Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Hematology and Medical Oncology
Research Directory

Ghassan Abou-Alfa, MD

MSKCC, Gastrointestinal Oncology Service

Email: abou-alg@mskcc.org

Tel: 212-639-3112

Research focuses on improving the effectiveness of cancer therapy by incorporating small novel biological molecules that target cancer into the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant gastrointestinal malignancies, particularly hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers.

 

Christopher G. Azzoli, MD

MSKCC, Thoracic Oncology Service

Email: azzolic@mskcc.org

Tel: 212-639-2131

Clinical trials of new post-operative chemotherapies for patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer (adjuvant chemotherapy). Collaborate in these trials with basic scientists and pathologists to develop blood and tissue biomarkers to serve as diagnostic and prognostic tools for selection of chemotherapy and/or lung cancer surveillance.

James Bussel, MD

Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine

Email: jbussel@med.cornell.edu

Tel: 212-746-3474

My interests are in clinical trials and pathophysiology of ITP, in particular, and thrombocytopenia in general. I have led almost all of the first generation of studies with thrombopoietic agents and have done considerable work with IVIg, IV anti-D, rituximab, and the newly licensed thrombopoietic agents.  The resident could either participate in an ongoing project or design a project, if feasible. 

Tessa Cigler, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Email: tec9002@med.cornell.edu

Tel: 212-821-0736

I would be pleased to participate in mentoring residents. My research focuses on the optimization of hormonal therapies for breast cancer treatment and
prevention. I am interested in novel ways to sequence and combine hormonal therapies, elucidating the musculoskeletal side effects of certain hormonal therapies, and evaluating  biomarkers of sensitivity to hormonal therapies. I am also involved in clinical trials designed to evaluate promising new therapies for breast cancer.

Richard Furman, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Email: rrfurman@med.cornell.edu       

Tel: 212-746-2063

I would be interested in having residents work with us on clinical research in the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Research Center, which focuses on clinical and translational research involving patients with CLL. Current research includes novel therapies and their mechanisms of action. Residents will be involved in designing, writing, and conducting clinical trials and establishing collaborations with bench researchers to explore correlative studies.

John Gerecitano, MD

MSKCC, Lymphoma Service

Email: gerecitj@mskcc.org

Tel: 212-639-3748

Main research focus is the clinical development of novel, non-immunologically based treatments in lymphoma. Current projects include investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored phase I and phase I/II clinical trials. Also work with pathology and other labs to pursue correlative aims, such as tissue microarray studies and retrospective analyses of data related to trials.

Monica L. Guzman, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology in Medicine
Email: mlg2007@med.cornell.edu
Tel: 212-746-6838
 

Relapse in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is thought to arise from a chemoresistant subpopulation of leukemic stem cells (LSCs).  Therefore, the focus of Dr. Guzman’s laboratory is the identification of novel therapeutic approaches for targeting LSCs without harming normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).   The main research areas are: (1) identify druggable molecular differences between LSCs and HSCs; (2) determine mechanisms of cell death invoked by anti-LSC agents; (3) minimal residual disease (MRD). Overall, our group aims to define the biology that drives LSC chemoresistance and disease relapse with the purpose of translating these findings to the clinic. 

 

Barbara Hempstead MD, PhD

Professor of Medicine, Co-Chief, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology

Email: blhempst@med.cornell.edu

Tel: 212-746-6702

Dr. Hempstead's laboratory is focused on the role of the neurotrophin family of growth factors, that have well characterized roles in brain development, complex human behaviors, and memory.  In addition, a prominent role in enhancing angiogenesis has recently been identified. Dr. Hempstead's lab welcomes medical students, residents and fellows for research opportunities of two months or more, to identify roles for neurotrophins in tumor angiogenesis, using both in vivo and in vitro techniques, and conditionally gene targeted models.  

 

Katherine Hsu, MD, PhD

MSKCC, Adult Allogeneic BMT

Email: hsuk@mskcc.org

Tel: 646-888-2667

My laboratory is interested in the biology of human natural killer (NK) cells and how they contribute to malignancy control. For example, we are studying the role of NK cells in controlling leukemia relapse in bone marrow transplants. My research focuses on the basic biology of the NK cell, identifying the molecules involved in controlling NK action, and determining the laboratory and clinical conditions under which NK actions can be modified.

