The Yale Cooperative Center of Excellence in Hematology (YCCEH) of the Department of Laboratory Medicine has appointed John Hwa MD, PhD, a professor of medicine in the Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, as joint director, effective September 1. The goal of YCCEH is to enhance research in blood diseases within Yale and across the country.
Hwa’s research focuses primarily on the role of platelets —specifically platelet metabolic reprogramming in response to stress — in the pathogenesis of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The Hwa Lab discovered how a biological process known as the Unfolded Protein Response may reduce the risk of blood clots, uncovered how hyperglycemia causes platelet dysfunction in diabetes mellitus, and how platelets can play an immunoregulatory role in cancer.
Hwa will serve as co-director with Diane Krause, MD, PhD, the Anthony N. Brady Professor of Laboratory Medicine and professor of laboratory medicine, cell biology and pathology. Krause is a recognized leader in cellular therapies as well as the mechanisms underlying hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell regulation in health and disease.
The YCCEH works with other CCEH centers across the country to provide access to expert consultations, pilot project grants, and seminars, including the Rising Stars in Hematology Series, to enhance scientific knowledge and collaboration among investigators. Krause co-founded YCCEH with Patrick Gallagher, MD, professor of pediatrics, genetics, and pathology, with funding from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. To learn more, visit the YCCEH website.