Myeloid Malignancies Program

The Myeloid Malignancies Program (MMP) is a multidisciplinary program focused on the biology of hematopoiesis occurring in normal individuals and patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and myelodysplastic disorders (MDS).

The primary focus of the Myeloid Malignancies Program (MMP) is to understand fundamental mechanisms that contribute to the development, progression and phenotype of myelodysplastic disorders (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) in normal individuals and patients, and to translate these findings into clinical research programs to benefit the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Although MPN and MDS have recently become the focus of greater scientific interest, presently there are only limited therapeutic options available to treat affected individuals.

Myeloid malignancies are frequently characterized not only by abnormalities of red blood cell production but by microenvironmental abnormalities that determine the sites of residence of hematopoietic cells. MMP investigators aim to develop therapeutic strategies that target both the malignant hematopoietic cells and cancer-activated stem niches in order to eliminate myeloid malignancy stem cells; a strategy that we anticipate will lead to dramatic improvements in patient outcomes.

The MMP has unique strengths that have allowed the rapid development of successful collaborations among basic scientists, translational researchers and clinicians, culminating in productive translational research efforts. MMP investigators benefit from a national referral patient base in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and myelodysplastic disorders (MDS), which provides access to tissues from a large numbers of patients, enabling effective study of the biology of MPN and MDS.

Major Themes 
The MMP revolves around three major themes:

  • Theme 1 – Stem cell biology
  • Theme 2 – Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms and myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Theme 3 – Innovative therapeutic strategies (pre-clinical and clinical) 

Program Leaders 
Ronald Hoffman, MD 
Ihor R. Lemischka, PhD 

Program Meeting Schedule 
The MMP regularly holds the following meetings:

  • Lab Conferences (weekly)
  • Myeloid Malignancies Program Meetings (monthly)
  • Myeloid Malignancies Retreat (annual) For more information on any of these meetings, please contact the program leaders.