Scientific Advisory Board (SAB)

Dr. Torsten Haferlach is a distinguished hematologist renowned for his expertise in leukemia diagnostics. He co-founded the Munich Leukemia Laboratory (MLL) in 2005, where he currently serves as Managing Director. Under his leadership, the MLL has become a leading institution in leukemia diagnostics and research, processing over 105,000 blood or bone marrow samples annually with a team of more than 250 employees. Dr. Haferlach’s academic journey includes an MD in medicine, a PhD in Germanistics, and a habilitation that set standards in leukemia diagnostics. He began his career at university clinics in Kiel and Göttingen, later serving as senior physician and head of the leukemia diagnostics laboratory at the University Clinic in Munich. Throughout his career, Dr. Haferlach has authored and co-authored over 635 articles in top-ranking, peer-reviewed medical journals. He is actively involved in evaluating and disseminating scientific knowledge, serving as a reviewer for leading journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Blood, Leukemia, Haematologica, and The Lancet Haematology. Additionally, he is a sought-after speaker at medical conferences worldwide and serves on advisory boards for companies like Illumina and AWS. Dr. Haferlach’s work at the MLL emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach combining six disciplines—cytomorphology, immunophenotyping, chromosome analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), molecular genetics, and bioinformatics—to provide comprehensive integrated laboratory reports. The MLL utilizes automation, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and state-of-the-art molecular diagnostics to process patient genome data rapidly, significantly advancing the field of leukemia diagnostics. Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into hematology clinics is a significant focus of Dr. Haferlach’s work. He highlights that AI can assist in various tasks, including diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient follow-up, ultimately leading to quicker diagnoses, better treatments, and higher cure rates. The MLL has implemented AI in diagnostic procedures, such as pattern recognition, phenotyping, and genome analysis, to support daily routines in hematology. Dr. Haferlach’s contributions have positioned the MLL at the forefront of leukemia diagnostics, integrating modern technology to improve patient outcomes and advance the understanding of hematologic malignancies.

Dr. Alberto Orfao is Full Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Salamanca and one of the world’s foremost authorities in flow cytometry, immunophenotyping, and the molecular characterization of hematological malignancies. He serves as Director of the Cancer Research Foundation (FICUS), Deputy Director of the Cancer Research Center (CIC, University of Salamanca– CSIC), and head of the Cytometry and Cell Sorting Services. He is also Scientific Director of the Spanish National DNA Bank and the Castilla y León Tumor Biobank Network, reflecting his central role in advancing large-scale biomedical research infrastructures in Spain and beyond. Over his career, Dr. Orfao has transformed the use of multiparameter flow cytometry in the diagnosis and monitoring of leukemias, lymphomas, and other hematologic disorders, establishing new international standards for minimal residual disease detection and molecular diagnostics that have been adopted worldwide. He has coordinated multiple European consortia and networks, including pivotal projects in the EuroFlow and EuroClonality consortia, which set the benchmark for harmonized diagnostic and monitoring approaches in clinical hematology. Dr. Orfao has authored more than 1,300 publications, including over 850 peer-reviewed international articles, and holds 74 patents. His work has accumulated tens of thousands of citations, earning him an h-index exceeding 100 and recognition as one of the most highly cited biomedical researchers in the field. Beyond his scientific productivity, he is widely respected as a mentor and educator, having trained generations of hematologists and biomedical scientists in advanced cytometry and translational diagnostics. His many honors include leadership roles in the International Clinical Cytometry Society and recognition from European hematology and oncology organizations for his groundbreaking contributions to laboratory diagnostics and precision medicine. Through his sustained innovation, global collaborations, and institutional leadership, Dr. Orfao has helped reshape the landscape of molecular diagnostics in blood cancers, bridging cutting-edge technology with clinical application. His career exemplifies scientific excellence with translational impact, making him a cornerstone figure in modern hematology and a highly influential contributor to the international research community.

