I received my M.D from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 2005. I went on to complete my residency in pediatrics, and served as chief resident of pediatrics, at Albany Medical Center. I spent the next six years at Duke University, as a fellow, chief fellow, and then medical instructor in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. During this time, I trained in the laboratory of Dr. Dan Wechsler, studying altered iron biology in CALM-AF10 transformed leukemia.
As a clinical pediatric hematologist-oncologist, I have a deep appreciation for the unsolved problems in the field of pediatric cancer. I bring those questions back to the lab, and try to understand them from a cellular and molecular standpoint, with the ultimate goal of developing novel, targeted therapies. My primary interest is in high risk pediatric leukemia, with a focus on leukemias that carry the CALM-AF10 chromosomal translocation. There are several projects ongoing in the lab, looking at mechanisms of leukemogenesis and chemotherapy resistance in these leukemias. We are particularly interested in the bidirectional interaction between leukemia cells and components of the bone marrow microenvironment, specifically the ways in which these interactions are altered by the CALM-AF10 fusion oncoprotein. Through our early investigations, we have identified novel targets for therapy, and are testing these targeted therapies in combination with traditional chemotherapy in vitro.
Fellow, Pediatric Heme/Onc Intensive Research Training Program, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC (2013)
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellow, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC (2012)
Chief Resident, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY (2009)
Pediatric Intern and Resident, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY (2008)
MD, State University of New York, Stony Brook Health Science Center, Stony Brook, NY (2005)
Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation 8/1/2015 – Present
Major Goals: This is an open-ended award that is supported by the Keegan Bradley Charity Golf Classic, and the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. It has supported multiple projects within the Heath Lab over the past several years. Current major goals include the identification of alterations in cell migration in CALM-AF10 translocated leukemias, through the evaluation of perturbations in 2 major signaling pathways: the CXCR4 GCPR pathway, and the Wnt/B-catenin signaling pathway.
Emily M. Lyman Pediatric Leukemia Research Fund 8/1/2018 – Present
Major Goals: This is an open-ended award that is supported by the Lyman Foundation, and private donors. It has supported multiple projects within the Heath Lab over the past few years. Current major goals include evaluating the role of the hormonal microenvironment in the pathogenesis and treatment responsiveness of acute leukemia.
Waldron Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Fund 2019 – Present
Major Goals: This is an open ended philanthropic fund devoted to finding novel therapeutic approaches to pediatric hematopoietic malignancies. This fund has supported several projects in the Heath Lab over the past several years, including the identification of novel lncRNA biomarkers for acute leukemia, examination of the role of CXCR4 in CALM-AF10 leukemogenesis, and the evaluation of the contribution of estrogen to chemotherapy resistance
Prior grants received:
Completed Research Support
7/1/2010 – 6/30/2011: NIH T32 Research Training Grant in Cancer Biology and Therapy
7/1/2011 – 6/30/2012: NIH T32 Research Training Grant in Hematology
7/1/2012 – 6/30/2013: American Society of Hematology Research Training Award for Fellows
7/1/2012 – 6/30/2014: Hyundai Hope on Wheels Young Investigator Award
7/1/2012 – 3/30/2017: NIH L40CA171031
7/1/2013 – 6/30/2015: St. Baldrick’s Fellows Award
7/1/2014 – 6/30/2015: Children’s Miracle Network, Derfner Award
9/1/2015 – 8/31/2016: Pablove Foundation
