Frederick R. Appelbaum

Dr. Frederick R. Appelbaum is the Executive Vice President of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He holds the Metcalfe Family/Frederick Appelbaum Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and serves as the executive director of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Dr. Appelbaum is a leading expert in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the treatment of blood cancers.

Dr. Appelbaum's research focuses on the biology and treatment of leukemias, lymphomas, and other hematologic malignancies. He has made numerous landmark contributions to his field, including helping develop Fred Hutch's renowned program in blood stem cell transplantation and participating in pioneering work to develop targeted antibody-based cancer therapies. Today, he leads Fred Hutch's Adult Leukemia Research Center and the Hematologic Malignancy Program of the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium. His research spans acute myeloid leukemia, transplantation outcomes, and novel therapeutic approaches for hematologic malignancies.

Analysis of Dr. Appelbaum's recent publications reveals a strong focus on optimizing outcomes in hematopoietic cell transplantation, particularly for acute myeloid leukemia patients. His work examines critical factors including donor selection, conditioning regimens, measurable residual disease, and post-transplant complications. His research group is also investigating immunotherapeutic approaches and the long-term effects of cancer treatment on survivors.

• Metcalfe Family/Frederick Appelbaum Endowed Chair in Cancer Research

Dr. Appelbaum has mentored numerous researchers and clinicians in the field of hematologic malignancies and transplantation. His leadership extends to major clinical trials networks including SWOG, BMT CTN, and the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium. He has been instrumental in developing protocols for bone marrow transplantation that have transformed previously incurable blood cancers into treatable conditions with survival rates as high as 90 percent.

Dr. Appelbaum leads significant laboratory and clinical research teams focused on advancing our understanding of blood cancers and improving treatment approaches. His work continues to build on the pioneering transplantation techniques developed by Dr. E. Donnall Thomas, with whom he was inspired to work after reading Thomas's initial description of bone marrow transplantation as a medical student in the 1970s.