Dr. Alencar is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and the Chief Medical Officer at University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is a member of the lymphoma program at Sylvester and the lymphoma committee at the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology with a focus on clinical research of b-cell lymphoid malignancies with special interest in minorities, particularly elderly and Hispanics. His research focus is on the application of novel agents to improve responses and minimize toxicity on the care of elderly patients. As the hematology section lead for the Sylvester’s Global Oncology Program, Dr. Alencar serves as an important bridge to the United States for Latin American hematologists being a constant presence in meetings, lectures, as well as tumor board and second opinions. These collaborations have led to a large multinational study evaluating the impact of genetic changes and ancestry on outcomes of Hispanic patients with blood disorders.

Dr. C. Ola Landgren, Professor of Medicine, Chief of Myeloma Program, Leader of Experimental Therapeutics Program at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Miami (SCCC-UM).

Over the past several years, he designed and conducted a series of studies to define biological mechanisms of transformation from myeloma precursor disease (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance [MGUS] and smoldering myeloma) to multiple myeloma. Beyond traditional clinical criteria for complete remission, he developed strategies to define minimal residual disease (MRD) detection post-therapy in multiple myeloma using cell-, molecular-, and imaging-based methods. He has a strong track-record in drug development and served as a principal investigator for many clinical trials, with particular focus on early drug development and correlative science.

He leads the clinical and research operations along with the development of the Myeloma Program at SCCC-UM. He is a frequent speaker and faculty member for national and international meetings on myeloma and hematologic malignancies. He is a member of several editorial boards and serves as a reviewer for grants and several high-impact journals. As a Program Member of the Cancer Center Support Grant, he participates in research activities as an independent investigator, a leader of research governance committees, and on multi-disciplinary research teams.

Associate Professor of Medicine, Vice Chief of Operations, Division of Hematology

Specialty Areas

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Chronology

Bachelor of Arts: Wesleyan University, 1989-1993; MD: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1996 – 2000; Internal Medicine Resident: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2000-2003;  Internal Medicine Chief Resident: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2003-2004; Hematology-Oncology Fellowship: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2004-2007; Medical Instructor: Duke University, 2007-2008: Assistant Professor: Duke University, 2008-2013; Associate Professor: Duke University, 2013-2017; Medical Director of Inpatient Hematologic Malignancy Services: Duke University, 2015-2017; Associate Professor: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2017-present; Director of Lymphoma Program: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2017-present.

Research and Clinical Interests

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, Cutaneous Lymphoma, Mycosis Fungoides, Sezary Syndrome; Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy and clinical trials; Treatment of the older lymphoma patient

Personal Statement

My research and clinical work focus on the care of patients with all types of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma including cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (mycosis fungoides). This is a job I love. On my clinic days, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to see many wonderful patients and their families while working hard to help them through the difficult process of getting diagnosed and treated with cancer. Then, on the non-clinic days, I can use my intellectual side as I continue to work for my patients by conducting research to find ways to better treat and cure lymphoma.

I am the Physician-in-Chief, Oncology Service Line at the Sylvester Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine at the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami Health System.

My research has focused on improving the outcome of patients with poor risk Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This effort has been conducted along two tracks: 1) optimizing therapy for patients with relapsed and refractory disease, including high dose therapy (HDT) and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) and studying new agents that can be incorporated into salvage therapy, and 2) developing risk-adapted strategies to optimize the treatment of newly diagnosed DLBCL and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma by using what we have learned in the relapsed and refractory setting. This research has led to changes in standard of care that include PET-adapted therapies, maintenance therapy post-ASCT, utility of clinical and molecular-derived prognostic models in the relapsed and refractory setting, and the incorporation of novel immune-based approaches in the second-line setting. Two agents were approved during these clinical investigations: Brentuximab Vedotin for maintenance therapy post-ASCT for Hodgkin lymphoma and Pembrolizumab for palliation of poor risk Hodgkin lymphoma.

Prior to coming to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, I practiced for 25 years at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, where I directed the division of Hematologic Oncology and had an endowed chair in lymphoma research. I have mentored 24 clinical researchers who care for patients with lymphoma and leukemia and are currently practicing at various institutions in the U.S.

Dr. Jennifer Woyach is a professor in the division of Hematology, the section chair of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), and a physician scientist focused on translational research in CLL at the Ohio State University. Her laboratory interests include experimental therapeutics in CLL with a focus on signaling pathways and kinase inhibition. She has extensive experience studying BTK inhibitors, resistance mechanisms associated with irreversible BTK inhibitors, and strategies to overcome resistance.

Matthew J. Matasar, MD is a medical oncologist and hematologist who cares for people with lymphoma, including Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He joined Memorial Sloan Kettering in 2008 and works as part of a team of experts who have chosen to dedicate their passion, knowledge, and experience to caring for people with lymphoma. Dr. Matasar serves as Regional Care Network Medical Site Director of MSK Bergen and also sees patients at MSK’s 64th Street Outpatient Center, in Manhattan. He was awarded the Dr. John J. Kenny Award from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in 2017.

Dr. Matasar’s research focuses on finding new and better ways to treat lymphoma, specifically high-risk aggressive lymphomas and certain uncommon types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He works to improve the understanding of how current treatments impact patient’s health in the long-term to develop better strategies to protect and preserve survivor’s well-being after their treatment is complete.

Dr. C. Ola Landgren, Professor of Medicine, Chief of Myeloma Program, Leader of Experimental Therapeutics Program at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Miami (SCCC-UM).

Over the past several years, he designed and conducted a series of studies to define biological mechanisms of transformation from myeloma precursor disease (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance [MGUS] and smoldering myeloma) to multiple myeloma. Beyond traditional clinical criteria for complete remission, he developed strategies to define minimal residual disease (MRD) detection post-therapy in multiple myeloma using cell-, molecular-, and imaging-based methods. He has a strong track-record in drug development and served as a principal investigator for many clinical trials, with particular focus on early drug development and correlative science.

He leads the clinical and research operations along with the development of the Myeloma Program at SCCC-UM. He is a frequent speaker and faculty member for national and international meetings on myeloma and hematologic malignancies. He is a member of several editorial boards and serves as a reviewer for grants and several high-impact journals. As a Program Member of the Cancer Center Support Grant, he participates in research activities as an independent investigator, a leader of research governance committees, and on multi-disciplinary research teams.

Dr. Ranjana Advani is a Professor of Medicine at Stanford University specializing in the field of lymphoma. She holds an endowed chair (Saul Rosenberg Professor) and oversees all aspects of treatment of the vast majority of adult lymphoma patients. She also serves as the disease management group leader for lymphoma and supervises the clinical program. Her primary research interests include improving care for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients by optimizing front line regimens, developing novel agents and targeted therapy for refractory and recurrent disease, advancing correlative studies involving biomarkers, and addressing long-term outcomes. She leads multi-institutional efforts as a national study Principle Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on several targeted therapies, translational and imaging studies and has published extensively in the peer reviewed literature. She is a member of the lymphoma core committee for the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and the NCCN guidelines committee for Non Hodgkin Lymphoma and Hodgkin Lymphoma (vice chair), member of ODAC (Oncology Drug Advisory Committee) to the FDA, and has completed a term serving as the co-chair of the National Cancer Institute Lymphoma Steering Committee.