Lourdes Mendez, MD, PhD
Assistant ProfessorDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Assistant Professor
Biography
Dr. Lourdes Mendez received her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, as well as a PhD in Cell Biology. She completed her residency at Weill Cornell-New York Presbyterian and while a fellow in hematology/oncology at BIDMC, undertook a post-doctoral fellowship in cancer genetics. Most recently, Dr. Mendez was an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Leukemia Disease Group Leader at BIDMC. She is currently a member of the Yale Leukemia Clinical and Research Team with a focus on clinical care and trials for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Dr. Mendez is dedicated to both the clinical care of patients and translational research with the goal of translating findings from the bench to the bedside to improve outcomes for patients with high-risk acute leukemia and precursor conditions (CHIP/CCUS).
Last Updated on March 31, 2024.
Appointments
Medical Oncology and Hematology
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Hematology
- Internal Medicine
- Medical Oncology and Hematology
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Medicine
Education & Training
- Research Fellow
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2017)
- Clinical Fellow in Hematology/Oncology
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2014)
- Resident
- Weill Cornell-New York Presbyterian (2011)
- Intern
- Weill Cornell-New York Presbyterian (2009)
- PhD
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Cell Biology
- MD
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Research
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Overview
Dr. Mendez is dedicated to both the clinical care of patients with myeloid disorders/leukemia, and translational research to identify novel therapeutics for these conditions.
Medical Research Interests
Leukemia, Myeloid
ORCID
0000-0002-5922-2877
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Lourdes Mendez's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Lourdes Mendez's research output by year.
Amer Zeidan, MBBS
Jan Philipp Bewersdorf, MD, FACP
Nikolai Podoltsev, MD, PhD
Maximilian Stahl, MD
Rory Shallis, MD
Anish Sharda, MD, MPH
80Publications
1,144Citations
Publications
2025
Luspatercept for patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes/neoplasms: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Alhajahjeh A, Woite N, Rolles B, Stempel J, Mina A, Mendez L, Kewan T, Podoltsev N, Stahl M, Grimshaw A, Zeidan A, Bewersdorf J. Luspatercept for patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes/neoplasms: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Blood Advances 2025, 9: 6511-6523. PMID: 40966428, DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2025017611.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsLower-risk myelodysplastic syndromesLow transfusion burdenTransfusion independenceTransfusion-DependentAdverse eventsTI rateSystematic reviewHematological improvement-erythroidWell-tolerated treatmentFrequent adverse eventsMeta-analysisSerious adverse eventsMeta-analysis aimTransfusion burdenMyelodysplastic syndromeFrontline settingPeripheral edemaSafety profileLuspaterceptPatientsAnemiaHigher RatesEfficacyReviewTransfusionIsavuconazole provides effective and tolerable antifungal prophylaxis for patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Hunter C, Chou A, Roeder H, Eighmy W, Bewersdorf J, Mendez L, Stahl M, Podoltsev N, Zeidan A, Shallis R. Isavuconazole provides effective and tolerable antifungal prophylaxis for patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia Research 2025, 160: 108144. PMID: 41365214, DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2025.108144.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsInvasive fungal infectionsAcute myeloid leukemiaDrug-drug interactionsSide effect profileOverall survivalTransaminase elevationVisual disturbancesMyeloid leukemiaAntifungal prophylactic agentMedian overall survivalRate of complicationsAssociated with higher ratesAntifungal prophylaxisIsavuconazoleFungal infectionsVoriconazoleRetrospective analysisSide effectsPatientsLeukemiaHigher RatesSurvivalNeutropeniaProphylaxisAzoleEarly discharge program cost savings for patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia after intensive induction chemotherapy
Hunter C, Chetlapalli K, Ito S, Bewersdorf J, Boddu P, Browning S, Halene S, Parker T, Huntington S, Kothari S, Mendez L, Neparidze N, Sethi T, Stahl M, Podoltsev N, Zeidan A, Shallis R, Goshua G. Early discharge program cost savings for patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia after intensive induction chemotherapy. Blood 2025, 146: 6208. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2025-6208.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEarly discharge programAbsolute neutrophil countLow absolute neutrophil countAcute myeloid leukemiaNext therapyIntensive chemotherapyTraditional cohortDirect costsHospital dischargeMyeloid leukemiaDirect costs of careOutpatient clinical careLonger hospitalInpatient bed usePatient's absolute neutrophil countDays of antimicrobial therapyCohort of consecutive patientsCost of careRed blood cell transfusionProgram cost savingsAssociated with longer hospitalSecond-line therapyBlood cell transfusionKaplan-Meier methodRisk exposure periodProspective evaluation of an AI-powered clinical trial patient matching (CTPM) system in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and multiple myeloma
