Clinical Excellence & Scientific Discovery is in our DNA
Clinical Excellence & Scientific Discovery is in our DNA
Clinical Excellence. Scientific Discovery
Our scientific mission is clear: to deepen our understanding of blood and bone marrow in both health and disease — and to turn that knowledge into better outcomes for patients.
Our physicians provide highly specialized care for the full spectrum of hematologic conditions, including leukemia and lymphoma, bleeding and clotting disorders such as hemophilia, and disorders of iron metabolism including hemochromatosis. Across every diagnosis, our approach is the same: rigorous science, individualized care, and a commitment to advancing what’s possible.
That commitment traces back to Maxwell Wintrobe, one of the founding figures of modern hematology and a foundational leader at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He established a culture built on scientific curiosity, disciplined investigation, and excellence in training — a culture that continues to define our division.
Today, that legacy is stronger than ever. In the past year alone, our investigators secured more than $20 million in research funding, presented breakthrough discoveries at leading scientific conferences, and published in top-tier journals. These achievements reflect not only the strength of our faculty, but also the collaborative scientific ecosystem that defines the University of Utah.
We believe that transformative care begins with understanding disease at its most fundamental level — the molecular and genetic mechanisms that drive it.
By integrating laboratory discovery with clinical expertise, we accelerate the translation of research into therapies tailored to each individual patient. As we expand our clinical programs and research initiatives, we are ensuring that patients across Utah and the Mountain West have access to the most advanced diagnostics, treatments, and clinical trials available.
Because for us, innovation is not an abstract goal.
It is how we deliver longer lives, better outcomes, and new hope.
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Transforming Care Through Innovation
From defining the fundamentals of blood science to engineering next-generation cellular therapies, the Division of Hematology & Hematologic Malignancies has helped shape modern hematology for more than half a century.
Our story begins with visionary physician-scientists Maxwell Wintrobe and George Cartwright, whose pioneering research transformed hematology into a rigorous, research-driven specialty. Their discoveries in the biology and genetics of blood diseases did more than advance knowledge — they changed how patients are diagnosed, treated, and trained physicians around the world to think scientifically about disease.
That spirit of inquiry still defines us today.
Breakthroughs That Changed Practice
Our faculty have driven innovations that are now standard in medicine:
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Red Cell Metrics
Quantitative red blood cell indices — now fundamental tools used worldwide to diagnose and manage anemia. -
Understanding Neutrophilia
Foundational insights into neutrophil proliferation, advancing care for inflammatory and malignant diseases. -
The Genetics of Hemochromatosis
Defining the hereditary basis of iron overload, enabling earlier diagnosis and prevention of life-threatening complications. -
High-Altitude Physiology
Landmark studies of hypoxia and human adaptation, informing treatment strategies for oxygen-related disorders. -
Targeted Therapy for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Contributions to the development of BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors — therapies that transformed CML from a fatal leukemia into a highly treatable condition.
Leading the Next Era: Cellular Engineering & Immunotherapy
Today, we are redefining what is possible in blood cancer care.
Through the Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Program (CellReGen) and our Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program, our teams have built an expedited, in-house platform to design and manufacture novel CAR-T therapies. By engineering a patient’s own immune cells to recognize and eliminate cancer, we are delivering cutting-edge immunotherapies with speed, precision, and purpose.
Science That Moves Patients Forward
Research is not separate from care — it drives it.
Every discovery in our laboratories is guided by a single goal: translating science into longer lives, better outcomes, and new hope for patients facing hematologic disease. From bench to bedside, we remain committed to advancing the field — and to advancing the lives of the people we serve.