9/1/2015 – 8/31/2017: Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Young Investigator Award
4/1/2016 – 3/31/2017: American Cancer Society
7/1/2017 – 6/30/2018: Lake Champlain Cancer Research Organization
8/1/2018 – 7/31/2019: NNE-CTR Pilot Project Grant
1/1/2019 – 12/31/2019: Children’s Leukemia Research Foundation
12/1/2017 – 6/30/2020: COG AYA Committee Funding
1/1/2020 – 12/31/2021: UVMHNG Research Grant
1/1/2023 – 12/31/2023: UVMCC Pilot Project
7/1/2021 – 6/30/2023: NIH L40CA264761-01
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT (2021-present)
Associate Professor of Biochemistry, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT (2021-present)
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT (2015-2021)
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT (2015-2021)
Attending Physician, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, The University of Vermont Children's Hospital, Burlington, VT (2015-present)
2015: American Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Young Investigator Award
2020: Dean’s Excellence in Research: Rising Star New Investigator Award
2020: Pediatric Subspecialist of the Year
2021: Jerold and Ingela Lucey Early Career Investigator Prize for Innovations in Infant or Child Health
2022: UVM Health Network Group Junior Investigator of the Year
2016 – Present Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) Faculty Membership Committee
2017 – Present UVMCC Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee
Vice Chair, 2018 – 2023
Chair, 2023 – Present
2017 – Present ASPHO Program Committee
Vice Chair: 2022 - 2024
Chair: 2024 –2026
A Role for CXCR4 in CALM-AF10 Leukemia. Fertal SA, Zaidi SK, Stein JL, Stein GS, Heath JL. Women’s Health and Cancer Conference, Burlington VT, October 4 2019
A Role for CXCR4 in CALM-AF10 Leukemia. Fertal SA, Zaidi SK, Stein JL, Stein GS, Heath JL. NNE-CTR Symposium, Burlington VT, June 6th 2019
Increased Expression of CXCR4 Leads to Enhanced Cell Migration in CALM-AF10 Driven Leukemia. Fertal SA, Zaidi SK, Stein JL, Stein GS, Heath JL. American Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Annual Meeting, 5/2020 (Fort Worth, TX) * Highest scoring abstract, selected for oral presentation during the plenary session.
Palliative Chemotherapy of Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma is Safe and Effective in an AYA patient with Bloom Syndrome. Baca J, Merrifox R, Lahiri T, Higgins T, Sybenga A, Anderson K, Heath JL. American Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Annual Meeting, 5/2023 (Fort Worth, TX)
Analysis of Bivalent Chromatin Identifies Prognostically Relevant lncRNA in Pre-B ALL. Boyd JR, Richman A, Frietze SE, Heath JL. American Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Annual Meeting, 5/2023 (Fort Worth, TX)
Estrogen Exposure Modifies Glucocorticoid Receptor Activation in B-lymphoblasts. Barton NI, Golden EM, Stein GS, Stein JL, Heath JL. American Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Annual Meeting, 5/2023 (Fort Worth, TX)
Scotland PB, Heath JL, Conway AE, Klebig ML, Lavau CP and Wechsler DS. 2012. The PICALM Protein Plays a Key Role in Iron Homeostasis and Cell Proliferation. PLoS ONE 2012;7(8): e44252.
Heath JL, Weiss JM, Lavau CP, Wechsler DS. Effects of Iron Depletion on CALM-AF10 Leukemias. Experimental Hematology. 2014 Dec;42(12):1022-30.
Aumann WK, Heath JL, Conway AE, Sze SK, Gupta VK, Kazi RR, Tope DR, Wechsler DS, Lavau CP. Fusion of the CRM1 nuclear export receptor to AF10 causes leukemia and transcriptional activation of HOXA genes. Leukemia. 2021 Mar;35(3):876-880. doi: 10.1038/s41375-020-0998-3. Epub 2020 Jul 30. PMID: 32733011; PMCID: PMC7854800.
Fertal SA, Zaidi SK, Stein JL, Stein GS, Heath JL. CXCR4 Mediates Enhanced Cell Migration in CALM-AF10 Leukemia. Front Oncol. 2022 Jan 5;11:708915.
Hesko, C; Mittal, N: Avutu V; Thomas, S; Heath, JL; Roth, M. Creation of a Quality Improvement Collaborative to Address Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Clinical Trial Enrollment: ATAQI (AYA Trial Access Quality Initiative). Curr Probl Cancer. 2023 Dec;47(6):100898.
Link to Publications