Overview
The Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, a division within the Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, was established in February 2002. Dr. Yi Zheng, PhD is the director. With a commitment to research in experimental hematology, cancer, and gene therapy, the division's goals are to understand the biology of blood cell formation and function and to dissect cancer etiology and pathology so that the knowledge can be used in the development of innovative treatments of genetic and acquired diseases affecting the blood system and cancer. Research efforts are allocated in six basic research programs within the division to optimize the potential for translational research in children with genetic blood diseases, immunodeficiencies, cancers, and leukemia.
Jose Cancelas, MD,. PhD -Program Leader
The Stem Cell Biology Program studies the development and function of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to understand the factors which regulate the normal proliferation and differentiation of these cells and determinants of abnormal differentiation and growth in leukemia. These studies utilize state-of-the-art molecular methods and rely heavily on gene-targeted and transgenic mice. New knowledge gained from these studies have important implications for understanding pathological conditions associated with genetic diseases and for designing improved methods to grow and expand these cells in the laboratory. Faculty positions currently opening.
Punam Malik, MD - Program Leader
The Molecular and Gene Therapy Program focuses on developing genetic approaches to treat inherited genetic diseases and cancer, use gene delivery to study disease pathophysiology, develop novel stable gene delivery vectors, and study safety of permanent gene delivery into cells, with the goal of facilitating translation of gene therapy research into clinical trials.Faculty positions currently opening.
Stella Davies, MB BS, PhD, MRCP - Program Leader (co-appointed, Division of Hematology/Oncology)
The Leukemia Biology Program focuses on understanding the molecular events associated with the development of leukemia. These studies rely on both animal models and human leukemia samples, with a goal of developing more effective therapies in the future.
Yi Zheng, PhD - Program Leader
The priority of the Cell Signaling Program is to dissect the intricate signaling networks that control the cells at the molecular level. This will lead to an understanding of the processes that are critical for the development of human diseases related hematopoiesis and cancer, as well as an insight into the survival, proliferation, differentiation, engraftment, and movement of hematopoietic cells. The program's goal is to apply the mechanistic information of hematopoietic signaling to the development of therapeutic strategies that can be useful in the subsequent translational research.
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| Staining of the GTPase, RhoA (green), and F-actin (red) in neutrophil. |
| Picture taken by Marie-Dominique Filippi. |
Nancy Ratner, PhD - Program Leader
The Cancer Biology Program is a basic research group in the Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Research in this group investigate how molecular, cell-cell and cell-matrix changes result in cancer, and develop pre-clinical and clinical tests based on novel laboratory based findings. Collaborative work involving clinicians and laboratory scientists from many divisions allows access to normal and cancerous human tissues and fosters the development of clinical trials. Faculty positions currently opening.
H. Leighton Grimes, PhD- Program Leader
The Cancer Pathology Program is a joint effort of the Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology and the Division of Pathology. Researchers in this group focus upon the molecular cause of cancer with emphasis on basic research which translates to understanding patient outcomes with current treatments, as well as discovering novel mechanisms of therapeutic intervention. Faculty postions currently open.
Translational research, the safe and effective transfer of research technology from the laboratory to clinical practices and the use of human samples to inform basic research studies, is the ultimate goal of the division. The Translational Cores in Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology have been established to provide a resource for development, implementation, and monitoring of laboratory services with guidance and oversight to assure regulatory compliance.
The TRTO assists researchers with a wide variety of needs related to preclinical research, Pilot and Phase I clinical trials, Investigator New Drug (IND) applications to the FDA, regulatory oversight of these studies, protocol review and monitoring, internal and external audit assistance, development and implementation of data safety and monitoring plans, consenting individual study enrollees and data collection.
An underlying philosophy for the Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology is a commitment to rigorous scientific training of young people, both those in clinical training and those in undergraduate and graduate training programs. Specific programs for fulfilling this commitment include an NIH funded training program (T32), a strong presence in the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Training Program, CCHMC Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), and general opportunities for qualified students to gain summer laboratory experience.
The program of Experimental Hematology/ Hematology Oncology Seminar Series invites leading international researchers in basic, translational, and clinical aspects of hematology and cancer to visit Cincinnati Children's to meet faculty and trainees, and to present their work in a seminar environment.
The Division of Experimental Hematology offers many post-graduate research fellow opportunities. Persons interested in joining the division as a research fellow should contact the faculty directly and/or review the Human Resources opportunities.
Affiliated Divisions
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| Comparison between a normal mouse spleen (right) and a leukemic spleen (left) in a CML model. |
| Picture taken by Nithya Krishnan and Jeff R. Bailey. |
The Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology has a close and specialized relationship with the Division of Hematology/Oncology. A goal of this relationship is to strengthen the research foundation of clinical division in order to enhance scientific content and innovation in clinical trials and in delivery of care. This special relationship also enhances two-way translational research. The Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology Division also seeks to enhance institutional utilization of gene therapy modalities in the treatment of devastating pediatric diseases. Together with the Division of Hematology/Oncology, the long-term goal is to develop a world-class clinical/translational/research program in pediatric cancer and blood diseases. The collaboration of Hematology/Oncology and Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology provides a unique opportunity for faculty, fellows, staff, and patients to experience the combined benefits of focused clinical and research programs.
For additional information, please contact Dr. Yi Zheng, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, at 513-636-0364. The Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology can be found in Room 7.205 of Location S (Research Foundation Building).
