Grant: CIHR Clinician Scientist - Phase 2

HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION: A STUDY OF GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE. Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HCT) is currently used as an effective and potentially curative treatment of otherwise incurable hematopoietic disorders, such as leukemias. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) represents the major cause of morbidity and mortality related to this procedure. Despite improvement in these areas, GVHD still occurs in ~60% of patients. The key to successful HCT transplantation is finding matched donor because it decreases the risk of GVHD and relay on an effective immunosuppression after HCT in order to avoid rejection and GVHD. The current translational research proposal has the primary objective to establish the relationship between individual drug exposure, degree of immunosuppression and GVHD occurrence. This will be achieved through a prospective study of cancer patients that received a HCT transplant and recruited in 5 transplant units across Canada. As a secondary objective, we want to identify genetic markers associated with GVHD for future improvement of donor selection and identify recipients who are at high risk for GVHD. Our long term goal is to optimize and personalize immunosuppressive therapy and improve HCT patient treatment through a better match between donor and recipient.