Experts and Faculty — The UPMC Immune Transplant and Therapy Center
At the UPMC Immune Transplant and Therapy Center, our doctors and researchers deliver life-changing medicine in the fields of:
At the UPMC Immune Transplant and Therapy Center, our doctors and researchers deliver life-changing medicine in the fields of:
Director, Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh
Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Division of Cardiology
Nicholas Beckwith III and Dorothy B. Beckwith Chair in Translational Medicine
Dr. Finkel’s research focuses on identifying and understanding the connection between aging and age-related diseases.
His lab added major contributions to the understanding of aging over the past decade, including detecting how:
Over the years, Dr. Finkel’s research has involved both animal models and humans, bridging clinical medicine and basic science. Now his lab is exploring the connection between the immune system and inflammation to aging.
Assistant Professor of Surgery and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Dr. Neal’s lab focuses on the mechanisms of organ failure and coagulopathy following trauma and hemorrhage.
He has a distinct interest in the roles of:
Dr. Neal also has a translational research interest in:
Assistant Professor, Critical Care and Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Dr. Seymour’s research program focuses on the organization of critical care during pre-hospital care.
He has interest in the development of early diagnostic and prognostic models to promote:
Dr. Seymour seeks to create a research and acute care paradigm for pre-hospital sepsis like that for acute cardiovascular disease.
Director, Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Clinical Director of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, UPMC
Visiting Research Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Specializing in hematologic malignancies and stem cell transplantation, Dr. Agha participates actively in clinical research and served as an investigator on several clinical trials.
Hematologist/Oncologist, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Dr. Dorritie was previously involved in laboratory research focused on the development of novel therapeutic agents for acute myeloid leukemia. More recently, she has shifted her focus to the development of early phase clinical trials in hematologic malignancies, in particular lymphoid malignancies. She is a member of the UPCI Cancer Therapeutics Team.
She has played a key role in the development of the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell program and serves as lead or co-investigator on several clinical studies of CAR T-cell therapy at UPMC. Dr. Dorritie has also been working to develop a stem cell transplant program for patients with hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease.
Executive Vice Chair of Gynecologic Services, Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC
Director, Ovarian Cancer Center for Excellence, Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC
Co-Principle Investigator, University of Pittsburgh SPORE Grant
Dr. Edwards specializes in all aspects of gynecologic oncology, with a specific focus on intraperitoneal chemotherapy. His research interests include cervical and ovarian malignancies.
He serves as Principle Investigator of the Gynecologic Oncology Group for the University of Pittsburgh and for many pharmaceutical-sponsored studies.
Dr. Edwards’ other research interests include:
Director, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Professor of Otolaryngology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Co-Principle Investigator, University of Pittsburgh SPORE Grant
Dr. Ferris’s research focuses on cellular immune mechanisms of natural killer cell, dendritic cells, and T lymphocyte activation against head and neck cancer tumor antigens.
His lab focuses on mechanisms of tumor antigen processing and immunologic evasion used by head and neck cancer cells, themselves.
New trials are testing combination immunotherapies, through a one-month “window of opportunity” neoadjuvant clinical trials. These trials provide novel and unique pre- and post-treatment specimens to interrogate the tumor microenvironment (TME) for factors that drive personalized cancer immunotherapy.
Director, Solid Tumor Cell Therapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Visiting Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Dr. Kammula is a surgical oncologist in the UPMC Department of Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology.
His research and clinical expertise includes:
Director, Melanoma Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Usher Professor of Medicine, Dermatology, and Clinical and Translational Science, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Clinical Translational Science Institute, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Kirkwood focuses his research on melanoma immunobiology, therapy, and prevention.
He has advanced the multimodal therapy of melanoma with:
He’s now pioneering new approaches to the assessment of combinations of the 10 recently-approved new immunotherapies and molecular therapies anticipated to be the focus of the next decade of clinical translational research.
Dr. Kirkwood’s lab engages in:
Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Hematologist/Oncologist, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Dr. Sehgal is board-certified in internal medicine, hematology, and medical oncology.
She specializes in:
She’s conducting research in stem cell transplant and drug development in hematologic malignancies.
Co-Director, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Visiting Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Dr. Shlomchik’s research program focuses on understanding the complex immunology of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT), including:
The overall goal of his research is to make discoveries that can translate in the clinic.
A major aspect of his research program has focused on mechanisms of GVHD:
The second main area of research has been to understand mechanisms of GVL and GVL-resistance.
Dr. Shlomchik’s lab has developed mouse models of GVL-sensitive chronic phase CML (CP-CML) and GVL-resistant blast crisis CML (BC-CML), with both leukemias induced by retroviral transfer of human oncogenes. This has provided both realistic models and genetic flexibility in that leukemias can be induced in any mouse, including those that are gene-modified.
Recently, his lab has been applying two photon intravital microscopy to both GVHD and GVL.
