S. Vincent Rajkumar

S. Vincent Rajkumar is one of the most recognized experts in multiple myeloma worldwide, serving as Professor of Medicine and Chair of the Myeloma, Amyloidosis, and Dysproteinemia Group at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. His research has fundamentally reshaped the understanding of the spectrum of plasma cell disorders—from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) through smoldering myeloma to overt symptomatic disease—and his contributions to diagnostic criteria and risk stratification are embedded in international clinical guidelines. Rajkumar played a central role in revising the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) diagnostic criteria in 2014, expanding the definition of active myeloma to include patients with smoldering disease harboring ultra-high-risk features (the so-called "SLiM-CRAB" criteria). This paradigm shift enabled earlier therapeutic intervention before end-organ damage, changing global practice. His epidemiological and prospective cohort studies at Mayo Clinic have generated the most comprehensive natural history data on MGUS progression risk, providing the statistical models clinicians use to decide monitoring versus treatment for precursor conditions. A gifted communicator and educator, Rajkumar has co-authored the leading review articles on myeloma diagnosis and management in journals such as The Lancet and Blood, and his annual myeloma treatment algorithm updates in Leukemia are among the most widely read practical guides in the specialty. He has led numerous clinical trials through the ECOG and Alliance cooperative groups, and his commitment to making treatment more equitable—including advocacy for cost-effectiveness in myeloma drug development—has made him a distinctive voice in the field.