The Myeloid Malignancies and Leukemia Program is the largest program in the Midwest with over 1000 patients with hematologic malignancies referred to the program annually.
Our primary focus is on providing specialized care for patients with advanced blood cancers, including those undergoing blood and marrow transplantation, as well as cutting-edge cellular therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell treatments. We work closely with laboratory-based investigators to harness our institutional expertise in areas like cancer genomics and immunotherapy. This collaboration enables us to develop innovative treatments aimed at enhancing the quality of care for our patients. The Myeloid Malignancies and Leukemia Program includes the Washington University Center for Gene and Cellular Immunotherapy (CGCI) a global leader in developing and providing groundbreaking gene and cellular immunotherapies for patients with blood cancers and solid tumors.
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Referring physicians or patients can call 314-454-8304 to schedule a consultation with one of our BMT & Myeloid Malignancy physicians.
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Myeloid Leukemias and Related Diseases
The Myeloid Malignancies and Leukemia Program encompasses the comprehensive care of patients with acute leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, and advanced myeloproliferative neoplasms. Additionally, we provide specialized care for patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapies, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell treatments, for both solid tumor and hematological malignancies. Each year, our program conducts approximately 340 hematopoietic cell transplants, along with providing cellular immunotherapies like CAR T-cell therapies to an additional 125 patients.
Our Treatment Approach
Our treatment team is comprised of nationally recognized experts in the fields of hematologic malignancies and cellular therapies. As pioneers in the field of cancer genomics, we strive to integrate our understanding of the genetic basis of an individual’s blood cancer to help guide treatment decisions. We firmly believe that active participation in clinical trials is a fundamental aspect of our dedication to enhancing the quality of care for our patients.
Treatment Team
Geoffrey L. Uy, MD
Dr. Uy is the Director of the Myeloid Malignancies and Leukemia Program. He cares for patients with acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative neoplasms. He is an active clinical researcher testing novel therapeutics in patients with hematologic cancers.
Camille N. Abboud, MD
Dr. Abboud cares for patients with hematologic malignancies including myeloproliferative neoplasms including chronic myeloid leukemia.
Ramzi Abboud, MD
Dr. Abboud’s clinic and research is focused on acute leukemia, stem cell transplant and cellular therapies. His work includes modeling and inhibition of the Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway in order to make transplantation and cellular therapies safer and more effective. His clinical research focuses on haploidentical transplantation and reducing relapse and graft versus host disease (GVHD).
Matthew J. Christopher, MD, PhD
Dr. Christopher is focused on the care of patients with hematologic malignancies. His research is focused on the immunologic events that lead to relapse after hematopoietic cell transplantation and in novel approaches to prevent and treat relapse.
Zachary D. Crees, MD
Dr. Crees care of patients with undergoing cellular therapy. His research interests include novel methods for mobilizing hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells for use in transplantation and cell therapy.
Ryan B. Day, MD, PhD
Dr. Day’s research interest is in understanding Core binding factor (CBF), a transcription factor essential for hematopoiesis. My research interest is in understanding how CBF is dysregulated, both in AML cases with CBF gene mutations or translocations, as well as in subtypes of AML without genetic CBF alterations.
John F. DiPersio, MD, PhD
Dr. DiPersio directs the Center for Gene and Cellular Therapy and cares for patients with acute and chronic leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, and those patients who are undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy. His research lab focuses on transplantation immunology, graft vs. host disease, and novel cellular and gene therapies including CART.
Francesca Ferraro, MD, PhD
Dr. Ferraro’s clinical and laboratory research interest is acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Her lab focuses on modeling these mutations in mice to understand how each mutation affects the establishment and progression of AML in-vivo. The goal is to identify mutation- specific vulnerabilities that could be targeted in personalized approaches to improve the efficacy of current chemotherapies.
Armin Ghobadi, MD
Dr. Ghobadi serves as the Clinical Director of the Center for Gene and Cellular Therapy. His clinical and research interests focus on the care of patients undergoing cellular therapy.
Meagan A. Jacoby, MD, PhD
Dr. Jacoby serves as the Clinical Director of the MDS Program. She cares for patients with MDS and acute leukemia. Her research is focused on the use of genomic sequencing to guide patient therapy in MDS/AML and the development of novel therapeutics.
