Research Faculty | Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology Research

Paul R. Andreassen, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Paul R. Andreassen, PhD, focuses on the relationship of DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoints to the genetic instability that underlies the development of cancer. In particular, he studies basic cellular mechanisms that respond to DNA damage, including breast cancer susceptibility (BRCA) and Fanconi anemia (FA) genes and proteins.
Visit the Andreassen Lab.

513-636-0499 paul.andreassen@cchmc.org

Mohammad Azam, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Mohammad Azam, PhD, is interested in understanding molecular basis of human cancers, especially hematopoietic malignancies. His research group focuses on understanding the mechanisms of tyrosine kinase regulation, oncogene addiction and the development of cancer stem cells.

513-803-1413 mohammad.azam@cchmc.org

Elisa Boscolo, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Elisa Boscolo, PhD, currently investigates vascular anomalies affecting children. She is devising a murine model of venous malformation. The goal of this research is to discover effective molecular therapies for this disfiguring vascular anomaly.
Visit the Boscolo Lab.

513-803-7267 elisa.boscolo@cchmc.org

Jose A. Cancelas Perez, MD, PhD Director, Hoxworth Blood Center

Jose A. Cancelas Perez, MD, PhD, focuses on the study of blood-forming cells during the process of adult hematopoiesis. In particular, hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) attract clinical interest because of their potential use in stem cell and gene therapy, and because of their involvement in leukemia.
Visit the Cancelas Lab.

513-558-1324 jose.cancelas@uc.edu

Biplab Dasgupta, PhD Member, Division of Oncology

Biplab Dasgupta, PhD, investigates the mechanisms of cancer development and progression. Using various state-of-the-art techniques and brain tumor as a model, his lab examines cancer stem cell metabolism, bioenergetics, signal transduction and the potential link between and cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic factors that influence cancer incidence and penetrance.
Visit the Dasgupta Lab.

513-803-1370 biplab.dasgupta@cchmc.org

Marie-Dominique Filippi, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Marie-Dominique Filippi, PhD, is interested in dissecting the molecular mechanism of hematopoietic cell migration. Because hematopoietic cells are utilized for the therapy of multiple blood diseases and neutrophils are responsible for maintaining an immunocompetence status, understanding the molecular mechanism of normal hematopoietic cell functions is of potential therapeutic importance.
Visit the Filippi Lab.

513-636-0991 Marie-Dominique.Filippi@cchmc.org

H. Leighton (Lee) Grimes, PhD Director, Cancer Pathology Program, Division of Experimental Hematology & Division of Pathology

H. Leighton (Lee) Grimes, PhD, focuses on the transcriptional control of normal and malignant hematopoiesis. The goal of his research is to understand how normal blood cells are formed, and to use this information to dissect the molecular pathogenesis of marrow failure and leukemia.
Visit the Grimes Lab.

513-636-6089 lee.grimes@cchmc.org

Fukun Guo, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Fukun Guo, PhD, studies Rho GTPases and T and B lymphocyte development and function.

513-803-1118 fukun.guo@cchmc.org

Frank (Lei) Huang, PhD

1. Dr. Huang’s Lab is modeling and targeting cell-cell interaction (stromal-tumor-immune crosstalk) in disease microenvironment. He has collaborated with immunologists and cancer biologists on identifying and validating altered pathways in the tumor-stromal-immune environment, which drives cancer carcinogenesis and mediate chemo-resistance. The Huang Lab has developed computational cell-cell communication tools based on single-cell RNA/ATAC-seq data of tumor patients.

2. Integrating Multiple genomic and epigenomic data for driver signaling network analysis, drug repositioning and drug combination prediction: the Huang Lab has been integrating multiple genomic data, such as DNA-seq, RNA-seq, Copy number, ChIP-Seq, Methylation, and Proteomics, of same patients in order to derive driver signaling pathways. In order to overcome drug resistance and increase therapeutic choices, the Huang Lab has also actively investigated drug repurposing and synergistic drug combinations.

513-517-1084 frank.huang@cchmc.org

Gang Huang, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Gang Huang, PhD, focuses on genetic and epigenetic regulations of normal blood cell development and leukemia. His team demonstrated that AML1/CBFβ and mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) protein form a regulatory complex, which is important for normal blood development and acts as a tumor suppressor in leukemia.

