Lucia R. Wolgast
Hematology and Coagulation<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
Antiphospholipid Syndrome<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
Samson Wiseman
Daniel A. Weiser
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Childhood cancer research laboratory</strong></span></p>
<p>Our laboratory is focused on childhood cancer research with a goal of elucidating the underlying biology of the most aggressive malignancies. In such patients with typically incurable cancer, we are striving to identify new approaches to and types of treatment. We have multiple ongoing projects:</p>
<p><strong>+ Identification of biologic drivers of ultra-high-risk neuroblastoma</strong>. Neuroblastoma is one of the most common and deadly childhood cancers. Despite intensive research, there are limited therapeutic strategies for patients with <em>de novo </em>chemotherapy resistance that leads to particularly poor outcomes. We have been studying neuroblastoma since 2009 and are identifying additional biologic drivers of highly lethal tumors.</p>
<p>We compare tumor features from patients with early death from tumor progression compared to those with a maintained complete response. We assess unique histo-morphologic and proteomic features and computationally integrate these data with genomic and transcriptomic datasets to develop a combined predictor of primary refractory disease. Patients with this entity require non-standard and/or intensified treatment. Oncogenic drivers are being characterized in the lab which will facilitate strategies for novel pharmacologic intervention.</p>
<p><strong>+ Characterization of neuroblastoma development from neural crest cells</strong>. We are studying pathways and interactions that results in uncontrolled cell proliferation early in neuroblastoma development with an ultimate goal of identifying new targets and approaches for pharmacologic intervention.</p>
<p><strong>+ Evaluation of novel combinatorial targeted therapeutic approaches in neuroblastoma</strong>. With expected outcomes lagging behind those of more common childhood cancers, children with neuroblastoma require new approaches to treatment. Our lab works with multiple international clinical and research consortium groups to perform preclinical studies that substantiate human clinical trials. </p>
<p><strong>+ Detection of circulating tumor DNA in osteosarcoma</strong>. With no reliable non-invasive approach for disease monitoring during and after treatment, we are applying cutting edge next-generation sequencing approaches to identify solid tumors with a blood-based “liquid” biopsies. This will allow clinicians to assess tumor responsiveness to chemotherapy and predict likelihood of recurrence.</p>
<p><strong>+ Assessment of accelerated aging using miRNA-seq in survivors of childhood cancer</strong>. Chemotherapy has many untoward effects on healthy cells and leads to many signs of accelerated aging in children treated for cancer. Using a known microRNA “aging” signature discovered at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, we are studying what causes this phenotype in childhood cancer, with a goal of offering improved intervention to minimize long-term toxicity of treatment.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Physician Summary</span></strong></p>
<p>Daniel A. Weiser, MD, is board-certified in pediatric hematology/oncology with clinical expertise in neuroblastoma and other tumors of the adrenal glands, kidneys, liver, and gonads. He is the medical director of the intra-abdominal solid tumor program at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and brings together a highly specialized multi-disciplinary care team to provide comprehensive treatment for diverse pediatric malignancies. In addition, Dr. Weiser directs a childhood cancer research laboratory that focuses on the identification of new targeted agents for cancer therapy, especially in the treatment of rare and aggressive malignancies such as neuroblastoma. His research goals are to understand the role of certain genes in the risk, development, and treatment of cancer. The approaches taken and agents studied hold promise for improving management of all patients with solid tumors.</p>
<p>Dr. Weiser participates in the efforts of a number of professional organizations including the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Association (ANRA), National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). He has received numerous awards including the Brigid Leventhal Special Merit Award from ASCO and the Conquer Cancer Foundation, and a prestigious K12 from the National Cancer Institute for the training of the next generation of physician-scientists in pediatric cancer. Dr. Weiser is actively involved in teaching and mentorship of trainees, and takes great pride in providing advanced and compassionate care to his patients and their families.</p>
<p><strong>Clinical Expertise</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Neuroblastoma (adrenal tumors)</li>
<li>Wilms tumor (renal tumors)</li>
<li>Hepatoblastoma (liver tumors)</li>
<li>Germ cell tumors (including testicular and ovarian tumors)</li>
<li>Thyroid and other rare tumors</li>
<li>Experimental therapeutics</li>
<li>Cancer genetics and biomarkers</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Board Certifications</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Pediatrics</li>
<li>Pediatric Hematology/Oncology</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Professional Education</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>M.D. – Stony Brook University, NY</li>
<li>Residency – Children’s Hospital of NY-Presbyterian, Columbia University, NY</li>
<li>Chief Residency – Children’s Hospital of NY-Presbyterian, Columbia University, NY</li>
<li>Fellowship – The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA</li>
</ul>
DR. Weiser's clinical focuses are neuroblastoma and adrenal tumors, Wilms tumor and other kidney (renal) tumors, hepatoblastoma, and other liver tumors, germ cell tumors (including testicular and ovarian tumors), Thyroid and other rare tumors, experimental therapeutics, and cancer genetics and biomarkers.
