Dr. Steven Treon, MD, PhD, (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) has agreed to advise the IWMF Board of Trustees. Dr. Treon joins Dr. Ansell of the Mayo Clinic in providing the critical perspective of world-renowned clinicians/researchers to the IWMF Board. Dr. Treon and Dr. Ansell also will jointly co-chair the IWMF Scientific Advisory Committee.
Dr. Treon is the Director of the Bing Center for Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Most WMers are well aware of Dr. Treon’s credentials as a noted leader in the field of Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia research, and as a compassionate, capable, and caring clinician.
Most also will recognize him from his frequent presentations at the IWMF Educational Forums, his articles in the IWMF Torch, his visits to WM Support Groups and Affiliates around the world, and his WM genomics research (which includes ground-breaking research and discoveries in regard to BTK, MYD88, and CXCR4 mutations). Of note also is his having spearheaded the effort to gain US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for ibrutinib as the first-ever FDA approved treatment for Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, which occurred January 2015.
Dr. Treon is expanding his relationship with the IWMF because he believes that “The IWMF support has made some of the most pivotal discoveries in WM possible, including the genomics driving WM, and the development of drugs like ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, zanubrutinib and tirabrutinib that target MYD88 signaling. These discoveries provide a real example of how basic scientific research is allowing us to make real gains on WM. I am honored to work with the IWMF trustees and scientific advisory committee to continue this progress, and to finding a cure for WM”.
Dr. Treon will officially undertake his new role with the IWMF effective with the first Board Meeting in 2020. His addition as Board advisor and co-chair of the IWMF Scientific Advisory Committee will significantly enhance our efforts to support and educate everyone affected by WM, and to identify and promote research that will lead to better treatments, and, ultimately, a cure.