Dr. Joaquín Martínez López, MD, PhD, is a leading clinical researcher serving as Head of the Hematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit (H12O-CNIO) at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), and as Head of the Hematology Department at Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid. He earned his MD from the University of Granada (1991), his PhD from Universidad Complutense de Madrid (2002), and further specialized in hematology before completing a postdoctoral fellowship in cellular therapy at Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto (2010) . Since joining CNIO in 2014, Dr. Martínez López has led the integration of next-generation sequencing and AI-driven biomarkers into the clinical and translational study of multiple myeloma and leukemias . As a clinical investigator, he directs numerous phase I clinical trials and serves as principal investigator on over 100 trials, shaping therapeutic strategies and measurable residual disease (MRD) monitoring at both preclinical and clinical levels . An exceptionally prolific scholar, Dr. Martínez López has contributed to over 250 international peer-reviewed articles—more than 300 by some counts—and presented over 500 abstracts at scientific meetings, underscoring his expansive research engagement . He holds three patents, two with international standing, reflecting his commitment to innovation in diagnostics and therapy . Most recently, he co-led an international CNIO–12 de Octubre Hospital study using artificial intelligence to predict the evolution of multiple myeloma based on MRD dynamics and clonal diversity—a breakthrough that enables more personalized therapeutic decisions and improved patient stratification . In sum, Dr. Joaquín Martínez López exemplifies translational excellence in hematology: he merges clinical leadership, trial innovation, diagnostic advances, and pioneering AI integration to drive forward the future of blood cancer research.

Dr. Bertrand Nadel is a distinguished French immunologist renowned for his extensive research on the (epi)genetic mechanisms underlying oncogenesis in human lymphomas and leukemias. He currently leads the “Genomic Instability and Human Hemopathies” team at the Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML) and serves as a Research Director at INSERM. Dr. Nadel’s work focuses on identifying pertinent biomarkers and developing innovative therapeutic approaches, with a particular emphasis on follicular lymphoma. His translational research is conducted in strong partnership with clinical and biopharmaceutical entities, aiming to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical applications. In 2017, he was appointed Director of the CALYM Carnot Institute, a French consortium dedicated to lymphoma research, reflecting his leadership in fostering public-private collaborations to advance therapeutic innovations. Throughout his career, Dr. Nadel has contributed significantly to the understanding of lymphomagenesis, with his research being widely published and cited in the scientific community.

Professor Veronika Sexl, MD, is a leading Austrian pharmacologist and toxicologist specializing in cancer research—particularly leukemia and tumor immunology. Since March 1, 2023, she serves as the Rector of the University of Innsbruck and, in 2025, she was elected President of the European Aurora Universities Network. Previously, she directed the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna from 2010 to 2023. Professor Sexl’s research probes the molecular underpinnings of hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis, focusing on JAK-STAT signaling, NK cell–mediated tumor surveillance, and the non-canonical transcriptional functions of CDK6. Her work has unveiled critical roles for STAT5, STAT1, and CDK6 in tumor initiation, immune evasion, and stem cell regulation, with findings published in high-impact journals such as Cancer Cell and Cancer Discovery. Noteworthy publications include studies showing CDK6’s role in antagonizing p53 responses and linking cell cycle regulation to angiogenesis, and STAT5’s function in shifting NK cells from tumor surveillance to tumor promotion. With an impressive publication record spanning over 350 peer-reviewed studies and more than 13,000 citations, Professor Sexl is among the most influential scientists in hematologic oncology. Her excellence has been recognized through numerous awards—including the Novartis Prize for Medicine (2005), Alois Sonnleitner Prize of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (2006), the Medical Sciences Prize of the City of Vienna (2017), and the Cardinal Innitzer Award for Natural Sciences (2023). She was elected a full member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in 2021 and inducted into the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in 2025. Professor Sexl’s trajectory—from research into signaling pathways to institutional leadership in academia—demonstrates her outstanding stature as a globally respected authority in leukemia biology and precision oncology.

