul Richardson, MD is deeply committed to patient care and mentorship. He has authored or co-authored hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, reviews, and book chapters, and is widely recognized as an educator and thought leader in hematology-oncology. His contributions have been honored with numerous awards, including recognition for excellence in teaching, clinical research, and innovation in cancer care. Through his leadership, Paul Richardson, MD continues to advance the field of myeloma therapy while improving the lives of patients worldwide.

Ayalew Tefferi, MD is a professor of Hematology and Medicine at Mayo Clinic and a distinguished physician specializing in the pathophysiology, natural history, and treatment of chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis. He completed his MD at the University of Athens Medical School, followed by a residency in internal medicine at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago, IL. Ayalew Tefferi, MD then completed his residency in hematology and fellowship in hematology at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. His research encompasses both database and laboratory-based studies, aiming to develop new therapeutic drugs for these conditions. Ayalew Tefferi, MD meticulously analyzes clinical and laboratory risk factors predictive of patient outcomes in MPNs, such as fibrotic transformation, leukemic transformation, and overall survival. He utilizes disease-specific clinical databases, with data collected over several decades, to identify these risk factors. Additionally, he has led extensive research in genetic and mutational profiling of MPNs, resulting in the creation of genetic and clinical-molecular prognostic models, which are now integral to contemporary clinical care for patients with MPNs. He has spearheaded numerous clinical trials, contributing to the licensing of several drugs for MPNs in the U.S. Notable therapeutic agents include ruxolitinib and momelotinib for the treatment of myelofibrosis. Ayalew Tefferi, MD has also conducted pioneering studies on rare MPNs, including systemic mastocytosis, eosinophilic conditions, histiocytic disorders, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms are a group of relatively uncommon diseases with poorly understood clinical and biological features, and the only curative treatment is stem cell transplantation. Ayalew Tefferi, MD's research has significantly enhanced the understanding of these diseases, identified critical patient characteristics, and developed new treatments. His work is widely adopted by MPN experts and incorporated into international guidelines. His studies on rare MPNs have also advanced disease biology understanding and informed rational treatment strategies. Ayalew Tefferi, MD is deeply committed to improving patient care by educating other healthcare professionals and sharing his extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of hematology.

Catherine Broome, MD is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. She is board certified in internal medicine, hematology, and medical oncology and has been on staff at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center for over a decade, where she specializes in benign hematology. Dr. Broome's clinical expertise includes cold agglutinin disease, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and pure red cell aplasia. She is actively involved in clinical research and routinely offers patients access to clinical trials focused on rare and complex hematologic disorders. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Broome serves as an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at Georgetown University and is engaged in the education and mentorship of trainees. She also participates in institutional safety and quality initiatives across MedStar Health. This session will provide clinical updates in cold agglutinin disease, focusing on diagnostic nuances, evolving disease classification, and emerging therapeutic strategies. Emphasis will be placed on practical management considerations and individualized patient care in this complement mediated hemolytic anemia.