George R. Buchanan, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics

Clinical Research in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at UT Southwestern

The pediatric hematology-oncology program at UT Southwestern in Dallas is one of the nation's largest and most scientifically productive. Fifteen full-time faculty members, eight clinical/research fellows, and a large support staff that includes 10 full-time clinical research associates or research nurses conducts cutting-edge clinical investigation in childhood cancer and hematological disorders, including sickle cell disease and conditions predisposing to hemorrhage and thrombosis. These clinical research efforts are focused in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's Medical Center Dallas, where the excellent facilities include an 8,000 square foot outpatient clinic and 22-bed inpatient unit dedicated to children with cancer, blood disorders, and conditions requiring stem cell transplantation. Research in pediatric cancer and blood disorders in the unit is supported by over $4 million annually of peer-reviewed external funding, and participating faculty publish over thirty scientific papers annually in major journals. We are one of only two institutions in the United States designated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute as a Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center and participant in the Hemostasis-Transfusion Medicine Clinical Trials Network. Current research themes include:

- Clinical trials in sickle cell disease, including development of improved means of pain control, amelioration of acute chest syndrome, and management of priapism

- Study of a newborn sickle cell disease cohort locally and statewide with the aim of better defining mortality and major morbidity

- Genetics and epidemiology of childhood cancer

- New pilot studies and national research protocols for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

- Pharmacology, toxicity, and efficacy of new anti-cancer drugs (by means of Phase I and Phase II clinical trials)

- Innovative treatment approaches for childhood brain tumors and malignant bone tumors

- Studies of thrombosis and other complications of long-term central venous catheters in children with cancer and hematological disease

- Evaluation of clinical means of assessing hemorrhage in children with thrombocytopenia

- Epidemiology, management, and follow-up of children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

- Investigation of long-term adverse effects of cancer and its therapy

- Identification and prevention of cardiovascular disease and other complications in children and young adults successfully treated for cancer

These are just a few of the ongoing and planned research initiatives in the hematology-oncology program at UT Southwestern and Children's Medical Center.