Sarah Sertich, MD, Cole Blandford, MD, and Rafeh Safdar, MBBS, of the division of hematology and cellular therapy, have each earned an Abstract Achievement Award from the American Society of Hematology (ASH).
Mentored by Fevzi Yalniz, MD, Dr. Sertich’s abstract focuses on the use of a combination of chemotherapy and targeted therapy, CLIA-venetoclax, to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has relapsed after prior treatment, or AML that didn't respond to a first-line treatment. These patients tend to experience a difficult course as the treatment regimen for their leukemia is less effective. Her abstract describes the efficacy of the CLIA-venetoclax regimen in a group of patients who received this treatment at the University of Kentucky.
“It shows that we've had some really promising outcomes, which is a sign that it should be studied on an even larger scale to find out more about its efficacy,” says Dr. Sertich. “It's an honor to contribute to medical research, and it highlights the strength of the mentorship in the UK hematology division.”
Dr. Safdar, also mentored by Dr. Yalniz, constructed his abstract on a genetic risk model to predict outcomes with HMA/venetoclax (low-intensity) therapy in patients with AML who cannot tolerate intensive chemotherapy. HMA plus venetoclax is now the backbone of AML treatment for a growing patient population, yet all major genetic risk frameworks were built around intensive chemo. They are essentially applying tools designed for a different era of therapy. By identifying which mutations actually matter in the venetoclax setting, and which behave differently than expected, the research can start moving toward risk assessment that reflects real-world biology for these patients. This fills a gap that directly affects how doctors counsel patients, select therapies, and think about prognosis.
On contributing to medical research, Dr. Safdar remarks that “with this project, we add a piece to the puzzle of treating AML in 2025, and as a result understand the disease a little more, predict outcomes better, and choose appropriate treatments. Investigations like this move the field a tiny, but meaningful, step forward.”
Dr. Blandford, mentored by both Dr. Safdar and Dr. Yalniz, focused on AML and investigating the prognostic impact of co-occurring mutations in NPM1-mutated AML. NPM1 is the most commonly mutated gene in AML and is classified as favorable risk. The prognostic impact of co-mutations (AML with mutations occurring along with NPM1), however, is uncertain. Dr. Blanford’s abstract evaluates the impact of co-mutations along with NPM1 in AML and highlights the importance of incorporating co-mutation profiles into risk stratification and treatment decision-making for patients with NPM1-mutated AML.
“Contributing to medical research is a way to affirm my commitment to developing and providing the most up to date and advanced medicine possible to each and every patient I see,” says Dr. Blanford. “The University of Kentucky has provided me with a great opportunity to explore my career interest in hematology-oncology and give back to the people in my community by participating in medical research and sharing its clinical applications in patient care.”
For Dr. Blanford’s abstract, mentor Dr. Safdar developed the data collection instruments and oversaw the team performing data collection. As a mentor, Dr. Safdar noted that “mentorship is an essential component of academic medicine. My own mentors have shaped how I approach both patient care and scientific inquiry. It’s a privilege to now contribute in that cycle by helping guide learners convert their enthusiasm into meaningful research that advances our collective understanding.”
Overseeing all of them, Dr. Yalniz remarks, “each of these projects originated from real clinical data we have collected from leukemia patients treated at our center. I guided the trainees through project design, data analysis, and interpretation, helping them connect clinical insights with research questions that could meaningfully advance patient care. Our goal was to translate daily clinical experiences into academic work that contributes to the broader understanding of leukemia risk stratification and treatment outcomes.
Seeing my mentees receive national recognition is deeply rewarding. It reflects their commitment to research and patient care, as well as the strength of our collaborative and supportive environment at Markey Cancer Center. It also reaffirms the value of the leukemia research group I have developed here. These achievements are a clear sign that we are on the right path and further strengthen my motivation to continue advancing our research efforts.”
Each abstract was presented at the 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition on December 6-9 in Orlando, Florida. The ASH Annual Meeting is the world’s largest and most comprehensive hematology event of the year and showcases the latest research and practice trends in hematology.
Receiving the Abstract Achievement Award from the ASH is a great honor. The Abstract Achievement Award is a merit-based award provided to trainee investigators with high-scoring annual meeting abstracts, of which they are the first or senior author and presenter. A letter from the senior investigator or program director overseeing the research is also required, and the recipients are extremely grateful to Dr. Yalniz for providing letters.
These awards highlight the important work being done by our division of hematology and cellular therapy. It also underscores how crucial mentorship is in academic medicine – helping trainees develop critical thinking skills, transform clinical observations into impactful research, and cultivate the habits of lifelong inquiry. Guiding young physicians through this process ensures the continued growth of evidence-based, compassionate care for future generations.