Oncology

Research Faculty

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John P. Perentesis, MD, FAAP Director, Division of Oncology

John P. Perentesis, MD, FAAP, is a nationally recognized expert in the development of new therapies for pediatric cancers, leading new clinical trials through the Children’s Oncology Group, the NCI Phase I/Pilot Consortium, and the Department of Defense-funded Neurofibromatosis Consortium. His laboratory focuses on leukemia/lymphoma pharmacogenetics and has developed novel anticancer drugs and discovered genes important in the growth of normal and malignant cells.
Visit the Perentesis Research Lab.

513-636-8241 john.perentesis@cchmc.org

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Michael J. Absalon, MD, PhD Director, Medical Education Program

Michael J. Absalon, MD, PhD, focuses on developing new therapies and combinations of therapies for pediatric leukemias and lymphomas. He is currently investigating the therapeutic potential of combining the new targeted drug sorafenib with conventional chemotherapy for relapsed AML.

513-517-2234 michael.absalon@cchmc.org

Erin H. Breese, MD, PhD Member, Division of Oncology

513-517-2234 erin.breese@cchmc.org

Karen C. Burns, MD, MS Co-Director, Comprehensive Fertility Care and Preservation Program

Karen C. Burns, MD, MS, conducts research on cancer survivorship and serious late effects of cancer treatment, including obesity, heart problems, fertility issues, increased risk of second cancers, and long-term outcomes of cancer survivors. She is also leading development of a fertility preservation program for children and adolescents undergoing chemotherapy as well as other unique medical and support services for adolescent and young adult cancer patients.

513-517-2234 karen.burns@cchmc.org

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

Peter de Blank, MD, MSCE Co-Medical Director, Brain Tumor Center

Peter de Blank, MD, MSCE, is an expert in pediatric low-grade gliomas, neurofibromatosis (NF), imaging biomarkers and functional outcomes. Dr. de Blank chairs a low-grade glioma study for COG and has leadership roles for both the International Response Endpoint in NF and Schwannomatosis (REiNS) group and the National NF Consortium.

513-517-2068 peter.deblank@cchmc.org

James I. Geller, MD Director - Liver, Kidney and Retinoblastoma Programs, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute

James I. Geller, MD, focuses on children and young adults affected by solid tumors. Dr. Geller's expertise is recognized internationally, as witnessed by his appointments to the Children's Oncology Group (COG) Renal Tumor, Liver Tumor, Retinoblastoma and Central Nervous System (Brain Tumor) Committees. Dr. Geller directs and spearheads local and national studies in these areas, with an emphasis on novel therapeutics.

513-636-6332 james.geller@cchmc.org

Adrienne M. Hammill, MD, PhD Research Director, Hemangioma & Vascular Malformation Program

Adrienne M. Hammill, MD, PhD, conducts clinical research on hemangiomas and vascular malformations, focusing on development of new therapies for these conditions and new tools for assessing response to therapy, including novel imaging modalities.

513-517-2234 adrienne.hammill@cchmc.org

Trent R. Hummel, MD Co-Medical Director, Brain Tumor Center

Trent Hummel, MD, is a member of the COG Central Nervous System (CNS) Committee, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium and the National NF Consortium. Dr. Hummel focuses on developing novel therapeutics to treat pediatric CNS tumors, including NF Types 1 and 2, and poor prognosis tumors such as high-grade gliomas and diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas.

513-803-1140 trent.hummel@cchmc.org

LaQuita Jones, DO Member, Division of Oncology

LaQuita M. Jones, DO, investigates targeted therapeutics in fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The goal of her research is to investigate novel agents, or combinations of agents, that can be utilized in relapsed/refractory FLT3 mutant acute myeloid leukemia. In addition, she is also investigating resistance patterns in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) & AML patients who have been treated with hypomethylating agents.

513-636-4505 laquita.jones@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

Rajaram Nagarajan, MD, MS Clinical Director, Division of Oncology

Rajaram Nagarajan, MD, MS, focuses on quality of life and outcomes following cancer therapy. His large collaborative studies involve the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), the Children's Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) and National Children’s Hospital and Related Institutions (NACHRI) initiative. Dr. Nagarajan co-directs the Long-Term Follow-up Program which follows over 1,400 survivors, a unique program that follows “children” who are now well into adulthood.

513-636-0670 rajaram.nagarajan@cchmc.org

Robin Norris, MD, MS, MPH Director, Clinical Research for Oncology, Division of Oncology

513-517-2067 robin.norris@cchmc.org

Maureen M. O'Brien, MD, MS Medical Director, Leukemia/Lymphoma Program

Maureen M. O'Brien, MD, MS, is a clinical researcher developing new therapies for children, adolescents, and young adults with leukemia and lymphoma. Her research is focused on clinical trials of novel agents for patients with high-risk or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia including immune-based therapies. The goal of this research is to develop treatment regimens that are more effective with fewer short and long-term side effects.

513-803-1678 maureen.obrien@cchmc.org

Christine L. Phillips, MD Member, Division of Oncology

Christine L. Phillips, MD, is a clinical oncologist with a clinical and translational research focus on the development of novel therapies for pediatric leukemia and in leukemia pharmacogenetics. Recent work has involved examining common genetic polymorphisms and their contribution to efficacy of therapy and risk for side effects in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

513-803-3216 christine.phillips@cchmc.org

Joseph G. Pressey, MD Director, Sarcoma Program

Through collaboration with laboratory investigators and other clinician scientists, Dr. Pressey's research is focused on the study of cancer biology and the development of novel therapies for high-risk and recurrent/refractory solid tumors.

513-636-0670 joseph.pressey@cchmc.org

Lisa M. Privette Vinnedge, PhD Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Lisa Privette Vinnedge, PhD, investigates the molecular mechanisms that direct mammary gland development and breast cancer progression. In addition, her laboratory performs pre-clinical testing of novel therapeutics for solid tumors.
Visit the Privette Vinnedge Lab.

513-636-1155 lisa.privette@cchmc.org

Mayur Sarangdhar, PhD Member, Division of Biomedical Informatics

Mayur Sarangdhar, PhD, develops computational approaches to discover and investigate latent relationships within biomedical big data. He is interested in unraveling the mechanisms by which drugs induce and/or exacerbate toxicities, studying them, and utilizing this new knowledge toward designing novel therapeutic strategies to minimize adverse treatment outcomes.

513-803-2106 mayur.sarangdhar@cchmc.org

William L. Seibel, PhD Member, Division of Oncology

William L. Seibel, PhD, is a synthetic medicinal chemist with over 20 years of industrial and academic experience in the discovery of biologically active molecules and optimization toward human clinical trials. His lab provides advice in lead discovery, hit-to-lead and lead optimization approaches, including medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry and screening.

513-803-4870 william.seibel@cchmc.org

Brian K. Turpin, DO Member, Division of Oncology

513-517-2234 brian.turpin@cchmc.org

Brian D. Weiss, MD Director, Neuroblastoma Program

Brian D. Weiss, MD, focuses on new approaches to treat high-risk neuroblastoma, including novel ways to use 131I-MIBG therapy, and on targeted agents for neurofibromatosis type 1-related tumors and malignancies. In addition, he is researching methods and processes to ensure error-free delivery of therapy.

513-636-9863 brian.weiss@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

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