Our Research

The Hematologic Malignancies Initiative (HMI) brings together investigators across Columbia University to study the biological mechanisms that drive blood cancers and translate those discoveries into new therapeutic strategies. 

Our investigators study all hematologic malignancies across the full continuum of disease, from bone marrow development and aging to the genetic, epigenetic, transcriptional, and microenvironmental drivers of malignancy. 

By integrating advances in genomics, cell therapy, systems biology, and artificial intelligence, we seek to identify earlier disease signals, develop more precise and durable therapies, and expand treatment possibilities across all blood cancers, adult and pediatric. 

Research Areas

Genomics and Epigenetics

The genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that drive hematologic malignancies, including mutations, chromatin regulation, and transcriptional rewiring that contribute to disease initiation, progression, and therapy resistance.

Transcriptional Programs

Altered transcriptional programs, RNA biology, and splicing regulation that shape malignant transformation, lineage plasticity, and clonal evolution across blood cancers. 

Tumor Microenvironment and Tumor Ecosystems

The role of the bone marrow microenvironment, stromal niche, and surrounding tumor ecosystem in disease progression, immune evasion, and resistance to therapy. 

Neuronal Regulation of Malignant Hematopoiesis

How neuronal signaling and neural regulation influence normal and malignant hematopoiesis within the bone marrow environment. 

Immunology and Inflammatory Stress

The impact of immune signaling, inflammation, and inflammatory stress on disease development, progression, and therapeutic response. 

Stem Cells, Plasticity, and Cell Lineages

Stem cell biology, lineage plasticity, and clonal dynamics underlying how blood cancers emerge, evolve, and adapt over time. 

Developmental and Aging Hematopoiesis

How hematopoiesis changes across development and aging — and how these processes influence susceptibility to hematologic malignancies and disease progression.

Pan-HEME Atlas and translational infrastructure

A major focus of HMI is the development of a Pan-HEME Atlas — a comprehensive multi-omic resource designed to characterize hematologic malignancies at unprecedented resolution. 

The Atlas integrates: 

  • Whole genome and exome sequencing 
  • Single-cell and spatial multi-omics 
  • Transcriptomic and splicing analyses 
  • Epigenetic and chromatin accessibility profiling 
  • Proteomics and functional genomics 
  • Human disease models and tumor ecosystem data 

By integrating these datasets with computational biology and AI-driven analytical approaches, investigators aim to identify new biomarkers, uncover non-conventional therapeutic targets, and accelerate precision medicine strategies across hematologic malignancies. 

These efforts are supported by a growing translational infrastructure that connects laboratory discovery with clinical care, including: 

  • Myeloid and lymphoid tissue banks 
  • Aging marrow tissue repositories 
  • Coordinated biospecimen collection 
  • Columbia biobanking resources 
  • Humanized mouse and iPSC disease models 
  • Shared computational and multi-omic platforms
  • HICCC Shared Resources

Clinical Innovation

HMI research is closely integrated with high-volume clinical care programs and translational research efforts across Columbia. 

Areas of clinical focus include: 

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