Kate Markey selected as 2022 American Society of Hematology Research Scholar Award Recipient

Dr. Kate Markey, assistant professor (Medical Oncology) has been selected as a 2022 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Research Scholar Award recipient.

One of ASH’s most prestigious research award programs, the ASH Scholar Awards support fellows and junior faculty dedicated to careers in hematology research as they transition from training programs to careers as independent investigators.

Dr. Markey studies the intersection between the microorganisms in patients' intestines — the gut microbiome — the immune system, and the outcomes of immune-based cancer treatments. These include bone marrow transplantation and cellular immunotherapies. One focus area of her research is graft-vs.-host disease, or GVHD, in which immune cells from the donor attack the patient's healthy cells.

She is learning how the microbiome interacts with the immune system to influence the development of GVHD and the effectiveness of transplant in controlling cancer.

Dr. Markey is also a physician who cares for patients undergoing transplant. She uses data and observations from the clinic to inform her laboratory research, which in turn is aimed at improving patient care.