Dr. Weiser’s research goals are to understand the role of certain genes in the risk, development, and treatment of cancer. The approaches taken and agents studied hold promise in the treatment of all solid tumors. Dr. Weiser’s laboratory focuses on childhood cancer research with a goal of elucidating the underlying biology of the most aggressive malignancies. He has multiple ongoing projects, such as identification of biologic drivers of neuroblastoma at ultra-high risk for treatment failure, characterization of neuroblastoma development from neural crest cells, and evaluation of novel combinatorial targeted therapeutic approaches in neuroblastoma, among others.
<p>Daniel A. Weiser, MD, is a Medical Director of the Intra-abdominal Solid Tumor Program in the Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology department at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. He is also Associate Professor in the Pediatrics and Genetics departments at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His clinical focuses are neuroblastoma and adrenal tumors, Wilms tumor and other kidney (renal) tumors, hepatoblastoma and other liver tumors, germ cell tumors (including testicular and ovarian tumors), Thyroid and other rare tumors, experimental therapeutics, and cancer genetics and biomarkers. Dr. Weiser is actively involved in teaching and mentorship of trainees and takes great pride in his active participation in patient care.</p><p>Dr. Weiser received his Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology in 1995 at Haverford College, PA. In 2004, he received his Doctor of Medicine at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, NY. He is currently earning his Master of Science in Translational Research at the University of Pennsylvania. He began a residency in Pediatrics at the New York-Presbyterian, Columbia University in 2007. Dr. Weiser then completed a three-year fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. </p><p>Dr. Weiser’s research goals are to understand the role of certain genes in the risk, development, and treatment of cancer. The approaches taken and agents studied hold promise in the treatment of all solid tumors. Dr. Weiser’s laboratory focuses on childhood cancer research with a goal of elucidating the underlying biology of the most aggressive malignancies. He has multiple ongoing projects, such as identification of biologic drivers of neuroblastoma at ultra-high risk for treatment failure, characterization of neuroblastoma development from neural crest cells, and evaluation of novel combinatorial targeted therapeutic approaches in neuroblastoma, among others. His research has been published in many reviewed journals. </p><p>Dr. Weiser participates in the efforts of a number of professional organizations including the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). He has received many awards including the Brigid Leventhal Special Merit Award through ASCO, and he has been awarded a prestigious K12 from the NCI for the training of the next generation of physician-scientists in pediatric cancer.</p><p>He is board certified in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and General Pediatrics.</p>
Natalia Vasquez-Canizares
<p>Natalia Vasquez Canizares, MD, MS, is an Attending Physician of Pediatric Rheumatology at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine.</p>Dr. Vasquez Canizares received her Doctor of Medicine at Universidad de La Sabana in Chia, Colombia, then completed medical internships at Hospital Universitario de La Samaritana in Bogota, Colombia, and Hospital Universitario Austral in Pilar, Argentina. She completed a residency in Pediatrics at Cooper University Hospital and did her Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship at CHAM. She also completed a Master of Science in Clinical Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.<br /><br />Dr. Vasquez Canizares’s clinical focus is on pediatric rheumatic diseases, with a particular interest in children with juvenile scleroderma. She is an active member of the scleroderma work group within the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA), a collaborator with the Pediatric Rheumatology European Society (PReS) in scleroderma-related research and a recipient of two grants from CARRA and the Arthritis Foundation to study treatment therapies and outcome measures in juvenile scleroderma. She is board certified and a member of the American College of Rheumatology, the American Medical Association and the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance.<p> </p>
Dr. Anne R. Van Arsdale
Clinical focus on a specialized colposcopy clinic for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical dysplasias.
