Medical Advisory Board

The National CML Society's Medical Advisory Board (MAB) is made up of prominent leaders in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia treatment, research, education, and wellness.  These individuals devote the majority of their time and medical practice to CML, or to issues directly related to CML such as pharmacology and stem cell transplantation.

Michael Mauro, M.D.
Oregon Health & Science University
Knight Cancer Institute 

Dr. Mauro's clinical focus is Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, as well as other myeloproliferative disorders. Dr. Mauro is currently directing multiple clinical trials for patients with CML in all phases (chronic, accelerated and blast crisis) and Ph+ ALL with novel agents including second and third generation targeted inhibitors similar to imatinib (gleevec) and vaccine therapies. His research interest is in the monitoring and management of minimal residual disease, optimizing response to therapy in CML and decision-making for patients between stem cell transplant and nontransplant therapy.

Dr. Mauro received his undergraduate and graduate medical degrees from Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School. He completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at Cornell University Medical Center, New York/Presbyterian Hospital, NY.


Jorge Cortes, M.D.
University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center

Jorge Cortes, MD, is deputy chair and professor of medicine in the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Texas where he directs the CML Program.

Dr. Cortes received his medical degree in 1986 from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, and has been at MD Anderson Cancer Center since 1991.  Dr. Cortes, whose clinical interests focus on new drug development and the management of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, acute and chronic leukemias, and myeloproliferative disorders has authored over 400 peer-reviewed medical publications.

He has received numerous awards including the Faculty Scholar Award from MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2003, the Annual Celgene Young Investigator Achievement Award for Clinical Research in Hematology in 2005, The Dr. John J. Kenny Award from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in 2006, the Service to Mankind Award from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in 2007, and the Otis W. and Pearl L. Walters Faculty Achievement Award in Clinical Research from MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2007. Dr. Cortes is chief editor of Current Hematological Malignancies Reports and Clinical Leukemia and serves in the Editorial Board of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Leukemia, Clinical Cancer Research, Leukemia and Lymphoma and the American Journal of Hematology.


Moshe Talpaz, M.D.
University of Michigan
U of M Comprehensive Cancer Center

Moshe Talpaz, M.D., Associate Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, is a leading clinical investigator in hematologic malignancies. Dr. Talpaz focuses on the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and brings special expertise in immunotherapy, cytokines and biologic response modifiers.

Internationally known for his role in the development of targeted cancer therapeutics, Dr. Talpaz pioneered the study of interferon in CML, which was the first line therapy for CML until the introduction of STI571 (Gleevec). As a pivotal member of the team that developed Gleevec, Dr. Talpaz was instrumental in bringing to market one of the most effective targeted treatments used to date in cancer care. As a leader in the development of novel therapeutics, Dr. Talpaz has unique experience in the building of Phase I clinical trial programs. In addition to expanding U-M’s program in hematologic malignances, he will be establishing a Phase I therapeutics program at the Cancer Center.

Dr. Talpaz joined U-M in 2006, from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where he was professor of medicine and held the David Bruton Chair for Cancer Research. He has authored or co-authored nearly 400 articles in top national journals and textbooks, and is a member of the American Society of Hematology and the NCCN Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Guidelines Panel.


 Neil Shah, M.D.
University of California, San Francisco
Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dr. Neil Shah is Co-Leader of the Hematologic Malignancies Program at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the UCSF School of Medicine.  Dr. Shah received his medical degree and PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Dr. Shah's lab focuses on improving targeted treatments of human hematologic malignancies.  With a focus on chronic myelogenous leukemia and understanding the molecular mechanisms of disease response, resistance, and persistence in human CML, Dr. Shah is hopeful that additional therapies can be developed that will complement and enhance the effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
The Society will be announcing addtional members as they are confirmed.