Recent Resident Mentored: Fabiana Ostronoff

 

Clifford Hudis, MD

MSKCC, Chief, Breast Cancer Medicine Service

Email: hudisc@mskcc.org

Tel: 646-888-4551

The Breast Cancer Medicine Service and its collaborators at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center conduct laboratory, translational, and clinical research focused on the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. Clinical trials span most aspects of patient care and laboratory studies focus on the causes of disease and the development of improved therapeutics. We would be delighted to hear from interested residents. 

Recent Resident Mentored: Kathleen Mahoney

 

Joseph G. Jurcic, MD

MSKCC, Interim Chief, Leukemia Service

Email: jurcicj@mskcc.org

Tel: 212-639-2955

Research focused on antibody-based therapies for myeloid leukemia. Goals are to define the toxicity, biodistribution, pharmacology, and dosimetry of novel constructs and to develop rational treatment strategies that combine these therapies with conventional agents. Most recently focused on the use of radioimmunotherapy using targeted alpha particle-emitting radionuclides for the eradication of minimal disease.

 

Pouneh Kermani, PhD

Assistant Research Professor in Medicine

Email: rap2008@med.cornell.edu

Tel: 212-746-9934

Our laboratory is focused on investigating the role and mechanism by which neurotrophins in particular BDNF and TrkB receptor  promote angiogenesis. Our previous work demonstrated that BDNF, beyond its actions on neuronal survival, has also critical roles on non-neuronal cells, such as endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells survival and also play an important role in promoting neoangiogenesis and recruitment of hematopoietic progenitor cells, in a vascular injury as well as tumor vascularization.

 

Heather Landau, MD

MSKCC, Hematology Service

Email: Landauh@mskcc.org

Tel: 212-639-8808

The focus of clinical research is on plasma cell disorders including multiple myeloma, plasmacytomas and light chain amyloidosis.  Ongoing clinical trials include both transplant and non-transplant strategies as well as novel agents.  Translational projects include investigating cytogenetic abnormalities, molecular profiling and cell cycle regulation in these disorders.  I would be delighted to mentor a resident who is interested in working on a clinical or translational project.

 

Jeffrey Laurence, MD

Professor of Medicine

Email: jlaurenc@med.cornell.edu

Tel: 212-746-2988

Dr. Laurence welcomes house officers interested in basic  and translational research in microvascular thrombotic disorders and the metabolic complications of HIV infection.  Areas of clinical research include: (1) thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), both idiopathic and HIV-associated; (2) osteoporosis accelerated by HIV disease and its antiretroviral therapy; and  (3)  markers of inflammation linked to accelerated cardiovascular disease in the setting of HIV and its therapy.

John Leonard, MD

Professor of Medicine; Chief, Lymphoma/Myeloma Program

Email:  jpleonar@med.cornell.edu

Tel: 212-746-2932

I am happy to mentor in my clinical research area of lymphoma. Projects relate to new therapeutic agents, including immunotherapeutic approaches, prognostic information, and translational laboratory studies.

Recent Residents Mentored: Rebecca Elstrom, Peter Martin, Jia Ruan

 

Ross Levine, MD

MSKCC, Leukemia Service

Email: leviner@mskcc.org

Tel: 646-888-2767

We would definitely be interested in having residents in the lab anytime. Major area of research is the pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies, including: (1) identification of somatic mutations which activate signal transduction in JAK2V617F-negative myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), using candidate gene, genome-wide, and functional approaches; (2) identification of additional disease alleles which contribute to MPD pathogenesis; (3) investigation of different signaling pathways in hematopoietic transformation; (4) characterization of JAK2 inhibitors and other targeted therapies in the MPDs.

Ari Melnick, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine

Email: amm2014@med.cornell.edu

Tel: 212-746-7643

Dr. Melnick’s laboratory has two major areas of research. The first is focused on the design, development and clinical translation of new drugs to target cancer-causing oncogenes in lymphomas, leukemias, breast cancer and colon cancer. The second is focused on harnessing the power of human epigenomics to develop methods for personalized diagnosis and therapies for patients with leukemias and lymphomas.

