David B. Sykes, MD, PhD

David completed his undergraduate training in Biochemistry at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. He entered the Medical Scientist Training Program (M.D., Ph.D.) at the University of California San Diego and carried out his Ph.D. research with Dr. Mark Kamps where he became interested in the problems that arise during white blood cell white blood cell: Cells in the body that fight disease and infection by attacking and killing germs. There are several types of white blood cells including neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes. Each type of cell fights a different kind of germ. Also called WBC, leukocyte. development.

David did his internship and residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital as well as a year as a Chief Medical Resident in the Department of Internal Medicine. He was a Hematology and Oncology fellow in the combined Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MGH Cancer Center fellowship program.

David joined the MGH Cancer Center as an attending in benign hematology. He splits his time between the laboratory (80% research) and clinic (20% direct patient care).

David has a special interest in rare hematologic conditions. In 2011 he defined a new syndrome - the TEMPI syndrome - which affects approximately 20 patients worldwide (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1106670).

David completed his post-doctoral research training in the laboratory of Dr. David Scadden, working to identify new therapies for patients with acute myeloid leukemia acute myeloid leukemia: (uh-KYOOT my-uh-LOYD loo-KEE-mee-uh) A cancer of the blood cells. It happens when very young white blood cells (blasts) in the bone marrow fail to mature. The blast cells stay in the bone marrow and become to numerous. This slows production of red blood cells and platelets. Some cases of MDS become… . 

David transitioned to his own lab as an assistant professor in 2017.

He continues to see patients in clinic on Fridays and see patients in the hospital on the inpatient hematology consult service.