Hematology/Oncology

The Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology supports the Roswell Park Oishei Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Program, a collaboration between Kaleida Health’s Oishei Children’s Hospital and the NCI designated, free-standing Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.  The Division is home to 12 physician faculty and 3 advanced practice providers. The Program cares for >90% of all pediatric cancer and blood disorders patients in the in the eight county Western New York region and provides regional consultation for patients across New York State, Northern Pennsylvania, and Eastern Ohio, representing the largest pediatric cancer and blood disorders program in upstate New York. with a focus on a wide variety of malignant and nonmalignant hematologic disorders. The Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) and Cellular Therapies program is a FACT-accredited program under the oversight of the Roswell Park BMT program which offers access to the full range of transplant options including related and unrelated donors, and new cellular therapies including chimeric antigen receptor T-cells. Our patients have access to novel therapeutic options, including several groundbreaking treatments that were developed at our medical center. A collaboration with the federally funded hemophilia treatment center, Western New York Bloodcare, provides comprehensive care for children and adolescents with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. 

Our division is actively involved in the education of medical students, residents and fellows. We offer an ACGME-accredited three year pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship program. Division faculty have received awards for teaching and mentorship. Faculty and staff recognize and value community engagement through educational and advocacy efforts.

• We have an ACGME-sponsored pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship (3 total positions) with a strong recent track record of placing fellows in academic faculty positions.
• We offer a one-year nonaccredited fellowship opportunity for training in hemostasis/thrombosis funded through a grant from Western New York Bloodcare.
• Faculty also take an active role in the ACGME-sponsored pediatric residency program and in case-based sessions for medical students at the JSMBS.
• We sponsor an annual Thruway Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Collaboration conference, (CME credits) to all participants (approximately 100-150/year).

Our faculty’s research interests include novel cellular and other immunotherapy approaches and the impact of precision medicine on targeted drug selection for pediatric cancer, the long-term side effects of cancer treatment in children and adolescents, cancer health outcomes research, novel hemophilia treatment options, and venous thromboses management. An early phase clinical trials program with phase 1 trials are available through the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium and collaborative trials with investigators at Roswell Park. Faculty in the Division conduct clinical and translational research and have received funding from the National Cancer Institute, Department of Defense, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Hyundai Foundation, as well as from pharmaceutical companies. Our clinical research is done through participation in various committees of the Children’s Oncology Group and other small and large consortia, as well as studies of new treatment approaches developed at Roswell Park.

• An early phase clinical trials program with phase 1 trials are available. Additional referrals for cell therapy and early phase clinical trials are facilitated through the Thruway Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Collaboration, which includes the pediatric hematology/oncology programs from Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany, in addition to Buffalo. The CNS tumor vaccine, SurVaxM, developed at Roswell Park, is being investigated in a phase 1 clinical trial by the NCI supported Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium with study leadership provided by program faculty.
• Full Member of the NCI supported Children’s Oncology Group. Program faculty has leadership roles in national clinical trials developed by the Hodgkin lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Neuroblastoma, and Bone tumor disease committees, and membership on COG’s Scientific Council.
• The Pediatric BMT program participates in trials through the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium, BMT-CTN, Sickle Cell Transplant Advocacy and Research Alliance (STAR), and industry sponsored. Investigator-initiated trials of dendritic and CAR-T therapy approaches for pediatric solid tumors are in development.
• Tissue biorepository and linked clinical data registry with dedicated data manager available for research use.
• Translational research is conducted in a dedicated pediatric lab focusing on pre-clinical models to gain insight into dysregulated post-hematopoietic stem cell transplant immunity to develop novel diagnostic tools and targeted therapies. Additionally, by using deuterated isotopes (heavy water and heavy glucose) and deuterium MRI detection, non-radioactive metabolic imaging approaches for cancer and cellular immunotherapy are being developed.
• Robust population sciences research program focusing on behavioral interventions to improve oral chemotherapy adherence and reductions in treatment associated obesity risk, as well as molecular epidemiologic investigations of health disparities and treatment related toxicity and cancer outcomes.
• Collaborations with over fifteen primary research faculty are facilitated through the Pediatric Translational Research Group.
• Faculty and fellows utilize internal funding opportunities through the Department of Pediatrics, UB CTSI, UB Foundation, and Roswell Park Alliance Foundation. External funding has been obtained from NCI, Department of Defense, Hyundai Foundation, and St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
• Strong support staff including 6 dedicated research coordinators. 

