2026 Awards

ASTCT E. Donnall Thomas Award Recipient

Dr. James Ferrara is the Ward-Coleman professor of Cancer medicine and director the Center for Translational Research in Hematologic Malignancies a the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. As a physician-scientist his clinical and research career has focused on the immunology of allogeneic BMT and its major complication graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD).He used innovative proteomic techniques to discover and validate serum biomarkers for acute GVHD and founded the Mount Sinai Acute GVHD International Consortium (MAGIC) to provide a multicenter database and biorepository that has identified and validated biomarkers capable of guiding GVHD therapy. Dr. Ferrara’s pioneering mechanistic studies have illuminated unexpected interactions between the innate and adaptive immune systems and have led to conceptual breakthroughs and the discovery of novel therapeutic targets in order to make BMT safer and more effective for all patients.

The E. Donnall Thomas Lecture, presented at each year's Annual Meeting, recognizes an eminent physician or scientist, either a clinician or an investigator, who has contributed meritoriously to the advancement of knowledge in blood and marrow transplantation. The lecturer does not necessarily have to be a member of ASTCT. The honoree receives a plaque, along with expenses to attend the Annual Meeting. View past recipients.

2026 Recipient: James Ferrara, MD, DSc

ASTCT Lifetime Achievement Award

Robert Negrin, MD is a professor of medicine and former Chief of the Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at Stanford University. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and MD from Harvard Medical School. He trained in Internal Medicine and Hematology at Stanford University and joined the faculty at Stanford University in 1990.

His research focuses on developing a more fundamental understanding of immune mediated reactions such as graft vs host and graft vs tumor reactions with a particular interest in immune regulatory mechanisms. Several concepts developed in his laboratory have been translated to clinical trials including the concept developed by Orca Bio. Dr. Negrin has published over 300 manuscripts and 44 book chapters. He has won a number of awards including fellowships from the Damon Runyon Walter Winchell Cancer Fund and the Jose Carreras International Leukemia Foundation. He was a recipient of a Distinguished Clinical Science Award from the Doris Duke Foundation. He received the E. Donnall Thomas lectureship from ASTCT. He is an elected member of the Association of American Physicians.

Dr. Negrin has served on multiple editorial boards and was an Associate Editor of Blood and the Founding Editor in Chief at Blood Advances. He has served as the President of the International Society of Cellular Therapy, the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (currently American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy) and is currently the President of the American Society of Hematology.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an eminent scientist or physician who has made continuing contributions to the BMT and cellular therapy fields through the advancement of knowledge via basic or clinical science. View past recipients.

2026 Recipient: Robert Negrin, MD

ASTCT Public Service Award

For nearly four decades, NMDP has reimagined transplantation science, advancing clinical research and expanding access to life-saving cell therapy. Its dedication continues to make a profound impact on generations of stakeholders, from physicians and advocates to financial supporters and families—and, above all, patients. Partnering across the ecosystem with the World Marrow Donor Association and the ASTCT, NMDP advances innovation via its research collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin, CIBMTR® (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research), to improve outcomes and ensure all patients can access transplant. As the operator of the most diverse registry of potential blood stem cell donors and cord blood units serving U.S. patients, NMDP orchestrates an interconnected pathway for patients—from diagnosis through survivorship—underpinned by a growing evidence base. NMDP has invested in research to improve donor-patient matching, grow the donor registry, accelerate clinical practice, fuel patient financial assistance and support advocacy initiatives to increase access to transplant. The organization’s research, investments, programs, services and people have impacted over 140,000 patients since 1987.

The Public Service Award, presented at each year's Annual Meeting, recognizes an individual or organization who has advanced the interests of the BMT and cellular therapy field or has given special service to the patients and families that we serve. The honoree receives a plaque, along with expenses to attend the Annual Meeting. View past recipients.

2026 Recipients: Amy Ronneberg, CEO on behalf of NMDP