Dr. Van Arsdale’s research follows her clinical focus on gynecologic malignancies. Her focus is translational research of HPV integration as a biomarker for progressive cervical dysplasia and cervical carcinoma.
<p>Anne Van Arsdale, MD, MSc, is an attending physician and Associate Professor, Genetics and Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women’s Health at Montefiore Einstein. She treats all gynecologic malignancies, with a focus on a specialized colposcopy clinic for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical dysplasias.</p><p>After receiving her Bachelor of Science at Georgetown University in 2001, Dr. Van Arsdale attended Columbia University, earning her Doctor of Medicine in 2005. She came to Montefiore Einstein to begin her postdoctoral training with a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology. After completing her residency in 2009, she attended the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London, England, earning her Master of Science in medical statistics. Dr. Van Arsdale then returned to Montefiore Einstein to pursue a three-year fellowship in gynecologic oncology, which she completed in 2016.</p><p>Dr. Van Arsdale’s research follows her clinical focus on gynecologic malignancies. Her focus is translational research of HPV integration as a biomarker for progressive cervical dysplasia and cervical carcinoma. She is the current institutional principal investigator (PI) of the gynecologic tissue biorepository and the lead institutional PI for phase 2 and phase 3 trials for Inovio pharmaceuticals evaluating HPV therapeutic vaccination for the treatment of high grade cervical and vulvar dysplasia. Her research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, abstracts and posters, and she is an ad hoc reviewer for several publications including <em>Frontiers Oncology, Gynecologic Oncology</em> and the <em>Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease</em>.</p><p>Dr. Van Arsdale is board certified and a member of several professional organizations including the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association of Cancer Research. She has been the recipient of multiple internal and external award mechanisms, including the ME Strong Award from the Foundation of Women’s Cancer, a Dew Point Scholar (Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women’s Health), an American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Foundation (AAOGF) Scholar, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Early Surgeon Scientist Program (ESSP) Award and an NCI K08 award.</p>
Mark A. Thomas
Adit L. Tal
<p>Adit Tal, MD, is an Attending Physician at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein (CHAM) and an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Marrow and Blood Cell Transplantation at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Since joining the Montefiore team, Dr. Tal’s clinical focus has been the treatment of pediatric leukemia and lymphoma, and the supportive care of children with cancer.</p><p>Dr. Tal received her Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University in 2008, followed by her Doctorate of Medicine at the Sackler School of Medicine. She began her postgraduate training in 2013 at CHAM and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, following her Pediatrics residency with a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology fellowship.</p><p>Building on her clinical practices, Dr. Tal’s research focuses on novel therapeutic targets for advanced treatments in metastatic osteosarcoma. She is examining a signaling pathway crucial to bone development and differentiation, and targeting this pathway to treat osteosarcoma. Her work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed articles.</p><p>Dr. Tal is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a member of many professional societies including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Children’s Oncology Group, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. She is also a member of the Professional Development Committee with the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, and is a volunteer pediatric oncologist at Happiness Is Camping, a residential camp for children with cancer and their families.</p>
Michael L. Swerdlow
<p>Dr. Michael Swerdlow graduated from The University Of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He did a medical residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. He then completed the neurology residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in The Bronx. He then did a fellowship Neuromuscular diseases at the N.I.H. in Bethesda. He joined the faculty at Montefiore Hospital and Albert Einstein College. He presently is a Professor of Clinical Neurology. He has a large faculty practice with Dr. David Kaufman as "K and S." He teaches residents and supervises the Neurology Clinic and is involved in CME teaching. Special areas of interest include muscle disorders, Myasthenia Gravis, Multiple Sclerosis and disorders of the spine.</p>