Remembering Robert Kyle, MD

International Myeloma Society Mourns Founder and Myeloma Pioneer Robert A. Kyle, MD, and Honors His Enduring Legacy

The International Myeloma Society is deeply saddened by the passing of Robert A. Kyle, MD, our founder and first president.

The history of modern myeloma research cannot be told without Dr. Kyle. His pioneering research transformed our understanding of multiple myeloma and its precursor conditions, including MGUS and smoldering myeloma, and laid the groundwork for decades of progress in diagnosis, treatment and patient care. Across a career spanning more than six decades, his impact extended far beyond his own discoveries. He educated, mentored and inspired generations of clinicians and scientists around the world.

Dr. Kyle understood that progress against myeloma depended on experts learning from one another across borders, with patients always at the center. Acting on that belief, he helped convene the first International Myeloma Workshop in 1987, bringing together 34 participants around a shared conviction that international scientific exchange could accelerate progress for patients.

Over the next two decades, the workshop grew in reach and impact. In 2009, Dr. Kyle helped establish IMS to sustain and expand that collaboration and became the Society’s first president. Last year, more than 3,000 people attended the IMS Annual Meeting. That evolution, from an inaugural gathering of 34 to a worldwide community of thousands, reflects both the power of Dr. Kyle’s vision and the extraordinary reach of his legacy.

We extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Kyle’s family, friends, colleagues and the many patients whose lives he touched. The myeloma community has lost one of its great pioneers. His influence will continue through the science he advanced, the people he mentored and the global community he helped create.

We will honor him by carrying forward the spirit of collaboration he championed and continuing the work he began: advancing knowledge, improving outcomes for patients everywhere and pursuing a cure.

Philippe Moreau, MD, President
Shaji Kumar, MD, Vice President
Nikhil C. Munshi, MD, Immediate Past President
International Myeloma Society