AIM 2026 Physician and Investigator Conference
May 16 – 17, 2026 – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Schedule
All times shown in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Time Zone Converter
The Conference Program is available for virtual guests
FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2026
| 12:00 | Join expert faculty for a focused overview of bone involvement in systemic mastocytosis. This non CME program will review how bone density loss, fractures, and related symptoms arise in the disease and why these manifestations are often underrecognized in clinical practice. The session will highlight the underlying biology, the impact of bone complications on patients, and practical approaches for incorporating routine bone assessment and monitoring into comprehensive systemic mastocytosis care. Understanding Bone Involvement in Systemic Mastocytosis |
| 15:00 | Despite advances in the understanding of nonadvanced systemic mastocytosis, many patients continue to experience substantial symptom burden that affects daily functioning and quality of life. This interactive symposium will highlight emerging clinical insights from the Summit clinical development program investigating bezuclastinib, a selective and potent KIT inhibitor, designed to target the underlying biology and mechanism of disease reflecting ongoing innovation in the nonadvanced systemic mastocytosis treatment landscape. Through pivotal trial data and illustrative patient cases, faculty will explore how mechanism-based treatment approaches may translate into improvements across key symptom domains. Expert discussion and audience interaction will provide clinicians experienced in mastocytosis care with updated perspectives on integrating evolving clinical data into patient-centered management strategies. Innovation in Targeting the Underlying Mechanism of Disease in Nonadvanced Systemic Mastocytosis: Emerging Clinical Insights and Patient Case Perspectives |
| 17:45 | Guided walking tour of Ann Arbor (paid registration required) |
| 19:00 | Welcome Reception Sponsored by Cogent Biosciences |
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2026
| 7:00 | Registration and Breakfast |
| 8:00 | Cem Akin - University of Michigan Dr. Akin is a clinician-scientist and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Michigan Division of Allergy and Immunology. He obtained his Internal Medicine training and PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from University of Louisville, and completed his fellowship at NIAID, NIH in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Dr. Akin is recognized for his work on mast cell disorders including mastocytosis, mast cell activation syndromes, and anaphylaxis. As an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, he established the first multidisciplinary mastocytosis center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His clinical interests include tyrosine kinase inhibitor and other novel treatments for indolent systemic mastocytosis, tryptase and other biomarkers for mast cell disease, and pathophysiology and treatment of anaphylaxis. Dr. Akin is a co-author of the current WHO diagnostic criteria and classification of mastocytosis and has published over 20 scientific papers and book chapters on mastocytosis. He was awarded the Researcher of the Year and the ECNM Medal and Trophy in 2022 by European Competence Network on Mastocytosis. He served on the editorial boards of JACI and Blood, is a past President of the Michigan Allergy Society, and currently enjoys teaching fellows, conducting clinical research, and seeing a diverse population of allergy patients at the University of Michigan. Jason Gotlib - Stanford University Dr. Gotlib is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology at the Stanford University School of Medicine / Stanford Cancer Institute. His research focus is clinical and translational evaluation of novel therapies for myeloproliferative neoplasms, with a focus on KIT inhibitors for systemic mastocytosis (SM). Dr. Gotlib has authored more than 250 research articles, chapters, and reviews that have been published in journals such as Blood, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Nature Medicine, and The New England Journal of Medicine. He is Vice-Chair of the NCCN Guidelines Committee on Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, and chaired the NCCN guideline development for SM. He led the clinical development of midostaurin and avapritinib for patients with advanced SM, as well as response criteria for these diseases which are used by regulatory agencies for drug approval. Dr. Gotlib was awarded the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM) Medal as Researcher of the Year in 2019 for the development of KIT-targeting therapies in advanced SM. He currently serves as President of the American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases (AIM). Dr. Gotlib enjoys landscape photography in his spare time. Welcome |
| 8:10 | K. Frank Austen Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Karin Hartmann |
| 8:18 | Karin Hartmann - University of Basel Karin Hartmann, MD, is Professor of Medicine, Head of the Division of Allergy, Deputy Chair of the Department of Dermatology, and Research Group Leader of the Department of Biomedicine at the University Hospital Basel and the University of Basel, Switzerland. Dr. Hartmann completed her medical degree at the University of Berlin, Germany, and residency training in Dermatology and Allergy & Clinical Immunology at the Universities of Berlin and Cologne, Germany, with a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, USA. She was then Associate Professor at the University of Cologne from 2005 to 2015 and Professor at the University of Lübeck, Germany, from 2015 to 2018. Dr. Hartmann’s research focuses on the biology of mast cells and diseases related to mast cells, including mastocytosis, anaphylaxis, angioedema, and atopic dermatitis. She has particular interests in clarifying the causes and developing novel diagnostic methods and effective therapies for these diseases. She is an author of more than 150 research articles, reviews, and book chapters that have been published in journals such as the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Blood, Immunity, and the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Hartmann and her research group have contributed to elucidating the biology of mast cells by investigating cellular functions such as mediator release, chemotaxis, and apoptosis. They developed new mast cell-specific, Cre-transgenic mouse models and used these models to evaluate the role of mast cells in allergy, infection, tissue repair, and tumors. In mastocytosis, Dr. Hartmann and her team characterized skin lesions in childhood-onset mastocytosis and demonstrated that the size of cutaneous lesions can serve as prognostic parameter. They identified several novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in vitro and in vivo, described new germline KIT mutations in familial mastocytosis, and generated a mouse model of mastocytosis with conditional expression of mutant KIT. Moreover, Dr. Hartmann initiated and conducted clinical trials with novel therapeutic compounds, crucially participated in the development of new classifications and diagnostic criteria and chaired the Consensus Report on Cutaneous Mastocytosis of the ECNM, AAAAI and EAACI, the mastocytosis chapter of the current WHO classification of Skin Tumors, and the German Guideline for Management of Mastocytosis. Dr. Hartmann is Board Member of the ECNM, served as its Chair from 2010 to 2015, and actively participates in the ECNM Patient Registry. She founded the German Competence Network on Mastocytosis in 2008 and served as its Chair from 2008 to 2011 and Vice Chair from 2014 until present. For developing a revised classification of cutaneous mastocytosis with clear prognostic impact, Dr. Hartmann received the Researcher of the Year (ROY) Award of the ECNM in Vienna on August 26, 2020. K. Frank Austen Lifetime Achievement Award lecture |
| Session 1: Research Updates in Mast Cell Biology | |
