UAB O’Neal Cancer Center Researchers Showcase Global Leadership in Sweden at EHA 2026
Investigators from the O’Neal Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and many other UAB physician/researchers are playing a prominent role at the 2026 European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress taking place June 11, 2026, in Stockholm, Sweden, presenting impactful research across a broad range of hematologic malignancies.
These contributions span multiple oral presentations, late-breaking studies, and poster sessions, underscoring UAB’s leadership in advancing innovative cancer therapies and improving patient outcomes worldwide. Attendees to EHA 2026 can find the full schedule of UAB presentation at eha2026.org.
Breakthrough CAR T Therapy Highlighted in Oral Session
Susan Bal, M.D., MBBS, is a malignant hematologist and associate scientist at the UAB O’Neal Cancer Center and is presenting an oral presentation as the first author during the Immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma session.
Title: Arlocabtagene Autoleucel, a GPRC5D-Targeted CAR T-Cell Therapy for Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Updated Phase 1 Safety and Efficacy Results in Patients with 1–3 Prior Regimens
June 14, 2026 | 11:00 -12:15 CEST | Victoria Hall | Immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma
Advancing Care in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
UAB O’Neal Cancer Center researchers are also contributing key findings in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), with oral presentations:
Jorge Cortes, M.D., Chief of Hematology at UAB Medicine and Deputy Director of the UAB O’Neal Cancer Center, is the author of several presentations, including an oral presentation of a study in which he is the senior author evaluating the addition of low-dose tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for patients who do not achieve optimal response or deep molecular remission.
Title: Efficacy and Safety of Adding Low-Dose Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) for Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Who Do Not Achieve Optimal Response or a Deep Molecular Remission (ALERT-CML)
June 11, 2026 | 16:45 -18:00 CEST | A12 Hall | CML – Clinical
Cortes co-authored an oral presentation on long-term results from the ASC4FIRST trial, demonstrating continued superior efficacy and favorable safety of asciminib compared to standard therapies in newly diagnosed chronic-phase CML.
Title: ASC4FIRST Week 144 Analysis: Continued Superior Efficacy and Favorable Safety and Tolerability with Asciminib vs Investigator-Selected Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Newly Diagnosed Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
June 11, 2026 | 16:45 -18:00 CEST | A12 Hall | CML – Clinical
Grant Williams, M.D., MSPH, Associate Professor at UAB and Associate Scientist at UAB O’Neal Cancer Center is first author of a poster, with Omar Jamy, M.D., being senior-author and co-author by other UAB researchers.
Title: Impact of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation on Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Blast Phase
June 12, 2026 | 18:45 – 19:45 CEST | Hall A | CML – Clinical
“These studies represent the continued progress we are making in delivering more precise and effective therapies for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia,” said Jorge Cortes, M.D. “Our goal is not only to extend survival, but to improve quality of life and move closer to long-term disease control for every patient.”
Novel Therapies in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
The UAB O’Neal Cancer Center is also driving innovation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), contributing to multiple oral presentations focused on emerging therapies:
Cortes is a co-author of a poster showing the results from the KOMET-007 trial evaluating ziftomenib in combination with standard induction chemotherapy for newly diagnosed AML.
Title: Ziftomenib Combined with Intensive Induction (7+3) for Newly Diagnosed NPM1‑M or KMT2A-R Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): Long-Term Results from the KOMET-007 Trial
June 14, 2026 | 11:00 – 11:15 CEST | Noble Hall | Novel Treatments in AML
Pankit Vachhani, M.D., associate professor of Medicine and Medical Director of Clinical Research Unit at UAB, is a co-author of a poster for the study of tuspetinib combined with venetoclax and azacitidine for patients ineligible for induction chemotherapy.
Title: Tuscany Study Of Safety And Efficacy Of Tuspetinib Plus Standard Of Care Venetoclax And Azacitidine In Study Participants With Newly Diagnosed AML Ineligible For Induction Chemotherapy
June 14, 2026 | 11:00 – 12:15 CEST | Noble Hall | Novel Treatments in AML
Benjamin McCormick, M.D., Hematology/Oncology Fellow, UAB O’Neal Cancer Center, is first author, with Dr. Jamy as senior author, of a poster presentation regarding Hyperproliferative Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Title: Impact of Time to Treatment on Outcomes in Hyperproliferative Acute Myeloid Leukemia
June 12, 2026 | 18:45 – 19:45 CEST | Hall A | AML – Clinical
These studies reflect ongoing efforts at UAB to develop more effective and tolerable treatment approaches for high-risk AML populations.
