The International Myeloma Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board
The Scientific Advisory Board is an esteemed group of global myeloma experts (led by IMF Chairperson of the Board Dr. S. Vincent Rajkumar), who guide and prioritize IMF research initiatives as well as identify areas for investment and expansion.
(Mayo Clinic — Rochester, MN)
Dr. Rajkumar is the Chairperson of the Board of the International Myeloma Foundation. He is a Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Chair of the Mayo Clinic Myeloma, Amyloidosis, and Dysproteinemia Group. He is also Chair of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Myeloma Committee.
Dr. Rajkumar is the recipient of the 2016 Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award. He has published more than 230 peer-reviewed papers primarily in the field of multiple myeloma and related plasma cell disorders. He is the Section Editor for multiple myeloma and related disorders for Leukemia and is an Associate Editor for the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
(International Myeloma Foundation — Los Angeles, CA)
Yelak Biru, President & CEO of the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) and a 28-year myeloma survivor, has dedicated his life to enhancing the quality of life for myeloma patients while pushing forward on prevention and a cure. Diagnosed at 25, Yelak’s journey began with IMF support groups, and he later joined its Board of Directors. He sees his role as a chance to “pay it forward,” striving to pave a path for future patients. Under his leadership, IMF has driven over 50 global research studies, expanded patient and caregiver support, and built partnerships to advocate for equitable healthcare access. Yelak’s vision is a world where myeloma no longer takes lives, aiming for a cure by 2035.
Yelak brings a powerful mix of corporate experience, expertise in People and Data Analytics, and a deep understanding of technology and team-building from his work in Fortune 50 companies like PepsiCo and Walmart. He also serves on committees with the National Cancer Institute and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, contributes to research publications, and speaks frequently on myeloma care. Born in Ethiopia, Yelak holds both undergraduate and master’s degrees in Computer Science from the University of North Texas. To read Yelak's full bio, visit the Board of Directors bios here.
(TGen, City of Hope Cancer Center — Phoenix, AZ)
Dr. Joseph Mikhael is the Chief Medical Officer of the International Myeloma Foundation and a Professor in the Applied Cancer Research and Drug Discovery Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), affiliated with the City of Hope Cancer Center in Phoenix, AZ. He also serves as the Director of Myeloma Research at the HonorHealth Research Institute, where he conducts Phase 1 clinical trials. Recently, he completed a term as Councilor on the American Society of Hematology Executive Committee and led the ASCO guidelines for multiple myeloma.
Previously, Dr. Mikhael was a hematologist at Mayo Clinic Arizona, where he held various roles, including Professor and Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education. He has received multiple accolades in education, including being inducted into the Mayo Clinic Resident and Fellow Association Hall of Fame as Educator of the Year. Dr. Mikhael specializes in plasma cell disorders, particularly multiple myeloma, and has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles. He is also leading the IMF’s M-Power Project, which aims to improve care for African Americans with myeloma, and dedicates time to enhancing access to myeloma therapies in developing countries. To read his full bio, visit Executive Team bios here.
(National University Cancer Institute, National University Health System; and National University of Singapore—Singapore )
Dr. Wee Joo Chng has been a Senior Consultant at the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, part of the National University Health System, for almost two decades. He is an esteemed researcher in genomics, therapeutics and hematologic malignancies, with extensive experience in clinical practice, administration, and leadership. Dr. Chng is currently the Yong Loo Lin Professor in Medical Oncology, Vice President (Biomedical Sciences Research), and Senior Principal Investigator of the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, at the National University of Singapore.
(Santa Casa de São Paulo — São Paulo, Brazil)
Dr. Hungria is Associate Professor of Hematology and Oncology, Santa Casa Medical School and Clinical Director at Clinica São Germano. She is currently an Adjunct Professor of the Discipline of Hematology at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo; Co-Founder, Technical Director, and President of the Scientific Board of the International Myeloma Foundation Latin America; a Member of the International Myeloma Working Group; a Member of the Board of Directors of the International Myeloma Society; and a co-founder of the Brazilian Myeloma Group (GBRAM).
Dr. Hungria earned her degree in Medicine from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo, and a Master's and Doctorate in Medicine (Hematology) from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo. She works in the Hematology Area on gammopathies and related diseases, with a focus on multiple myeloma.
(University of Iceland — Reykjavík, Iceland)
Dr. Kristinsson is the principal investigator of the iStopMM (Iceland Screens, Treats, or Prevents Multiple Myeloma) Project. He is a Professor of Hematology at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík and a specialist in internal medicine and hematology at the Landspitali University Hospital. He also received the inaugural Brian G.M. Durie Outstanding Achievement Award in 2018.
Dr. Kristinsson has led several large population-based myeloma studies in collaboration with major research centers and is a frequent speaker at international hematology conferences.
(Mayo Clinic — Rochester, MN)
Dr. Kumar is Professor of Medicine and Chair of the Myeloma, Amyloid, and Dysproteinemia Group at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He has had a sustained impact on the field of myeloma and related disorders. Dr. Kumar has led numerous phase I, II, and III clinical trials that have advanced new treatments for patients with myeloma. He is the recipient of the 2024 Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2021 Brian G.M. Durie Outstanding Achievement Award.
Dr. Kumar has published more than 600 peer-reviewed manuscripts. His extensive laboratory research contributions include the development of targeted therapies as well as biomarkers for response assessment and prognosis. Dr. Kumar led the development of the IMWG response criteria in myeloma and established the currently used definitions for minimal residual disease (MRD). His work has contributed to a better understanding of the tumor microenvironment, mechanisms of disease progression, and risk stratification of plasma disorders.
(Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University — Atlanta, GA)
Dr. Lonial is Professor and Chair of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Emory University School of Medicine. He is Chief Medical Officer of the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University and internationally recognized as a leading authority in multiple myeloma treatment and research. A medical oncologist at the Winship Cancer Institute, Dr. Lonial treats patients with multiple myeloma and is a lead member of the bone marrow transplantation and clinical trials teams. He is board certified in hematology and medical oncology. Dr. Lonial is involved in numerous professional organizations including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Dr. Lonial is Vice Chair of the Finance Committee of the International Myeloma Society, and Vice Chair of the Myeloma Committee in the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. He also serves as President and Chair of the Society of Hematologic Oncology.
(University of California, San Francisco, CA — Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center — San Francisco, CA)
Dr. Martin is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSF, where he specializes in adult leukemia and bone marrow transplantation. He serves as the Associate Director of the Myeloma Program and Co-Leader of the Cancer Immunology & Immunotherapy Program at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Additionally, he is the Associate Chief of Adult Hematology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, and Cell Therapy, as well as the Clinical Research Director for Hematologic Malignancies at UCSF.
Board-certified in internal medicine and hematology, Dr. Martin is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). He leads the Immunotherapy Committee of the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) and directs the Transplant and Cell Therapy Clinical Program at UCSF. A prominent researcher in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, Dr. Martin is involved in clinical trials exploring innovative treatments like antibody drug conjugates and CAR T-cell therapy. He has received the 2023 Brian G.M. Durie Outstanding Achievement Award and has published extensively while serving as a teacher and mentor in the field.
(University of Salamanca — Salamanca, Spain)
Dr. Mateos is the Head of the Myeloma and Clinical Trials Unit at the Hematology Department and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Salamanca, Spain. As the coordinator of the Spanish Myeloma Group (Grupo Español de Mieloma, GEM), she has played a pivotal role in designing and developing clinical trials, particularly for transplant-ineligible and smoldering myeloma patients. Her work has significantly shaped current treatment options for these populations, and she has published over 400 papers in international journals, boasting an H-index of 96.
A prominent figure in the field, Dr. Mateos is a member of several organizations, including the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), the International Myeloma Society (IMS), and the European Hematology Association (EHA). She has served on various committees, including the ASH Scientific Committee on plasma cell diseases and the EHA’s Scientific Program Committee. Recognized for her contributions, Dr. Mateos received the Brian G.M. Durie Outstanding Achievement Award in 2019 and the Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. She is currently the President of the National Society of Hematology, having been elected for a four-year term in October 2022.
(University Hospital of Nantes — Nantes, France)
Dr. Moreau is a Professor of Clinical Hematology and Head of the Hematology Department at the University Hospital of Nantes in Nantes, France. He specializes in clinical hematology, particularly focusing on multiple myeloma and treatments with high-dose therapy and novel agents.
Dr. Moreau is the current president of the International Myeloma Society (IMS) and a Scientific Committee Member and Steering Committee Member of the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG). He is also a current member of the administration council of the Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome (IFM).
With more than 250 peer-reviewed articles and reviews, Dr. Moreau has been widely published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet Oncology, and Blood, to name a few. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Moreau is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Blood, and Blood Cancer Journal. He is also an often-invited speaker at international hematologic oncology meetings.
(Dana-Farber Cancer Institute — Boston, MA)
Dr. Munshi is Director of Basic and Correlative Science at the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center; Director of the Multiple Myeloma Immune Effector Cell Therapy; a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School; Kraft Family Chair; and a Scientific Committee Member of the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG).
He earned his MD in 1984 from the Maharaja Sayjirao University in India and completed his postgraduate training in Internal Medicine SSG Hospital and Maharaja Sayjirao University. Additionally, Dr. Munshi has received fellowships at Johns Hopkins Oncology Center and Indiana University Medical Center. He joined the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 2001.
Dr. Munshi is the recipient of the 2021 Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award.
(University of Navarra — Pamplona, Spain)
Dr. San Miguel is a Professor of Medicine-Haematology and Head of Clinical and Translational Medicine at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. He is the Medical Director and Vice-Dean of Research at the Clinica Universidad de Navarra; CIMA Scientific Director; a Scientific Committee Member of the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG).
Dr. San Miguel is the recipient of the 2012 Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award. His other accolades include the Waldenstöm Award, EBMT Lecture, Jose Carreras EHA Award, Ham-Wasserman Lecture Award, Rey Jaime I Award in Clinical Medicine, and the Spanish Prizes in both oncology and translational research.
He has had over 700 original papers published in international journals and has made significant contributions to myeloma cell biology and myeloma research in areas such as immunophenotyping, risk of progression from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or smoldering myeloma into active myeloma, and minimal residual disease (MRD).
Dr. San Miguel has also contributed important studies for new antimyeloma drugs at the preclinical and clinical levels, including proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, and histone deacetylases.
(Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — New York, NY)
Saad Usmani, MD, is currently Chief of the Myeloma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York, NY. Dr. Usmani is a hematologic oncologist with more than 14 years of experience specializing in the care of patients with multiple myeloma and other disorders affecting plasma cells. As a translational investigator, Dr. Usmani has worked individually and as part of teams that have shed new light on the biology, pathogenesis, and therapy of these disorders and has been involved with the clinical development of several therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients with multiple myeloma and other blood cancers. His research has brought to the forefront the racial disparities impacting the treatment and response to multiple myeloma.