BETHESDA, MD – February 10, 2026 | Eva Vailionis, MS, CGC is the 2026 recipient of the ACMG Foundation Genetic Counselor Best Abstract Award . The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine selected Ms. Vailionis based on her abstract, “Prevalence and Tumor Characteristics of Patients with TMEM127 Pathogenic Variants in a Large, Pan-Cancer Cohort,” which will be delivered as a featured platform presentation at the 2026 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting.
Vailionis is a cancer genetic counselor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She earned her master’s degree in genetic counseling from Rutgers University in 2022 and practices in hereditary cancer predisposition, working alongside a large multidisciplinary team that includes genetic counselors and attending physicians. Her professional interests include the intersection of bioethics and genetics, clinical workflow optimization through emerging technologies, and patient education and accessibility.
“I am honored to receive the 2026 ACMG Genetic Counselor Best Abstract Award on behalf of my Memorial Sloan Kettering Clinical Genetics team,” said Vailionis. “I am also incredibly grateful to work with a group that actively supports genetic counselors as academics, clinicians, and key contributors to genetics research and patient care. This work, and all publications from our team, would not be possible without that support. Thank you to the ACMG Foundation and its donors for recognizing the vital role of genetic counselors in advancing genetics research and healthcare delivery.”
The ACMG Foundation’s Genetic Counselor Best Abstract Award recognizes the contributions and accomplishments of licensed genetic counselors by presenting a cash prize to the genetic counselor judged as having the best abstract at ACMG’s Annual Genetics Meeting.
“Genetic counselors play a vital role in advancing patient care and translational research,” said Nancy J. Mendelsohn, MD, FACMG, President of the ACMG Foundation. “By supporting outstanding abstracts like Ms. Vailionis’s, the ACMG Foundation is proud to help ensure that important work is shared with the broader genetics community and that genetic counselors are recognized for their critical contributions to our field.”
About the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine
Founded in 1991, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) is a prominent authority in the field of medical genetics and genomics and the only nationally recognized medical professional organization solely dedicated to improving health through the practice of medical genetics and genomics. The only medical specialty society in the US that represents the full spectrum of medical genetics disciplines in a single organization, the ACMG provides education, resources and a voice for more than 2,500 clinical and laboratory practice of medical genetics as well as through advocacy, education and clinical research, and to guide the safe and effective integration of genetics and genomics into all of medicine and healthcare, resulting in improved personal and public health.
Genetics in Medicine and Genetics in Medicine Open , a gold open access journal, are the official ACMG journals. ACMG’s website, acmg.net , offers resources including policy statements, practice guidelines, and educational programs.
The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine works to advance ACMG educational and public health programs through philanthropic gifts from corporations, foundations, and individuals.
Note to editors : To arrange interviews with experts in medical genetics, contact ACMG Communications Director, Judy Froehlich, MBA at jfroehlich@acmg.net .