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Since 2003, the IMF has honored an outstanding physician each year with the Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award. The award, named for its first recipient, is presented to an individual whose body of work in the field of multiple myeloma has made significant advances in research, treatment, and care of myeloma patients.

Our honorees’ work reflects the words of Dr. William Mayo, founder of Mayo Clinic, who challenged the nature of patient care nearly a century ago when he said “The needs of the patient are the only needs to be considered.”

2024 Awardee:

Dr. Shaji Kumar
Shaji Kumar, MD

This year’s Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Awardee is Shaji K. Kumar, MD, Professor of Medicine and Chair of the Myeloma, Amyloid, and Dysproteinemia Group at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. 

Dr. Kumar has had a long and sustained impact on the field of myeloma and related disorders. He has over 600 peer-reviewed publications in the field, and has led numerous phase I, II, and III clinical trials advancing new treatments for patients with the disease. His laboratory research contributions are extensive, and include development of new targeted therapies as well as several biomarkers for response assessment and prognosis. Of particular note, he led the development of the International Myeloma Working Group response criteria, as well as established the currently used definitions for Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) in myeloma. Dr. Kumar’s research accomplishments also include contributions to understanding the role of tumor microenvironment in myeloma, mechanisms of disease progression, risk stratification of plasma disorders. In 2021, Dr. Kumar was recognized at this event with the Brian G.M. Durie Outstanding Achievement Award.

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Dr. Shaji Kumar
Dr. Shaji Kumar
2024
Maria-Victoria Matteos
Dr. María-Victoria Mateos
2023
Dr. Herve Avet-Loiseau, 2022 Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Hervé Avet-Loiseau
2022
Nikhil Munshi
Dr. Nikhil Minshi
2021
headshot of Dr. Thierry Facon
Dr. Thierry Facon
2020
Dr. Meletios Dimopolous
Dr. Meletios Dimopoulos
2019
headshot of Dr. Philippe Moreau
Dr. Philippe Moreau
2018
Dr. Paul Richardson
Dr. Paul Richardson
2017
Vincent Rajkumar
Dr. Vincent Rajkumar
2016
Dr. Pieter Sonneveld
Dr. Pieter Sonneveld
2015
Dr. Antonio Palumbo
Dr. Antonio Palumbo
2014
Dr. Gosta Gahrton
Dr. Gösta Gahrton
2013
Dr. Jesus San Miguel at podium
Dr. Jesús San-Miguel
2012
Prof. Douglas E. Joshua
Prof. Douglas E. Joshua
2011
Dr. Joan Bladé
Dr. Joan Bladé
2010
Dr. Jean-Luc Harousseau
Dr. Jean-Luc Harousseau
2009
Mario Boccadoro
Dr. Mario Boccadoro
2008
Heinz Ludwig
Dr. Heinz Ludwig
2007
brian durie headshot
Dr. Brian G.M. Durie
2006
Dr. Kenneth Anderson
Dr. Kenneth C. Anderson
2005
Dr. Bart Barlogie
Dr. Bart Barlogie
2004
Robert A. Kyle, MD
Dr. Robert Kyle
2002

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