| 8:40 | Deepti Radia - Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals Deepti has been in her consultant post at Guys and St Thomas Hospitals since 2003 working in the MPN service. Deepti is the lead clinician for the systemic mastocytosis and chronic myeloid leukaemia services. The ECNM UK mastocytosis centre of excellence at Guys and St Thomas Hospitals was jointly established by Deepti and Dr Clive Grattan in 2005. This nationally recognised service accepts referrals from across the UK and Ireland. She is CI/PI for landmark trials for patients with advanced/ symptomatic indolent systemic mastocytosis – PKC412, EXPLORER, PATHFINDER, APEX,PIONEER and HARBOR. She is a member of the study steering committee for the EXPLORER/PATHFINDER trials (Avapritinib in advanced SM) and APEX / SUMMIT trials (Bezuclastinib) for patients with advanced and symptomatic indolent SM. Deepti is actively involved in the education of clinicians and patients improve understanding of mast cell disorders and delivers regular teaching in regional, national, international meetings in addition to the UKMasto.org and TMS patient support groups. Johannes Lübke - Universitätsmedizin Mannheim Johannes Lübke is a hematologist in training at the Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, Heidelberg University (Director: Prof. Dr. Wolf-K. Hofmann; Mentor: Prof. Dr. Andreas Reiter). He joined the department in February 2021 after completing his medical studies at Heidelberg University. He is an active member of the European Hematology Association (EHA), where he serves as a Young National Society Ambassador representing the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO), and is also an active member of the Young DGHO. Session Chairs |
| 8:45 | Tornike Mamuladze - Washington University, St. Louis Tornike Mamuladze is a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis specializing in the immunology of the CNS borders. He earned his MD from Tbilisi State Medical University and completed his PhD in Immunology in the laboratory of Dr. Jonathan Kipnis. His research characterizes the skull bone marrow as a critical immune hub and defines meningeal mast cells as essential regulators of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) outflow and CNS pathogen defense. Pursuing the physician-scientist track in pathology, Dr. Mamuladze focuses on bridging basic neuroimmunology and clinical diagnostics to investigate how microbial factors and mast cell heterogeneity govern brain health and disease progression. Mast Cells Regulate the Brain-Dura Interface and CSF Dynamics |
| 9:05 | Nadine Serhan - Mount Sinai Nadine Serhan received her PhD from Toulouse University in France, where her research focused on the interplay between the immune and nervous systems in the context of eczema, with particular emphasis on how prenatal stress may increase susceptibility to allergic diseases. She began her academic studies in Lebanon before pursuing doctoral training in France, where she developed a strong interest in neuro-immune interactions in inflammatory conditions. Nadine received multiple awards over the course of her career, including For Women in Science – L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science prize. She also served as an ambassador for For Girls in Science program, encouraging young girls to pursue STEM careers. Currently, Nadine is a postdoctoral researcher in the Merad Lab in Mount Sinai in NYC, where her work aims to explore a different facet of neuro-immunology, focusing on its role in ageing biology, in order to better understand how immune and neuronal signals influence the gut function. Maternal stress and early-onset eczema: role of fetal neuroimmune circuits |
| 9:25 | Simon Hogan - University of Michigan Dr. Hogan completed his PhD at the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University, Canberra defining the contribution of IL-5, eosinophils and CD4+ T cell–derived IL-4–dependent and –independent pathways to the induction of the asthma phenotype. After completion of his PhD, he was awarded the prestigious Australian NHMRC CJ Martin postdoctoral fellowship to study eosinophil-associated allergic gastrointestinal diseases under the tutelage of Professors Paul S. Foster at University of Newcastle and Marc E. Rothenberg at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. In 2004, he was appointed faculty within the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Cincinnati Children’s, University of Cincinnati where he developed an NIH-funded research program focused on delineating interactions at the immune- gastrointestinal epithelial interface under homeostasis and how alterations in these interactions can predispose to and modulate food-induced anaphylactic reactions. In 2018, he was appointed as the Askwith Research Professor of Food Allergy, in the Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center (MHWFAC), as well as Tenured Professor of the Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School. Currently, his laboratory utilizes systems-level approaches in patient cohorts with gastrointestinal conditions and employs advanced tools, methods, and platforms to define interactions between immunological elements and pathognomonic symptoms of disease. Building Better Models: iPSC Systems to Study Human Mast Cell Biology |
| 9:45 | Peter Valent - Medical University of Vienna Professor Peter Valent is head of a research group and director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. He coordinates the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM) and runs a center of excellence for myeloid neoplasms and mast cell disorders. He organized a number of working conferences on diagnostic criteria and standards in mast cell neoplasms in Vienna in the past 25 years, resulting in consensus criteria and the WHO classification in mastocytosis. Special focus in his research are the identification of novel markers and targets in neoplastic mast cells and the development of diagnostic criteria and of targeted drug therapies in systemic mastocytosis and other myeloid neoplasms. Professor Valent is member in diverse medical societies, including the American Society of Hematology and serves in various editorial boards and as a reviewer in most top hematology journals. He published more than 900 peer-reviewed articles including numerous review articles and text book chapters in his areas of expertise, lectured widely in Europe and North America and received numerous scientific awards. Status of the ECNM 2026, mast cell research initiatives supported by the ECNM registry, and potential collaborations with AIM |
| 10:05 | Discussion panel with Q&A |
| 10:15 | BREAK |
| Session 2: Classification, Pathology, and Molecular Biology | |
| 10:35 | Michel Arock - Hopitaux Universitaires La Pitie Salpetriere Michel Arock, PharmD, PhD, is a French professor of hematology, as well as an academic and clinician-scientist internationally recognized for his work on mast cell biology and mastocytosis. He is affiliated with the École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, where he is involved in teaching, mentoring students, and supervising research in the field of hematology. In parallel, he practices Biological Hematology within the Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, serving as part of the hematology laboratory at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital. His research focuses on the pathophysiology and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of mastocytosis. He has made major contributions to advancing the understanding of these diseases. He is the author and co-author of more than 275 scientific publications indexed in PubMed. From 2015 to 2020, he served as Chair of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM), where he played a key role in coordinating research efforts and harmonizing clinical practices across Europe. Brent Tan - Stanford University Dr. Brent Tan received a B.S. from University of California, Los Angeles, in biochemistry, an M.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a PhD in molecular biology from the University of California, Los Angeles. He trained as a resident in anatomic pathology and fellow in hematopathology at Stanford, followed by postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. Irving Weissman at Stanford studying cancer stem cells. His current interests include myeloid neoplasms, T cell lymphomas, molecular hematopathology, digital pathology, and laboratory information systems. He is boarded in anatomic pathology, hematopathology, and clinical informatics. Session Chairs |
