Research Immunology / Bone Marrow Transplant

Active, clinical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation program, performing allogeneic and autologous transplants for pediatric patients with malignant and genetic blood cell diseases.

Outstanding scientific investigators in the fields of stem cell biology, immunology and gene therapy with three active NIH Program Projects and multiple other grants.

Excellent training environment for new biomedical scientists and pediatric physicians in experimental and clinical hematology, stem cell biology, immunology, transplantation biology, and molecular biology.

All of the faculty of the Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation have academic appointments in the Department of Pediatrics at the U.S.C. Keck School of Medicine. Some also have secondary appointments in degree-granting basic science departments of the Health Science campus. All are active in performing research studies with multiple grants from the NIH and other agencies supporting basic, translational and clinical studies.

Awards and Honors

Gay M. Crooks, MD was appointed as a Stohlman Scholar of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (2003-2007). This honor recognizes Dr. Crooks’ important contributions to the fields of hematology and stem cell biology, Her studies characterizing the normal stages by which stem cells develop into mature lymphocytes have important implications for understanding the processes by which leukemia develops and how it may be treated.

Kenneth Weinberg MD was the recipient of the Russell Smith Award for Outstanding Research at CHLA in 2003. This honor recognizes his many contributions to the fields of immunology, oncology and transplantation biology.

Donald Kohn, MD was awarded a Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation from 2000-2007. This award provides flexible funding for development and performance of clinical trials of gene therapy using hematopoietic stem cells.

New Faculty Recruitments

• Paula Cannon, PhD (2002) Molecular virology and vectors
• Carolyn Lutzko, PhD (2003) Bone marrow and embryonic stem cells
• Thomas Jahn, MD (2004) Cytokine signaling in lymphocytes
• Kimberly Payne, PhD (2005) B cell development and regulation

Offices Held

Donald B. Kohn, MD - President of the American Society of Gene Therapy 2003-2004

Publications (2004-2005)

Number of published articles: 37

Trainees (2004-2005)

• 7 Graduate students
• 9 Post-doctoral fellows (7 PhD, 2 MD)
• 10 Summer students (medical, undergrad, high school)