The 2026 RET Research Update is coming up, and we are excited to bring together leading investigators and industry experts from across the RET research community to share the latest discoveries, emerging treatments, and promising new directions in RET cancer research. Meet the incredible speakers who will be joining us this year!
Dr. John Heymach
Professor and Chair at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. John Heymach is a Professor and Chair of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Heymach’s research focuses on therapeutic resistance, biomarker development, and the development of new treatment strategies for lung cancer.
Dr. Heymach is a leading expert in oncogene-driven lung cancers, including RET-positive lung cancer. His laboratory has made important contributions to understanding how lung cancers develop resistance to targeted therapies including RET and identifying new vulnerabilities that could be used to develop next-generation treatments.
At this year’s webinar, Dr. Heymach will discuss new research into RET inhibitor resistance and emerging therapeutic targets.
Dr. Alexandre Reuben
Associate Professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Alexandre Reuben is a physician-scientist and thoracic oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center whose research focuses on developing new immunotherapy approaches for cancer, including RET-positive cancers.
His research explores the tumor immune environment and the mechanisms that influence how cancers respond, or fail to respond, to treatment with a particular interest in finding new ways to harness the immune system to treat cancer.
During the webinar, Dr. Reuben will discuss emerging immunotherapy and cell therapy approaches for RET-positive cancers, including recently published research.
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, and a leading researcher in RET-positive lung cancer. She specializes in thoracic oncology and precision medicine, with a particular focus on oncogene-driven cancers, including RET-positive lung cancer.
Dr. Aldea conducts collaborative research, with a focus on biomarkers and resistance and RET-positive lung cancer. She leads the RET-MAP global registry, dedicated to characterizing RET fusion-positive lung cancer.
At this year’s webinar, Dr. Aldea will share new research on strategies to improving treatment selection and moving toward more personalized treatment approaches for RET cancers.
Dr. Eric Singhi
Assistant Professor and Thoracic Medical Oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Eric Singhi is an Assistant Professor and Thoracic Medical Oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he specializes in the treatment of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies.
His research and advocacy interests include lung cancer, patient-reported outcomes, patient education, young-onset lung cancer, and community outreach.
Dr. Singhi will moderate this year’s webinar and introduce our expert speakers. He will also share an overview of the Young-Onset Lung Cancer Program at MD Anderson, and discuss efforts to better understand and address the unique needs of younger adults affected by lung cancer.
RET Industry Experts: Eli Lilly, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, and Ellipses Pharma
We are also excited to welcome back the RET industry experts, Eli Lilly, Rigel, and Ellipses, whose continued investment in innovative therapies, clinical research, and new treatment strategies plays a key role in expanding options for people living with RET-positive cancers.
During the webinar, representatives from each company will share updates on their ongoing clinical trials and the latest data presented at recent scientific conferences.
They will also address questions from our community and provide insight into what is ahead for patients, including opportunities to participate in clinical research and access emerging treatment approaches.
Lung Cancer Genetic Study
The Susan Wojcicki Foundation (SWF) will share some updates on the LCGS (Lung Cancer Genetic Study) with the RET community, ahead of a dedicated webinar planned for next year.
We are incredibly grateful to all of our speakers for sharing their expertise and helping advance research for RET-positive cancers. We hope this webinar will provide RET patients, families, caregivers, and the entire RET community with a better understanding of the latest research and the new possibilities on the horizon.
Join us!
November 5, 2026
12:30–2:30 PM CST
Questions or need more information? Contact us at info@happylungsproject.org
