On March 27, 2025, BCDI Associate Medical/Research Director Dr. Jonathan Roberts was awarded with the Ron Niederman Humanitarian Award at the Hemophilia Federation of America‘s 2025 Symposium for extraordinary and inspirational service to the international community via his professional work and volunteer service!

“I’m deeply honored to receive this, humanitarian award that is in memory of a blood brother who suffered through the HIV crisis,” Dr. Roberts said, “Personally, I lost two uncles to HIV, which in my earlier years was a huge inspiration to really dedicate my life to the bleeding source community. So I’m deeply honored to receive a humanitarian award. That has a very deep meaning to me.”

Below, you will find the nomination content that HFA reviewed and highlighted for Dr. Roberts achievements and his dedication to the bleeding disorders community. Join us in sending a big congratulations to Dr. Roberts on this well-deserved honor!

 

“Dr. Roberts has spent over the last decade of his medical interests on advancing novel laboratory assay development to improve the diagnosis of von Willebrand Disease (VWD) and enhance individualized clinical management of hemophilia, VWD, and other rare bleeding and classical hematologic disorders. Through this, he continuously seeks to unite the bleeding disorders community with a humanitarian mindset and has demonstrated a unique ability to link those in need, also being a diagnosed individual with severe hemophilia A himself.

Dr. Roberts goes above and beyond, providing high-standard, individualized patient care from birth to end-of-life for those experiencing rare bleeding disorders. His patience and dedication to education and professionalism while serving as the Associate Medical Director/Associate Research Director of Bleeding & Clotting Disorders Institute and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics ​and Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria, IL is unmatched. Dr. Roberts is an intuitive and active leader within the scientific community which contributes to the united teaching methods he incorporates into his daily regime.

Nationally, and internationally, Dr. Roberts has taken time to explore harmonization and inclusion regarding clinical trial ecosystems. Through his efforts, he seeks methods to advance the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion into trial design and conduct within the hematology community. Dr. Roberts also approaches his research holistically, recently seeking advancement in the standard-of-care for hemophilia A (HA) and its involvement of prophylaxis (PPX) with factor replacement therapies (standard half-life [SHL] and extended half-life [EHL]), or emicizumab (Emi), noting despite the availability of these therapies, the clinical burden of HA remains high due to breakthrough bleeding, joint damage, and consequent pain.

It is through Dr. Roberts’ continued commitment to finding relief for those suffering from rare bleeding disorders that he truly edifies the value of extraordinary and inspirational service to the community. He has received numerous young investigator research awards, has over 70 peer-reviewed research publications and abstracts including lead/senior author publications in Blood, ​the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, and the New England Journal of Medicine; and has had grant funding from the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation, World Federation of Hemophilia and National Institutes of Health, among others.

Dr. Roberts has spent the entirety of his career dedicating his professional work to his extraordinary and inspirational service nationally or internationally via his scientific contributions to the advancement of care, going above and beyond for those suffering from rare bleeding disorders. He is committed to the advancement of science from an analytical standpoint for the betterment of patients, being a national contributor to one of the largest ATHN data sets which gathers patient information from over 50,000 patients nationally. Additionally, just this past year, Dr. Roberts has authored and co-authored 14 peer-reviewed publications and currently oversees 13 studies as Principal Investigator. He also serves asSponsor-Investigator of a nationally based clinical study that is researching the hypothesis of the use of Emicizumab as a safe and efficacious method of prophylaxis in severe VWD and concomitant VWD/hemophilia patients. This study aims to go beyond standard treatment for patients, uniting the community and those in need, focusing on the needs of the patients and their families. When consulted about this unique clinical trial opportunity, Dr. Roberts supports each case individually from across the United States as a Sponsor-Investigator. Guiding Sub-Investigators and families seeking support, Dr. Roberts has made it his goal to span the nation and have a variety of subsite locations to reduce the burden of illness on those already suffering from their rare bleeding disorder. With his continued commitment to the cause, Dr. Roberts is dedicated to improving lives and generating change, as put forth through his progressive research on joint status and bleeding phenotype in men, women, and children. Through his extraordinary service within the rare bleeding disorder community, Dr. Roberts truly is an inspirational Humanitarian.”

 

 

Enjoy this acceptance speech from Dr. Roberts for the 2025 HFA Humanitarian Award!