St. Jude Research
Chair: Mitchell J. Weiss, MD, PhD

Department of Hematology

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About the Department

The Department of Hematology is committed to performing innovative research and providing exceptional clinical care for children with catastrophic non-malignant blood diseases. Separate Experimental and Clinical Divisions investigate biomedical questions from two distinct orientations. Experimental Hematology faculty use tools of cell biology, developmental biology and genetics to understand the mechanisms of normal blood formation (hematopoiesis) and how these go awry in pediatric blood disorders. Clinical Hematology faculty care for patients and perform patient-oriented research, including interventional clinical trials to evaluate new therapies. The discoveries driven by our scientists and clinicians will increase our knowledge of blood diseases and improve the lives of our patients. Thus, a major goal is to transform laboratory discoveries into innovative therapies, in alignment with the mission of St. Jude.  

The Department of Hematology

Electron Microscopy: Sickle Cells

Our translational researchers are particularly interested sickle cell disease, bone marrow failure and pediatric myelodysplastic syndrome. At St. Jude, we are developing and improving new technologies for genetic manipulation, including genome editing and lentiviral gene therapy vectors to understand and treat these diseases. We are also investigating how bone marrow failure syndromes frequently progress to cancer by using state of the art sequencing and -omics approaches to uncover molecular clues. We leverage institutional technologies and build new tools to map long-term outcomes in our patients. To extend the scope of our accomplishments, Department of Hematology faculty and staff leverage St. Jude technologies by utilizing expert institutional core facilities and engaging in productive, long-term collaborations with faculty in numerous other Departments throughout St. Jude.  

Experimental
Hematology
Division

About the Division

Director: John Crispino, PhD, MBA

The Division of Experimental Hematology performs cutting edge laboratory research on normal and pathological blood development. We plan to expand our footprint in basic hematopoiesis and stem cell biology by recruiting new faculty investigators. Our departmental pluripotent stem cell core is leveraging cutting edge technology to enhance our understanding of hematopoietic stem cell biology and improve bone marrow transplantation. We also plan to expand our efforts in transcriptional regulation of hematopoiesis and sickle cell anemia-related research with a focus on developing curative therapies through genetic manipulation of patient hematopoietic stem cells. Another major  initiative is to understand the malignant progression of benign blood disorders and identify points of vulnerability for therapeutic intervention.

Resources

Experimental Hematology Faculty

Clinical Hematology Division

About the Division

Director: Cliff Takemoto, MD

The Division of Clinical Hematology conducts clinical research and provides comprehensive treatment and care for children and adolescents with non-malignant hematological disorders. Key areas of focus include sickle cell disease, bleeding disorders, thrombosis, transfusional iron overload, bone marrow failure, and a variety of rare pediatric blood disorders. Ongoing clinical trials include gene therapy for sickle cell disease and hemophilia, new drug testing for sickle cell disease, the use of mobile-health to improve patient heath literacy and adherence to clinical care guidelines, and a large cohort study to assess longitudinal outcomes of SCD.

Resources

Clinical Hematology Faculty

Physician Scientist Investigator Program Instructors

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    Senthil Bhoopalan, MBBS, PhD, FAA

    Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty

    Senthil Bhoopalan, MBBS, PhD, FAA

    Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty

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    Affiliations

    Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy

    Research Interests

    • Gene therapy and genome editing
    • Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, with particular focus on Diamond-Blackfan anemia
    • Role of ribosomes in hematopoiesis
    • Bone marrow transplantation for bone marrow failure syndromes

    Contact Information

    Senthil Bhoopalan, MBBS, PhD, FAA

    Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 595-1793 (phone)

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    Georgios Christakopoulos, MD

    Instructor, St. Jude Faculty

    Georgios Christakopoulos, MD

    Instructor, St. Jude Faculty

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    Affiliations

    Department of Hematology

    Research Interests

    • Developing genome editing strategies to cure β-thalassemia
    • Investigating the role of ULK1-dependent non-canonical autophagy in mediating the pathophysiology of b-thalassemia
    • Non-coding RNAs in red blood cell formation, including microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs

    Contact Information

    Georgios Christakopoulos, MD

    Hematology

    MS 355, Room C6001

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    262 Danny Thomas Place

    Memphis, TN 38105-3678

    (901) 633-7961 (phone)

Physician Scientist Instructor Program

Leadership

2022 Summer Rooftop Party

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St. Jude investigators have the freedom to focus on making big discoveries, backed by extraordinary resources and support teams. We are always looking for highly motivated scientists and engineers with passion and talent to join us! 

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We are currently recruiting!

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Contact us

Mitchell J. Weiss, MD, PhD
Hematology MS355

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA
901-595-3760 mitch.weiss@stjude.org
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA
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