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Leukemia research within the Division of Hematology is internationally recognized for advancing novel therapeutics, refining clinical trial design, and accelerating regulatory approval of transformative treatments. Faculty integrate laboratory discovery with multicenter clinical trials to improve outcomes for patients with acute and chronic leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, and related myeloid neoplasms. Leukemia research efforts are led by Justin M. Watts, M.D., Section Chief.
Research Highlights and Achievements
- Established one of the few dedicated clonal hematopoiesis clinics in the nation, supporting a large longitudinal database that has enabled national and international collaborative research.
- Advanced the application of next-generation sequencing to improve diagnosis, risk stratification, and early intervention for benign and pre-malignant hematologic disorders.
- Led international Phase I–III clinical trials resulting in FDA approval of multiple therapies for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.
- Published practice-changing studies in The Lancet, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Blood, and Science, advancing targeted and combination treatment strategies.
- Collaborated directly with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to modernize clinical trial eligibility criteria and drug development pathways for MDS.
- Secured major NIH and foundation funding to investigate mechanisms of drug resistance and develop next-generation therapies.
- Applied machine learning and artificial intelligence to predict transplant outcomes and treatment response, improving risk assessment and clinical decision-making.
Key Faculty
