Stephanie Lee (scientist)

Last updated
Stephanie J. Lee
Alma mater Harvard School of Public Health
Stanford University School of Medicine
University of Washington
Scientific career
Institutions University of Washington
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Website Lee Lab

Stephanie J. Lee is an American haematologist and physician scientist who is Professor and Associate Director at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Lee works to improve the lives of blood stem cell transplant and bone marrow patients by better understanding the chronic form of graft-versus-host disease. Lee is the former President of the American Society of Hematology.

Contents

Early life and education

Lee completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Washington. [1] After graduating, she spent a year as a phlebotomist in a hospital. She pursued a medical degree at the Stanford University School of Medicine, where she completed a residency and internship. [2] [3] Lee earned a Master's in Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and was board certified in oncology in 1997. [4] She was a medical fellow at the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, where she was mentored by Jane Weeks and Joseph Antin. [2]

Research and career

In 2006, Lee joined the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center ('the Hutch'). [5] [6] Lee studies bone marrow and stem cell transplantation, and ways to prevent complications during transplants. [4] In particular, she looks to understand and prevent chronic graft-versus-host disease, [7] an autoimmune disorder that occurs after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. [8] It can attack many different organs, and the treatment involves the use of immunosuppressive medications, rendering patients immunocompromised. Lee is the Director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Long-Term Follow-Up (LTFU) program, [9] which tracks over 5,000 patients who have undergone bone marrow or stem cell transplants. [10] [11] Lee was named the recipient of the Giuliani/Press Endowed Chair in 2018. [5]

In 2017, Lee was elected Vice President of the American Society of Hematology, serving as President from 2020. [12] [13] At the 2020 annual meeting, Lee hosted a discussion with Anthony Fauci, discussing the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on hematologic conditions. [14] During the meeting Lee and Fauci agreed that they would recommend immunocompromised patients get the COVID-19 vaccine. [15]

Selected publications

Personal life

Lee is married with two children. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chronic lymphocytic leukemia</span> Medical condition

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes. Early on, there are typically no symptoms. Later, non-painful lymph node swelling, feeling tired, fever, night sweats, or weight loss for no clear reason may occur. Enlargement of the spleen and low red blood cells (anemia) may also occur. It typically worsens gradually over years.

Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is an infusion of horse or rabbit-derived antibodies against human T cells and their precursors (thymocytes), which is used in the prevention and treatment of acute rejection in organ transplantation and therapy of aplastic anemia due to bone marrow insufficiency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation</span> Medical procedure to replace blood or immune stem cells

Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) is the transplantation of multipotent hematopoietic stem cells, usually derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood, in order to replicate inside a patient and produce additional normal blood cells. HSCT may be autologous, syngeneic, or allogeneic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graft-versus-host disease</span> Medical condition

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a syndrome, characterized by inflammation in different organs. GvHD is commonly associated with bone marrow transplants and stem cell transplants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center</span> Cancer research institute in Seattle, US

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, formerly known as the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and also known as Fred Hutch or The Hutch, is a cancer research institute established in 1975 in Seattle, Washington.

Stem-cell therapy uses stem cells to treat or prevent a disease or condition. As of 2016, the only established therapy using stem cells is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This usually takes the form of a bone marrow transplantation, but the cells can also be derived from umbilical cord blood. Research is underway to develop various sources for stem cells as well as to apply stem-cell treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

Defibrotide, sold under the brand name Defitelio, is a mixture of single-stranded oligonucleotides that is purified from the intestinal mucosa of pigs. It is used to treat veno-occlusive disease of the liver of people having had a bone marrow transplant, with different limitations in the US and the European Union. It works by protecting the cells lining blood vessels in the liver and preventing blood clotting; the way it does this is not well understood.

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG or LG) is a very rare lymphoproliferative disorder first characterized in 1972. Lymphomatoid means lymphoma-like and granulomatosis denotes the microscopic characteristic of the presence of granulomas with polymorphic lymphoid infiltrates and focal necrosis within it.

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a rare form of chronic leukemia that affects children, commonly those aged four and younger. The name JMML now encompasses all diagnoses formerly referred to as juvenile chronic myeloid leukemia (JCML), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia of infancy, and infantile monosomy 7 syndrome. The average age of patients at diagnosis is two (2) years old. The World Health Organization has included JMML as a subcategory of myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative disorders.

Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) or buffy coat infusion is a form of adoptive immunotherapy used after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Transplantable organs and tissues may refer to both organs and tissues that are relatively often transplanted, as well as organs and tissues which are relatively seldom transplanted. In addition to this it may also refer to possible-transplants which are still in the experimental stage.

An inflammatory cytokine or proinflammatory cytokine is a type of signaling molecule that is secreted from immune cells like helper T cells (Th) and macrophages, and certain other cell types that promote inflammation. They include interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-12, and IL-18, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFNγ), and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and play an important role in mediating the innate immune response. Inflammatory cytokines are predominantly produced by and involved in the upregulation of inflammatory reactions.

Graft-versus-tumor effect (GvT) appears after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The graft contains donor T cells that can be beneficial for the recipient by eliminating residual malignant cells. GvT might develop after recognizing tumor-specific or recipient-specific alloantigens. It could lead to remission or immune control of hematologic malignancies. This effect applies in myeloma and lymphoid leukemias, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and possibly breast cancer. It is closely linked with graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), as the underlying principle of alloimmunity is the same. CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) can be used to suppress GvHD without loss of beneficial GvT effect. The biology of GvT response is still not fully understood but it is probable that the reaction with polymorphic minor histocompatibility antigens expressed either specifically on hematopoietic cells or more widely on a number of tissue cells or tumor-associated antigens is involved. This response is mediated largely by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) but it can be employed by natural killers as separate effectors, particularly in T-cell-depleted HLA-haploidentical HSCT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Z. Pavletic</span>

Steven Z. Pavletic is a Croatian-American physician and researcher in hematology and oncology known for his role in developing consensus guidelines for clinical trials in chronic Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

Guo Mei is a hematologist and associate director of 307th Hospital of Chinese People’s Liberation Army and deputy director of Radiation Research Institute.

Jo-Anne H. Young is an American physician, scientist, and Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Microbiology Reviews, published by the American Society for Microbiology.

David G. Maloney is an oncologist and researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington who specializes in developing targeted immunotherapies for the treatment of blood cancers.

T-cell depletion (TCD) is the process of T cell removal or reduction, which alters the immune system and its responses. Depletion can occur naturally or be induced for treatment purposes. TCD can reduce the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which is a common issue in transplants. The idea that TCD of the allograft can eliminate GVHD was first introduced in 1958. In humans the first TCD was performed in severe combined immunodeficiency patients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shimon Slavin</span> Israeli professor of medicine

Shimon Slavin is an Israeli professor of medicine. Slavin pioneered the use of immunotherapy mediated by allogeneic donor lymphocytes and innovative methods for stem cell transplantation for the cure of hematological malignancies and solid tumors, and using hematopoietic stem cells for induction of transplantation tolerance to bone marrow and donor allografts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beverly Torok-Storb</span> American physician and academic (1948–2023)

Beverly Jo Torok-Storb was an American physician who was Professor of Clinical Research at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Her work considered the stem cells that generate blood and the microenvironment of bone marrow.

References

  1. ↑ "Stephanie Lee, M.D., M.P.H." Fred Hutch. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  2. 1 2 3 admin (2015-01-01). "Pulling Back the Curtain: Stephanie Lee, MD, MPH". ASH Clinical News. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  3. ↑ "Stephanie J. Lee MD, MPH" (PDF). CIBMTR.
  4. 1 2 "Stephanie Joi Lee M.D., M.P.H." UW Medicine. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  5. 1 2 "Dr. Stephanie Lee honored as new Giuliani/Press Endowed Chair recipient". Fred Hutch. 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  6. ↑ "Lee joins ASH leadership team". Fred Hutch. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  7. ↑ "Research Focus". Fred Hutch. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  8. ↑ "What's new in combatting chronic graft-vs.-host disease". Fred Hutch. 2018-04-02. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  9. ↑ "LTFU attending physician assumes program leadership July 1". Fred Hutch. 2013-05-06. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  10. ↑ "Long-Term Follow-Up". Fred Hutch. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  11. ↑ "Early detection helps manage a chronic graft-vs.-host disease complication - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center". Fred Hutch. 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  12. ↑ "Stephanie Lee, MD, MPH, Elected ASH Vice President; Two Councillors Appointed to 4-Year Terms - The ASCO Post". ascopost.com. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  13. ↑ "Stephanie Lee Begins Term as ASH President - The ASCO Post". ascopost.com. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  14. ↑ "Fauci to be keynote speaker at ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition". www.healio.com. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  15. ↑ "Advances in blood disorders research continue despite COVID-19". Fred Hutch. 2020-12-10. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
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