Postdoctoral Fellow

The successful candidate will lead and oversee projects in the role of cytogenetic and molecular changes in the progression of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The main goal of the CML research is to identify risk factors, particularly cytogenetic changes, in disease progression (blastic transformation) in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy so that the patients are appropriately stratified and treated. Additional chromosomal abnormalities (ACA) are traditionally stratified by their frequency: those with a frequency of >10% are designated as major-route ACAs, and those
Patient management, including recommendations by European LeukemiaNet, has largely been based on this prevailing belief with only minor changes during the past four decades: the emergence of major-route ACAs, but not minor-route ACAs, warrants a change of treatment. Ironically, this frequency-based stratification was first described not long after chromosomal banding technologies were discovered and before any effective therapy for CML was implemented. Based on a cohort of ~2,500 patients treated in the TKI era and taking into consideration of disease stage and nature/complexity of each ACA, we established a four-tier stratification model with significant clinical implications. We believe our studies will significantly change the risk assessment and management of patients with CML.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The candidate will gain a strong intellectual foundation in clinical research. S/he will be trained in (1) how to effectively extract data from electronic medical record systems for clinical research; (2) learning common cytogenetic and molecular changes in myeloid neoplasms; (3) learning statistical tools and other software commonly used in clinical research and publishing.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The ideal candidate will have an MD or foreign equivalent with some experience in clinical research and publishing. The ideal candidate should be familiarized with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with knowledge of disease progression and risk stratification. S/he should be self-motivated, work as a team, and have good communication skills.

ADDITIONAL APPLICATION INFORMATION
This position is categorized as without compensation from MD Anderson. Candidates must provide evidence of formal support as part of the Postdoctoral Fellow application. Only support from external fellowships, scholarships, awards, grants, etc., will be accepted. Under no circumstances may a postdoctoral fellow's or other individual's personal funds be used to support a stipend to the MD Anderson minimum level.