Aaron Viny, MD, MS, Wins Scholar Award from the American Society for Hematology (ASH)

Aaron Viny, MD, MS, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and assistant director for shared resources at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been awarded a prestigious Scholar Award from the American Society for Hematology (ASH). A physician-scientist specializing in leukemia, Dr. Viny is one of only 36 recipients of the award, given annually to support fellows and junior faculty in their careers in hematology research. Even more unique, Dr. Viny is a two-time ASH Scholar Awardee, awarded as a Basic/Translational Fellow to Faculty Scholar in 2021. This year, Viny was awarded a Basic/Translational Research Junior Faculty Scholar, which provides $150,000 in funding.

The Viny lab uses state-of-the-art 3-dimensional genomic techniques to uncover the genetic and epigenetic underpinnings of myeloid malignancies in order to find more precise and less toxic treatment modalities. In particular, their research aims to uncover chromatin’s role in myeloid malignancies and to develop novel therapeutic approaches to “rewire” chromatin in leukemia.

“I am grateful to the American Society of Hematology for their continued support of my career from the beginning of my medical student training,” says Viny. "This award supports a new direction in understanding how the ‘epigenetic wires’ get crossed in myelodysplastic syndrome, and we hope this work will lead to new therapeutic paradigms for leukemia patients.”

The ASH Scholar Award supports early career investigators dedicated to careers in hematology research as they transition from training programs to careers as independent investigators. The program funds hematologists in the United States and Canada who conduct basic, translational, and clinical research that advances the understanding and treatment of blood disorders.

“Not only will this award support new translational directions for Dr. Viny’s lab, but receiving this award is a prestigious acknowledgment from leaders in the field,” says Anil K. Rustgi, MD, Herbert and Florence Irving Director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. “The award underlines the importance of Dr. Viny’s work and its potential to improve patient outcomes.”