| 10:40 | Peng Li - ARUP Laboratories / University of Utah Dr. Li received her MD and master of science degree in microbiology from Peking University Health Science Center in Beijing, China. She went on to complete a PhD in molecular pharmacology and structural biology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. She joined the University of Utah School of Medicine as a resident in anatomic and clinical pathology, then pursued a hematopathology fellowship at Stanford University and a molecular genetic pathology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Li is board certified by the American Board of Pathology in anatomic and clinical pathology, hematopathology, and molecular genetic pathology. Her research interests include genetic aspects of malignancy and myeloid neoplasms with germline predisposition. She is an associate professor (clinical) of University of Utah, and medical director for hematopathology at ARUP laboratories. She also serves as the medical director for Research and Innovation Operational Lab. Specific interests in pathology, and significant achievements:
Germline predisposition in advanced systemic mastocytosis |
| 11:00 | Nana Adjoa Dankyi - H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL I graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana with a BSc in Human Biology with Honors in 2012 and subsequently, an MBChB in 2015. Following my graduation, I worked as a physician in Ghana for three years before starting my PhD in Molecular medicine at the University of South Florida. During my PhD I worked in the Padron lab at the Moffitt Cancer Center where my project focused on elucidating the downstream effectors that mediate the development of TET2 mutated myeloid malignancies. Upon successful completion of my PhD, I started a postdoctoral fellowship in the Padron lab working on systemic mastocytosis with an associated hematological neoplasm (SM-AHN). My work has resulted in publications and awards as well as poster and oral presentations at scientific meetings. I am married with a toddler son. Investigating the clonal and biologic underpinnings of Systemic Mastocytosis with an associated hematological neoplasm (SM-AHN) |
| 11:20 | Alberto Orfao - University of Salamanca Alberto Orfao is Full Professor of Immunology at the University of Salamanca and a leading international expert in hematologic malignancies and immune system research. He holds major academic and scientific leadership roles, including serving as President of the Cancer Research Foundation, Deputy Director of the Cancer Research Center, and Director of several advanced cytometry, cell separation, and sequencing facilities. His research focuses on leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, mastocytosis, and immunodeficiencies, with major contributions to diagnostic tools, prognostic systems, minimal residual disease monitoring, and immune-based therapies. He has supervised 56 PhD theses, authored over 1,200 publications (h-index 101, >60,000 citations), and holds 74 patents. Prof. Orfao plays a key role in international scientific consortia (EuroFlow, ESLHO, ECRIN-M3), international classification panels, and editorial boards. He has received numerous prestigious awards for his scientific achievements, including the recent EHA Research Excellence Award from the European Hematology Association. Super sensitive detection of KIT D816V in mast cell disorders |
| 11:40 | Irina Maric - National Institutes of Health Dr. Irina Maric is a Senior Research Physician and Attending Hematopathologist within the Hematology Service, Department of Laboratory Medicine at the NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD. She is a Director of the Myeloid Core Laboratory, specializing in molecular and flow cytometric assays for detection of rare myeloproliferative diseases. Dr. Maric has a special research interest in rare chronic myeloproliferative diseases, particularly systemic mastocytosis and chronic eosinophilic leukemia. She has published over 160 peer-reviewed papers and four book chapters. Well-differentiated systemic mastocytosis: genetics and mast cell immunophenotypes |
| 12:00 | Discussion panel with Q&A |
| 12:10 | LUNCH |
| 13:05 | Tracy George - ARUP Laboratories / University of Utah Dr. George is the Chief Scientific Officer and President of the Innovation Business Unit at ARUP Laboratories and a Professor of Pathology at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She completed her medical degree and pathology residency at the University of California San Francisco with hematopathology and surgical pathology fellowships at Stanford University. She is an expert in the pathology of systemic mastocytosis and has authored more than 200 publications. Dr. George is a cofounder of the American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases (AIM) and currently serves as Secretary/ Treasurer of AIM. Plenary Presentation Introduction |
| 13:10 | Laura Hoyt - Yale University As a Yale MD-PhD student, I completed my doctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth in 2025. My work utilized mouse models to investigate genetic factors conferring protection versus susceptibility to oral allergen challenges, serving as a model for sensitized tolerance in genetically diverse human populations. In doing so, we discovered that mice resistant to oral allergen challenges exhibit increased intestinal catabolism of the inflammatory lipid mediators leukotriene C4 and leukotriene D4, a process mediated by increased activity of the enzyme Dipeptidase-1. My interest in food allergy research began in response to my own struggles with food allergy, which highlighted the urgent need for more effective clinical treatments. Murine anaphylaxis to food requires cysteinyl leukotriene-mediated absorption of allergens in the gut |
| Session 3: Mast Cell Activation and HaT | |
| 13:30 | Gigia Roizen - Clinica Alemana de Santiago Dr. Gigia Roizen, , is a physician who graduated from the University of Chile School of Medicine, where she also completed her residency training in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. She currently works at ClĂnica Alemana de Santiago, where she is a staff allergist and immunologist. Dr. Roizen serves as the ClĂnica Alemana representative to the AIM Network (American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases) and is the Head of the Mast Cell Center within the Allergy Center at ClĂnica Alemana. Her clinical and academic work focuses on mast cell disorders, allergic diseases, and complex immunologic conditions. Mariana Castells - Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University Mariana Castells, M.D., Ph.D. is a clinician-scientist with over 30 years of experience in allergy and immunology. Additionally, she is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School with over 200 publications. She is the Director of the Brigham and Women’s Mastocytosis Center one of the few nationally and internationally recognized centers of excellence which provides diagnosis, management, and treatment options for patients with mastocytosis and mast cell activation disorders, which are rare and potentially deadly disorders currently addressed with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors. Additionally, she is the Director of the Drug Hypersensitivity and Desensitization Center at Brigham and Women’s and Dana Farber Cancer Institute which provides over 900 high risk desensitization’s per year for over 20 years to patients with cancer, severe infections and inflammatory diseases who are allergic to their first line therapy, increasing their life expectancy and quality of life. Session Chairs |
| 13:35 | Matthew Giannetti - Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University Dr. Mathew Giannetti a clinician, clinical investigator, and educator at Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. His clinical and research interests include anaphylaxis and mast cell disorders. He is the associate director of the BWH Mastocytosis Center and treats patients with a variety of mast cell disorders including systemic mastocytosis, cutaneous mastocytosis, and hereditary alpha tryptasemia. His research activity includes clinical research testing novel therapies for patients with systemic mastocytosis and translational research investigating the molecular pathways driving mastocytosis. Mastocytosis in children |
