Overview
Celebrating its 30th year, the Acute Leukemia Forum (ALF) continues its tradition of being a premier event for hematology and oncology professionals. This milestone conference brings together leading experts to share groundbreaking research and clinical advances that shape the treatment and management of acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. As we look ahead to 2026, ALF will focus on addressing the evolving educational needs of those involved in the care of patients with these challenging malignancies.
Join us as we commemorate three decades of progress and collaboration! We look forward to you joining our community of healing at the 30th Acute Leukemia Forum, April 2026, in La Jolla, California.
Meet the Chairs
Daniel A. Pollyea, MD, MS
Co-Chair Professor of Medicine Clinical Director of Leukemia Services Associate Chief of Clinical Affairs Robert H. Allen MD Chair in Hematology Research Division of Hematology University of Colorado School of Medicine Aurora, Colorado
Eytan M. Stein, MD
Co-Chair Chief, Leukemia Service Director Program for Drug Development in Leukemia Associate Attending Physician Department of Medicine Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, New York
Hetty E. Carraway, MD, MBA
Co-Chair
Professor of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University
Director, Leukemia Program
Vice Chair Strategy and Enterprise Development
Taussig Cancer Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio
Jacob M. Rowe, MD
Chair Emeritus & Reviewer Emeritus Professor Technion Israel Institute of Technology Haifa, Israel Director Hematology Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem, Israel
Agenda
Please note all sessions listed in Pacfic Time. Agenda subject to change.
Thursday, April 16
Day 1
6:45 am
Registration
7:15 am — 8:15 am
Breakfast & Non-CME/CE Bonus Presentation
8:25 am — 8:35 am
Conference Welcome
Daniel A. Pollyea, MD, MS
Eytan M. Stein, MD
8:35 am — 8:40 am
Session I: Advances in Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Precursor States
Session Introduction
Richard M. Stone, MD
8:40 am — 9:00 am
Controlling the Control: The Problem With Azacitidine Control Arms in MDS
9:00 am — 9:10 am
Audience Q&A
Richard M. Stone, MD
Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD
9:10 am — 9:30 am
When Should AZA/VEN Be Used in MDS? Insights from the VERONA Study
9:30 am — 9:40 am
Audience Q&A
Richard M. Stone, MD
9:40 am — 10:00 am
Should CCUS and High Risk CH Be Treated As Early MDS
10:00 am — 10:10 am
Audience Q&A
Richard M. Stone, MD
Zoey Xie, MD, MS
10:10 am — 10:30 am
Management of VEXAS and Myeloid Disorders: From Guidelines to Treatment Response Assessment
10:30 am — 10:40 am
Audience Q&A
Richard M. Stone, MD
Uma Borate, MBBS
10:40 am — 11:10 am
Exhibit and Poster Hall Opens
11:10 am — 11:50 am
Stump the Experts
AML Expert - Mark Levis, MD, PhD
AML Fellow - Mary-Elizabeth Percival, MD, MS
11:50 am — 11:55 am
Session II: Pre-Clinical Translational Research
Session Introduction
Daniel Starczynowski, PhD
11:55 am — 12:15 pm
Can Manipulation of Inflammation Lead to AML Fixation?
12:15 pm — 12:25 pm
Audience Q&A
Daniel Starczynowski, PhD
Shanshan Pei, PhD
12:25 pm — 12:45 pm
Nicotinamide: A Metabolic Opportunity for MDS?
