Overview
I am dedicated to the treatment of hematologic malignancies through cellular therapies such as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). My research focuses on strategies to reduce complications of HCT and ranges from preclinical studies using murine models of HCT to Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials. Areas of interest include the role of the microbiota (the trillions of bacteria living in and on our bodies), nutrition, and exercise in modulating HCT outcomes such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and infections. In addition to advancing new pharmacological and cellular immunotherapies in support of these goals, we also are developing mobile health technologies (mHealth) to monitor patients at home, both as part of our innovative home transplant program as well as to improve follow up care of all our patients when they return home after transplant.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Assessing physical function in transplantation and CAR-T recipients: expert recommendations from the survivorship, aging and biobehavioral special interest groups of ASTCT.
Journal Article Transplant Cell Ther · October 2025 The past few decades have witnessed significant advancements in stem cell transplantation and cell therapy (TCT). This has allowed their expanded use in older patients and those with comorbidities with favorable outcomes. However, these procedures carry si ... Full text Link to item CiteAssessing Quality of Life and Symptoms in Transplantation and CAR-T Recipients: Expert Panel Recommendations from the Survivorship Special Interest Group of ASTCT.
Journal Article Transplant Cell Ther · October 2025 Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to measure quality of life (QOL) and other symptoms play an increasingly important role in clinical trials and regulatory approvals for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) t ... Full text Link to item CiteAssessing cognitive function in transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor t cell therapy recipients: Expert recommendations from the survivorship, aging and biobehavioral special interest groups of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.
Journal Article Transplant Cell Ther · October 2025 Cognitive impairment is a prevalent yet underexplored comorbidity and complication in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) and chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy. Affecting up to one-half of patients, cognitive impairment may include ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Hematology & Transfusion Medicine (T32)
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 1975 - 2026Behavior and Physiology in Aging
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2015 - 2025A Randomized Phase 2 Trial to Evaluate Prebiotic Intervention in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2025View All Grants