The International Myeloma Society established the Bart Barlogie Clinical Investigator Award in recognition to the outstanding research developed by Dr. Bart Barlogie in the field of multiple myeloma. This award is aimed at formally recognizing and stimulating excellence in myeloma research.
The recipient of the 2022 Bart Barlogie Clinical Investigator Award is María-Victoria Mateos, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Myeloma Program and coordinator of the Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Salamanca, Spain.
“During the early years in my studies, I have come to love biology and biochemistry, hence the decision to study Hematology, a specialty in which clinical and laboratory work are interconnected. My mentor – Jesus San Miguel – has been an inspiration and a role model for me. He enforced the importance of combining clinical activity with research and inspired me to pursue translational research.”
Dr Mateos serves as coordinator of GEM (Spanish Myeloma Group), with direct involvement in the design and development of clinical trials. She has coordinated many clinical trials especially in the setting of transplant ineligible and smoldering myeloma and these trials have profoundly influenced current options for the management of these patient populations.
“The award is a recognition of my clinical effort. I was involved in the design of clinical trials that allowed introduction of novel agents, such as bortezomib and immunomodulatory agents, that revolutionized the myeloma therapy. It was amazing to see the striking activities of these novel combination therapies, first in preclinical settings and then in patients. And now with the introduction of monoclonal antibodies and the novel immunotherapies, I’m excited to be part of the global effort to end myeloma.
“The most challenging task we face now in myeloma is finding the cure. We have now the tools to get there; we can now offer to our patients the most effective combination therapies, with the support of very sensitive techniques to evaluate the response.” She adds, “This is not just my award… there is a team, a network of people working together toward a common goal, a cure for our patients.”
