Nadia Carlesso, M.D., Ph.D.

ncarlesso@coh.org
626-256-4673
Nadia Carlesso, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Research Area
Regulation of cell fate decisions in hematopoietic cells
Impact of inflammation in rewiring hematopoiesis in response to stress and leukemia.
Tumor microenvironment
Regenerative Medicine approaches in aging and cancer
Appointments
Professor and Chair, Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Associate Director of Basic Research, Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research

Dr. Carlesso and her team will lead efforts to identify novel therapeutic approaches targeting simultaneously the leukemia cells and the leukemic microenvironment, in particular in relapse and refractory disease, and strategies to improve hematopoietic cell engraftment following transplant.

Dr. Carlesso received her M.D. from the University of Torino (Italy) and her Ph.D. from the University of Genova (Italy). She performed her Ph.D. work at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and received the postdoctoral training at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Carlesso has been continuously funded by the NIH since 2001. Her work has been supported by NHLBI and NIDDK and by several external grants including the MPN/Leukemia Lymphoma Foundation. She serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Experimental Hematology and of Trends in Cancer, she is a member of peer review panels for NIH, the Department of Defense and the NY State Stem Cell Science.

Education & Experience
Degrees

  • Ph.D., University of Genoa School of Medicine, Italy & Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (thesis supervisor: Dr. James Griffin)

  • M.D. University of Turin School of Medicine, Italy

Fellowship

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Experimental Hematology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. (Dr. David Scadden Laboratory)

  • Clinical Fellow, Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine and Experimental Oncology, Molinette Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy, M.D.

  • Clinical Fellow, Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine and Experimental Oncology, Molinette Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy, M.D.

Residency

  • Resident in Hematology, Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine and Experimental Oncology, Molinette Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy, M.D.

Professional Experience

  • 2020 - Present, Professor & Chair, Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2016, Professor, Hematological Malignancies Translational Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2015, Professor of Pediatrics and Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN

  • 2010, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN

  • 2002, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Research
Laboratory
Our laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms driving normal stem cell differentiation and malignant transformation in the hematopoietic system. We study how bone marrow microenvironment and hematopoietic stem cells interactions shape cell fate decisions and hematopoiesis during aging, chronic inflammation and leukemia. 

We focus on the role of Notch, NF-kB and TLRs pathways in guiding cellular responses and epigenetic rewiring during stress and cancer and we are using discovery platforms to identify novel key molecular players. We explore how these processes are implicated in Myeloproliferative-Neoplasia disorders, T-cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Sickle Cell Disease. These diverse pathologies share common pathways of inflammation and cellular crosstalk. Insights from cell-cell communication between the bone marrow niche and hematopoietic cells will provide new ideas to treat leukemia and to improve hematopoietic regeneration during transplant and aging.

Basic research is where it all begins….. 
We want to discover new paths and exploit basic insights in stem cell biology to develop new approach targeting both the tumor cells and the inflamed microenvironment in hematopoietic diseases. 
Awards & Memberships
Awards

  • Sandoz Drug Discovery Program Award

  • American Medical Association Education, F.A. Carter Fellowship in Leukemia Award

  • Nesson Investigator Award (Massachusetts General Hospital)

  • Claflin Distinguished Scholar Award-Harvard Medical School 50th Anniversary

  • Harvard Medical School Leadership Development for Physicians and Scientist

  • Milton Fund Scholar Award (Harvard University)

  • Showalter Research Trust Funding Award

  • 2010, IUPUI Women’s Leadership Award

  • “Exceptional Physician Mentor” recognition. AMA Women Physician Congress - Physician Mentor Recognition Program

Memberships

  • American Society of Hematology (ASH)

  • American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

  • International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)

  • International Society of Experimental Hematology (ISEH)

Publications

Selected publications:

  • Kim YW, Zara G, Kang H, Branciamore S, O'Meally D, Feng Y, Kuan CY, Luo Y, Nelson MS, Brummer AB, Rockne R, Chen ZB, Zheng Y, Cardoso AA, Carlesso N. Integration of single-cell transcriptomes and biological function reveals distinct behavioral patterns in bone marrow endothelium. Nat Commun. 2022 Nov 24;13(1):7235. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-34425-z.PMID: 36433940 Free article.

