In Dr. Faisal’s Khan lab the focus is on four approaches of Precision Medicine in Hematological Malignancies:
Approach #1
Development of new molecular classification for diagnosis and risk assessment of different myeloid and lymphoid malignancies. We are currently using next generation sequencing based approach to identify and characterize driver somatic variant involved in the pathogenesis and prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Approach #2
Improving immunogenetic selection of donors for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. We are studying two immunogenetic systems: Killer Immunoglobulin like receptors (KIRs) and Promoter gene variants of Cytokine genes to improve donor selection algorithm and thereby reduce the incidence of HCT complications like graft versus host disease (GVHD), relapse of malignancy and infectious complications like posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD).
Approach #3
Molecular prediction of leukemia/lymphoma relapse. We are studying three models: posttransplant chimerism in CD34+ cells; somatic variant based measurable residual disease analyses and recovery of immunity related transcriptome after allogeneic HCT for an early and accurate prediction of relapse of underlying malignancy after HCT.
Approach #4
Cellular assessment of Immunotherapy. We are studying different immunotherapeutic responses: (1) CAR T cell functions against B-cell malignant targets; (2) NK cell mediated ADCC against malignant B cell target in response to Rituximab; (3) Virus-specific T cell function against CMV, EBV, VZV and BK-virus.
Khan Storek Laboratory 