Lisa M. Niswander MD PhD
Lisa M. Niswander
MD PhD
Contact Information
Patient Care
Patient Care
This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.
View this physician on UBMDEducation and Training:
- Fellowship, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (2022)
- Residency, Pediatrics, Accelerated Research Pathway, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (2018)
- MD, Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (2016)
- PhD, Pathology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (2014)
- Other, Research Scholar, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) - NIH Research Scholars Program (2010)
- BA, Molecular Biology and Religion, Middlebury College (2007)
Employment:
- Assistant Professor of Oncology, Pediatrics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (2024-present)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2024-present)
- Instructor of Pediatrics, Oncology, University of Pennsylvania/Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (2022–2024)
Awards and Honors:
- American Society of Hematology Abstract Achievement Award (2021)
- Robert E. Kates Award for Excellence in Clinical Medicine and Research (2016)
- Robert J. Haggerty Prize in Pediatrics (2016)
- American Society of Hematology Abstract Achievement Award (2015)
- Alpha Omega Alpha (2015)
- American Society of Hematology Abstract Achievement Award (2013)
- Alexander Nakeff Young Investigator Award (2013)
- George H. Whipple Award for Medical Writing (2010)
- Highest Honors, Program in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (2007)
- Grant-in-aid of Research (2006)
Research Expertise:
- Chimeric antigen receptor T cell immunotherapy
- Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
- Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
- Preclinical leukemia models
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- July 2024–July 2029
Leveraging small molecule inhibitors to improve CD19 CAR T cell immunotherapy for KMT2A-rearranged ALL
NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator - January 2026–December 2026
Combination approaches to augment chimeric antigen receptor T cell immunotherapy for infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Hyundai Hope on Wheels Impact Award
Role: Principal Investigator
$100,000 - December 2022–December 2024
Concurrent MEK Inhibition to Enhance CAR T Cell Immunotherapy for Pediatric Leukemia
Hyundai Hope on Wheels
Role: Principal Investigator - July 2021–June 2024
Multimodal targeting of FLT3 signaling in high-risk pediatric leukemias
St. Baldrick's Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator - May 2022–April 2024
MEK Inhibition to Improve CAR T Cell Immunotherapy for High-Risk Pediatric Leukemia
Precious Jules Childhood Cancer Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
Journal Articles:
- Byrwa DJ, Kreiger M, Niswander LM, Kelly K. (2026) The Use of Targeted Therapy in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Exploring Novel Approaches and Emerging Therapies. Current Treatment Options in Oncology (Jan)
- Balestra T, Niswander LM, Bagashev A, Loftus JP, Ross SL, Chen RK, McClellan SM, Junco JJ, Bárcenas López DA, Rabin KR, Fry TJ, Tasian SK. (2025) Co-targeting of the thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor to decrease immunotherapeutic resistance in CRLF2-rearranged Ph-like and Down syndrome acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia (Mar)
- Niswander LM, Chung P, Diorio C, Tasian SK. (2023) Clinical responses in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory leukemia treated with azacitidine and venetoclax. Haematologica (Nov), 108(11): 3142-3147. doi:10.3324/haematol.2022.282637
- Niswander LM, Graff ZT, Chien CD, Chukinas JA, Meadows CA, Leach LC, Loftus JP, Kohler ME, Tasian SK, Fry TJ. (2023) Potent preclinical activity of FLT3-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy against FLT3- mutant acute myeloid leukemia and KMT2A-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Haematologica (Feb), 108(2): 457-471. doi:10.3324/haematol.2022.281456
- Niswander LM, Loftus JP, Lainey É, Caye-Eude A, Pondrom M, Hottman DA, Iacobucci I, Mullighan CG, Jain N, Konopleva M, Cavé H, Baruchel A, Rohrlich PS, Tasian SK. (2021) Therapeutic potential of ruxolitinib and ponatinib in patients with EPOR-rearranged Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Haematologica (Oct), 106(10): 2763-2767. doi:10.3324/haematol.2021.278697
- Saunders J, Niswander LM, McGrath KE, Koniski A, Catherman SC, Ture SK, Medhora M, Kingsley PD, Calvi LM, Williams JP, Morrell CN, Palis J. (2021) Long-acting PGE2 and Lisinopril Mitigate H-ARS. Radiation research (Sep), 196(3): 284-296. doi:10.1667/RADE-20-00113.1
- Qin H, Yang L, Chukinas JA, Shah N, Tarun S, Pouzolles M, Chien CD, Niswander LM, Welch AR, Taylor N, Tasian SK, Fry TJ. (2021) Systematic preclinical evaluation of CD33-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cell immunotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia defines optimized construct design. Journal for immunotherapy of cancer (Sep), 9(9). doi:10.1136/jitc-2021-003149
- Loftus JP, Yahiaoui A, Brown PA, Niswander LM, Bagashev A, Wang M, Schauf A, Tannheimer S, Tasian SK. (2021) Combinatorial efficacy of entospletinib and chemotherapy in patient-derived xenograft models of infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Haematologica (Apr), 106(4): 1067-1078. doi:10.3324/haematol.2019.241729
- Niswander LM, Palis J, McGrath KE. (2016) Imaging Flow Cytometric Analysis of Primary Bone Marrow Megakaryocytes. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) (Jan), 1389: 265-77.
