Dr. Gail J. Roboz

At Weill Medical College of Cornell University and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Gail J. Roboz leads the Clinical and Translational Leukemia Program, convening a multidisciplinary team of hematologists, cellular therapy experts, molecular pathologists, genetic counselors and supportive care specialists in a unified care framework. Her appointment as William S. Paley Professor of Medicine and Director of this program underscores her role in guiding institutional strategies for comprehensive leukemia management. Each week, she chairs case conferences where advanced cytogenetic and molecular mutation data, alongside next-generation sequencing results, inform personalized treatment recommendations for acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and related disorders. By working closely with transplant physicians and cellular therapy coordinators, she ensures that candidates for stem cell transplantation receive timely evaluations and pretransplant assessments. Patient navigators and nurse practitioners coordinate diagnostic testing, pretherapy education and psychosocial support to streamline care pathways. She also chairs institutional committees that establish guidelines for minimal residual disease monitoring, risk-adapted therapy algorithms and management of treatment-related complications. Collaboration with transfusion medicine, infectious disease and rehabilitation teams enables rapid intervention for cytopenias, infections and functional recovery needs. Her program emphasizes collection and analysis of patient-reported outcomes and quality-of-life measures, ensuring that each treatment plan aligns with patient values and long-term well-being. Survivorship planning, including fertility counseling and psychosocial support, is incorporated early to guide recovery and future health maintenance. To extend access and reduce travel burdens, she champions telemedicine consultations for rural and immunocompromised patients, facilitating early recognition of complications and prompt therapy adjustments. Her oversight of quality dashboards tracks metrics such as time to treatment initiation, transplant success rates and patient satisfaction scores. By fostering seamless collaboration, data-driven decision making and patient-centered planning, Dr. Roboz empowers patients with clarity and confidence throughout their treatment journey. This cohesive care model ensures patients navigate complex therapies with support at every step.

 

Building on her role as a clinician-scientist, Dr. Gail J. Roboz directs translational research efforts that bridge laboratory discoveries with patient-care advances. Her program utilizes high-throughput genomic profiling, multiplex flow cytometry and three-dimensional cellular assays to unravel mechanisms of treatment resistance in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. She served as principal investigator on a landmark study evaluating engineered UCART123 T cells targeting CD123 on leukemia blasts, paving the way for novel cellular immunotherapies in refractory disease. In parallel, her laboratory participates in first-in-human trials of the menin-MLL inhibitor Ziftomenib, assessing safety, pharmacodynamics and preliminary efficacy in relapsed or refractory acute leukemia. By collaborating with bioinformaticians and pharmacology teams, she incorporates circulating tumor DNA and immune repertoire analyses into trial designs, enabling real-time monitoring of response and emerging resistance patterns. She co-chairs translational seminars that convene basic scientists, clinical investigators and industry partners to refine biomarker-driven trial frameworks and accelerate bench-to-bedside translation. Her mentorship of fellows emphasizes protocol development, regulatory compliance and ethical conduct of human subjects research. Collaborative initiatives with cooperative groups have expanded access to adaptive trial designs for patients with limited standard-of-care options. Through publication of peer-reviewed manuscripts in leading journals and presentations at international meetings, she disseminates scientific findings that inform global research priorities. Patients enrolled in her translational studies benefit from access to investigational therapies guided by robust molecular insights, fostering personalized strategies for challenging leukemias. This translational paradigm offers hope by aligning innovative research with individualized patient needs.

 

Recognizing the importance of education and community engagement, Dr. Gail J. Roboz has developed comprehensive programs that translate complex leukemia concepts into accessible resources for patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. She founded a regional symposium on myeloid malignancies that brings together experts to discuss emerging therapies, management of treatment-related complications and supportive care strategies. She has authored plain-language guides and multimedia materials on topics such as leukemia subtypes, treatment side-effect identification and long-term wellness planning. As a professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, she designs curricula combining case-based learning, simulation workshops and interdisciplinary dialogue to enhance trainee proficiency in diagnostic and therapeutic decision making. Her mentorship programs pair early-career investigators with senior faculty to foster skills in experimental design, data analysis and effective scientific communication. To extend reach to underserved populations, she established telemedicine outreach clinics that provide virtual consultations and group education sessions, reducing barriers to specialized leukemia care. Collaborations with patient advocacy groups support online forums and support networks where individuals can share experiences and access expert insights. She also contributes to clinical trial matching platforms that allow patients to explore study eligibility and contact research teams with ease. Through these initiatives, she ensures that patients and families gain clear, reliable information and feel empowered to participate actively in their care decisions. These educational and outreach efforts foster trust, reduce anxiety and build a community centered on informed support.