12:45 pm — 12:55 pm
Audience Q&A
Daniel Starczynowski, PhD
Maria L. Amaya, MD, PhD
12:55 pm — 1:15 pm
Apelin as a Target in AML
1:15 pm — 1:25 pm
Audience Q&A
Daniel Starczynowski, PhD
Leonard Zon, MD
1:25 pm — 2:25 pm
Lunch & Non-CME/CE Bonus Presentation
2:25 pm — 2:40 pm
Refreshments: Visit Exhibit and Poster Hall
2:40 pm — 2:45 pm
Session III: Novel Strategies in ALL
Session Introduction
Wendy Stock, MD
2:45 pm — 3:05 pm
Newly Diagnosed Philadelphia Positive Acute Lymphablastic Leukemia Without a Transplant
3:05 pm — 3:15 pm
Audience Q&A
Wendy Stock, MD
Elias J. Jabbour, MD
3:15 pm — 3:35 pm
Can CAR-T Cells Repalce Allergenic Stem Cell Transplant for High-Risk Acute Lymphablastic Leukemia
3:35 pm — 3:45 pm
Audience Q&A
Wendy Stock, MD
Noelle Frey, MD, MSCE
3:45 pm — 4:00 pm
Break: Visit Exhibit and Poster Hall
4:00 pm — 4:05 pm
Session IV: Multidisciplinary Care
Session Introduction
B. Douglas Smith, MD
4:05 pm — 4:25 pm
Reflections on My AML Journey - A Coach's Insights
4:25 pm — 4:35 pm
Audience Q&A
B. Douglas Smith, MD
Matt Lubeck
4:35 pm — 4:55 pm
The Singularity: How Can AI Be Used in the AML Field?
4:55 pm — 5:05 pm
Audience Q&A
B. Douglas Smith, MD
Jan Moritz Middeke, MD
5:05 pm — 5:25 pm
Management of Infections in Patients With Leukemia Pre and/or Post BMT
5:25 pm — 5:35 pm
Audience Q&A
B. Douglas Smith, MD
Jessica Lum, MD
5:35 pm — 6:35 pm
Reception & Non-CME/CE Bonus Presentation
6:35 pm — 7:35 pm
Welcome Reception
6:35 pm
Day One Adjourns
Friday, April 17
Day 2
7:00 am
Registration
7:30 am — 8:30 am
Breakfast & Non-CME/CE Bonus Presentation
8:30 am — 8:45 am
Break: Visit Exhibit and Poster Hall
8:45 am — 8:50 am
Session V: Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Session Introduction
Gary J. Schiller, MD
8:50 am — 9:10 am
Taking on TP53: What New Approaches to TP53+ AML Should Be Pursued?
9:10 am — 9:20 am
Audience Q&A
Gary J. Schiller, MD
David A. Sallman, MD
9:20 am — 9:40 am
Lessons Learned From Exploring Mutational Profiles for Diverse Patients
9:40 am — 9:50 am
Audience Q&A
Gary J. Schiller, MD
Amir T. Fathi, MD
9:50 am — 10:10 am
Dog Days of AML: What Canine AML Can Teach Us About Our AML Patients
10:10 am — 10:20 am
Audience Q&A
Gary J. Schiller, MD
Adam Harris, DMV, PhD, Dip. ACVP
10:20 am — 10:50 am
Refreshments and Non-CME/CE Bonus Presentation
11:20 am — 11:50 am
Break: Visit Exhibit and Poster Hall
10:50 am — 11:50 am
Independent CME Symposium
11:50 am — 1:00 pm
Session VI: Ernest Beutler Memorial Lecture
11:50 am — 12:00 pm
Introduction of the Ernest Beutler Memorial Lecture
12:00 pm — 12:50 pm
Ernest Beutler Memorial Lecture
12:50 pm — 1:00 pm
Audience Q&A
1:00 pm — 2:00 pm
Lunch & Non-CME/CE Bonus Presentation
2:00 pm — 2:15 pm
Refreshments: Visit Exhibit and Poster Hall
2:15 pm — 2:20 pm
Session VII: Bone Marrow Transplant
Session Introduction
Aaron P. Rapoport, MD
2:20 pm — 2:40 pm
ORCA T
2:40 pm — 2:50 pm
Audience Q&A
Aaron P. Rapoport, MD
Everett Meyer, MD
2:50 pm — 3:10 pm
What is the Best Way to Use MRD Information in AML in the Pre and Post BMT Setting
3:10 pm — 3:20 pm
Audience Q&A
Aaron P. Rapoport, MD
3:20 pm — 3:40 pm
When Should We Use Maintenance Therapies for AML Post BMT?
3:40 pm — 3:50 pm
Audience Q&A
Aaron P. Rapoport, MD
Alexander Perl, MD
3:50 pm — 4:00 pm
Closing Remarks
4:00 pm
Conference Adjourns
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