Betsy A Hirsch

Betsy A Hirsch is a Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, with a dual appointment at the Masonic Cancer Center. Her research focuses on the cytogenetic and molecular characterization of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with particular expertise in identifying genetic abnormalities that affect treatment outcomes.

Dr. Hirsch's research interests center on pediatric leukemia cytogenetics, molecular hematology, and the genetic basis of treatment response in childhood cancers. Her work bridges laboratory science with clinical applications, focusing on how specific genetic abnormalities influence disease progression and response to therapy in pediatric AML patients.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on identifying novel genetic markers in pediatric AML, including studies on NUP98 fusions, MLLT10 variants, and DNA damage response mechanisms. These publications reveal trends toward increasingly sophisticated molecular characterization of pediatric leukemias, with growing emphasis on precision medicine approaches to treatment selection.

As Principal Investigator on NIH-funded projects related to cytogenetic review in the National Clinical Trials Network, Dr. Hirsch plays a critical role in national pediatric cancer research infrastructure. Her work contributes significantly to the Children's Oncology Group's efforts to improve outcomes for children with acute myeloid leukemia.

Dr. Hirsch's laboratory work focuses on cytogenetic analysis of pediatric leukemia samples, contributing to the development of more precise diagnostic criteria and risk stratification systems. Her research team collaborates extensively with clinical investigators across the United States through the Children's Oncology Group framework.