SISI ZHENG, M.D., AWARDED HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS GRANT TO STUDY THE MECHANISMS THAT DRIVE THE ORIGINS OF PEDIATRIC LEUKEMIA

Sisi Zheng, M.D., wants to understand what drives the evolution of one of the most aggressive pediatric blood cancers — acute myeloid leukemia (AML) — to develop better treatments for children diagnosed with the disease. And Dr. Zheng, an Instructor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at UT Southwestern, has been awarded a Hyundai Hope on Wheels Young Investigator Grant to support her research toward that goal in the Xu lab at CRI. These highly-competitive grants are aimed at expanding the knowledge base of pediatric cancers and improving the standards of care.

AML is the second most common pediatric leukemia, and despite intensive chemotherapy regimens and the possibility of hematopoietic stem cell transplants, a cure is still a challenge and survival rates remain at 65-70%.

Dr. Zheng’s research will explore an early-stage process that can progress to AML: clonal hematopoiesis, in which blood-forming stem cells gain mutations that allow them to outcompete normal blood-forming stem cells for growth and expansion.

Understanding the mechanisms that drive the origins of AML will allow researchers to develop better biomarkers and treatment strategies for children with leukemia.

“Research is the way to push the envelope to make cures more accessible to more patients. It’s particularly gratifying if I can do something at the bench that can directly be translated into something that can improve the quality of life for patients as well,” Dr. Zheng said. “I am very honored to receive this grant in support of my project to broaden our understanding of how the bone marrow harnesses inflammation and immunity to drive the development of myeloid leukemias.”