A major cause of relapse after therapy is the persistence of measurable residual disease (MRD) cells—cancer cells that remain after treatment and eventually spread. Due to technical and logistical challenges in accessing and analyzing MRD cells, the molecular and cellular pathways that enable MRD progression remain poorly understood. Dr. Bachireddy will use innovative molecular tools to analyze tissue samples from blood cancer patients at a single-cell level to unlock insights into MRD progression. Using cutting-edge machine learning approaches, he will identify immunosuppressive mechanisms that may be targeted to halt MRD progression. Beyond these blood cancers, he aims to reveal organizing principles of MRD progression that are relevant across human cancers.
Damon Runyon Researchers
Meet Our ScientistsPavan Bachireddy, MD
Project title: "Immune evasive circuits that define MRD progression in myelodysplastic syndrome"
Institution: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Award Program: Clinical Investigator
Sponsor(s) / Mentor(s): Jeffrey J. Molldrem, MD
Cancer Type: Blood
Research Area: Tumor Immunology