Miriam Y. Kim, MD
Dr. Kim’s research interest is focused on developing novel chimeric antigen receptor T cells for myeloid malignancies.
Nathan Singh, MD, MS
Dr. Singh’s clinical focus is in cell-based therapies for aggressive blood cancers. His laboratory uses advanced engineering of proteins and genes to design synthetically engineered immune cells that can “intelligently” identify, kill and remember cancer for the duration of a patient’s life.
Kiran R. Vij, MD
Dr. Vij clinical interests include both hematopathology and gynecologic pathology. She is involved in the medical education of both residents and fellows and provides hematopathology and cytogenetic research support for clinical and laboratory investigators.
Matthew J. Walter, MD
Dr. Walter serves as the Director of the Edward P. Evans Center for Myelodysplastic Syndromes. His research seeks to characterize the role of mutations in splicing genes in the pathogenesis of MDS.
- Stephanie Bauer
- Savannah Cincoski
- Holly Comer
- Melissa Edwards
- Lanta Hawkins-Fisher
- Maggie Kavanaugh
- Emily Kemp
- Taryn Legette
- Rebecca Peterson
- Brooke Ramsey
- Meaghan Ryan
- Jordan Smith
- Katy Stewart
- Daniel Swinger
- Angela Vickroy
- Stephanie Vollmer
- Jenna Williams
- Kari Wilson
- Paul Freeman – Clinical Nurse Manager
- Danielle Gagne – Assistant Nurse Manager
- Marnie Agne
- John Berthel
- Colleen Brady
- Jason Clark
- Beth Duisen
- Becky Eisele
- Allison Eshelman
- Sara Geear
- Michele Hill
- Lindsay Hobbs
- Marykate Horn
- Abagail Johnessee
- Nicole Knebel
- Kathryn O’Brien
- Megan Ottermann
- Robin Schultz
- Jordan Shockley
- Andrea Smith
- Rebecca Thompson
- Rachel Wagoner
- Jarrod Williams
- Jamie Bugg
- Kimberly Carter
- Melanie Cressman
- Krista Sander
- Susan Young
Research and Clinical Trials
Washington University is one of only three programs designated by the National Cancer Institute as a Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Leukemia for translational research. Our faculty are leaders in the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplant-Clinical Trials Network sponsored by the National Cancer Institute to develop clinical trials for the treatment of blood cancers.
We collaborate closely with laboratory-based investigators from the Sections of Stem Cell Biology and Cellular Therapy to bridge the gap between cutting-edge scientific discoveries and clinical applications. Leveraging our expertise in cancer genomics, we’ve designed novel genetic sequencing assays to comprehensively profile acute leukemias, aiding in more informed treatment decisions.
Furthermore, we are actively engaged in developing genetically engineered cell therapies tailored for patients with T-cell leukemias, and we are conducting trials to evaluate new drugs aimed at reducing complications associated with hematopoietic cell transplantation and cell therapies.
Our research group has also pioneered innovative methods for mobilizing hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, which can be pivotal in transplantation and gene therapy. Additionally, we’ve devised techniques to harness and bolster a patient’s own immune system in the battle against leukemia, utilizing a specialized class of immune cells known as cytokine-induced memory-like Natural Killer Cells.
Ongoing Clinical Trial Highlights
- Improving Risk Assessment of AML With a Precision Genomic Strategy to Assess Mutation Clearance
The study uses genomic sequencing of the leukemia cells to prospectively determine whether measuring leukemia-associated mutations after initial treatment with chemotherapy can help guide the decision between treating with additional chemotherapy or recommending an hematopoietic cell transplant. - A Phase 1/2 Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Anti-CD7 Allogeneic CAR-T Cells (WU-CART-007) in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory T-ALL/LBL
WU-CART-007 is a CAR-T cell therapy engineered to overcome the technological challenges of harnessing CAR-T cells to treat patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. - Phase I Dose Escalation and Dose Expansion Study of Duvelisib Following Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy
This study will test whether duvelisib, and inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase-δ (PI3K-δ) and PI3K-γ would be safe, may provide effective prophylaxis against cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and enhance the persistence and efficacy of CAR T-cells in the treatment of hematologic malignancies.