“Our job is to empower patients with data to make the most informed decision, together”
For Dr. Carmelo Gurnari (Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy), haematological oncology is more than a profession – it is a deeply personal mission. A lymphoma diagnosis at 19 reshaped the trajectory of this life, fuelling a commitment to advancing research in leukemia’s molecular origins. Now a rising leader in the field, Dr. Gurnari is at the forefront of integrating molecular insights into personalized medicine, ensuring that patients receive tailored treatments based on their genetic profiles. In this interview, he shares how his personal experience helps him empathize with his patients and his approach to patient care, and the pivotal role that research plays in shaping clinical practice in haematology.
Q1. Is there a particular moment or experience in your career that reinforced your passion for your specialty?
My motivation for hematological research directly derived from my personal history of lymphoma when I was 19. This transformational experience inspired my career shift to onco-haematology and has provided me with a unique perspective, which I am able to share with my patients through empathy and the general public – raising awareness on the impact of these life-threatening disorders. I do not share this with the goal of evoking sympathy, but rather to provide with insight as to why I am so single-minded in my objective to advance research in the molecular ontogenesis of leukemias – research that has the potential to vastly improve health outcomes in these patients, providing them with the same opportunity for remission and a second lease on life that was afforded to me.
Q2. Looking ahead, what do you anticipate will be the biggest advancements or changes in your field over the next decade?
Research in haematology is the key to success! In the last decade, we understood that molecular information is crucial to tailor patients’ treatment strategies. For instance, 20 years ago we could only speculate on germline predisposition to leukaemia, whereas we now know that up to 5–10% of cases are due to inherited traits. Therefore, my focus has been pioneering translation of such information into clinical practice for a more and more personalized medicine experience in a field of medicine where progress has been transformational.
Q3. What role do patients play in shaping the way you approach treatments and make clinical decisions?
In medicine, I strongly believe in an alliance with patients. Our job is to empower them with data to make the most informed decision, together. Deciding on a treatment plan is in my opinion a key process for which patients need to be involved to ensure success and compliance. The availability in haematology of new information stemming from molecular studies along with targeted treatment has made this possible.
Disclosure: This short article was prepared by touchHAEMATOLOGY in collaboration with Carmelo Gurnari. No fees or funding were associated with its publication. Carmelo Gurnari has no financial or non-financial conflicts of interest to declare in relation to this article.
About Dr Carmelo Gurnari
Carmelo Gurnari, MD, PhD, is a dedicated hematologist currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Hematology at the University of Tor Vergata in Rome, Italy and as a Research Associate in the Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research at the Cleveland Clinic (USA). Dr. Gurnari earned his medical degree from the University of Pavia, Italy, in 2015, and completed his haematology training at Tor Vergata University in 2020. He joined the Cleveland Clinic in 2019, where he also completed a Ph.D. in “Immunology, Molecular Medicine, and Applied Biotechnology,” subsequently being appointed to the faculty. His long-term research interests focus on unraveling the ontogenetic mechanisms of leukemia using cutting-edge molecular biology sequencing platforms, with the ultimate goal of informing early therapeutic interventions. Specifically, he studies the genomics of bone marrow failure disorders and myeloid neoplasia, including germline predisposition, while pioneering efforts to translate genomic information into clinical practice. Dr. Gurnari has made significant contributions to his field, having authored over 150 papers in prestigious journals. He has secured national and international grants from organizations such as the EvansMDS Foundation, the American-Italian Cancer Foundation, and the European Hematology Association. Additionally, he has received several accolades, including the Tito Bastianello Prize at the 2021 International MDS Symposium and the ASH-IPIG Award on two occasions.
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