| 13:55 | Benjamin Solomon - Stanford University Ben Solomon, MD, PhD is a board-certified clinical immunologist and physician-scientist. He is an Instructor in Allergy and Immunology at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, where he cares for children and adults with complex immune disorders. Dr. Solomon’s research focuses on applying computational approaches to improve understanding and diagnosis of immune disease. His work applies machine learning to multi-omic data to identify biomarkers of immune dysregulation and uses health-systems data to develop population-level screening approaches that support earlier detection of rare disease. Measuring What We Mean: Using Large Language Models to Quantify Diagnostic Specificity of Symptom-Based MCAS Criteria |
| 14:15 | Jonathan Lyons - University of California San Diego Dr. Lyons is a Professor of Medicine within the Division of Allergy & Immunology at UCSD. Using immunogenetic approaches, the Lyons lab seeks to identify mechanisms critical to allergic inflammation and hypersensitivity that can be targeted to conduct first in human clinical trials. Dr. Lyons has participated in the discovery and characterization of several primary atopic disorders - inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) presenting with severe allergic inflammation - including PGM3 deficiency, ERBIN deficiency, CARD11 haploinsufficiency and STAT6 gain-of-function - and his work describing and characterizing hereditary alpha-tryptasemia has fundamentally changed the work-up and diagnosis of mast cell disorders. Dr. Lyons has received several awards for his work, including the 2015 AAAAI Foundation/The Mastocytosis Society Research Award, NIAID Merit Awards in 2016, 2017, and 2020, the Lasker Scholarship in 2018, the Young Physician-Scientist Award from the ASCI in 2020, and the Innovation in Research Award from The Mast Cell Disease Society in 2021. New advances in HaT |
| 14:35 | Thanai Pongdee - Mayo Clinic, Rochester Dr. Pongdee is an allergist/immunologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He graduated from Duke University and received his medical degree from the University of Kentucky. He then completed an internal medicine/pediatrics residency at the University of Tennessee and allergy/immunology fellowship at Mayo Clinic. He serves as an Associate Professor in the Division of Allergic Diseases with joint appointments in the Division of Hematology and Division of Epidemiology. He also serves as the research chair for the Division of Allergic Diseases. Dr. Pongdee’s research interests include systemic mastocytosis and hypereosinophilic syndromes, and he has served as the principal investigator for several clinical trials. Beyond Mayo Clinic, Dr. Pongdee has held several national leadership positions including serving on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Sex differences for urinary mast cell mediators |
| 14:55 | Discussion Panel with Q&A |
| 15:05 | Poster Walk & Coffee Break |
| Oral Abstract Presentations | |
| 15:35 | Nathan Boggs - Walter Reed Medical Center / Uniformed Services University Dr. Nathan Boggs is an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Allergy Division Director at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, in Bethesda, MD. He is also a staff allergist immunologist at Walter Reed Medical Center. Dr. Boggs completed allergy immunology fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, internal medicine residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, an MD at the Uniformed Services University, a PhD in plant molecular biology and genetics at Cornell University, and a BS at the University of Vermont. Dr. Boggs leads a research team and laboratory investigating both the impact of KIT mutations on different clinical phenotypes and the role of tryptase in chronic urticaria. The research team combines next generation sequencing with laboratory-based functional testing to link genotypes with phenotypes. Dr. Boggs is the site principal investigator on multiple investigational product clinical trials for systemic mastocytosis at Walter Reed including: NCT05186753, NCT06915766, and NCT04655118. He developed a Tricare screening and diagnosis registry to reduce the time to diagnosis and improve the care of patients with systemic mastocytosis. Dr. Boggs also developed clinical and research collaborations with ARUP labs and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center. Jonathan Lyons - University of California San Diego Dr. Lyons is a Professor of Medicine within the Division of Allergy & Immunology at UCSD. Using immunogenetic approaches, the Lyons lab seeks to identify mechanisms critical to allergic inflammation and hypersensitivity that can be targeted to conduct first in human clinical trials. Dr. Lyons has participated in the discovery and characterization of several primary atopic disorders - inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) presenting with severe allergic inflammation - including PGM3 deficiency, ERBIN deficiency, CARD11 haploinsufficiency and STAT6 gain-of-function - and his work describing and characterizing hereditary alpha-tryptasemia has fundamentally changed the work-up and diagnosis of mast cell disorders. Dr. Lyons has received several awards for his work, including the 2015 AAAAI Foundation/The Mastocytosis Society Research Award, NIAID Merit Awards in 2016, 2017, and 2020, the Lasker Scholarship in 2018, the Young Physician-Scientist Award from the ASCI in 2020, and the Innovation in Research Award from The Mast Cell Disease Society in 2021. Session Chairs |
| 15:40 | Karin Hartmann - University of Basel Karin Hartmann, MD, is Professor of Medicine, Head of the Division of Allergy, Deputy Chair of the Department of Dermatology, and Research Group Leader of the Department of Biomedicine at the University Hospital Basel and the University of Basel, Switzerland. Dr. Hartmann completed her medical degree at the University of Berlin, Germany, and residency training in Dermatology and Allergy & Clinical Immunology at the Universities of Berlin and Cologne, Germany, with a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, USA. She was then Associate Professor at the University of Cologne from 2005 to 2015 and Professor at the University of Lübeck, Germany, from 2015 to 2018. Dr. Hartmann’s research focuses on the biology of mast cells and diseases related to mast cells, including mastocytosis, anaphylaxis, angioedema, and atopic dermatitis. She has particular interests in clarifying the causes and developing novel diagnostic methods and effective therapies for these diseases. She is an author of more than 150 research articles, reviews, and book chapters that have been published in journals such as the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Blood, Immunity, and the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Hartmann and her research group have contributed to elucidating the biology of mast cells by investigating cellular functions such as mediator release, chemotaxis, and apoptosis. They developed new mast cell-specific, Cre-transgenic mouse models and used these models to evaluate the role of mast cells in allergy, infection, tissue repair, and tumors. In mastocytosis, Dr. Hartmann and her team characterized skin lesions in childhood-onset mastocytosis and demonstrated that the size of cutaneous lesions can serve as prognostic parameter. They identified several novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in vitro and in vivo, described new germline KIT mutations in familial mastocytosis, and generated a mouse model of mastocytosis with conditional expression of mutant KIT. Moreover, Dr. Hartmann initiated and conducted clinical trials with novel therapeutic compounds, crucially participated in the development of new classifications and diagnostic criteria and chaired the Consensus Report on Cutaneous Mastocytosis of the ECNM, AAAAI and EAACI, the mastocytosis chapter of the current WHO classification of Skin Tumors, and the German Guideline for Management of Mastocytosis. Dr. Hartmann is Board Member of the ECNM, served as its Chair from 2010 to 2015, and actively participates in the ECNM Patient Registry. She founded the German Competence Network on Mastocytosis in 2008 and served as its Chair from 2008 to 2011 and Vice Chair from 2014 until present. For developing a revised classification of cutaneous mastocytosis with clear prognostic impact, Dr. Hartmann received the Researcher of the Year (ROY) Award of the ECNM in Vienna on August 26, 2020. Mrgprb2-induced, but not IgE-mediated, anaphylaxis, differs between KitD814V- mutant mastocytosis and control mice |
| 15:50 | Q&A |
