Research Programs

About Our Research

Research efforts within the Division of Hematology-Oncology include projects involving: bleeding and clotting disorders, childhood cancers, hemophilia A, hemophilia B, sickle cell disease, leukemia, lymphoma, health disparities, solid tumors, bone marrow transplant, hematopoietic stem cell transplant, long-term effects of cancer treatments, T-cell therapy, supportive care to survivors of childhood cancer, and many more.

Our faculty collaborates in these projects with colleagues across campus, including researchers working throughout the School of Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Gillings School of Global Public Health, and the Eshelman School of Pharmacy. The division is also a member of the Children’s Oncology Group, a national consortium of pediatric cancer centers.

Our Research Programs

Developmental Therapeutics and Pharmacology Research Program – utilizes a combination of UNC investigator-initiated, cooperative group and pharmaceutically-led trails to offer a range of options when precision medicine approaches are indicated or when standard therapies have failed

Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Research Program – focuses on providing research options for patients 13-26 years old

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Research Program – seeks to improve outcomes for pediatric patients who require hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the possibility of long-term survival

Epigenetics and Translational Research Program – investigates the relationship between chromatin organization, dysregulated transcription factors, and epigenetics in pediatric and adult solid tumors, in particular, Ewing sarcoma and renal cell carcinoma

Cellular Therapy Research Program – focuses on T-cell therapy and ways in which white blood cells (called T-cells) can be re-engineered so as to recognize and kill cancerous cells

Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Program – seeks to provide cutting-edge services for the evaluation and treating of patients with bleeding or clotting disorders

Our Researchers

Ian Davis, MD, PhD

G. Denman Hammond Professor of Childhood Cancer and Division Chief

Yasmina Abajas, MD

Assistant Professor

Thomas Alexander, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor

Julie Blatt, MD

Professor

Stuart H. Gold, MD

Stuart H. Gold Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics

Kimberly Kasow, DO

Professor

David Kram, MD, MCR

Associate Professor

Chengwen Li, PhD

Professor

Barbara Savoldo, MD, PhD

Professor

Andrew Smitherman, MD, MS

Assistant Professor

Patrick Thompson, MD

Professor

Kate Westmoreland, MD

Assistant Professor

Michael Winstead, MD

Assistant Professor