Dr. Ruud Delwel is a distinguished Professor of Molecular Leukemogenesis at the Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC) in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1980 and his Master’s degree in 1983, both at Rijks Universiteit Leiden. In 1990, he earned his Doctorate with honors from Erasmus University Rotterdam, focusing his thesis on the “Characterization of human acute myeloid leukemia cells.” Following his doctorate, Dr. Delwel undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, under the mentorship of Dr. James N. Ihle. Upon returning to the Netherlands, he progressed through academic ranks at Erasmus MC, serving as Assistant Professor and Associate Professor before being appointed as Professor of Molecular Leukemogenesis in 2010. Dr. Delwel’s research primarily investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying malignant transformation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with a particular emphasis on epigenetic alterations and gene regulation abnormalities. His significant contributions include identifying unique gene expression and DNA methylation signatures in AML subtypes, discovering the prognostic implications of EVI1 gene overexpression, elucidating enhancer-hijacking mechanisms leading to EVI1 overexpression, and characterizing CEBPA gene mutations associated with favorable AML prognoses. Throughout his career, Dr. Delwel has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including a fellowship from the Royal Dutch Academy of Science (KNAW) in 1994, the Dutch Cancer Research Price (KWO-Price) in 2015, and the José Carreras Award in 2017. He has also held notable positions such as board member of the European Hematology Association (EHA), vice-chair and chair of the Scientific Subcommittee on “Epigenetics in Hematological Disorders” of the American Society of Hematology, and served as the program director for the EHA congress in 2021.

Dr. José Ángel Martínez Climent is a distinguished physician-scientist specializing in hematology and oncology. He earned his medical degree in 1986 and completed board certifications in pediatrics, as well as pediatric hematology and oncology, through residency training at La Fe Children’s Hospital in Valencia, Spain. Since 2005, Dr. Martínez Climent has been a principal investigator at the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) of the University of Navarra, leading the Lymphoproliferative Syndromes Group within the Hemato-Oncology Program. His research focuses on the biology of lymphomas and myelomas, genomics, immunology, and the development of preclinical and translational studies aimed at improving therapeutic approaches for these hematological malignancies. In 2023, he co-founded MIMO Biosciences, a translational research company specializing in preclinical research services using unique animal models that replicate various genetic alterations found in hematological cancers, including multiple myeloma and lymphomas. This venture leverages over a decade of research from CIMA to enhance the development of personalized therapies for these conditions. Dr. Martínez Climent’s contributions to the field have been recognized by the International Myeloma Society, which awarded him the Translational Research Award in 2022 for his work on modeling and overcoming acquired resistance to targeted therapies in multiple myeloma. His ongoing efforts continue to advance the understanding and treatment of hematological malignancies.

Professor Brian Huntly is a distinguished clinician-scientist specializing in hematology, currently serving as the Head of the Department of Haematology at the University of Cambridge and as a Consultant Haematologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. He completed his medical studies at the University of Edinburgh and underwent hematology training in Dundee and Cambridge. He earned his PhD in Cambridge and conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University. His research primarily focuses on understanding how normal stem and progenitor cell functions are altered during the development of hematological malignancies, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and malignant lymphomas, aiming to identify therapeutic targets to prevent or treat these diseases. Notably, his group was the first to demonstrate that chronic and acute myeloid leukemia may arise in separate stem and progenitor cells, and they discovered that malignant lymphomas can initiate in stem and progenitor cells prior to lymphoid commitment. In addition to his research and clinical roles, Professor Huntly is an active member of the European Hematology Association’s Executive Board and Research Committee, and he chairs their Fellowships and Grants Committee. He also directs academic clinician-scientist training in Cambridge, providing an outstanding training environment for the next generation of hematologists.

Dr. Louis M. Staudt is a prominent cancer biologist specializing in the genomics of lymphoid malignancies. He currently serves as Co-Chief of the Lymphoid Malignancies Branch and Director of the Center for Cancer Genomics at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Born in Michigan in 1955, Dr. Staudt earned his B.A. in Biochemistry from Harvard College in 1976. He subsequently received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees in 1982 from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where his doctoral research unveiled somatic hypermutation as a mechanism for rapid antibody diversification during immune responses. Following his medical training, he conducted postdoctoral research under Nobel laureate David Baltimore at the Whitehead Institute, focusing on the characterization of tissue-specific transcription factors. In 1988, Dr. Staudt established his own laboratory at the NCI, concentrating on the molecular basis of human lymphoid cancers and the development of targeted therapies. He pioneered the use of gene expression profiling to identify molecular subtypes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), leading to the classification of activated B cell-like (ABC) and germinal center B cell-like (GCB) subtypes. This distinction has been instrumental in understanding the pathogenesis of these cancers and in developing targeted treatment strategies. Dr. Staudt’s research has also uncovered critical signaling pathways essential for lymphoma cell survival, such as chronic active B-cell receptor signaling and mutations in the MYD88 gene. These discoveries have paved the way for clinical trials of targeted therapies, including the use of ibrutinib, a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which has shown efficacy in treating certain DLBCL subtypes. Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Staudt has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the 2009 Dameshek Prize from the American Society of Hematology and election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2013. In 2019, he was inducted into the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy, honoring his significant contributions to cancer research.

