Harnessing graft-versus-leukemia effect in allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a curative treatment for leukemia and lymphoma-blood cancers.  The donor’s immune cells that are transferred in the transplant can eradicate blood cancer, so-called graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect.  My research work is directed to finding ways to harness this GVL to cure leukemia and lymphoma.  I am particularly interested in preventing and treating post-transplant relapse, which remains the primary cause of transplant failure.  Our laboratory aims to improve transplants’ outcomes for people with leukemia by increasing the GVL effect and decreasing the hazards of the transplant through cytokine and adoptive cellular immunotherapy.