Program Leaders:
John Wagner, M.D.
Daniel Weisdorf, M.D.

Through basic research in stem cell biology and immunology, members of the Transplant Biology and Therapy Program work together to discover new stem cell transplantation therapies and treatments for cancers relating to the blood and bone marrow. This program represents the research arm of the University of Minnesota's world-famous Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program.

Research Areas

• Immunotherapy
• Stem cell biology
• Umbilical cord blood transplantation
• Unrelated donor transplantation

Researchers in the Transplant Biology and Therapy program work closely with the Masonic Cancer Center's Immunology Research Program members to further knowledge of using blood and marrow transplantation for treating cancer and other diseases. This groundbreaking research has led to the development of treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer.

Patient care is provided by the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program. The physicians who provide the patient care in this program are the same people who conduct research in the Transplant Biology and Therapy Research Program.

Program News

Masonic Cancer Center research to be presented at annual ASH meeting

Miller, Vercellotti honored by Fairview for excellence in patient care
At a recent University of Minnesota Medical Center Medical, Fairview Staff Recognition Event, Jeffrey Miller, M.D., and Gregory Vercellotti, M.D., were honored by their colleagues for their commitment to extraordinary care for patients. Miller received the Clinical Scholar/Research Award and Vercellotti received the Clinical Care Award. Videos with patients telling their stories of healing relationships with Miller, Vercellotti, and neurologist Gareth J. Parry, M.D., who received the Clinical Innovation Award, were shown at the event. Visit the Academic Health Center Web site to watch the videos.

Tolar receives CCRF Butterfly Award
Jakub Tolar, M.D., Ph.D., received the 2009 Butterfly Award in the medical category from the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. The award recognizes ongoing commitment and dedication to the fight against childhood cancer. Tolar has made pivotal discoveries that will influence the design of future stem cell-based therapeutic clinical trials. The butterfly is Children’s Cancer Research Fund’s organizational symbol and represents the changes a child encounters while undergoing cancer treatment.

U of M, Dana-Farber cancer researchers awarded $9.5 million to study chronic graft-versus-host disease

U researcher proves potency of tumor-killing cells from human embryonic stem cells (video and news release, Academic Health Center)

Brunstein recieves Robert A. Good New Investigator Award

U of M cancer researchers find older patients fare as well as younger patients from bone marrow transplants

Masonic Cancer Center research to be presented at annual ASH meeting

Masonic Cancer Center researchers receive funding for sarcoma studies, patient education

Wagner named 'Health Care Hero'

U of M cancer researchers find Achilles' heel of leukemia