Amos Institute for Medical Faculty Development (AIMFD), in partnership with the American Society of Hematology (ASH), is pleased to announce the recipients of the ASH-AIMFD program award: Erik Kimble, MD and Christina Termini, PhD of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and Francesca Alvarez Calderon, MD, PhD, MS, of Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.
Recipients are granted a total of $420,000 over the four years of the program, including stipends, research support, a SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group of Experts) mentor, complimentary ASH membership, and support for attendance at both the ASH and AIMFD annual meetings each year of the award. Each recipient will focus their research on a specific area of hematology, with the goal of advancing scientific discovery and improving the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of blood disorders. Through this support, AIMFD is preparing the next generation of leaders to drive meaningful change.
“This inaugural cohort of Scholars marks a transformative new era for the Amos Institute as we strengthen our commitment to medical leaders whose discoveries will shape the future of healthcare,” said David S. Wilkes, MD, CEO of AIMFD. “As top researchers in their fields, these scientists represent the forefront of medicine, and we are proud to support their growth into healthcare leaders.”
This cohort represents the first Scholars for AIMFD after transitioning from the Amos Medical Faculty Development Program (AMFDP) in April 2025. AIMFD launched after the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s decision to conclude funding of AMFDP in 2028. AMFDP was created more than 40 years ago through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
“ASH is proud to partner with the Amos Institute for Medical Faculty Development to support the inaugural cohort of ASH-AIMFD Scholars. This award reflects ASH’s continued commitment to expanding pathways for talented investigators in hematology and supporting their development as future leaders in the field,” said Joann Mazali, career advancement programs manager for ASH. “Drs. Alvarez Calderon, Kimble, and Termini bring exceptional promise, scientific vision, and a deep commitment to advancing discovery and improving outcomes for patients with blood disorders. We are honored to support their work and look forward to the impact they will have on the future of hematology.”
ABOUT THE RECIPIENTS
Francesca Alvarez Calderon, MD, PhD, MS is a physician-scientist at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. She specializes in providing clinical care for pediatric patients receiving cellular immunotherapies and stem cell transplants. Her research focuses on understanding how engineered T cells recognize, traffic to, and function within pediatric tumors to develop next-generation strategies that improve patient outcomes. A major component of her research is the development of T-cell receptor therapies targeting oncogenic fusion proteins combined with strategies to overcome tumor infiltration barriers. As an investigator in the Kean Laboratory, Dr. Alvarez Calderon seeks to combine functional genomics and mechanistic T-cell biology to create more effective, durable cellular therapies for children with cancer.
Erik Kimble, MD is a physician-scientist at the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington. He specializes in caring for patients receiving cellular immunotherapies for blood cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma. His research focuses on understanding the mechanisms that determine cancer response and resistance to engineered T-cell therapies and developing next-generation strategies to improve patient outcomes. A major component of his research is the development of innovative platforms to make CAR T-cell therapy more effective, accessible, and adaptable for challenging cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). As an Amos Institute Scholar, Dr. Kimble seeks to generate CAR T cells directly within the body and develop systems that enhance their activity to overcome treatment resistance in AML.
Christina Termini, PhD is a researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington. She specializes in investigating how sugar-bearing molecules regulate blood cell homeostasis, regeneration, and malignancy. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of blood stem cell biology to develop novel strategies that improve treatments for hematologic disease. A major component of her research is uncovering the regulatory roles of heparan sulfate proteoglycans, such as syndecan-2, in blood stem cell function and regeneration. As an Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the CCEH, Dr. Termini seeks to advance translational therapies while leading programs to support and mentor the next generation of scientific leaders.
###
ABOUT AIMFD
The Amos Institute for Medical Faculty Development supports the development of medical, dental, nursing, and public health faculty who are committed to developing academic research careers and achieving senior rank in their fields. Our mission is to develop future leaders who reflect a wide breadth of lived experiences to inspire and mentor others, advance biomedical sciences, and transform healthcare to improve health for all people. Learn more at www.aimfd.org.