Stephen D. Nimer, MD

My research interests coincide with my clinical interests. My laboratory is investigating the molecular defects that underlie the myeloid malignancies such as AML, myelodysplastic syndromes, or myeloproliferative neoplasms. My laboratory has cloned several genes involved in blood formation and has extensively characterized the most common translocation (exchange of chromosomes) found in acute leukemia, the t(8;21). More recently we have broadened our focus to understand how cancer cells resist chemotherapy or radiation therapy. These studies have identified novel aspects of the p53 pathways are controlling cell death which may be targetable in the future. In 2001 we received one of two awards given to U.S. investigators by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a Specialized Center of Research in myeloid malignancies. This award was renewed in 2006 for another five years. I have been funded by the NIH on a continuous basis for the past 25 years.

I am active in national hematologic organizations and currently serve on the Board of the Bone Marrow Foundation and the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation, Inc. I am Chairman of the Myelodysplastic Syndrome Foundation and Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board of Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. I am on the editorial boards of several, medical and scientific journals, and have trained and taught many graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty.