Petra Langerbeins, Senior Hematologist & Oncologists at the University of Cologne, Scientific Secretary of the German CLL Study Group

Dr. Petra Langerbeins, a medical graduate of the University of Cologne, specialized in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). She earned her doctorate in medicine in 2009, focusing on prognostic markers for CLL within the German CLL Study Group. Under Professor Michael Hallek's mentorship at the University Hospital of Cologne, she began her medical training in 2008. Dr. Langerbeins is actively involved in hematological and oncological patient care as a resident physician. She serves as a study physician and has progressed from coordinating physician to Principal Investigator of phase II/III trials within the German CLL Study Group. Recognized for her contributions, she was appointed Scientific Secretary of the German CLL Study Group in 2022.

Deborah Stephens, Associate Professor & Director of CLL and Richter’s Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Deborah Stephens leads the CLL and Richter’s Program at the University of North Carolina.  Her research spans the field of CLL from early intervention to prevention of complications of CLL to development of novel targeted therapy to investigation of treatment for Richter’s syndrome.  She leads the CLL Section for the SWOG Leukemia Working Group, where she plans and implements international clinical trials for patients with CLL, including her role as national chair of the S1925 EVOLVE CLL Trial evaluating early interventional for patients with high-risk CLL.  She serves on the Medical Advisory Board for the CLL Society, which is the largest international patient advocacy group for patients with CLL.  Previously, she has served on the NCCN Guideline Panel to provide recommendations to clinicians for how to best manage patients with CLL. 

Loic Ysebaert, Senior Hematologist and professor of Hematology at the University of Toulouse, Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Toulouse

Prof. Loïc Ysebaert is Senior Haematologist (MD degree in 2002) and professor of Hematology since 2016 (University of Toulouse III), working in the Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Toulouse, IUC Toulouse – Oncopôle, where he leads clinical and translational studies in the field of CLL/other lymphomas. He is associate Researcher at the Inserm UMR1037-team 9, noLYMITS (novel lymphoma immune-therapeutic strategies).

He is member of the scientific boards and Administration Councils of the LYmphoma Study Association (LYSA) and the French CLL study group (FiLO-LLC), and as such is the local coordinator for the trials led by these national collaborative groups. He has served on the French guideline Panel to provide recommendations to clinicians for how to best manage patients with CLL.