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Ruth Wang’ondu, MD, PhD
Ruth Wang’ondu, MD, PhD

Ruth Wang’ondu, MD, PhD

Instructor, St. Jude Faculty

Departments

Divisions

Education

Clinical Fellowship (Pediatric Hematology and Oncology) – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Residency (Internal Medicine and Pediatrics) – Yale University, New Haven, CT
PhD (Cell Biology) – Yale University, New Haven, CT
MD – Yale University, New Haven, CT
BA (Biochemistry and Sociology) – Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA

Honors & Awards

  • 2022  Hyundai Hope on Wheels Young Investigator Grant Recipient
  • 2022  American Medical Association Physician Recognition Award
  • 2021  NIH/NCI Loan Repayment Program Recipient
  • 2020  American Society of Hematology Minority Fellow Award

Research Interests

  • Using in vitro and in vivo models of B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia to study effects of IKZF1 (Ikaros) alterations on leukemogenesis and drug resistance
  • Defining effects of Ikaros alterations on prognostication and risk stratification of B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
  • Integration of genetic data from diverse populations to inform treatment of B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Selected Publications

Wang’ondu R, Vitale R, Rosenblum H, et al. A resident-led project to improve documentation of overweight and obesity in a primary care clinic. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect Nov 1;9(5):377–383, 2019. doi:10.1080/20009666.2019.1681056

Ong'ayo G, Ooko M, Wang'ondu R, Bottomley C, Nyaguara A, Tsofa BK, Williams TN, Bejon P, Scott JAG, Etyang AO. Effect of strikes by health workers on mortality between 2010 and 2016 in Kilifi, Kenya: a population-based cohort analysis. Lancet Glob Health Jul;7(7):e961-e967, 2019. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(19)30188-3.

Wang’ondu R, Samuels S, Andiman W, Paintsil E, Barakat L, Langs-Barlow A. Desire for improved disclosure, community and bonding among young adults with perinatally acquired HIV. Cogent Social Sciences 4(1):1463816, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2018.1463816

Mehida A, Wang’ondu R, Cooney L. Group A Streptococcal Bacteremia following streptococcal pharyngitis in an older patient with diabetes: A Case Report. Yale J Biol Med 90 (2):337-340, 2017. eCollection 2017 Jun. PMID: 28656020

Wang’ondu R, Long T. An Atypical Case of Hemoptysis. Connecticut Medicine 80(3):153-157, 2016. PMID: 27169298

Wang'ondu R, Teal S, Park R, Heston L, Delecluse H, Miller G. DNA damage signaling is induced in the absence of Epstein - Barr virus (EBV) Lytic DNA replication and in response to expression of ZEBRA. PLoS ONE 10(5):e0126088, 2015. PMID: 25950714

Yu KP, Heston L, Park R, Ding Z, Wang'ondu R, Delecluse HJ, Miller G. Latency of Epstein-Barr virus is disrupted by gain-of-function mutant cellular AP-1 proteins that preferentially bind methylated DNA. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 110(20):8176-81, 2013. PMID: 23625009

Wang’ondu RW, Murray TS. Relapse of polymicrobial endocarditis in an intravenous drug user. Yale J Biol Med 84(3):321-324, 2011. PMID: 21966051

Park R, Wang’ondu R, Heston L, Shedd D, Miller G. Efficient induction of nuclear aggresomes by specific mis-sense mutations in the DNA-binding domain of a viral AP-1 homolog. Journal of Biological Chemistry 286(11):9748-9762, 2011. PMID: 21233201

Daigle D, Gradoville L, Tuck D, Schulz V, Wang’ondu R, Ye J, Gorres K, Miller G. Valproic acid antagonizes the capacity of other HDAC inhibitors to activate the Epstein-Barr virus lytic cycle. Journal of Virology 85(11):5628-5643, 2011. PMID: 21411522

Tran LT, Wang'ondu RW, Weng JB, Wanjiku GW, Fong CM, Kile AC, Koepp DM, Hood-DeGrenier JK. TORC1 kinase and the S-phase cyclin Clb5 collaborate to promote mitotic spindle assembly and DNA replication in S. cerevisiae. Current Genetics 56(6):479-493, 2010. PMID: 20697716

Hearn JH, Chen FM, Cynamon HM, Wang'ondu R. Preparation and properties of new antitubercular thioureas and thiosemicarbazides. Journal of Sulfur Chemistry 27(2):149-164, 2006.

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Last update: September 2022

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