Researcher Spotlight: Eduardo Edelman Saul, MD

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Limited treatment options are available after frontline chemotherapy for peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), leading to poor clinical outcomes for patients who relapse. Golidocitinib, a selective Janus kinase 1 (inhibitor), has shown promise in early clinical trials for relapsed/refractory PTCL. Dr. Edelman Saul’s research aims to evaluate whether golidocitinib can also be used in the frontline setting for patients with newly diagnosed PTCL, with the hopes of establishing a new standard of care to improve upfront outcomes for patients with this aggressive disease.

As a medical student at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Dr. Edelman Saul knew he wanted to become a hematologist/oncologist. It wasn’t until his time as a resident at the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, FL, that he first became interested in a career in lymphoma research. “The rapid scientific progress in the field and the potential to positively impact patients’ lives were major motivators,” he explains. “I was also fascinated by the interplay between the immune system and the variety of disease presentations. Most importantly, though, studying lymphomas allowed me to build meaningful relationships with mentors and patients that continue to fuel my passion for the field.”

Dr. Edelman Saul is currently a hematology and medical oncology fellow at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Building on his current research, he hopes to establish himself as a clinician-investigator focused on leading clinical trials that improve the lives of lymphoma patients. “Being selected as a Lymphoma Research Foundation LSRMP Scholar has been an honor,” he says. “Participating in the workshop has been instrumental to connecting with like-minded peers and mentors, learning and honing skills in clinical trial development in lymphomas, establishing extramural mentor relationships I would not be able to otherwise, and opening doors for the fruition of my budding academic career.”

“Thank you to the Foundation, sponsors, patients, and everyone supporting early-career researchers and advancing the field of lymphoma research,” he adds. “Your support is invaluable.”