Chief, Hematology Service; Vice Chair, Faculty Development, Department of Medicine; Alfred P. Sloan Chair
I have worked as a hematologist/oncologist for the last 22 years, focusing on the care of patients with hematologic cancers and with bone marrow that does not function normally, such as patients with aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. I have led clinical investigations of hematopoietic growth factors and immunosuppressive therapies, to try to stimulate the bone marrow of patients with these diseases, and of bone marrow or stem cell transplants (autologous and allogeneic) to eradicate hematologic malignancies or cure bone marrow diseases. More recently we have used transcriptional modifying therapies like histone deacetylase inhibitors and hypomethylating agents to treat these diseases.
Over the past fifteen years, while at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, I established the autologous stem cell transplant program for hematologic malignancies, which has focused primarily on treating patients with lymphoma (both non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease) and patients with multiple myeloma. In addition to evaluating novel high-dose therapies for these diseases, we have established several research programs using investigational agents to target the molecular abnormalities found in myeloid malignancies like AML.
My research interests coincide with my clinical interests. My laboratory is investigating the molecular defects that underlie the myeloid malignancies such as acute myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, or myeloproliferative diseases, including chronic myelogenous leukemia. My laboratory has cloned several genes involved in blood formation and has extensively characterized the most common translocation (exchange of chromosomes) found in acute leukemia, the t (8;21). More recently we have broadened our focus to understand how cancer cells resist chemotherapy or radiation therapy. As part of this effort we have become a member of the BTC in order to study aspects of glioblastoma multiforme biology. In 2001 we received one of two awards given to U.S. investigators by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a Specialized Center of Research in myeloid malignancies. This award was renewed in 2006 for another five years. I have been active in national hematologic organizations and currently serve on the Board of the Bone Marrow Foundation; the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation, Inc.; the Myelodysplastic Syndrome Foundation; and I am Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board of the Gabriella’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. I have been a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation since 1997.
Phone
212-639-7871
Education
MD, University of Chicago School of Medicine
Residencies
University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine
Fellowships
University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine
Board Certifications
Internal Medicine; Medical Oncology; Hematology
Clinical Expertise
Bone Marrow Transplantation; Aplastic Anemia; Myelodysplasia; Acute and Chronic Leukemias; Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation; Myeloproliferative Disorders; Multiple Myeloma
