The 23rd Annual Meeting of the International Myeloma Society was held in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo: Thomas Roell/iStock.com)
Sagar Lonial, MD (right)
Clinicians and researchers from Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University played key roles at the International Myeloma Society's 23rd Annual Meeting, held Sept. 23-26 in Glasgow, Scotland. Twenty-two Winship faculty members, advanced practice providers and trainees delivered plenary and abstract presentations, presented posters, chaired scientific sessions and served as invited experts on topics spanning basic, translational and clinical myeloma research.
The annual meeting brings together investigators from around the world to share paradigm-shifting insights. Winship contributions ranged from studies exploring the molecular mechanisms that drive myeloma to clinical trials evaluating emerging therapies and strategies for newly diagnosed and relapsed disease.
Anna Baj
The meeting also highlighted Winship's leadership in the field. Winship Chief Medical Officer Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP, FASCO, professor and Gray Family Chair in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine, received the Waldenström Award, one of the meeting's highest honors, recognizing decades of contributions to multiple myeloma research and patient care.
Plenary presentations featured research from Lonial and Cancer Biology doctoral student Anna Baj. In addition, Manoj Bhasin, PhD, MS, Jonathan Kaufman, MD, Danielle Roberts, MS, MMSc, PA-C, Mala Shanmugam, PhD, MS, and Lonial served as session and discussion chairs throughout the meeting.
Winship Presentations
Waldenström Award Lecture
- Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP, FASCO
Plenary Session
- Anna Baj – “NSD2 expression remodels DNA Methylation, creating a targetable epigenetic dependency in t(4;14) multiple myeloma”
- Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP, FASCO – “Iberdomide, daratumumab, dexamethasone (IberDd) vs daratumumab, bortezomib, dexamethasone (DVd) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM): Results from EXCALIBER-RRMM Phase 3 Study”
Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
- Roberto Mina, MD – “Curative strategies for NDMM patients”
Personalizing Multiple Myeloma Care: Evidence and Guideline-Informed Application of Current Treatment Options
- Nisha Joseph, MD – “Options for early myeloma relapse with current therapeutics”
How to Treat First Relapse?
- Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP, FASCO (session co-chair)
Future Targets and New Modalities
- Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP, FASCO (session co-chair)
Highlights of the 2026 Annual Meeting
- Lawrence Boise, PhD – “Basic science”
Meet the Experts
- Ajay Nooka, MD, MPH – “Management of patients with extramedullary disease”
- Benjamin Barwick, PhD – “Genomics and epigenetics”
Nursing and Allied Health Symposium: Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
- Danielle Roberts, MS, MMSc, PA-C (session co-chair)
- Roseann Pruitt, PA – “Newly diagnosed multiple myeloma”
Nursing and Allied Health Symposium: Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma
- Danielle Roberts, MS, MMSc, PA-C – “Clinical practice updates”
- Meliza Phoummavong RN, BSN – “Estimating post-discharge health care resource utilization for cilta-cel recipients”
Abstract Session 10
- Manoj Bhasin, PhD, MS (session co-chair)
- Sowmitri Karthikeya Siddhartha Mantrala – “Single-cell analysis reveals stage-specific γδ T-cell remodeling across the multiple myeloma continuum”
Abstract Session 14
- Mala Shanmugam, PhD, MS (session co-chair)
- Rebecca Owens – “Dysregulated RAS signaling modulates apoptotic dependencies and therapeutic response in multiple myeloma”
Poster Sessions
- Jonathan Kaufman, MD (discussion co-chair)
- Hannah Barge – “Targeting P300/CBP to overcome IMiD resistance in multiple myeloma”
- Karanpreet Bhatia, PhD – “Slow-cycling and cycling persister cells in multiple myeloma share adaptive apoptotic priming as a common resistance mechanism”
- Robert Chavez – “NSD2 induces global chromatin changes to potentiate IL-6 signaling in multiple myeloma”
- Ryan Haumschild, PharmD, MS, MBA – “Cost per responder for teclistamab-daratumumab versus daratumumab, pomalidomide, dexamethasone (DPd), and daratumumab, bortezomib, dexamethasone (DVd) in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma patients”
- Nisha Joseph, MD – “Prophylactic tocilizumab to prevent cytokine release syndrome in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma receiving cilta-cel”
- Richa Parikh, MD – “Outcomes of multiple myeloma patients with del17p with coexistent trisomy/tetrasomy 17”
- William Pilcher – “IMS/IMWG CGS risk stratifies terminal T cell accumulation, loss of B cell immunity, and proliferative tumor transcriptional programs in rapidly progressing myeloma”