Faculty & Staff
Srdan Verstovsek, M.D., Ph.D., is Chief of the Section for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs) in the Leukemia department, Founder/Director of the largest single institution Clinical Research Center for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs) worldwide, and a global leader in MPNs. Landmark therapeutics for MPNs, such as ruxolitinib (JAK1/2 inhibitor), were clinically developed under Dr. Verstovsek's leadership.
The MPN research studies conducted at the Clinical Research Center for MPNs are frequently presented at the most important national and international conferences, for example, the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO), and the European Hematology Association (EHA). Dr. Verstovsek has authored more than 600 peer-reviewed original articles and reviews that were published in prestigious medical journals. The Clinical Research Center for MPNs periodically publishes the newsletter MPN Focus with the goal to educate MPN patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers about novel MPN therapeutics and the latest research findings in MPNs. Please visit "MPN Awareness & Education" to view the collection of MPN Focus newsletters and other MPN educational materials.
The MPN Team was formed in 2005. At that time, the Team included one physician and one research nurse, with only one active MPN-specific clinical protocol. Since that time, the MPN Team has grown exponentially. Collectively, Dr. Verstovsek has led more than 60 early/advanced phase clinical trials on novel MPN medications, including ruxolitinib (JAK1/2 inhibitor), the only medication that was approved for myelofibrosis until 2019 and second-line treatment for polycythemia vera.
In February 2022, pacritinib received accelerated regulatory approval as a medication to treat patients with myelofibrosis and very low platelet counts (below 50x10^9/L); the accelerated approval of pacritinib was based on the efficacy that pacritinib demonstrated as a treatment for patients with myelofibrosis and thrombocytopenia (platelet counts below 100x10^9/L) in the Phase 3 PERSIST-2 clinical trial, which Dr. Verstovsek co-led. Dr. Verstovsek is currently leading several pivotal phase 3 trials in which other very promising MPN medications are being evaluated. Please visit "Current MPN Research" for more on MPN medications and recent research developments.
Affiliated Faculty
Prithviraj Bose, M.D., Associate Professor, Leukemia department
Zeev Estrov, M.D., Professor, Leukemia department
Lucia Masarova, M.D., Assistant Professor, Leukemia department
Naveen Pemmaraju, M.D., Associate Professor, Leukemia department
Uday Popat, M.D., Professor, Stem Cell Transplantation department
Carlos Bueso-Ramos, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Hematopathology department
Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) Team Members who received the 2020 Waun Ki Hong Award for Excellence in Team Science
Top row (left to right): Prithviraj Bose, M.D., and Keyur Patel, M.D., Ph.D.
Bottom row (left to right): Uday Popat, M.D., Srdan Verstovsek, M.D., Ph.D. , and Carlos Bueso-Ramos, M.D., Ph.D.
"This vibrant and prolific MPN Team has led to exceptional advancements in prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of MPN that have significantly improved patient quality of life and survival through collaborative efforts and discovery; and combined clinical, morphologic, and molecular expertise." - Faculty Awards Committee