Meet the Newly Elected LRF Scientific Advisory Board Members

The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) welcomed three new members to its elite Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) on July 1. The new members represent distinct specialties that will contribute to the global impact of the Foundation.

The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) welcomed three new members to its elite Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) on July 1. The new members represent distinct specialties that will contribute to the global impact of the Foundation.

The volunteer SAB guides LRF’s research portfolio, seeking out the most innovative and promising lymphoma research projects for support. In addition to their charter of reviewing grant proposals and making recommendations regarding research priorities and funding, the SAB evaluates the progress of ongoing research projects and guides the strategic direction of LRF’s research programs and scientific consortia.

The new members of the SAB include Michael Green, PhD of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Loretta Nastoupil, MD of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; and Lisa Roth, MD of Weill Cornell Medicine.

MICHAEL GREEN, PHD
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD
ANDERSON CANCER CENTER

Dr. Green is an Associate Professor and Director of Translational and Laboratory Research in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is also a current member of the Lymphoma Research Foundation MCL Research Consortium. Dr. Green earned his PhD in molecular genetics from Griffith University in Australia before completing postdoctoral research fellowships at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Stanford University.

Dr. Green’s research interests are focused on understanding how changes to the genetic and structural makeup of chromosomes drive the development of lymphoma, with the goal of identifying potential targets for novel therapies. His lab is also working to identify factors that influence responses to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies. Dr. Green hopes that this work can be used to help design new strategies to improve the activity of these drugs as well as minimize potential toxicities.

As a member of the LRF Scientific Advisory Board, Dr. Green is excited to join a cross-sectional team of basic, translational, and clinical researchers to identify and support state-of-the-art lymphoma research. “The lymphoma research community is made up of one of the most dedicated and progress-hungry groups of individuals of any field…Our sense of community and collective commitment toward improving the outcomes for patients with lymphoma is key to this and is something that the LRF plays an important role in,” he explains. “I am looking forward to contributing my knowledge and passion regarding the role of basic science and mechanistic understanding of lymphoma biology as a key pillar of our efforts to develop new therapies and improve patient outcomes.”

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LORETTA NASTOUPIL, MD
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD
ANDERSON CANCER CENTER

Dr. Nastoupil is an Associate Professor and Deputy Chair in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is also the Director of the Lymphoma Outcomes Database and Section Chief of New Drug Development in the Division of Cancer Medicine. Dr. Nastoupil is inspired in her career as a lymphoma researcher by the connections she builds with her patients and their families and loves seeing how well patients respond to new and
emerging therapies.

Dr. Nastoupil’s research is focused on testing new forms of immune therapy in B-cell lymphoma. She has conducted studies ranging from first-in-human trials to studies examining real-world outcomes after approval. “There is nothing more rewarding than to see a phase 1 study result in promising results,” she shares. Dr. Nastoupil is most interested in therapies that use the body’s own immune system to eradicate immune cells, and is especially excited about novel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies and bispecific antibodies.

After earning her medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Nastoupil completed her clinical residency at the Washington University School of Medicine and her hematology and medical oncology fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine. As a member of the Lymphoma Research Foundation Scientific Advisory Board, Dr. Nastoupil is excited to collaborate with key leaders in lymphoma research to expand the real-world impact of their work. “I would like to exchange ideas with the brightest people in the room on how to cure lymphoma, engage patient advocates to ensure our goals are aligned, and disseminate information to local LRF groups so that all lymphoma patients have access to the latest and greatest information,” she explains.

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LISA GIULINO ROTH, MD
WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE

Dr. Roth is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Pediatric Oncology at Weill Cornell Medical College. She is also the Director of the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Lymphoma Program at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. She was initially inspired to pursue a career in lymphoma research in medical school and has since been motivated by her own experiences as both a lymphoma patient and a clinician.

Dr. Roth’s research focuses on understanding the biology of B-cell lymphomas that affect children and young adults, such as Hodgkin lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma. Her goal is to use the knowledge gained from her research to help develop novel therapies for both adults and children that are more effective and less toxic. “I am very proud to be leading the first NCI-funded phase III trial in a rare lymphoma subtype called primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma,” Dr. Roth shares. Her lab also studies subtypes of lymphoma in which Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is present, including Burkitt lymphoma, with the hopes of identifying novel therapeutic targets.

Dr. Roth earned her medical degree from New York University School of Medicine before completing her residency at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. She served as Chief Fellow during her fellowship
in pediatric hematology/oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and NewYork-Presbyterian. “The Lymphoma Research Foundation has the remarkable ability to accelerate research findings by bringing together teams of researchers and ensuring that findings can be rapidly translated to the clinic where they can benefit patients,” she shares. “It is an honor to be working with leaders in lymphoma to improve outcomes for patients.”