| 15:55 | Elisabeth Rebboah - MD Anderson Cancer Center I am a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Hussein Abbas’s laboratory at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, focused on computational biology and translational cancer research. My work integrates computational and experimental approaches, with an emphasis on single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. I am leading development of our lab’s systemic mastocytosis research program, leveraging a large, clinically annotated patient biobank to enable integrated profiling of disease across patients, tissues, and treatment contexts. My current work combines single-cell transcriptomic and plasma proteomic data to identify biomarkers, define disease biology, and uncover molecular drivers of clinical heterogeneity and therapeutic response. Integrative proteomics and machine learning identify subtype- and symptom- associated signatures in systemic mastocytosis |
| 16:05 | Q&A |
| 16:10 | Melanie Donahue - University of Michigan Dr. Melanie Donahue completed undergraduate education in Biotechnology and Mathematics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute before joining the Connectivity Map project at the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard. She then attended the T.H. Chan School of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts, completed a combined residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Michigan, and remained at the University of Michigan for Allergy and Clinical Immunology fellowship training. During fellowship she began work in the laboratory group of Dr. Chase Schuler characterizing molecular regulators of mast cell activation and anaphylaxis, which she has continued in collaboration with the Immunology graduate program and Food Allergy Center since transition to faculty appointment. She has also continued to develop interests in transitional care for young adult patients with chronic conditions as well as improving access to STEM education for the next generation. Focal adhesion kinase regulates mast cell activation and anaphylaxis |
| 16:20 | Q&A |
| 16:25 | Cem Akin - University of Michigan Dr. Akin is a clinician-scientist and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Michigan Division of Allergy and Immunology. He obtained his Internal Medicine training and PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from University of Louisville, and completed his fellowship at NIAID, NIH in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Dr. Akin is recognized for his work on mast cell disorders including mastocytosis, mast cell activation syndromes, and anaphylaxis. As an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, he established the first multidisciplinary mastocytosis center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His clinical interests include tyrosine kinase inhibitor and other novel treatments for indolent systemic mastocytosis, tryptase and other biomarkers for mast cell disease, and pathophysiology and treatment of anaphylaxis. Dr. Akin is a co-author of the current WHO diagnostic criteria and classification of mastocytosis and has published over 20 scientific papers and book chapters on mastocytosis. He was awarded the Researcher of the Year and the ECNM Medal and Trophy in 2022 by European Competence Network on Mastocytosis. He served on the editorial boards of JACI and Blood, is a past President of the Michigan Allergy Society, and currently enjoys teaching fellows, conducting clinical research, and seeing a diverse population of allergy patients at the University of Michigan. Day One Closing Remarks |
| 18:30 | Conference Dinner (Registration Required) |
SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2026
| 7:45 | Breakfast |
| 8:15 | Mariana Castells - Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University Mariana Castells, M.D., Ph.D. is a clinician-scientist with over 30 years of experience in allergy and immunology. Additionally, she is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School with over 200 publications. She is the Director of the Brigham and Women’s Mastocytosis Center one of the few nationally and internationally recognized centers of excellence which provides diagnosis, management, and treatment options for patients with mastocytosis and mast cell activation disorders, which are rare and potentially deadly disorders currently addressed with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors. Additionally, she is the Director of the Drug Hypersensitivity and Desensitization Center at Brigham and Women’s and Dana Farber Cancer Institute which provides over 900 high risk desensitization’s per year for over 20 years to patients with cancer, severe infections and inflammatory diseases who are allergic to their first line therapy, increasing their life expectancy and quality of life. Plenary Presentation Introduction |
| 8:20 | Christopher Kepley - Liberty University Chris Kepley is a Professor of Immunology at LUCOM. He received his BS in Biology from James Madison University and a PhD in Immunology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Kepley is an expert in human mast cell and basophil biology. His research has focused on identifying novel mechanisms to “turn off” these cells that cause allergic inflammation. More recently his research is focused on a National Cancer Institute-supported strategy using mast cells as a “Trojan horse” for finding and killing cancer cells. His research has been recognized internationally as the recipient of the Swedish Phadia Allergy Research Forum Award and the Danish Henning Løwenstein International Research Award for excellence in allergy research. He has over 100 peer-reviewed publications, several issued patents, and is supported by several NIH research grants. Dr. Kepley also is the co-founder of Kepley Biosystems, a company involved in ocean sustainability. Studies examining human mast cells as a new strategy for cancer immunotherapy |
| Special Session: Multidisciplinary Interactive Tumor Board | |
| 8:40 | Andreas Reiter - University Hospital Mannheim, Heidelberg University Mannheim, Germany Dr Andreas Reiter is an Associate Professor and Consultant of Hematology and Oncology at the Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany. Dr Reiter’s main research focus lies on pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Since 1992, he has been involved in translational research and numerous clinical trials, most recently particularly focusing on treatment of classic MPN and translational research for a better understanding of pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilia-associated disorders and systemic mastocytosis. Dr Reiter has established a “German Registry for Disorders of Eosinophils and Mast Cells (GREM)”. Anton Rets - ARUP Laboratories / University of Utah Anton Rets, MD, PhD, is an associate professor of Pathology at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, a diagnostic hematopathologist at the University of Utah Health and ARUP Laboratories, and a medical director of Immunohistochemistry laboratory at ARUP Laboratories in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr. Rets’ professional interests include diagnostic aspects of mast cell disorders, and other myeloid neoplasms. He has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed hematology journals and contributed to hematopathology textbooks. He is a member of national and international Hematology/Hematopathology committees. Session Chairs |
| 8:45 | Luke Maese - University of Utah / Huntsman Cancer Center Luke Maese, D.O., is as an Associate Professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr. Maese’s interest includes clinical care for children with malignant hematopoietic disorders, specifically acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and cancer predisposition syndromes. He serves as director of the Leukemia/Lymphoma, Cancer Genetics, and Clinical Trial Research Enterprise and co-director of the Bone Marrow Failure program within the division of pediatric hematology/oncology at Primary Children’s Hospital. Dr. Maese’s is an active participant in national collaborative efforts including within the Children’s Oncology Group Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Committee, the Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators’ Consortium (POETIC), and the Therapeutic Advances in Childhood Leukemia & Lymphoma (TACL) consortium. He serves as the Vice-Chair of the COG Young Investigator Committee and the ALL committee’s YI liaison. He is a founding member of the Early Detection in Syndromic Cancer (EDISYN) consortium. Pediatric Systemic mastocytosis associated acute myeloid leukemia |
