Uma Borate, MBBS

I am a hematologist hematologist: (hee-muh-TOL-uh-jist) A doctor who specializes in treating blood diseases and disorders of blood producing organs. specializing in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes myelodysplastic syndromes: (my-eh-lo-diss-PLASS-tik SIN-dromez) A group of disorders where the bone marrow does not work well, and the bone marrow cells fail to make enough healthy blood cells. Myelo refers to the bone marrow. Dysplastic means abnormal growth or development. People with MDS have low blood cell count for at… (MDS), 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… (AML), myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and clonal cytopenias of unknown significance. I received my Master of Science in pathobiology and molecular medicine from the University of Cincinnati, and completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the University of Alabama.

As a member of the Leukemia Research Program at the OSUCCC – James, my clinical and translational research focus is on novel therapeutics in myeloid diseases, with a special focus in disease progression from cytopenia cytopenia: (sie-tuh-PEE-nee-uh) A shortage of one or more blood cell types. Also called a low blood count. and early-stage MDS to AML. I am the principal investigator for numerous investigator-initiated clinical trials clinical trials: Clinical research is at the heart of all medical advances, identifying new ways to prevent, detect or treat disease. If you have a bone marrow failure disease, you may want to consider taking part in a clinical trial, also called a research study. Understanding Clinical Trials Clinical… based on laboratory science, including a promising study that looks at the novel combination of targeted therapies for myeloid malignancies. I am also the national lead and site investigator for several early-phase, industry-supported MDS and AML studies in both upfront and relapsed/refractory disease. My work has appeared in such peer-reviewed publications as Nature Medicine, Oncotarget, Blood Advances and Leukemia.

I have pioneered a myeloid malignancy predisposition clinic focusing on clinical care and research in patients at high risk for myeloid malignancies due to predisposing hereditary germline mutations as well as acquired mutations resulting in clonal cytopenias. This clinic works closely with genetic counselors to provide the best evidenced-based care for this high-risk patient population. I am also involved in developing several protocols for the NCI cooperative groups in MDS and AML, and the recently created MPN group.

In addition to my clinical and research work, I serve as an associate professor in the Division of Hematology at The Ohio State University and as the disease group leader for the MDS and MPN clinical trial clinical trial: A type of research study that tests how a drug, medical device, or treatment approach works in people. There are several types of clinical trials. Treatment trials test new treatment options. Diagnostic trials test new ways to diagnose a disease. Screening trials test the best way to detect a… disease group. I am also a member of several professional organizations, including the Southwest Oncology Group, the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research.

I feel privileged to be involved in the care of my patients and be a partner in their fight against their disease. Whether it’s through groundbreaking research or cutting-edge clinical treatments, I believe that we all deliver better care when we work together as a team, and this philosophy aligns with the patient care teams and laboratory scientists at The James as we all strive toward the shared goal of creating a cancer-free world.