Recent Resident Mentored: Francine Garret-Bakelman

Vincent A. Miller, MD

MSKCC, Thoracic Oncology Service

Email: millerv@mskcc.org

Tel: 212-639-7243

There would be a number of opportunities with specific projects based on the individual’s training and commitment. Our group was one of the first to show that activating mutations in EGFR are associated with regression of lung adenocarcinoma. We have a well organized syncytium of clinicians, pathologists, interventional radiologists, translational and basic researchers who work in this area. Many projects particularly involving asking simple questions from the large database (>500 pts) with EGFR mutations remain unanswered, and opportunity also exists for some work on translational projects.

 

David Nanus, MD

Professor of Medicine; Co-Chief, Division of Hematology-Oncology

(With Dr. Scott Tagawa, see below.)

Email: dnanus@med.cornell.edu

Tel: 212-746-2920 or 212-746-3152

 

Drs. Nanus and Tagawa welcome house officers interested in clinical and/or translational research in genitourinary (GU) oncology. In addition, clinical exposure to outpatient (clinic) and inpatient GU oncology is available with mentored guidance in clinical research. Areas of  clinical research include: (1) monoclonal antibody therapy for prostate cancer; (2) novel therapies for GU cancer; (3) circulating tumor cell analysis in prostate cancer; (4) anti-angiogenic therapy for kidney cancer; (5) circulating endothelial cell analysis in kidney cancer; (6) transgenic model of kidney cancer; (7) anti-angiogenic maintenance therapy for advanced urothelial cancer, a novel use of anti-angiogenic drugs after chemotherapy; (8) novel combination therapy and molecular predictors of response in bladder cancer.

Ruben Niesvizky, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine; Clinical Director, Multiple Myeloma Service

Email: run9001@med.cornell.edu

Tel: 212-746-2119

The multiple myeloma program at the New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center has an established track record and large portfolio in protocol accruals focused on targeted therapies for patients in every stage of the disease. Our current multiple myeloma clinical research program has several active protocols (with associated translational components) in which residents can participate.

 

Stephen Nimer, MD

MSKCC, Vice Chair, Faculty Development

Email: nimers@mskcc.org

Tel: 646-888-3040

Our laboratory has been studying the molecular basis of human acute leukemia and myelodysplasia, attempting to identify the transcriptional abnormalities that characterize these diseases in order to develop new therapeutic approaches. We are also examining how hematopoietic stem cell quiescence is regulated and how it affects sensitivity to chemotherapy and irradiation. Our clinical research efforts involve testing novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

 

Eileen M. O’Reilly, MD

MSKCC, GI Medical Oncology

Email: oreillye@mskcc.org

Tel: 212-639-6672  

Focus of clinical research is pancreatic, biliary and primary liver cancers. Studies include integration of molecular-based therapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, along with development of adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies and novel therapeutics for advanced disease.

M. Lia Palomba, MD

MSKCC, Lymphoma Service

Email: palombam@mskcc.org

Tel: 212-639-7186

Working with Dr. Marcel van den Brink (Medicine and Immunology), research involves two topics: (1) immune therapy of lymphoma with DNA-based vaccines expressing lymphoma-associated antigens (pre-clinical studies with murine models in vivo and in vitro, as well as a currently opened vaccine clinical trial); (2)  signaling in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), involving collection of blood and bone marrow samples from CLL patients and studying signal transduction by a single-cell resolution assay, phospho flow.

 

Ellen Ritchie, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Email: Ritchie@med.cornell.edu

Tel:  212-746-2192

I would be happy to discuss clinical research opportunities in the treatment of older patients with hematological malignancies.

Gail J. Roboz, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine; Director of the Leukemia Program

Email: gar2001@med.cornell.edu

Tel: 212-746-6736

I would be happy to have residents interested in research experiences in various areas of leukemia, myeloproliferative disorders and bone marrow failure studies, including both clinical and laboratory projects.

 

Jia Ruan, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Email: jruan@med.cornell.edu

Tel: 212-746-2932

Dr. Ruan’s research is focused on clinical and translational development of novel therapeutics targeting tumor microenvironment and angiogenesis in lymphoma and myeloma.  She is also actively involved in geriatric oncology research with an interest in low-intensity novel therapy for the elderly. 