Co-Leader of the Cancer Immunology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Co-Director of the Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Professor and Vice Chair, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Renowned researcher Dario Vignali, PhD, focuses on gaining a better understanding of the inhibitory mechanisms. This includes inhibitory receptors and regulatory T cells that limit anti-tumor immunity in cancer patients.
His team is also creating discovery-based programs aimed at identifying novel targets for therapeutic intervention.
Dr. Vignali is working with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center scientists and clinicians to facilitate the translation of novel therapeutic modalities with a focus on immunologically-impacted solid tumors, mainly:
Chief, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapies, UPMC
Professor, Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Dr. Szabolcs has dedicated his career to designing effective “reduced-intensity” chemotherapy regimens for:
His lab has interest in understanding the development of immune competence, particularly T cell immunity, in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).
Dr. Szabolcs’ research bridges the gap between the bench and the clinic. His overall goal is finding novel strategies to accurately diagnose, predict, and therapeutically accelerate posttransplant immune reconstitution without increasing graft versus host disease (GvHD).
Medical Director, UPMC Living Donor Program, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute
Dr. Ganesh is the medical director of the Living Donor Program at UPMC.
She is renowned for her clinical expertise in treating a wide range of patients with liver disease with a specific interest in living-donor liver transplant.
Dr. Ganesh’s areas of research include:
Clinical Director of the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute at UPMC
Chief, UPMC Division of Transplant, Department of Surgery
Dr. Humar is a world-renowned transplant surgeon. As chief of transplantation at UPMC, he oversees all clinical research activities at one of the world’s most active and prestigious transplant programs.
Dr. Humar’s research includes:
His lab is exploring the potential of using a donor’s cells to control the transplant recipient’s immune response to minimize immunosuppression.
Professor of Surgery, Immunology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Scientific Director, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute at UPMC
Frank & Athena Sarris Chair in Transplant Biology
Dr. Lakkis oversees the University of Pittsburgh’s internationally renowned transplant research program.
The goal of Dr. Lakkis’ research is to understand the fundamental mechanisms of acute and chronic rejection in solid organ transplantation.
The main research areas in Dr. Lakkis’ lab are the:
His lab uses:
Dr. Lakkis’ lab is also part of a human immunology group researching innate and adaptive immune function in kidney transplant recipients.
Director, Lung Transplant Translational Research Program at UPMC
Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
UPMC Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
Associate Member, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute at UPMC
Dr. McDyer’s lab focuses on immunobiology of lung transplantation.
Currently, his lab is researching mechanisms of tolerance and rejection, host defense and ischemic-reperfusion injury. His team uses a combined approach of animal models and human cells to address questions about lung transplant.
Lung allografts are more susceptible to rejection than other solid organ transplants, resulting in decreased survival.
Dr. McDyer’s research lab:
Professor of Surgery and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Director, Human Immunology Core Lab, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute
Director, Abdominal Organ Transplant Biorepository, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute
Dr. Metes is a professor of surgery and immunology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Her research interests focus on three aspects of the immune response in transplant recipients, in the effort to identify specific markers or pathways that predict immune quiescence, rejection, or the risk for EBV complication.
Dr. Metes’ research lab focuses on:
Medical Director, UPMC Lung Transplant Program
Associate Chief, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, & Critical Care Medicine, UPMC
Associate Professor of Medicine, Cell Biology, Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Dr. Pilewski has a distinct interest in lung transplant. He has a longstanding focus in treating people with suppurative lung diseases like cystic fibrosis (CF).
Dr. Pilweski:
Distinguished Professor of Surgery and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Dr. Thomson’s research interest includes understanding the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in tolerance induction.
His work focuses on further elucidating mechanisms underlying the ability of DCs and T lymphocytes to regulate alloimmune responses.
Currently, his team is studying:
Chair, Department of Medicine, UPMC
Director, Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute (VMI), University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Gladwin specializes in diagnosing and treating people pulmonary hypertension and sickle cell disease. He’s an expert in heart and lung complications of sickle cell disease, which occur more frequently as patients are aging.
Since 1998, Dr. Gladwin’s research has led to numerous scientific discoveries such as:
Co-director for Basic Science, Center for Microbiome and Medicine
Visiting Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Dr. Methé’s research focuses on microbial ecology and the relationship of the microbiome to lung disease.
Director, Center for Medicine and the Microbiome
Vice Chair for Clinical Research, Department of Medicine, UPMC
UPMC Chair in Translational Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Professor of Medicine, Immunology, and Clinical and Translational Research
Dr. Morris focuses on lung disease in HIV-infected patients and in care of intensive care unit patients.
Her research interests include HIV-associated lung disease and the role of the microbiome in disease.
Her group works with large cohort epidemiologic studies of HIV and other diseases. They also conduct translational studies that apply physiologic and molecular techniques to patient populations.
As part of her role in the Center for Medicine and the Microbiome, she works with others in diverse areas studying the microbiome.
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