• Ambulatory clinical care for patients with cancer and blood disorders is provided at the Katherine, Anne, and Donna Gioia Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Ambulatory Center at Roswell Park. Additional ambulatory care for patients with bleeding disorders is provided at Western New York Bloodcare, a federally funded hemophilia center for lifespan care. Faculty provide care in specialized multidisciplinary ambulatory programs at the Oishei Children’s Outpatient Center for neuro-oncology, neurofibromatosis, and vascular anomalies. Inpatient care is provided in a specialized unit on the 12^th floor of Oishei Chlidren’s Hospital. Inpatient care provided daily by one provider team, with daily consultative support for BMT/Cell Therapies and Hematology care. Dedicated pharmacist, nurse practitioner, nutritionist, psychologist, social worker, and child life specialist support is provided.
• Approximately 7250 ambulatory visits and 400 hospital discharges yearly.
• Multi-disciplinary programs for neuro-oncology, neurofibromatosis, thyroid cancers, vascular anomalies, young adult sarcomas, hemophilia, thromboses, oncofertility and cancer survivorship.
• FACT-accredited pediatric BMT program, performing approximately 10 allogeneic transplants per year, with additional expertise in commercial and investigator initiated clinical trials for chimeric antigen T-cell receptor and other cellular therapies. Matched related, haploidentical and unrelated transplants for conducted for range of malignant and nonmalignant conditions, including sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and other inherited disorders. Under new program leadership, gene therapy program being initiated in 2023 with focus on therapies for children with hemoglobinopathies and immunodeficiency disorders. On site GMP cellular therapy processing capabilities at Roswell Park.
• Precision Medicine Program with comprehensive molecular sequencing of high risk solid and CNS tumors and monthly multidisciplinary pediatric molecular tumor boards with representation by molecular pathology and cancer genetics.
• Comprehensive cancer survivorship program with care across the lifespan. Oncofertility services for males and females with oocyte and sperm banking available through collaboration with Buffalo IVF.
• Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia Program. NYS designated newborn screening referral program.  Dedicated program psychologist and patient navigator.
• Accredited Neurofibromatosis Program which provides comprehensive care for >150 NF patients.
• Comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-oncology Program with multidisciplinary care management with pediatric neuro-oncology, neurosurgery, neurology, endocrinology, and psychology seeing patients jointly, along with dedicated program coordinator, social work, and nursing support.
• Medical service agreements with Western New York Bloodcare for full-service lifespan care of children and young adults with bleeding disorders by 3 program faculty.
• Hemostasis and Thrombosis Care - Catheter delivered thrombolysis therapies provided through multidisciplinary care provided by pediatric hematology, interventional radiology, and vascular surgery.
• Program faculty provide leadership to the multidisciplinary vascular anomalies program in conjunction with pediatric surgery, dermatology, interventional radiology, and plastic surgery.
• Comprehensive quality program with structured reporting of identified metrics, quarterly all-program quality review meetings, and multidisciplinary interventional initiatives.
• Comprehensive supportive services for patients and families including social work, psychology, child life, integrative therapies, educational support and school reentry, palliative care and hospice services, outpatient rehabilitation, and nutritional counseling. Close partnership with visiting nurse association for delivery of therapies including chemotherapy in the home setting. Program faculty provider leadership for the Young Adult Program which provides psychology and other supportive services to patients ages 18-39.