The Pediatric Hematologic Malignancies Program at NYU is designed to develop new treatments for childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

NYU investigators currently lead nationwide clinical trials for children and young adults with newly diagnosed leukemia as well as recurrent disease and we actively participate in a number of clinical trials offering new agents.

Delivery of promising new therapies to patients with recurrent or refractory leukemia is a particular focus of the program.

Our research has capitalized on the recent sequencing of the human genome as well as technical breakthroughs in genetic analysis, thus allowing the Program to emerge as a leader in developing a “molecular fingerprint” of childhood cancer.

Physicians are learning from NYU Medical Center’s ongoing research in cancer genomics and proteomics to identify pathways that drive cancer cell growth, an effort that has already yielded promising results.

By building on NYU Medical Center’s strength in basic science research in the areas of genetics, genomics and proteomics; developmental biology and bioinformatics, the Pediatric Hematologic Malignancies Program takes two fundamental approaches to treatment of children with cancer and blood disorders.

First, we are currently working to identify new methods of customizing treatment so that children may receive effective therapy without unnecessary exposure to drugs or agents with potentially debilitating side effects.

Second, we are developing novel therapies that are specifically targeted to the unique changes occurring in the cancer cell.

These therapies will potentially be more effective in eradicating the cancer, while causing fewer side effects.