513-636-3214 gang.huang@cchmc.org

Theodosia A. Kalfa, MD, PhD Co-Director, Erythrocyte Diagnostic Laboratory

Theodosia A. Kalfa, MD, PhD, focuses on the study of intracellular signals in erythropoiesis and mature red blood cells, specifically the signals conducted by Rho GTPases regulating terminal erythroid maturation and enucleation. Her lab also studies the role of Rac GTPases in generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within red blood cells from patients and animal models with sickle-cell disease along with the signaling mechanisms and consequences of increased ROS in sickle cells.
Visit the Kalfa Research Lab.

513-636-0989 theodosia.kalfa@cchmc.org

Ashish R. Kumar, MD, PhD Director, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Center

Ashish R. Kumar, MD, PhD, is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist whose lab is investigating the biology childhood cancers and blood diseases. The current focus of research in the lab is on infant leukemia and LCH.
Visit the Kumar Research Lab.

513-636-7287 ashish.kumar@cchmc.org

Adam Lane, PhD Member, Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency

Adam Lane, PhD, has methodological research interests in designs for phase I/II clinical trials, survival analysis and structural equation modeling. Dr. Lane is also a dedicated collaborator with both clinical and basic science researchers in bone marrow transplantation, hematology, oncology and cancer biology.

513-803-1828 adam.lane@cchmc.org

Qing Richard Lu, PhD Beatrice C. Lampkin Endowed Chair in Cancer Epigenetics

Qing Richard Lu, PhD, and his lab study the fundamental process of stem/progenitor cell differentiation underlying gliogenesis, brain tumorigenesis, and myelinogenesis. Dr. Lu lab utilizes transgenic and gene targeting mice as well as patient-derived xenograft animal models to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to neurodevelopmental disorders, brain tumor formation, and demyelinating diseases, and to develop new regenerative therapies for treating neurodegenerative diseases and brain cancers.

Visit the Lu Lab.

513-636-7684 richard.lu@cchmc.org

Carolyn M. Lutzko, PhD Director, Cell Manipulation Laboratory and Translational Development, Translational Core Laboratory

Carolyn M. Lutzko, PhD, studies the regulation of human pluripotent stem cells, somatic cell reprogramming in iPSC, human embryonic stem cell physiology and differentiation, hESC, and cystic fibrosis.

513-803-2420 carolyn.lutzko@cchmc.org

Punam Malik, MD Director, Cincinnati Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center

Punam Malik, MD, works to correct the gene responsible for sickle cell anemia. One of the lab’s major projects uses gene therapy to treat sickle cell disease. The lab is also interested in gene therapy for other diseases. She has developed various methods for delivering corrective genes to cells, improving methods for gene therapy in general.

513-636-1333 punam.malik@cchmc.org

Ruhikanta A. Meetei, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Ruhikanta A. Meetei, PhD, focuses on functional analysis of Fanconi anemia gene products. The major research focus includes identification of new FA genes and signal transduction pathways that regulate DNA-damage-induced activation of the FA-core complex.

513-636-1768 ruhikanta.meetei@cchmc.org

Benjamin E. Mizukawa, MD St. Baldrick’s Foundation Scholar

Benjamin E. Mizukawa, MD, is trained in pediatric hematology/oncology with a research emphasis in leukemia biology and novel therapeutics. His work is focused on understanding the role of small Rho GTPases in myeloid leukemia development and progression, with the translational goal of identifying new targets for drug development.

513-636-1335 benjamin.mizukawa@cchmc.org

James C. Mulloy, PhD Co-Leader, Hematological Malignancy Program

James C. Mulloy, PhD, focuses on using human hematopoietic stem cells to model leukemia. His lab is expressing the fusion protein, AML1-ETO, in human CD34+ stem cells by retroviral transduction and characterizing the genetic and functional alterations that occur due to expression of this oncogene.
Visit the Mulloy Lab.

513-636-1844 james.mulloy@cchmc.org

Nicolas Nassar, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Nicolas Nassar, PhD, is a structural biologist interested in understanding the structure/function of signaling proteins, how they specifically bind and recognize regulators and targets, and in finding ways to inhibit their signaling in disease. His lab combines X-ray crystallography, site-directed mutagenesis, enzyme kinetics, and other biophysical techniques in its studies.

513-636-6597 nicolas.nassar@cchmc.org

Dao Pan, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Dao Pan, PhD, has long term research interests in combining translational and basic research on virus-mediated gene transfer and disease treatment for mucopolysaccharidoses disorders, which are often associated with systemic and central nerve system abnormalities, and early childhood death.
Visit the Pan Lab.

