Researcher Spotlight: Samuel Yamshon, MD

WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY

The lymphoma treatment landscape has been dramatically changed in recent years with the development of novel immunotherapies such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells and bispecific antibodies. Dr. Yamshon’s research aims to build on the successes of these therapies to continually improve outcomes for patients. “Our research suggests that by using a pill to inhibit an enzyme called EZH2, we can enhance the response of the immune system and help supercharge it to be even more effective against lymphoma,” he explains.

After earning his medical degree from the University of California, Davis, Dr. Yamshon went on to complete his residency and hematology/oncology fellowship at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, where he currently serves as an assistant professor of medicine. He was initially drawn to a career in lymphoma research in light of his family’s own experiences with the disease. “My uncle was cured by a novel therapy on a clinical trial, and I know that if all of the advances we have today would have existed when my grandfather was diagnosed, he could still be alive today,” he says. “My goal as a lymphoma doctor is to help advance lymphoma care so that families like mine can have more time with their loved ones.”

Dr. Yamshon’s commitment to lymphoma research is also inspired by the people he treats every day. “I am in constant awe of my patients, whose strength in the face of incredible adversity inspires me to continue to push to improve our treatments and move toward a cure for lymphoma,” he says. “Ideally, I would like to see a cure for lymphoma and put myself out of a job. If that is not possible, I would like to see a further expansion of novel treatments that help us move away from chemotherapy and toward more-targeted or personalized therapies.”

Dr. Yamshon was also a 2022 Scholar through the Lymphoma Scientific Research Mentoring Program.