Program Leader: Elizabeth Eklund, MD
Program Co-Leader: Martin Tallman, MD

The Hematologic Malignancies Program of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center combines nationally recognized investigators in clinical research with investigators with expertise in basic sciences and translational research. In the last renewal of the Cancer Center Core Grant, the major concerns regarded the amount of NCI funding of the laboratory based investigators and integration of the basic scientists into translational studies. Since the previous review, the amount of NCI sponsored research in the program has increased significantly. This increase in NCI supported investigations is related to recruitment of new members and also expansion of existing programs. The impact of this is seen in the increase in inter and intra programmatic interactions and in translational projects. The Program Leader is Elizabeth Eklund, M.D and the co-leader is Martin Tallman. MD Dr. Eklund's work in molecular mechanism of myeloid disease has been recognized nationally by the NIH and VHA. Dr. Tallman is an internationally recognized leader in clinical investigations of hematological malignances, particularly acute and chronic leukemias. The major research themes within the program are in the areas of novel therapeutics and molecular mechanism of hematologic disease. Program members have made significant contributions in the areas of molecular leukemogenesis, biologic therapies, hematopoiesis, ex vivo stem cell expansion, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Clinical trials have been or are being conducted with novel purine analogs, retinoids, monoclonal antibodies, recombinant toxins, radioimmunotherapy, chemoimmunoconjugates, anti-idiotype vaccines, anti-bcl-2 constructs, proteosome inhibitors, arsenic trioxide, stem cell transplantation, and adoptive immunotherapy. This multidisciplinary interdepartmental program has 30 members from 11 department in 3 schools. Between January, 2001 and September, 2006 there have been 331 publications from the current program members. Ninety-Two (28%) of these publications represent intra-programmatic collaborations and 101 (30%) represent inter-programmatic collaborations. Total current cancer relevant peer reviewed funding for the Hematologic Malignancies Program is $4,188,955 (direct) with $2,101,336 (direct) from NCI, and $2,087,619 (direct) from other peer reviewed sources. The Cancer Center provides the resources that are necessary to ensure success of the program.

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