- Niswander LM, Fegan KH, Kingsley PD, McGrath KE, Palis J. (2014) SDF-1 dynamically mediates megakaryocyte niche occupancy and thrombopoiesis at steady state and following radiation injury. Blood (Jul), 124(2): 277-86. doi:10.1182/blood-2014-01-547638
- Niswander LM, Cromwell P, Chirico J, Gupton A, Korones DN. (2014) End-of-life care for children enrolled in a community-based pediatric palliative care program. Journal of palliative medicine (May), 17(5): 589-91.
- Niswander LM, McGrath KE, Kennedy JC, Palis J. (2014) Improved quantitative analysis of primary bone marrow megakaryocytes utilizing imaging flow cytometry. Cytometry. Part A : the journal of the International Society for Analytical Cytology (Apr), 85(4): 302-12. doi:10.1002/cyto.a.22438
- Carbajal L, Biswas A, Niswander LM, Prizant H, Hammes SR. (2011) GPCR/EGFR cross talk is conserved in gonadal and adrenal steroidogenesis but is uniquely regulated by matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in the ovary. Molecular endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.) (Jun), 25(6): 1055-65. doi:10.1210/me.2010-0410
- Niswander LM, Kim SY. (2010) Stratifying osteosarcoma: minimizing and maximizing therapy. Current oncology reports (Jul), 12(4): 266-70. doi:10.1007/s11912-010-0106-3
- Ward JO, Reinholdt LG, Motley WW, Niswander LM, Deacon DC, Griffin LB, Langlais KK, Backus VL, Schimenti KJ, O'Brien MJ, Eppig JJ, Schimenti JC. (2007) Mutation in mouse hei10, an e3 ubiquitin ligase, disrupts meiotic crossing over. PLoS genetics (Aug), 3(8): e139. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0030139
- Kim S, Namekawa SH, Niswander LM, Ward JO, Lee JT, Bardwell VJ, Zarkower D. (2007) A mammal-specific Doublesex homolog associates with male sex chromatin and is required for male meiosis. PLoS genetics (Apr), 3(4): e62. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0030062
Professional Memberships:
- Children's Oncology Group
- American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
- American Society of Hematology
Presentations:
- "Targeting leukemia biology to improve CAR T cell immunotherapy for high-risk pediatric leukemias" Segel Conference, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Golisano Children’s Hospital/University of Rochester Medical Center (2025)
- "Combinatorial CAR T cell and molecular targeting of FLT3 in high-risk pediatric leukemias" Immunology Department Research Retreat, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (2025)
- "Dual Immunotherapeutic and molecular targeting of FLT3 in high-risk pediatric leukemias" Translational Research Group in Pediatrics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (2024)
- "Combinatorial small molecule inhibitor and CAR T cell immunotherapy approaches for high-risk pediatric leukemias" Department of Pediatrics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (2023)
- "Combinatorial targeting of FLT3 in high risk pediatric leukemias" Child Health Research Centers Virtual Annual Meeting (2022)
- "Multimodal targeting of FLT3 in high risk pediatric leukemias" University of Minnesota Combined Adult/Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Virtual Subspecialty Grand Rounds (2022)
Service Activities:
- Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation; Peer reviewer (2025–present)
- Molecular Therapy Oncology; Peer Reviewer (2025–present)
- Empire State Cell Therapy Consortium; Pediatrics Subgroup Leader for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (2025–present)
- Blood Neoplasia; Peer reviewer (2024–present)
- Pediatrics Translational Research Group, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; Co-Leader (2024–present)
- Children's Oncology Group Clinical Trial AALL2321; Site PI
- Children's Oncology Group Clinical Trial AALL2131; Site PI