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

Nadia Carlesso M.D., Ph.D., joined the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope as Associate Director of Basic Research in the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Professor in the Department of Hematologic Malignancies Translational Science and Professor at the 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.
1995, Ph.D., University of Genoa School of Medicine, Italy & Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (thesis supervisor: Dr. James Griffin)
1989, M.D. University of Turin School of Medicine, Italy
1995 - 1997, Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Experimental Hematology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. (Dr. David Scadden Laboratory)
1990 - 1992, Clinical Fellow, Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine and Experimental Oncology, Molinette Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy, M.D.
1990 - 1992, Clinical Fellow, Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine and Experimental Oncology, Molinette Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy, M.D.
1989 - 1990, Resident in Hematology, Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine and Experimental Oncology, Molinette Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy, M.D.
2020 - Present, Professor & Chair, Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2016 - 2020, Professor, Hematological Malignancies Translational Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2015 - 2016, Professor of Pediatrics and Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
2010 - 2015, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
2007 - 2009, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
2002 - 2006, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
We are focusing on understanding 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 are studying how these processes are implicated in myeloproliferative disorders, T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia and Sickle Cell Disease. Despite the diversity of these pathologies, they share common pathways of inflammation and of cellular crosstalk. Insights from cell-cell communication between the bone marrow niche and hematopoietic cells will also provide new ideas 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 the inflamed microenvironment in disease.
1995, Sandoz Drug Discovery Program Award
1998, American Medical Association Education, F.A. Carter Fellowship in Leukemia Award
1999, Nesson Investigator Award (Massachusetts General Hospital)
1999-2001, Claflin Distinguished Scholar Award-Harvard Medical School 50th Anniversary
2004, Harvard Medical School Leadership Development for Physicians and Scientist
2006, Milton Fund Scholar Award (Harvard University)
2007, Showalter Research Trust Funding Award
2010, IUPUI Women’s Leadership Award
2012, “Exceptional Physician Mentor” recognition. AMA Women Physician Congress - Physician Mentor Recognition Program
American Society of Hematology (ASH)
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
International Society of Experimental Hematology (ISEH)
Selected publications:
- 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