Presidential Lecture Exemplifies Montefiore Einstein’s Full Spectrum of Outstanding Research

The fourth Montefiore Einstein Presidential Lecture represented outstanding examples of the full spectrum of research at Montefiore Einstein. The presentations by two faculty members, which drew nearly 150 people, highlighted the excellence of that research.

This year’s lecturers were Ulrich “Uli” G. Steidl, MD, PhD, Professor, Departments of Cell Biology and of Medicine, Deputy Director, Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center (MECC) and Interim Director of The Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, and Amit K. Verma, MBBS, Professor, Departments of Medicine and of Developmental & Molecular Biology and Oncology, Associate Director of Translational Science at MECC and Director, Division of Hemato-Oncology, Montefiore Department of Oncology.

Over the past decade, Drs. Steidl and Verma have coauthored several dozen peer-reviewed papers published in high-quality journals, adding immensely to the understanding of two closely intertwined diseases: myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia. They were among the first researchers to demonstrate that MDS, a common precursor of AML, arises from wayward bone marrow stem cells, raising hopes for treating or preventing both diseases.

Dr. Steidl discussed “Understanding the Molecular and Cellular Pathogenesis of Myeloid Malignancies at the Stem Cell Level,” and Dr. Verma presented “Therapeutic Targeting of MDS and AML.”