Esperanza B. Papadopoulos, MD

I am involved in a number of studies designed to find ways to lower the risk of graft-versus-host disease, a serious complication that can follow allogeneic transplantation. In one approach we are developing techniques to separate out the specific cells that evoke this response, the T lymphocytes, and deliver a stem cell product that is very low in these T cells. These approaches are more useful for patients whose acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome is in an early stage of their disease. I am also studying the use of allogeneic stem cell transplants for the treatment of patients with more-advanced leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. Along with colleagues here, I am participating in studies of different combination chemotherapy regimens for patients with advanced or refractory acute leukemia. My practice consists of patients with a variety of hematologic malignancies who are in need of an allogeneic transplant, including patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The goal of my practice and clinical research is to be able to offer every patient in need of a transplant the opportunity to undergo this potentially curative therapy.

As Clinical Director of Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s adult Bone Marrow Transplantation Inpatient Service, I lead a dedicated team of doctors and nurse specialists who care for patients undergoing transplantation during their stay in the hospital.