  • Frankhouser DE, O’Meally D, Branciamore S, Uechi L, Zhang L, Chen YC, Li M, Qin H, Wu X, Carlesso N, Marcucci G, Rockne RC, Kuo YH. Dynamic patterns of microRNA expression during acute myeloid leukemia state-transition. Sci Adv. 2022 Apr; 8(16): eabj1664. Published online 2022 Apr 22. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abj1664. PMCID: PMC9032952

  • Rodriguez S., Abundis C, Boccalatte F, Mehrotra P, Chiang MY, Yui MA, Wang L, Zhang H, Zollman A, Bonfim-Silva R, Kloetgen A, Palmer J, Sandusky G, Wunderlich M, Kaplan MH, Mulloy JC, Marcucci G, Aifantis I, Cardoso AA, Carlesso N. Therapeutic targeting of the E3 ubiquitin ligase SKP2 in T-ALL. Leukemia. 2020 May;34(5):1241-1252. doi: 10.1038/s41375-019-0653-z. Epub 2019 Nov 26. Leukemia. 2020. PMID: 31772299 Free PMC article.

  • Carlesso N. Targeting the bone marrow niche in hemoglobinopathies. Blood. 2020 Jul 30;136(5):529-531. doi: 10.1182/blood.2020006305.Blood. 2020. PMID: 32730580 No abstract available.

  • Rockne RC, Branciamore S, Qi J, Frankhouser DE, O'Meally D, Hua WK, Cook G, Carnahan E, Zhang L, Marom A, Wu H, Maestrini D, Wu X, Yuan YC, Liu Z, Wang LD, Forman S, Carlesso N, Kuo YH, Marcucci G. State-Transition Analysis of Time-Sequential Gene Expression Identifies Critical Points That Predict Development of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  Cancer Res. 2020 Aug 1;80(15):3157-3169. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-20-0354. Epub 2020 May 15. Cancer Res. 2020. PMID: 32414754 Free PMC article. 

