My area of translational focus is in the study of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) biology, risk-classification and conduction of clinical trials. In collaboration with several basic cell biologists, I have developed novel insights into the roles played by the bone marrow microenvironment in leukemic cell survival, as well as the molecular mechanisms leading to intrinsic and acquired multi-drug resistance. Building on these foundations, I am the Study Chair for a Children’s Oncology Group (COG) T-ALL biology study, “AALL10B1 - Biological Correlates with T-cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) Gene Expression and Clinical Outcome”, a gene profiling study designed to investigate expression signatures that predict induction failure and relapse after first remission. This study is linked to “AALL0434 - Intensified Methotrexate, Nelarabine (Compound 506U78; IND # 52611) and Augmented BFM Therapy for Children and Young Adults with Newly Diagnosed T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) or Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (LL)”, for which I am study Co-Chair.