Investigators

Summary

1) Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in elderly patients: My research focuses on epigenetic strategies in the treatment of older patients with AML. We are running a clinical trial of a novel induction regimen using epigenetic priming by decitabine followed by cytarabine in older patients with newly diagnosed AML. Epigenetic correlatives studies are planned. 2) Epigenetic strategies to prevent relapse after hematopoietic stem cell transplant: I am interested in the role of epigenetic agents as immunomodulatory therapy to prevent relapse and graft-versus-host disease in patients with AML or MDS who are at high risk for relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplant. We are running a clinical trial using azacitidine maintenance therapy after allogeneic transplant for patients with AML and MDS. Correlative studies evaluating immune reconstitution and T-cell populations are planned. 3) Chronic graft-versus host disease (GVHD): I am interested in the study of chronic GVHD and long-term follow-up of allogeneic stem cell transplant patients. I work in collaboration with the Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch of the National Cancer Institute in the area of chronic GVHD. I study the natural history of chronic GVHD, as well as chronic GVHD-specific complications such as bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.