(1) Kanti Rai and (2) Jacques-Louis Binet for their description of the Rai-Binet CLL staging systems (Paris, 1999).
(3) Michael Keating for his early and continuing work with fludarabine (San Diego, 2002).
(4) Nick Chiorazzi and (5) Terry Hamblin for their discovery of the importance of IgHV mutations (Stresa, 2003).
(6) Daniel Catovsky for his work on the morphology of CLL and the MRC trials (Brooklyn, 2005).
(7) David Galton (posthumously, London, 2007) for his natural history of CLL, lymphocyte doubling time, and the introduction of chlorambucil.
(8) Carlo Croce’s discovery of the miR-15,16 genes at MDR 13q14, and TCL-1 mouse model (London, 2007).
(9) Emili Montserrat for his work on prognostic factors and stem-cell transplantation (Barcelona, 2009).
(10) Guillermo Dighiero for his lifelong work in the French CLL trials and insight into the biology of the BCR (Houston, 2011).
(11) Tom Kipps, founder, and PI of the CLL Research Consortium, and (12) Michael Hallek, founder of the German CLL Study group, for outstanding contributions to CLL (Cologne, 2013).
(13) Freda Stevenson for her discovery of the correlation of CLL IgHV with stages of normal B lymphocyte maturation and IgVH gene mutation status as a robust prognostic marker in CLL (Sydney, 2015).
(14) Federico Caligaris-Cappio identified normal CD5+ B cells in man and speculated that these were the precursors of CLL B cells. He also identified the phenotype, genotype, and function of anergic B-cell clones in CLL (Sydney, 2015).
(15) Peter Hillmen, for his work on the UK CLL trials, MBL and MRD, PNH (New York, 2017).
(16) John Gribben for his work on restricted CLL antigens, tumor microenvironment and leader in bone marrow/stem cell transplantation (New York, 2017).
(17) Hartmut Döhner for his work on hierarchical FISH cytogenetics and molecular markers that led to improved risk stratification (Edinburgh, 2019).
(18) John Byrd for pivotal work on the BTK inhibitors including the efficiency of ibrutinib in relapsed and refractory CLL patients and in front line treatment (Virtual 2021). Based on two NEJM papers in 2013 and 2014.
(19) Susan O’Brian served as a Principal Investigator for more than 40 funded clinical protocols including the initial clinical research into ibrutinib for patients with CLL and in 2020 was inducted into Giants of Cancer Care for Leukemia as a Pioneer in Cancer Reseach (Boston 2023)
(20) Catherine Wu for leading the dissection of underlying molecular mechanisms of the pathobiology CLL in order to generate more effective treatment including immune based treatments. It was further noted that Dr. Wu was the recipient of Doris Duke and Howard Hughs awards for clinical research early in her career. (Boston 2023).
(21) Stephen Stilgenbauer for being an expert in the biology and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG), he is a central laboratory leader and principal investigator, renowned for his scientific rigor and deep commitment to patient care. His research has helped shape the evolving clinical landscape of CLL. His translational work has generated critical insights into the molecular pathogenesis and clonal evolution of lymphoid malignancies, contributing to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. A prolific author with publications in NEJM, The Lancet, and Nature, Professor Stilgenbauer continues to lead global clinical trials that define best practices and inform clinical decision-making worldwide. In every role—researcher, mentor, clinician, and collaborator—Professor Stilgenbauer exemplifies the spirit of the Binet-Rai Medal: advancing science with clarity, compassion, and global impact. (Krakow 2025).