Janis Abkowitz

Dr. Janis Abkowitz is a Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, with an adjunct appointment in Genome Sciences. She holds the Clement A. Finch, MD Endowed Professorship in Hematology at UW Medicine.

Education:

• Harvard University, AB in Biochemical Sciences, 1972
• Harvard University, MD, 1977

Research Focus: As a physician-scientist, Dr. Abkowitz investigates molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling red blood cell production in bone marrow, specializing in pathological disruptions causing anemia. Her work centers on ineffective erythropoiesis—the death of maturing red cell precursors—in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Key areas include:

• Pathophysiology of MDS-related anemia
• Erythroblastic island dynamics
• Translational approaches for novel therapies

Current studies aim to broadly understand ineffective erythropoiesis mechanisms to develop targeted treatments.

Awards and Recognition:

• Past President, American Society of Hematology
• Elected Member, National Academy of Medicine
• 2023 Danny Thomas Lecturer, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• 2018 Helen Ranney Lecturer, University of California

Mentorship and Funding: With 35 consecutive years of NIH funding, Dr. Abkowitz has mentored generations of hematology researchers while leading clinical trials for cytopenias and myeloid malignancies. Her work bridges laboratory discoveries and patient care through bidirectional translation.

Laboratory and Clinical Work: Based at Fred Hutch’s Clinical Research Division, her lab studies erythropoietic failure in MDS while she treats patients with anemias, cytopenias, leukemias, and myeloproliferative neoplasms at UW Medicine.