Recent Residents Mentored: Elena Resnick, John Allan

 

Howard I. Scher, MD

MSKCC, Chief, Genitourinary Oncology Service

Email: scherh@mskcc.org                        

Tel: 646-422-4323

Focus of research is the development of targeted therapies directed to the androgen-receptor and PI3K/AKT signaling, key pathways in castration resistant prostate cancer progression. Goals are to determine combinations of targeted agents likely to have potent anticancer effects, and to establish models in which the biologic consequences of the agents can be studied. Separately, we are exploring methods to molecularly profile circulating tumor cells isolated from blood to understand tumor progression and guide treatment selection.

 

David Spriggs, MD

MSKCC, Gynecologic Medical Oncology Service

Email: spriggsd@mskcc.org

Tel: 212-639-2203

New drug development in gynecologic cancers. Clinical research and laboratory studies are related to the functional importance of MUC16, the mucin encoding the CA125 antigen which is commonly over expressed in ovarian cancer.

Scott T. Tagawa, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

(With Dr. David Nanus, see above.)

Email: stt2007@med.cornell.edu

Tel: 212-746-2920

 

Drs. Tagawa and Nanus welcome house officers interested in clinical and/or translational research in genitourinary (GU) oncology. In addition, clinical exposure to outpatient (clinic) and inpatient GU oncology is available with mentored guidance in clinical research. Areas of clinical research include: (1) monoclonal antibody therapy for prostate cancer; (2) novel therapies for GU cancer; (3) circulating tumor cell analysis in prostate cancer; (4) anti-angiogenic therapy for kidney cancer; (5) circulating endothelial cell analysis in kidney cancer; (6) transgenic model of kidney cancer; (7) anti-angiogenic maintenance therapy for advanced urothelial cancer, a novel use of anti-angiogenic drugs after chemotherapy; (8) novel combination therapy and molecular predictors of response in bladder cancer.

 

Kenneth K. Teng, PhD

Assistant Professor of Medicine in Neuroscience

Email:  kkteng@med.cornell.edu

Tel:  212-746-9931

The roles of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in development as well as in disease paradigms.  More specifically, we are interested in understanding how this growth factor promotes diametrically opposite biological responses, such as cell survival during embryonic development vs cell death upon spinal cord injury.

 

Tiffany A. Traina, MD

MSKCC, Breast Cancer Medicine Service

Email: trainat@mskcc.org

Tel: 646-888-4558

I would be thrilled to mentor a resident interested in breast cancer-related projects. I have a particular interest in the design and conduct of clinical trials applying mathematical models to chemotherapy dosing schedules in the hopes of optimizing benefit and minimizing risks of therapy. I have a special research focus in the development of novel therapies for patients with hormone refractory and HER2‐negative breast cancers (“triple‐negative breast cancers”).

James W. Young, MD

MSKCC, Adult BMT Service

Email: youngjw@mskcc.org   

Tel: 646-888-2052

Area of investigation is human dendritic cells and the generation of immunity in cancer and transplantation. Three broad areas of interest regarding dendritic cell biology: (1) hematopoietic development of dendritic cells; (2) immunogenic properties of dendritic cells for tumors and opportunistic pathogens; (3) the converse role of dendritic cells in tolerance rather than immunogenicity. We focus on projects that can be translated to clinical trials.

Recent Residents Mentored: Adam Boruchov (Cornell medicine resident 1997-2000; now on faculty at University of Connecticut in Hartford)

Andrew D. Zelenetz, MD, PhD

MSKCC, Chief, Lymphoma Service

Email: zeleneta@mskcc.org or a-zelenetz@ski.mskcc.org

Tel: 212-639-2656

Research is focused on the lymphomas with an emphasis on prognostication through biomarkers and imaging in addition to clinical trials. Clinical investigation has focused on targeted therapy with monoclonal antibodies. Current research topics include: new drug development in lymphoma; evaluation of minimal residual disease for prognosis in non-Hodgkin lymphoma; quantitative image analysis for measurement of prognostic biomarkers; role of diagnostic and functional imaging for prediction of outcome.

Recent Residents Mentored: Paul Bascian