IMF Honors Two Outstanding Researchers

Dr. María-Victoria Mateos and Dr. Thomas Martin

Each year, the IMF honors two outstanding researchers who have made significant contributions in the field of myeloma. On June 8, the IMF honored the recipients of this year’s Kyle and Durie awards at an in-person event held during the 14th Annual Summit of the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) in Frankfurt, Germany. Dr. Brian G.M. Durie, who is the IMF Chairman of the Board, IMF Chief Scientific Officer, IMWG Chairman, leader of the IMF’s Black Swan Research Initiative® (BSRI®), Professor of Medicine, and recipient of the 2019 Honorary Doctorate for Scientific Excellence from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, emphasized that “it is indeed a great honor to be able to present these prestigious awards in person at this year’s summit – in the presence of colleagues, friends, and family.”

Robert A. Kyle

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals whose work has resulted in significant advances in research, treatment, and care of patients with myeloma. Dr. Kyle (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN) is a world-renowned myeloma expert whose groundbreaking work led to the discovery of significant hematologic entities, such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM).

The recipient of the 2023 Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award is María-Victoria Mateos, MD, PhD. Dr. Mateos is a Professor of Medicine who leads the Myeloma & Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Salamanca, Spain. Dr. Mateos also serves as coordinator of Grupo Español de Mieloma (GEM), the Spanish Myeloma Group. She is directly involved in the design, development, and coordination of many studies that have profoundly influenced current options for the management of myeloma. She has published more than 400 papers in international medical journals.

Dr. Mateos is a member of the IMWG, the International Myeloma Society (IMS), the European Hematology Association (EHA), and the American Society of Hematology (ASH). She served on the ASH Scientific Committee on plasma cell diseases (2015–2019) and the EHA Scientific Program Committee & Advisory Board (2013–2020), becoming chair of the Scientific Program Committee in 2019. She became a Councilor on the EHA Board in 2015 for a 4-year mandate and is now a member of the IMS Executive Board, the European School of Haematology (ESH) Scientific Committee, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Scientific

Program Committee. Elected in 2022 for a 4-year mandate, she is the current President of the National Society of Hematology.

Dr. Mateos received the 2019 Brian G.M. Durie Outstanding Achievement Award and the 2022 IMS Bart Barlogie Clinical Investigator Award.

“It is a great honor for me to be the recipient of the Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award, with the name of the FATHER of myeloma. Prof. Kyle has dedicated his life to myeloma research. He has educated many doctors in myeloma, but he’s always been focused on patient-centered care. These are the three pillars that inspire me in my career every day and I am committed to continuing this legacy for younger generations of doctors,” said Dr. Mateos.

Dr. Kyle commended Dr. Mateos: “I am very pleased that you were selected as the 2023 Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Awardee. You have made many important contributions to myeloma and the dysproteinemias over the years. I am certain that you will continue with your contributions to the field in the future. Keep up the good work!”

Brian G.M. Durie Outstanding Achievement Award

The Brian G.M. Durie Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes excellent achievements in myeloma research. The 2023 recipient is Thomas G. Martin, MD. Dr. Martin serves as Professor of Clinical Medicine, Associate Chief of Adult Hematology, Blood and Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy (HBC), Director of the Transplant & Cell Therapy Clinical Program, as well as Co-Director of the Myeloma Program and Clinical Research Director of Hematologic Malignancies at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of California – San Francisco (UCSF).

Dr. Martin is a member of the American Society for Blood & Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT), ASCO, and ASH. He is involved in many pre-clinical and clinical investigations and has authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed literature. Dr. Martin leads the Immunotherapy Committee of the IMWG.