| 9:05 | Manar Abdalgani - Columbia University Medical Center Manar Abdalgani, MBBS, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Assistant Attending Physician in the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where she also serves as Interim Program Director for Allergy and Immunology. Dr. Abdalgani is a clinical immunologist with expertise in inborn errors of immunity, immune dysregulation, mast cell disorders, and transplant immunology. Her work integrates clinical innovation, translational research, and education, with contributions to national and international initiatives in primary immunodeficiency. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and is recognized for advancing diagnostic and multidisciplinary care pathways in clinical immunology. Early-Onset Systemic Mastocytosis with Suspected Germline KIT D816Y Mutation in an Infant: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges. |
| 9:25 | Brandon Schornack - Walter Reed National Medical Center Brandon J. Schornack, D.O. is a board-certified allergist-immunologist and pediatrician at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he serves as a staff allergist-immunologist and ACGME core faculty for the allergy-immunology fellowship program. He is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Uniformed Services University and Co-Lead of Walter Reed’s American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases Center of Excellence. His clinical and research interests include systemic mastocytosis, urticaria, inborn errors of immunity, and food allergy. He has authored peer-reviewed publications on mast cell disease, fire ant venom anaphylaxis, and complement deficiency, and he has presented nationally at AIM, AAAAI, and ACAAI. He is an active member of several AAAAI committees, including the mast cell disorder committee. Jeremy McMurray - Walter Reed National Medical Center Jeremy C. McMurray, MD, is a board-certified allergist-immunologist and pediatrician at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he serves as staff allergist-immunologist and ACGME core faculty for the allergy-immunology fellowship program. He is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Uniformed Services University and Co-Lead of Walter Reed’s American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases Center of Excellence. His clinical and research interests include systemic mastocytosis, venom allergy, and anaphylaxis. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on mast cell disease, fire ant venom anaphylaxis, and Hymenoptera venom allergy, and he has presented nationally at AIM, AAAAI, ACAAI, and other professional meetings. He is an active member of several AAAAI committees, including the mast cell disorder committee, and is on the committee developing the Stinging Insect Allergy Practice Parameters. Polymorphic MPCM with KIT p.D816V-Positive Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis: An Uncommon Pediatric Presentation. |
| 9:45 | Discussion Panel with Q&A |
| 9:55 | BREAK |
| Session 4: Clinical Heterogeneity in Mast Cell Disease | |
| 10:10 | Anthony Hunter - Emory University School of Medicine / Wanship Cancer A board-certified hematologist, Anthony M. Hunter, MD, specializes in treating patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms and systemic mastocytosis. Dr. Hunter is an associate professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. He serves as medical director of the Immediate Care Center and leads the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Program. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed his internal medicine residency at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, followed by a fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, where he served as chief fellow in his final year. Dr. Hunter’s research focuses on understanding the molecular drivers of myeloid malignancies to improve prognostication and develop novel treatment strategies. He participates in clinical trials evaluating new therapies for myeloproliferative neoplasms, myelodysplastic syndromes and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms. Cecilia Arana Yi - Mayo Clinic Cecilia Arana Yi, MD, MSHS, is a board-certified Hematologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic Arizona, where she directs the Leukemia Program and specializes in Systemic Mastocytosis and myeloid malignancies. She completed her medical training at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, followed by Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University and a Leukemia Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She joined Mayo Clinic in 2020. Dr. Arana Yi has developed a strong clinical practice, expanded clinical trials in leukemia and mast cell disorders, and established a multidisciplinary Mast Cell Disorders Program. She is active in the Myeloid Malignancy Disease Group, Education Committee, and the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, and is committed to teaching residents and students. She is also a recognized educator and advocate in Systemic Mastocytosis across the Southwest and Latin America, serving as faculty for the AIM LATAM Meeting, where she contributes to regional education, collaboration, and patient-focused initiatives in mast cell diseases. Session Chairs |
| 10:15 | Nathan Boggs - Walter Reed Medical Center / Uniformed Services University Dr. Nathan Boggs is an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Allergy Division Director at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, in Bethesda, MD. He is also a staff allergist immunologist at Walter Reed Medical Center. Dr. Boggs completed allergy immunology fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, internal medicine residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, an MD at the Uniformed Services University, a PhD in plant molecular biology and genetics at Cornell University, and a BS at the University of Vermont. Dr. Boggs leads a research team and laboratory investigating both the impact of KIT mutations on different clinical phenotypes and the role of tryptase in chronic urticaria. The research team combines next generation sequencing with laboratory-based functional testing to link genotypes with phenotypes. Dr. Boggs is the site principal investigator on multiple investigational product clinical trials for systemic mastocytosis at Walter Reed including: NCT05186753, NCT06915766, and NCT04655118. He developed a Tricare screening and diagnosis registry to reduce the time to diagnosis and improve the care of patients with systemic mastocytosis. Dr. Boggs also developed clinical and research collaborations with ARUP labs and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center. Systemic mastocytosis screening |
| 10:35 | Melody Carter - National Institutes of Health Melody C. Carter is a senior research clinician in the Laboratory of Allergic Diseases at the NIH. She is board-certified in Allergy/Immunology and Pediatrics. Dr. Carter’s research focus is anaphylaxis and pediatric mastocytosis. Her responsibilities include patient care, teaching rounds and lectures, A&I training program attending, collaborative partnerships with universities, peer-reviewed publications, and scientific meeting lectures. She is a consistently invited lecturer for professional academic societies such as the AAAAI, NMA and ECNM. She is considered an international expert on pediatric mastocytosis. She has served on the Board of Directors, Chair and Vice Chair of the Mast Cell Disorders Committee and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee for the AAAAI. She is a member of the Editorial Board for the J Allergy Clin Immunol: Pract. the NMA Allergy Division and the American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases. She is a mentor for the NIAID post-baccalaureate training program with a targeted program for underrepresented minorities. Atypical manifestations in pediatric SM (including bone) |
