The 2025 AABB Annual Meeting's General Session will feature keynote speaker Tom Whitehead, the proud father of Emily Whitehead, who was the first person to receive CAR T-cell therapy for pediatric cancer. Tom Whitehead is the co-founder of the Emily Whitehead Foundation, which is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for pediatric cancer immunotherapy research.
At age five, Emily Whithead was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia that did not respond to standard treatments. As a last resort, she was enrolled in a groundbreaking clinical trial and became the first pediatric patient in the world to receive CAR T-cell therapy. The treatment was a success; -Emily has been cancer-free for more than 12 years and is now considered cured.
Emily and her parents, Tom and Kari Whitehead, started the Emily Whitehead Foundation to share their story and support families facing pediatric cancer. Since its inception, the Foundation has connected countless families with experts and clinical trials, helped pave the way for more than 40,000 patients to access CAR T-cell therapy, and raised more than $2 million for research.
During his speech, Tom Whitehead will share insights on the journey of patients and families navigating cancer, as well as the life-saving impact of CAR T-cell therapy on his daughter's recovery.
Join fellow attendees for an energetic and insightful afternoon on the first day of the 2025 AABB Annual Meeting. In addition to Whitehead’s keynote speech, the AABB Annual Meeting’s General Session will feature remarks from AABB leadership – including the presentation of the President’s Awards by AABB President Meghan Delaney, DO, MPH – nd an update on recent advancements and future directions in the field with AABB CEO Debra BenAvram, FASAE, CAE. This session will lead into the Opening Reception in the Exhibit Hall.
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