  • Zhang H, Rodriguez S, Wang L, Wang S, Serezani H, Kapur R, Cardoso AA, Carlesso, N. Sepsis Induces Hematopoietic Stem Cell Exhaustion and Myelosuppression through Distinct Contributions of TRIF and MYD88. Stem Cell Reports. 2016 Jun 14;6(6):940-56. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2016.05.002. Epub 2016 Jun 2. PMID: 27264973
  • Pengpeng Bi, Tizhong Shan, Xin Yang, Weiyi Liu, Xin-Rong Liang, Jinghua Wang, Jie Li, Carlesso N., Xiaoqi Liu, Shihuan Kuang. Notch signaling regulates adipose browning and energy metabolism. Nature Medicine, 2014 Jul 20. doi: 10.1038/nm.3615. [Epub ahead of print].
  • Wang L, Rodriguez S, Zhang H, Cao L, Parish J, Mumaw C, Zollman A, Kamoka G, Mu J., Chen D.Z., Srour E, Chitteti B, Hoegenesh H, Boswell S., Manshouri T., Verstovsek S., Yoder M., Kapur R, Cardoso A and Carlesso N. Notch-dependent repression of miR-155 in the bone marrow niche regulates hematopoiesis in a NF-κB dependent manner. Cell Stem Cell. 2014 Jul 3;15(1):51-65. PMID: 24996169.
  • Rodriguez S., Wang L, Mumaw C, Srour EF, Lo Celso C, Nakayama K, Carlesso N. The SKP2 E3 ligase regulates basal homeostasis and stress-induced regeneration of HSCs. Blood. June 2011, 16;117(24):6509-19, 2011. PMCID: PMC312021.
  • Carlesso N. When IFN interferes with cell fate. Blood. 2012 Feb 9;119(6):1327-9. PMID: 22323406
  • Batista A., Barata J., Raderschall E., Sallan SE, Nadler LM., Carlesso N., Cardoso AA. Targeting of activated mTOR inhibits leukemia T-cells and synergizes with cytotoxic Drugs and Signaling Inhibitors. Exp Hematol. Apr 2011;39(4):457-472.e3, 2011. PMID: 21277936.
  • Cheng YH, Chitteti BR, Streicher DA, Morgan, JA, Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Carlesso N, Srour EF, Kacena MA. Impact of maturational status on the ability of osteoblasts to enhance the hematopoietic function of stem and progenitor cells. J Bone Miner Res. May 2011;26(5):1111-21. PMID: 21542011.
  • Carlesso N., Cardoso AA. Stem cell regulatory niches and their role in normal and malignant hematopoiesis. Curr Opin Hematol. July 2010;17(4):281-6. PMID: 20473160.
  • Rodriguez S., Chora A., Goumnerov B., Goebel S., Mumaw C., Fernandez F., Baldini R., HogenEsh H., Doumbousky D., Rice S., Rahme L.G., and Carlesso N. Dysfunctional Expansion of Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Block of Myeloid Differentiation in Lethal Sepsis. Blood. Nov 2009;114(19):4064-76. PMCID: PMC2774548.
  • Fernandez L., Rodríguez S., Huang H., Chora A., Mumaw C., Cruz E., Pollok K, Cristina F., Price J.E., Ferkowitz M.J., Scadden D.T., Clauss M., Cardoso A.A, Carlesso N. TNFα and Endothelial Cells Modulate Notch Signaling in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment during Inflammation. Exp. Hematology. 2008, May; 36(5):545-558. PMID: 18439488.
  • Sarmento L., Huang H., Limon A., Gordon W., Fernandes J., Tavares M.J., Miele L., Cardoso A.A., Classon M., Carlesso N. Notch1 Modulates Timing of G1-S Progression by Inducing SKP2 Transcription and p27Kip1 Degradation. J Exp Med., 2005, 202(1):157-168.
  • Ellisen L.W. #, Carlesso N. #, Scadden, D.T., Haber, D.A. Regulation of Hematopoiesis by the Tumor Suppressor WT1. Embo J., 20 (8): 1897-1909, 2001. # Equal contribution.
  • Lewin M.#, Carlesso N.#, Tung C., Tang X., Cory D., Scadden D., Weissleder R. HIV-TAT Derivatized Magnetic Nanoparticles allow in vivo tracking and recovery of progenitor cells. Nature Biotech., 18(4):410-414, 2000. # Equal contribution.
  • Carlesso N., Aster J., Sklar J., Scadden D. Notch1-Induced Delay of Human Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Differentiation is Associated with Altered Cell Cycle Kinetics. Blood, 93(3): 838-848, 1999.
  • Bazzoni G.F., Carlesso N. #, Griffin J.D., Hemler M.E. Bcr/Abl expression stimulates integrin function in hematopoietic cell lines. J. Clin. Invest., 98(2): 521-528, 1996. #Equal contribution.
  • Carlesso N., Frank D.A., Griffin J.D. Tyrosyl phosphorylation and DNA binding activity of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins in hematopoietic cell lines transformed by Bcr/Abl. J. Exp. Med., 183(3): 811-820, 1996
  • Inhorn R.C., Carlesso N., Durstin M., Frank D.A., Griffin J.D. Identification of a viability domain in the granulocyte/macrophage colony--chain involving tyrosine-750 and SHC. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 92(19): 8665-8669, 1995
  • Carlesso N., Griffin J.D., Druker B.J. Use of a temperature-sensitive mutant to define the biological effects of the p210BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase on proliferation of a factor-dependent murine myeloid cell line. Oncogene, 9(1):149-156, 1994
  • Carlesso N., Pregno P., Bresso P., Gallo E., Pileri A., Zsebo K.M., Ferrero D. Human recombinant stem cell factor stimulates in vitro proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia cells and expands the clonogenic cell pool. Leukemia, 6(7):642-648, 1992
  • Ferrero D., Carlesso N., Pregno P., Gallo E., Pileri A. Self-renewal inhibition of acute myeloid leukemia clonogenic cells by biological inducers of differentiation. Leukemia, 6(2):100-106, 1992