513-636-6315 dao.pan@cchmc.org

Qishen Pang, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

The Pang Laboratory is focused on elucidating the mechanisms by which the Fanconi proteins regulate hematopoietic stem cells in the context of bone marrow failure and leukemia development. The goal of the research is to identify novel pharmaceutical targets for the treatment of patients with Fanconi anemia and other bone marrow failure syndromes. Several current projects will utilize cellular, genetic, and molecular techniques to identify and characterize critical pathways that regulate hematopoietic stem cells function, using knockout mice and xenotransplant models.
Visit the Pang Lab.

513-636-1152 qishen.pang@cchmc.org

Nancy Ratner, PhD Co-Director, Rasopathy Program

Nancy Ratner, PhD, is working to define the interactions between glial cells and axons during nervous system development and how those interactions go awry in disease. Her goal is to develop novel therapies for patients with nervous system diseases.

Visit the Ratner Lab.

513-636-9469 nancy.ratner@cchmc.org

Damien Reynaud, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Damien Reynaud, PhD, is an experimental hematologist interested in dissecting the cell-intrinsic and environmental cues that regulate normal and pathological blood production. His research focuses on the mechanisms that control hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) activities in the condition of chronic inflammatory and metabolic stresses, associated with obesity and its sequelae.

513-803-4498 damien.reynaud@cchmc.org

J. Elliott Robinson, MD, PhD

Dr. Robinson investigates the structure and function of neural circuits involved in reward, motivation, and attention in mouse models of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and other Rasopathies. Additionally, Dr. Robinson develops systemic adeno-associated virus gene therapies to restore normal brain function in these diseases.

513-803-5122 elliott.robinson@cchmc.org

Daniel T. Starczynowski, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Daniel T. Starczynowski, PhD, is a cancer biologist who has a basic research programs with a translational emphasis in myeloid hematological malignancies. His lab’s major effort is studying the molecular and cellular basis of myelodysplastic syndromes, bone marrow failure syndromes and acute leukemia. The goal is to identify candidate genes and understand their contribution to myeloid malignancies.
Visit the Starczynowski Lab.

513-803-5317 daniel.starczynowski@cchmc.org

Andrew Volk, PhD

Andrew Volk, PhD received his PhD in molecular biology from Loyola University Chicago. He studied mechanisms of AML resistance to NF-kB inhibition therapy in vivo. During his postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University, Dr. Volk discovered that the chromatin assembly factor CHAF1B binds chromatin and promotes leukemogenic transformation by altering the transcriptional landscape in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and pre-leukemic stem cells.

Following his postdoctoral training, Dr. Volk joined the faculty at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Volk's lab focuses on chromatin assembly and investigates the genetic and epigenetic drivers of leukemias and bone marrow failure syndromes. Our ultimate goal is advancing novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of leukemias and bone marrow failure syndromes.

513-636-1844 andrew.volk@cchmc.org

Ronald R. Waclaw, MS, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Ronald R. Waclaw, MS, PhD, is a developmental neurobiologist who has a research program in forebrain development and function. His lab studies the molecular genetic mechanisms in forebrain progenitor cell differentiation. One focus of his lab is to determine the effect of known “RASopathy” genes, which result in abnormalities in RAS/MAPK signaling, on brain development and brain tumor formation.

513-803-3336 ronald.waclaw@cchmc.org

Susanne Wells, PhD Director, Epithelial Carcinogenesis and Stem Cell Program

Susanne Wells, PhD, investigates 1) mechanisms of cancer susceptibility in human organoids, 2) anti-viral discovery using single-cell transcriptomics, and 3) molecular activities of the human DEK oncogene. The long-term goal is to understand gene-environment interactions and their effects on health and disease and to translate the results into prevention and therapy. Our favorite model systems are human epidermis and mucosa. Research approaches include iPSC culture and differentiation, tissue engineering, transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling, and genetic mouse models.
Visit the Wells Lab.

513-636-5986 susanne.wells@cchmc.org

Jianqiang Wu, MD, MS Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Jianqiang Wu, MD, MS, focuses on preclinical therapeutic trials on neurofibroma, and transcription factors, microRNA, and cancer stem cell(s) in neurofibroma initiation and therapy.

513-636-0955 jianqiang.wu@cchmc.org

Mei Xin, PhD Member, Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology

Mei Xin, PhD, studies the mechanisms of heart growth, regeneration and vascular development. Dr. Xin’s research focuses on the identification and characterization of critical transcriptional and post-transcriptional molecules, as well as the signaling networks that control cardiovascular development and disease. These studies may provide insight towards therapeutic interventions for cardiovascular disorders.

513-803-3464 mei.xin@cchmc.org

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