Taborda C, Gong G, Douglas G, Liu J, Incoom A, Stahl M, Podoltsev N, Bewersdorf J, Getz T, Stempel J, Kewan T, Lanino L, Bidikian A, Parker T, Bar N, Browning S, Halene S, Neparidze N, Zeidan A, Mendez L. Prospective evaluation of an AI-powered clinical trial patient matching (CTPM) system in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and multiple myeloma. Blood 2025, 146: 1086-1086. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2025-1086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMDS trialsMyelodysplastic syndromeEligible patientsMyeloma trialNon-enrolleesCommunity sitesConcurrent malignancyElectronic medical record dataEarly initiationManual reviewLower-risk myelodysplastic syndromesRandomized phase 3 trialMedical record dataEthnically minoritized groupsNext-line therapyPatient-matchedPhase 1b/2 trialProgression to AMLLow-risk statusPhase 3 trialIdentification of patientsOlder adultsRelapsed/refractory patientsRelapsed/refractory myelomaScreening sensitivityTrial in progress: A phase I study evaluating the safety of cirtuvivint (CIRT) as monotherapy and in combination with ASTX727 in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Chen E, Liu Y, Stein E, Ball B, Gojo I, Odenike O, Palmisiano N, Duong V, Gong Z, Hochman M, Bossard C, Hill J, Grifman M, Deangelo D, Stone R, Galinsky I, Leonard R, Little R, Gore S, Bewersdorf J, Mendez L, Podoltsev N, Zeidan A, Abdel-Wahab O, Stahl M. Trial in progress: A phase I study evaluating the safety of cirtuvivint (CIRT) as monotherapy and in combination with ASTX727 in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Blood 2025, 146: 3431-3431. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2025-3431.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute myeloid leukemiaR/R acute myeloid leukemiaHigher-risk myelodysplastic syndromesCancer Therapy Evaluation ProgramMyelodysplastic syndromeFixed-dose combinationX-linked inhibitor of apoptosis proteinCohort IIICohort IX-linked inhibitorEastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance statusIn vivo preclinical dataAdequate organ functionPhase 2 doseVenetoclax-based therapyDose-escalation designPhase II studyBiomarkers of responsePhase I studyPhase I trialBone marrow aspirateInhibitor of apoptosis proteinPreliminary efficacy dataOral decitabineMedian OSMenin inhibitors for NPM1-mutated and KMT2A-rearranged relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML): A systematic review and meta-analysis
Beke K, Alhajahjeh A, Grimshaw A, Podoltsev N, Mendez L, Stahl M, Zeidan A, Bewersdorf J. Menin inhibitors for NPM1-mutated and KMT2A-rearranged relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML): A systematic review and meta-analysis. Blood 2025, 146: 5154-5154. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2025-5154.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute myeloid leukemiaComposite complete responseOverall response rateNPM1 mutationsComplete responseAdverse eventsMenin inhibitorsStatistically significant differenceNucleophosmin 1Primary endpointMyeloid leukemiaAdult patientsPooled rateEndpoints of overall response rateMeta-analysisRates of grade 3Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid LeukemiaAcute myeloid leukemia patientsSystematic reviewR/R AML patientsEarly mortality rateSignificant differenceAdult AML casesProspective cohort studyBlack quality assessment toolClinical, cytogenetic and molecular predictors of early mortality in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL): Real-world analysis
Bidikian A, Al-Musa A, Hunter C, Mendez L, Podoltsev N, Stahl M, Zeidan A, Shallis R, Bewersdorf J. Clinical, cytogenetic and molecular predictors of early mortality in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL): Real-world analysis. Blood 2025, 146: 5160-5160. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2025-5160.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdvent of all-trans retinoic acidMolecular complete remissionAcute promyelocytic leukemiaEarly mortalityFLT3 mutationsPrognostic impactOverall survivalAcute promyelocytic leukemia treatmentPrognostic rolePlatelet countD-dimerMolecular predictorsIndependent predictorsGenetic abnormalitiesEvaluable ptsImpact of genetic abnormalitiesMultivariate analysisPredictors of inferior OSPredictors of early mortalityImpact of prognostic factorsExcellent long-term outcomePeripheral blast percentageBone marrow biopsyFLT3 mutation statusTumor lysis syndromeValidation of the international working group (IWG) 2023 criteria for clinical benefit in higher risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (HR-MDS) using a large, international, randomized Phase 3 clinical trial dataset
Stahl M, Bewersdorf J, Vedula R, Liu Y, Murdock H, Tsai H, Chen E, Rolles B, Podoltsev N, Mendez L, Lanino L, Mina A, Aguirre L, Sekeres M, Ades L, Lindsley R, Zeidan A. Validation of the international working group (IWG) 2023 criteria for clinical benefit in higher risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (HR-MDS) using a large, international, randomized Phase 3 clinical trial dataset. Blood 2025, 146: 5651. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2025-5651.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPartial remissionOverall survivalAllo-SCTHR-MDSCount recoveryProgressive diseaseClinical trialsInternational Working GroupClinical benefitNo responseLandmark analysisDeletion of chromosome 17pAllogeneic stem cell transplantationHigh-risk myelodysplastic syndromeBone marrow blast percentageResponse criteriaBlood count recoveryMarrow blast percentageRisk myelodysplastic syndromesStem cell transplantationMolecular correlatesLog-rank testAZA monotherapyMedian OSIPSS-RImpact of metformin on the incidence of thrombotic events in older patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia in the United States