Advancements in Multiple Myeloma Treatment
Luciano Costa, Ph.D., scientist at the O’Neal Cancer Center and associate professor for Hematology & Oncology, is a senior investigator or co-author for several presentations, including:
Title: Development of BMS-986453, a Dual-Targeting BCMA×GPRC5D Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma
June 11, 2026 | T Cell Redirected Therapy in Multiple Myeloma
Title: Teclistamab plus Daratumumab (TEC-DARA) in Patients (pts) with Relapsed Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM): Analysis of MAJESTEC-3 Based on Cytogenetic and Functional Risk
June 13, 2026 | Clinical Trials Results in Multiple Myeloma
Title: CB-011, an Allogeneic ANTI-BCMA CAR-T Cell Therapy with Immune Cloaking, for Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (CAMMOUFLAGE Phase 1 Trial)
June 14, 2026 | Immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma
Leadership in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Research
Research led by Vachhani highlights UAB’s expertise in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including:
An oral presentation of results from the APEX trial evaluating bezuclastinib in advanced systemic mastocytosis.
Title: Efficacy and Safety of Bezuclastinib in Patients with Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis: Primary Results from the Apex Study
June 13, 2026 | 17:15 – 18:30 CEST | A2-3 Hall | MPN – Clinical
Vachhani was also a co-author of a poster for the SENTRY Phase 3 trial, a late-breaking study examining selinexor plus ruxolitinib in myelofibrosis.
Title: Selinexor Plus Ruxolitinib in JAK Inhibitor–Naïve Myelofibrosis: Phase 3 SENTRY Trial
June 2, 2026 | 9:45 – 12:45 CEST | S100-a | Late Breaking Abstracts
Additional poster presentations explore emerging therapies and symptom management strategies for polycythemia vera and myelofibrosis, further reinforcing UAB’s leadership in this field.
Broad Poster Contributions Reflect Clinical and Real-World Impact
In addition to oral presentations, UAB investigators are authors on numerous poster abstracts addressing critical clinical questions, including:
Co-Author: Jorge Cortes, M.D.
Title: Treatment Patterns and Outcomes with Olutasidenib After Venetoclax in IDH1-Mutated AML Using Real-World Data from Chart Review
June 13, 2026 | 18:45 – 19:45 CEST | Hall A | Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia – Clinical
Co-Author: Jorge Cortes, M.D.
Title: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patient, Disease, and Molecular Characteristics Associated with a Long-Term Response to Olutasidenib
June 13, 2026 | 18:45 – 19:45 CEST | Hall A | Acute Myeloid Leukemia – Clinical
Co-Author: Pankit Vachhani, M.D.
Title: Favorable Healthcare Resource Utilization (HCRU) with Tagraxofusp (Tag) vs Venetoclax (Ven) In Patients with Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN): Results of a Real-World (RW) Analysis
June 12, 2026 | 18:45 – 19:45 CEST | Hall A | Quality of Life, Ethics, Supportive and Palliative Care
Author: Pankit Vachhani, M.D.
Title: Sustained Control of Excessive Erythropoiesis by the Tmprss6 Antisense Inhibitor Sapablursen in Polycythemia Vera: Imprssion Trial Treatment Extension Data
June 13, 2026 | 18:45 – 19:45 CEST | Hall A | MPN – Clinical
Author: Pankit Vachhani, M.D.
Title: Characterization of Symptoms After Immediate Transition from Ruxolitinib to Momelotinib in Patients with Myelofibrosis: Post Hoc Analyses of the Phase 3 Simplify-1 and Simplify-2 Trials
June 13, 2026 | 18:45 – 19:45 CEST | Hall A | MPN – Clinical
Cortes is also the first author of a satellite presentation during the session: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Beyond Survival: How Do We Achieve Quality Survivorship?
Title: CML: Significant Progress, Remaining Challenges
June 12, 2026 | 10:00 – 11:30 CEST | K1 | Satellite Symposia
About the O’Neal Cancer Center at UAB
The O’Neal Cancer Center is Alabama’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Its scientists and clinicians are dedicated to advancing cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment through innovative research, education, and patient care.