| 10:55 | Theo Gulen - Karolinska University Hospital I am a board certified specialist in Internal Medicine as well as Clinical Immunology and Allergology, and I serve as a Senior Consultant Allergist at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. My clinical responsibilities include investigation and management of patients with anaphylaxis, mastocytosis, mast cell activation syndromes, hereditary alpha tryptasemia, hypersensitivity to insect venom, drugs and foods, chronic urticaria and angioedema, and asthma. I completed my doctoral studies at Karolinska Institutet in 2014, earning a PhD in medical science. Since then, I have been affiliated with the Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Immunology and Allergy, where I pursue my research activities alongside my clinical appointment. I currently hold the position of Associate Professor of Allergy. My research centers on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying mast cell dysfunction in patients with severe allergic and hypersensitivity disorders with particular emphasis on idiopathic and venom induced anaphylaxis, mastocytosis, and mast cell activation syndromes (MCAS). Predictive models to diagnose clonal MCAS |
| 11:15 | Sigurd Broesby-Olsen - University of Southern Denmark Sigurd Broesby-Olsen, M.D. is a Consultant Dermatologist and Head of the Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital, and Associate Professor at the University of Southern Denmark. He leads the National Danish Mastocytosis Centre Odense University Hospital (MastOUH); a specialized multidisciplinary reference center providing care for pediatric and adult patients with mastocytosis. His scientific work focuses on anaphylaxis and other clinical aspects and comorbidities of mastocytosis, including the development and clinical use of highly sensitive KITD816V mutation analysis in peripheral blood. He has contributed to the establishment of clinical diagnostic algorithms and guidelines supporting multidisciplinary management and treatment strategies in mastocytosis. His epidemiologic research has contributed to defining incidence and prevalence and identifying associated risks, including increased skin cancer risk. Skin Cancer and Mastocytosis |
| 11:35 | Discussion Panel with Q&A |
| 11:45 | BRUNCH |
| Session 5: Therapies, Novel Agents and Survival | |
| 12:45 | Cem Akin - University of Michigan Dr. Akin is a clinician-scientist and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Michigan Division of Allergy and Immunology. He obtained his Internal Medicine training and PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from University of Louisville, and completed his fellowship at NIAID, NIH in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Dr. Akin is recognized for his work on mast cell disorders including mastocytosis, mast cell activation syndromes, and anaphylaxis. As an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, he established the first multidisciplinary mastocytosis center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His clinical interests include tyrosine kinase inhibitor and other novel treatments for indolent systemic mastocytosis, tryptase and other biomarkers for mast cell disease, and pathophysiology and treatment of anaphylaxis. Dr. Akin is a co-author of the current WHO diagnostic criteria and classification of mastocytosis and has published over 20 scientific papers and book chapters on mastocytosis. He was awarded the Researcher of the Year and the ECNM Medal and Trophy in 2022 by European Competence Network on Mastocytosis. He served on the editorial boards of JACI and Blood, is a past President of the Michigan Allergy Society, and currently enjoys teaching fellows, conducting clinical research, and seeing a diverse population of allergy patients at the University of Michigan. Tsewang Tashi - University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Center Tsewang Tashi, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology & Hematologic Malignancies at Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah. He specializes in myeloid malignancies, with clinical and research interests in myeloproliferative neoplasms, systemic mastocytosis, and acute leukemia. He established and currently leads the Mastocytosis Center of Excellence at Huntsman Cancer Institute and serves as principal investigator for many clinical trials and research projects. He is also the lead hematologist at the George E. Whalen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City, where he cares for veterans from across the Intermountain West. Dr. Tashi received his medical degree from Chang Gung University, School of Medicine in Taiwan and completed his fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at the University of Utah. During his hematology and oncology fellowship training, his research focused on erythrocytosis and high-altitude genetic adaptations. Session Chairs |
| 12:50 | Lindsay Rein - Duke University / Division of Hematologic Malignancies Dr. Lindsay Rein is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy at Duke. She earned her M.D. from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and went on to complete both her Internal Medicine residency training as well as her Hematology and Medical Oncology fellowship training at Duke before joining the faculty in 2014. Dr. Rein is a physician-scientist with a specific interest in the development of novel targeted therapies for patients with myeloid malignancies. Her laboratory research focuses on the role of β-arrestins, scaffolding, and signaling proteins involved in adrenergic signaling in myeloproliferative neoplasms. Clinically, Dr. Rein treats patients with myeloproliferative disorders and runs a program of both early and late phase clinical trials for patients with various MPNs including systemic mastocytosis. She is a panel member for the NCCN guidelines and is also a member of the H Jean Khoury Cure CML Consortium. Update on Therapy of non-advanced SM |
| 13:10 | Stephanie Lee - University of Toronto Dr. Stephanie Lee received her MD at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and completed internal medicine and hematology training at the University of Toronto. She completed a fellowship in acute leukemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms at the Princess Margaret Centre in Toronto followed by a master’s degree in Epidemiology and Clinical Research at Stanford University. She is an early career Investigator and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, and an associate scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St Michael’s Hospital. Her clinical and research focus is on rare myeloid neoplasms and hereditary hematological malignancies. She is the Primary Investigator of the American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases (AIM) Centre of Excellence at St Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada. Therapeutic Updates in Advanced SM |
| 13:30 | Melanie Dispenza - Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Dr. Dispenza is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is a translational physician-scientist whose research focuses on the mechanisms, biomarkers, and prevention of immediate hypersensitivity reactions. Dr. Dispenza received the 2025 Young Physician-Scientist Award from the American Society for Clinical Investigation and is the leading physician for the AIM center of excellence at Johns Hopkins. Targeting BTK to inhibit mast cell activation |
| 13:50 | Frank Siebenhaar - Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany Frank Siebenhaar is Assistant Professor and Senior Consultant at the Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. He is head of the outpatient clinic for mast cell-associated diseases (MAD3) and coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Mastocytosis Center Charité (IMC2). After completing his doctoral thesis at the Department of Dermatology, Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Germany in 2004, Professor Siebenhaar completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Experimental Pathology and Immunology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA, from 2007-2009. He received the venia legendi for dermatology from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin in 2014. Professor Siebenhaar’s research focusses on the biology of mast cells and the pathophysiology of mast cell-associated diseases; his clinical emphasis is on mastocytosis, urticaria, angioedema, chronic pruritus, and autoinflammatory syndromes. He is board member of the Urticaria Network e.V. (UNEV) and the European Mast cell and Basophil Research Network, past board member of the German Competence Network for Mastocytosis and active member of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM), the European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR) and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI). Lessons Learned from Remibrutinib in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria |
| 14:10 | Discussion Panel with Q&A |
| 14:20 | BREAK |
| Session 6: Mast Cell Biology and Pre-Clinical Development | |
| 14:35 | Hussein Abbas - MD Anderson Cancer Center Hussein A. Abbas, MD, PhD, is a physician-scientist at MD Anderson Cancer Center. His clinical and translational research focuses on systemic mastocytosis and acute myeloid leukemia, with an emphasis on understanding how malignant cells interact with their immune and stromal microenvironment. His work integrates clinical samples with genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic profiling to better characterize disease heterogeneity and to identify biomarkers associated with treatment response and resistance in hematologic malignancies. His research aims to inform more precise approaches to patient stratification and therapy selection. Katherine Walsh - Vanderbilt University Medical Center Dr. Katherine Walsh is an associate professor of medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she serves as the co-PI for VUMC’s designation as an AIM Center of Excellence. She completed her medical school, residency, and chief residency at the University of Florida before moving to Duke for her hematology/oncology fellowship. She served on faculty at The Ohio State University for nine years where she established her expertise in the care of patients with mastocytosis and myeloproliferative neoplasms. She is passionate about training the next generation of heme/onc physicians and serves as the program director for the hematology/oncology fellowship program and recognized as a leader in education by the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Session Chairs |
| 14:40 | John Robinson - Cogent Biosciences John Robinson is Cogent’s Chief Scientific Officer with over 20 years of small molecule drug discovery experience. He previously served as Vice President of Medicinal Chemistry at Pfizer Boulder Research and Development. John joined Pfizer from Array BioPharma, where he was Executive Director/Head of Chemistry. He started with Array in 2002 and served in a series of scientific and people leadership positions. He received his undergraduate degree in BioChemistry from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from the University of Delaware. Relationship between KIT inhibition by bezuclastinib on effects on mast cell burden in mouse models of systemic mastocytosis |
| 14:55 | Benjamin L. Lampson - Blueprint Medicines Benjamin Logan Lampson, MD, PhD is a Senior Medical Director at Blueprint Medicines and a hematologist–oncologist with expertise in rare disease drug development. Prior to joining Blueprint, Dr. Lampson earned his MD and PhD from Duke University and completed an internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an oncology fellowship at Dana-Farber. His postdoctoral work in the laboratory of William Kaelin focused on novel mechanisms of inhibiting NFkB signaling in B cells, while his clinical focus was on patients with hematologic malignancies and investigator initiated clinical trials in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. At Blueprint Medicines he serves as medical lead for multiple late stage and early-stage clinical development programs, with extensive experience advancing targeted therapies for systemic mastocytosis (SM) and other rare mast cell–driven diseases. This includes the phase 3 registrational PIONEER study which led to the approval of avapritinib in indolent systemic mastocytosis. Beyond D816V: Addressing Systemic Mastocytosis Driven by Non-canonical Activating Mutations in KIT |
| 15:10 | Wendy Pang - Jasper Therapeutics Dr. Pang led early research and development at Jasper Therapeutics, playing a pivotal role in advancing briquilimab across multiple clinical indications and studies in both mast cell- and blood stem cell-related diseases. Prior to Jasper, Dr. Pang was an Instructor in the Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation at Stanford University, where she had an active clinical practice and conducted translational research in hematology / oncology, immunology, and stem cell biology. She authored numerous publications on the identification and characterization of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell behavior in aging, non-malignant hematopoietic and immune diseases, as well as hematopoietic malignancies, including MDS and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Dr. Pang has multiple patents and patent applications. Dr. Pang completed her internal medicine residency and hematology fellowship at Stanford University, and she holds an MD and PhD in Cancer Biology from Stanford University, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Biology from Harvard University. Briquilimab, an Anti-Human CD117 Antibody, Effectively Treats Cockroach Allergen-Induced Asthma Model in Mice Expressing Chimeric Human/Mouse CD117 |
| Closing Remarks | |
| 15:25 | Cem Akin - University of Michigan Dr. Akin is a clinician-scientist and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Michigan Division of Allergy and Immunology. He obtained his Internal Medicine training and PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from University of Louisville, and completed his fellowship at NIAID, NIH in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Dr. Akin is recognized for his work on mast cell disorders including mastocytosis, mast cell activation syndromes, and anaphylaxis. As an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, he established the first multidisciplinary mastocytosis center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His clinical interests include tyrosine kinase inhibitor and other novel treatments for indolent systemic mastocytosis, tryptase and other biomarkers for mast cell disease, and pathophysiology and treatment of anaphylaxis. Dr. Akin is a co-author of the current WHO diagnostic criteria and classification of mastocytosis and has published over 20 scientific papers and book chapters on mastocytosis. He was awarded the Researcher of the Year and the ECNM Medal and Trophy in 2022 by European Competence Network on Mastocytosis. He served on the editorial boards of JACI and Blood, is a past President of the Michigan Allergy Society, and currently enjoys teaching fellows, conducting clinical research, and seeing a diverse population of allergy patients at the University of Michigan. Jason Gotlib - Stanford University Dr. Gotlib is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology at the Stanford University School of Medicine / Stanford Cancer Institute. His research focus is clinical and translational evaluation of novel therapies for myeloproliferative neoplasms, with a focus on KIT inhibitors for systemic mastocytosis (SM). Dr. Gotlib has authored more than 250 research articles, chapters, and reviews that have been published in journals such as Blood, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Nature Medicine, and The New England Journal of Medicine. He is Vice-Chair of the NCCN Guidelines Committee on Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, and chaired the NCCN guideline development for SM. He led the clinical development of midostaurin and avapritinib for patients with advanced SM, as well as response criteria for these diseases which are used by regulatory agencies for drug approval. Dr. Gotlib was awarded the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM) Medal as Researcher of the Year in 2019 for the development of KIT-targeting therapies in advanced SM. He currently serves as President of the American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases (AIM). Dr. Gotlib enjoys landscape photography in his spare time. Closing Remarks |
Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of AAAAI and the American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases. The AAAAI is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Designation Statement
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology designates this live activity for a maximum of 11.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The CME credits that physicians earn from this activity will be submitted to ACCME’s CME Passport, a free, centralized web application where you can create a personalized account to view, track, and generate transcripts of your reported CME credit. Please contact UUCME (CME.Office@hsc.utah.edu) with any questions.