Stempel J, Wang R, Shallis R, Mendez L, Bewersdorf J, Stahl M, Zeidan A, Ma X, Podoltsev N. Impact of metformin on the incidence of thrombotic events in older patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia in the United States. Blood 2025, 146: 6392-6392. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2025-6392.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsHistory of thrombosisDiagnosis of DMMetformin non-usersMyeloproliferative neoplasmsMetformin usersThrombotic eventsThrombotic riskPolycythemia veraMetformin useEssential thrombocythemiaOlder ptsSevere DMDiabetes mellitusImpact of metforminNo significant associationDM severityFollow-upPhiladelphia chromosome negative myeloproliferative neoplasmsPre-existing cardiovascular risk factorsHistory of thrombotic eventsNon-usersIncidence rate of thrombosisIncidence of thrombotic eventsDevelopment of myeloproliferative neoplasmsIncidence rateTreatment initiation and first line tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) selection for older patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the United States (US) before and after the introduction of generic imatinib (GE-IMA)
Wang R, Stempel J, Shallis R, Bewersdorf J, Mendez L, Stahl M, Zeidan A, Ma X, Podoltsev N. Treatment initiation and first line tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) selection for older patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the United States (US) before and after the introduction of generic imatinib (GE-IMA). Blood 2025, 146: 6393-6393. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2025-6393.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedian time to initiationChronic myeloid leukemiaTime to initiationMonths of diagnosisRetrospective cohort studyTreatment initiationAssociated with higher likelihoodTKI therapyOlder ptsCML diagnosisFollow-upOlder patientsFirst-generation TKI imatinibChronic myeloid leukemia diagnosisEnd Results Medicare-linked databaseMultivariate Cox proportional hazards modelLow-income subsidySecond-generation TKIsMedicare-linked databaseAge of diagnosisCox proportional hazards modelsPre-GProportional hazards modelGeneric imatinibImatinib users
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Phase 1 Study to Determine the Safety and Tolerability of Ziftomenib Combinations for the Treatment of KMT2A-rearranged or NPM1-mutant Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia
HIC ID2000035900RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/31/2026Recruiting ParticipantsA Phase 3, Open-label, Randomized Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Luspatercept (ACE-536) vs Epoetin Alfa for the Treatment of Anemia Due to Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) Very Low, Low, or Intermediate-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) in Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent (ESA)-Naive Participants Who Are Non-Transfusion Dependent (NTD): The "ELEMENT-MDS" Trial
HIC ID2000035577RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/25/2027Recruiting ParticipantsA Phase 1/2 First in Human Study of the Menin-MLL(KMT2A) Inhibitor KO-539 in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia
HIC ID2000034410RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date05/30/2026Recruiting ParticipantsA Phase 1/2 Open Label, Multicenter, Dose Escalation and Expansion Study of the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of HM43239 in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
HIC ID2000032345RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date03/28/2026Recruiting ParticipantsA Phase III Randomized Trial of Steroids + Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) Induction With Chemotherapy or Blinatumomab for Newly Diagnosed BCR-ABL-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in Adults
HIC ID2000032440RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date07/01/2028Recruiting Participants
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity American Society of Hematology
2007 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMember
Clinical Care
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Overview
Lourdes Mendez, MD, PhD, is a hematologic oncologist specializing in the treatment of leukemia, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
As an assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Mendez is involved in research that seeks to develop new therapeutic options for leukemia and myeloid disorders (a group of blood cancers that affect the bone marrow’s ability to produce healthy blood cells). Her research aims to translate laboratory findings into clinical applications to enhance patient care.
Dr. Mendez received her medical training from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her residency at Weill Cornell-New York Presbyterian. She pursued a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cancer genetics.
Clinical Specialties
Hematology; Hematologic Oncology
Fact Sheets
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Learn More on Yale MedicineDiagnosing Leukemia
Learn More on Yale MedicineCytogenic Studies for Leukemia Diagnosis
Learn More on Yale MedicineLeukemia in Children
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Board Certifications
Hematology (Internal Medicine)
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2014
Yale Medicine News
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News
- March 31, 2025
Yale’s Post ASH Review: Highlights from the 2024 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting
- March 25, 2024
Yale’s Post ASH Review
- October 24, 2022
Yale Hematology Welcomes Two Hematologists
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Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.