Dr. Jonathan D. Licht is an esteemed hematologist-oncologist and the Director of the University of Florida Health Cancer Center, where he holds the Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Chair. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, followed by an internal medicine residency and a medical oncology fellowship at Harvard Medical School and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Prior to his current role, Dr. Licht served as Professor and Chief of Hematology/Oncology at both the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Northwestern University. His research focuses on aberrant gene regulation in blood cancers, aiming to develop therapies that correct these genetic abnormalities. His work has been continuously funded by the National Cancer Institute for over 30 years, and he leads a Specialized Center of Research program from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Dr. Licht has authored more than 220 publications and has mentored over 40 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. He serves on editorial boards for journals such as Oncogene and Cancer Research. In 2021, he received the American Society of Hematology’s Basic Sciences Mentor Award. Under his leadership, the UF Health Cancer Center achieved designation from the National Cancer Institute in June 2023.

Dr. Ross L. Levine is a distinguished physician-scientist specializing in hematologic malignancies. He holds the Laurence Joseph Dineen Chair in Leukemia Research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), where he serves as Chief of the Molecular Cancer Medicine Service and Director of the Center for Hematologic Malignancies. Dr. Levine earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, followed by a residency in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and a hematology-oncology fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. His research focuses on the genetic underpinnings of blood cancers, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), aiming to develop targeted therapies to improve patient outcomes. Notably, his work has elucidated the role of mutations in the JAK-STAT pathway and epigenetic modifiers in these diseases. Dr. Levine’s contributions have been recognized with several honors, including the William Dameshek Prize from the American Society of Hematology and election to the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians. In 2022, he was appointed Deputy Physician-in-Chief of Translational Research at Memorial Hospital, the main hospital of MSKCC. He is the co-director of the ECOG Leukemia Laboratory Committee.

Dr. Teresa Palomero is a distinguished molecular and cellular biologist specializing in the genomics of leukemia and lymphoma. She serves as a Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University Medical Center, where she conducts her research at the Institute for Cancer Genetics. Dr. Palomero’s research primarily focuses on understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying T-cell malignancies, particularly Peripheral T-cell Lymphomas (PTCL), a heterogeneous group of aggressive lymphoid cancers. Her laboratory employs advanced genomic technologies, including whole exome sequencing, gene expression profiling, and single-cell sequencing, to identify novel oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes involved in PTCL pathogenesis. Notably, her team has identified mutations in genes such as RHOA G17V and FYN as significant drivers of Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma (AITL). Additionally, they have developed some of the first genetically engineered mouse models of AITL, facilitating a deeper understanding of disease progression and the evaluation of targeted therapies. Beyond her research endeavors, Dr. Palomero contributes to the academic community as the Director of the Cancer Biology I graduate course at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, a role she assumed in September 2022. Her extensive body of work has been published in leading scientific journals, reflecting her commitment to advancing the field of hematologic malignancies. Dr. Palomero is also recognized for her dedication to mentoring the next generation of scientists and her active participation in professional societies, including the American Society of Hematology and the New York Academy of Sciences. Her ongoing research endeavors continue to shed light on the complexities of T-cell lymphomas, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective therapeutic strategies for these challenging malignancies.

Dr. Karin Tarte is a distinguished French immunologist specializing in B-cell malignancies and tumor microenvironments. She earned her PharmD and PhD in Immunology from the University of Montpellier in 1999, followed by advanced research roles at INSERM U475. In 2003, she joined the University of Rennes, ascending to full Professor of Immunology by 2007. Currently, she leads the Immunology Department at Rennes University Hospital and directs the INSERM research unit U1236 (MOBIDIC). Dr. Tarte’s research primarily investigates the interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironments, focusing on how these interactions influence cancer progression and treatment responses. Her work has significantly advanced the understanding of the role of stromal cells in supporting tumor growth and how targeting these interactions can lead to novel therapeutic strategies. Throughout her career, Dr. Tarte has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Guillaumat-Piel Prize from the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM) in 2014 and the Ita-Akonas Award from the European Federation of Immunological Societies in 2015. In 2024, she was honored as a Knight of the Legion d’Honneur, reflecting her substantial contributions to medical science. Beyond her research, Dr. Tarte actively contributes to the scientific community through her involvement with various national and international committees. She has served as Vice-President and President of the Scientific Committee of Fondation ARC and is a member of the Mesenchymal Stromal Cell committee of the International Society for Cell Therapy. Dr. Tarte’s extensive research has been widely published, with numerous articles in high-impact scientific journals, reflecting her ongoing commitment to advancing the field of immunology and improving therapeutic approaches for B-cell malignancies.

