Sharon A. Savage | |
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 Savage in 2019 | |
| Alma mater | Worcester Polytechnic Institute University of Vermont College of Medicine |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Pediatric hematology-oncology |
| Institutions | National Cancer Institute |
This article is about A. Savage, who is an American pediatric hematologist and oncologist by training. She is currently the clinical director of the National Cancer Institute's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.
Savage completed a B.S. in biochemistry at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. [1] Savage earned her M.D. from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, completed residency training in pediatrics at Children’s National Medical Center, in Washington DC, and a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Pediatric Oncology Branch and Johns Hopkins University. She is board-certified in both pediatrics and pediatric hematology-oncology. [2] Her other area of expertise includes looking at cancer predisposition and inherited bone marrow failure syndromes. [3] When she is not in the lab working, Dr. Sharon is an outdoor person who likes to spend time with her family. She also enjoys reading science fiction, going to the gym or knitting. [3]
In 2006, Savage joined the Clinical Genetics Branch in the NCI Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) as a tenure-track investigator. She was appointed senior investigator in 2012. In 2013, Savage was promoted to branch chief and in 2018, she became the Clinical Director for DCEG. Savage is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation. [2] She leads clinical, genetic, and epidemiologic studies of individuals and families at high risk of cancer. Her approach combines genomics with clinical genetics and molecular biology to improve understanding of cancer etiology and the lives of patients with complex cancer-prone disorders. [2]
A big part of Dr. Savage's work includes Telomere Molecule Epidemiology. Telomeres are repetitve DNS-protein structures located at the end of chromosomes, participating in chromosomal stability and prevention of their degradation. [2] Her research focuses on how defects in telomeres maintenance contribute to cancer development. With this work, she is able to look into the genetic basis of Dyskeratosis Congenita, a rare inherited bone marrow failure syndrome characterized by very short telomeres and an elevated risk of cancer. [2] The video entitled "Highlights from Telomere Biology and Cancer Risk" shows investigators, including Savage and her Colleagues as well as some the families they work with, discussing DC. [4]
Throughout her career, Dr. Sharon has received many honors and awards. For instance, in 2024, Savage was given the "Women Scientist Advisors Annual Mentoring Award" and in 2022 an "NIH Director's Award as part of the NIH COVID Vaccine and Booster Clinic Team". In addition to these, the Distinguished Academic Achievement Award from UVM Larner College of Medicine, was presented to her as an alumni for outstanding scientific or academic accomplishment. Last but not least, the NIH acknowledged her development of the Genetic Epidemiology Telomere Maintenance in Cancer Etiology research program and the discovery the TINF2 gene associate with Dyskeratosis Congenita (DC).
Savage SA, (Mar 2025), Telomeres and Human Disease. [5]
Niewisch MR, Kim J, Giri N, Lunger JC, McReynolds LJ, Savage SA, (Dec 2024), Genotype and Associated Cancer Risk in Individuals With Telomere Biology Disorders. [5]
Savage SA et al , (April 2025), Loss of Ten1 in mice induces telomere shortening and models human dyskeratosis congenita. [5]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain : "Sharon A. Savage, M.D., biographical sketch and research interests - NCI". dceg.cancer.gov. 1980-01-01. Retrieved 2022-08-26. This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Institutes of Health.| International | |
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