Duke Pathology Vice Chair for Research and Hematopathology Director Ken H. Young, MD, PhD was invited to present at the 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, in Orlando, Florida, on Dec 6-9, 2025. His presentation, “Hi-C Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is Highly Concordant with Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH) and Detects Additional Variants Informing Diagnosis and Treatment in Lymphoma,” highlighted a new genetic testing approach. Hi-C NGS aligns with standard FISH testing but goes further by identifying additional genetic alterations that can improve the diagnosis precision and sub-classification in lymphoma, therefore supporting the treatment decision. The work received the 2025 ASH Abstract Presentation Award for innovation and discoveries.
He explained how these advanced techniques can uncover ~12% genetic fusion alterations that routine standard tests often miss, helping physicians classify lymphoma subtypes more accurately, and therefore, to tailor treatments to individual patients. The findings also raise important questions about the roles of different genetic rearrangements or fusion partners, and how they influence blood cancer sub-classification and related therapy.
The presentation attracted enthusiastic attention for its insights into newly discovered genetic fusions and their potential role in improving clinical care for lymphoma patients.
Young partnered with Professor Robert S. Ohgami, MD, PhD, MBA, and his team at the University of Utah to explore how AI can improve the diagnosis of complex blood disorders, including multicentric Castleman disease and bone marrow disorders. Their research shows how AI can help physicians spot patterns that traditional microscopic methods might miss, leading to more accurate diagnostic algorithms and better management plans. This work offers hope for patients by paving the way for faster, more precise care in blood cancers.
Ohgami is vice president of Associated Regional and University Pathologists (ARUP) Laboratories, a leading national reference laboratory and nonprofit enterprise of the University of Utah and its Department of Pathology.
In 2024, Young was also invited to present at the 66th ASH Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif., where he gave a talk titled “Tumor-Infiltrating Normal B Lymphocytes Have Remarkable Prognostic Effects and are Crucial for Antitumor Immune Responses in Lymphoma,” followed by a Q&A session. In his talk, Young offered a new perspective on lymphoma diagnostic testing and therapeutic intervention, which he hopes will inspire the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
The Young team’s primary interest is the study of lymphoma, myeloma, and other lymphoproliferative disorders. The pathology team focuses on identification of specific biomarkers and molecular mechanisms for accurate diagnosis, sub-classification, prognostic prediction and therapeutic targets in hematologic neoplasms and diseases. Read more about the Young Lab.