Dr. Elías Campo is a distinguished Spanish pathologist and molecular oncologist, renowned for his pioneering contributions to the understanding of lymphoid neoplasms. He earned his MD and PhD from the University of Barcelona, completed pathology residency at Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, and performed post-doctoral training in molecular pathology at the U.S. National Cancer Institute. He currently serves as Director of the Institute for Biomedical Research August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Research Director at Hospital Clínic, and Professor of Anatomical Pathology at the University of Barcelona. His leadership includes serving on the editing board of the WHO Classification of Hematopoietic Neoplasms and co-leading the Spanish arm of the International Cancer Genome Consortium’s chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) genome project. An exceptionally prolific and impactful researcher, he has authored over 600 peer-reviewed publications, amassing tens of thousands of citations and achieving an H-index of 100—earning him recognition among the top 1% of highly cited scientists globally. His research has provided breakthrough insights into the genomic and epigenomic landscapes of CLL, mantle cell lymphoma, and other aggressive lymphomas—leading to more precise disease subtyping, prognostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets. Dr. Campo’s contributions have been recognized by numerous prestigious awards: National Research Award–Catalonia (2013), Rei Jaume I Prize for Medical Research (2016), Gregorio Marañón National Research Award in Medicine (2020), the José Carreras Award from the European Hematology Association (2021), the Fred W. Stewart Award from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2021), ASEICA Cancer Research Award (2022), the Lymphoma Research Foundation’s Leadership Award (2023), and the Karl Lennert Medal (2021) from the European Association for Haematopathology. He was elected to the Academia Europaea (2013) and to the United States National Academy of Medicine (2018). In 2025, he was further honored with titles including Research.com’s Best Scientist Award and Medicine-in-Spain Leader Award—testifying to his sustained excellence and national prominence.

Dr. Weili Zhao is First Deputy Director of the Shanghai Institute of Hematology and Vice President of Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, one of China’s foremost clinical and academic institutions. She is also a dual doctoral supervisor for Shanghai Jiao Tong University and University Paris VII, Vice President of the Chinese Association of Hematology, and Secretary General of the Chinese Society of Experimental Hematology, in addition to serving on the editorial boards of several leading hematology journals. Internationally recognized for her pioneering research on malignant lymphomas, Dr. Zhao has advanced understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying disease progression, including apoptosis, angiogenesis, and differentiation pathways, and has translated these insights into novel therapeutic strategies. She has led groundbreaking work in the molecular classification of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), including the development of the clinically applicable LYMPHPLEX schema and the leadership of multicenter clinical trials such as GUIDANCE-02. Her research has also defined novel molecular and immune subtypes of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphomas, a subtype particularly prevalent in Asia, significantly shaping both biological understanding and treatment approaches. With more than 100 publications in toptier journals including Cancer Cell, Nature Genetics, Blood, Molecular Cancer, and Lancet Haematology, her work has achieved international recognition, with a cumulative impact factor exceeding 1,200. Dr. Zhao has been honored with multiple national awards, including the National Award for Science and Technology Progress, the Ministry of Education’s Outstanding Achievement in Scientific Research Award, and the HUA XIA Award for Medicine and Technology, while also being named among the Ministry of Education’s New Century Excellent Talents, a Rising Star by Shanghai’s Science and Technology Committee, and a Shu Guang Scholar by the Shanghai Municipal Education Committee. Taken together, her leadership, prolific scholarship, and scientific vision establish her as one of the world’s foremost authorities in hematology and a highly influential figure shaping the future of molecular diagnostics and targeted therapies for blood cancers.