There are well established classification schemes for the diagnosis of hematologic malignancies.  However, within a diagnostic class, patients may have diverse clinical outcomes.  Some patients will experience an indolent clinical course while others have a more aggressive disease.  These differences are likely based on specific molecular characteristics of each tumor.  When these characteristics, or “biomarkers”, are identified and evaluated at the time of diagnosis they allow for a more accurate prediction of prognosis. 

I am interested in identifying and evaluating new prognostic biomarkers in lymphoma and leukemia using flow cytometry, immunohistochemisty and proteomic techniques.   Since many of these biomarkers are inappropriately activated enzymes involved in cell signaling, I am interested in evaluating their functional role in the signaling pathways that contribute to the development of a hematologic neoplasm.  The ultimate goal is to give the treating physician the ability to tailor therapy to the individual patient.  Furthermore, new therapies may be designed which target these enzymes and pathways.