Hisham Abdel-Azim

Hisham Abdel-Azim is a **Professor** within the **School of Medicine** at Loma Linda University, holding joint appointments in the **Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division**, **Medicine**, and **Biochemistry Division**. His research focuses on **leukemia**, **hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT)**, **immunotherapy**, and **gene therapy**, particularly in pediatric populations.

Key research interests include understanding **acute myeloid leukemia (AML)** subtypes, **CAR-T cell therapy**, **graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prevention**, and **post-transplant complications**. He leads or collaborates on major studies such as the **Project EVOLVE** analysis of immunotherapy relapse mechanisms and the **EVOLVE** trial on lineage switch in leukemia.

He is Principal Investigator (PI) or co-investigator on multiple grants, including NIH-funded projects on **TSLP and pediatric leukemia mechanisms**, **NFκB2-driven therapies**, and **sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS)** in pediatric HCT. His work spans clinical trials (e.g., COG AAML1331 for acute promyelocytic leukemia) and translational research (e.g., nutrient-based T-cell immunotherapy).

Notable contributions include studies on **KMT2A-rearranged AML biomarkers**, **integrin α6-mediated drug resistance in B-ALL**, and **CAR-T toxicity management**. His clinical expertise bridges **pediatric oncology**, **hematology**, and **translational medicine**, with a focus on improving outcomes for high-risk malignancies.

He oversees the **LLU Cancer Center biospecimen laboratory** and collaborates internationally on **multi-center trials** to advance cellular therapies and transplant practices.