The 2025 RET Research Update is just around the corner, and we are excited to introduce the amazing speakers joining us this year! Meet the experts who are helping move RET research and hope forward.
Dr. John Heymach
Professor and Chair of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Dr. John Heymach is Chair of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he holds the David Bruton Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. He is a graduate of Harvard University and Stanford (MD/PhD), and he completed his training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Dana-Farber/Mass General Brigham fellowship in Medical Oncology.
As a physician-scientist, Dr. Heymach’s research centers on therapeutic resistance, and biomarker development in lung cancer. His work has driven groundbreaking studies and new therapeutic strategies for oncogene driven cancers such as KRAS-mutant, HER2-mutant, and EGFR-mutant lung cancer. He is also a dedicated and compassionate clinician, and one of the country’s leading experts on RET-driven cancers. His laboratory continues to lead impactful research that is shaping the future of the RET cancer field.
He is a dedicated and caring clinician and one of the RET leaders in the country. Dr. Heymach’s team has been investigating the various RET fusions and their roles in driving resistance to RET inhibitors. His lab has established a comprehensive map of RET fusions and mutations associated with RET inhibitor resistance and has conducted functional studies to assess their differential responses to RET-targeted therapies. They have also identified new molecular targets in RET cancer cells that may serve as the basis for novel therapeutic strategies.
Dr. David Carbone
Professor and Director of the James Thoracic Oncology Center at the Ohio State University Medical Center
Dr. David Carbone is Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the James Thoracic Oncology Center at The Ohio State University Medical Center, where he holds the Barbara J. Bonner Chair in Lung Research. He earned his MD and PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Johns Hopkins University. After completing residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a fellowship at the NCI, Dr. Carbone joined Vanderbilt University, where he led the Thoracic/Head and Neck Cancer Program and served as PI of the Lung Cancer SPORE and SPECS consortia before being recruited to Ohio State in 2012.
Dr. David Carbone is internationally recognized for his leadership and contributions to the field of thoracic oncology. He has dedicated his career to advancing the understanding of lung cancer genetics, with a focus on identifying genetic alterations that drive lung cancer development and progression. Dr. Carbone was part of the pioneering group that identified EGFR as a critical target in lung cancer. This discovery led to the development of the first targeted therapies for EGFR lung cancer, revolutionizing treatment approaches.
His research includes developing new therapeutic strategies for resistant disease and exploring novel drug combinations. Dr. Carbone has also investigated immune-based therapies in thoracic malignancies and the mechanisms of tumor-associated immunosuppression. He leads several clinical trials, and he has a long-standing involvement with patient advocacy foundations.
With more than 300 peer-reviewed publications and continuous NIH/NCI funding, he has played a pivotal role in shaping translational research and clinical innovation in lung cancer.
Dr. Mihaela Aldea
Medical Oncologist and Associate Professor at Institut Gustave Roussy
Dr. Mihaela Aldea is a medical oncologist and associate professor at Gustave Roussy, one of Europe’s leading cancer centers. Dr. Aldea specializes in thoracic oncology and precision medicine, focusing on oncogene-driven cancers such as RET cancer and the study of cancer resistance mechanisms and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. At Gustave Roussy, Dr. Aldea leads clinical and translational research initiatives aimed at advancing personalized treatment approaches for patients with thoracic malignancies.
Dr. Aldea has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications and has been recognized with the 2024 Young Investigator Award by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC).
Dr. Mihaela Aldea has made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of RET lung cancer. Dr. Aldea led the international RET-MAP study, a multicenter, retrospective analysis that collected real-world data from patients with RET fusion-positive lung cancer. The study provided insights into the clinical and biological characteristics of these patients, highlighting the efficacy of RET inhibitors in improving survival outcomes. Through her research, Dr. Aldea continues to advance the field of thoracic oncology, improving outcomes for patients with RET lung cancer.
Our Pharma Partners
Also, for the first time, representatives from the three pharmaceutical companies most active in RET clinical research – Lilly, Rigel, and Ellipses – will come together to provide the latest updates and address key questions from our community.
We hope this webinar will be valuable for RET patients and the entire RET community, whose dedication and collaboration make events like this possible.
Lung Cancer Genetic Study
We’ll also present the first update on the Lung Cancer Genetics Study, a collaboration between the lung cancer community, Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies, and the 23andMe Research Institute.
Join Us
Thursday, December 11
12:30pm – 2:30pm CT
Questions or need more information? Contact us at info@happylungsproject.org
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