Sinisa Dovat

Sinisa Dovat, PhD, MD is a Professor and Vice Chair for Basic Science Research in the Department of Pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine, with a secondary appointment as Professor in the Department of Molecular and Precision Medicine. He is affiliated with both the Penn State Cancer Institute and the Penn State Neuroscience Institute, where he leads research focused on molecular mechanisms of leukemia and targeted therapies.

Dr. Dovat's research spans multiple areas of hematology and oncology, with particular emphasis on Leukemia, Casein Kinase 2, B Cell Biology, and Pediatric Cancer. His work explores the molecular pathways involved in leukemogenesis, particularly focusing on IKAROS and Casein Kinase 2 signaling in both acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemias. His research has significant implications for developing novel targeted therapies to overcome drug resistance and reduce health disparities in pediatric leukemia treatment.

His recent publication trends show a continued focus on molecular mechanisms of leukemia, with particular emphasis on Casein Kinase 2 signaling pathways, IKAROS function, and targeted therapeutic approaches for high-risk leukemias. His work bridges basic science discoveries with clinical applications, particularly in the realm of precision medicine for hematological malignancies.

Scientific Awards:

• Basic Science Master Career Mentor Award (2018)
• Scholarship in Education Award (2022)

Dr. Dovat has secured significant research funding from the National Cancer Institute and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, including as Principal Investigator on projects such as Novel targeted therapy to reduce health disparities in pediatric leukemia (2023-2026), Targeting CK2 oncogenic pathway to overcome drug resistance in high-risk leukemia (2017-2018), and The Role of Zinc Finger Genes in Leukemogenesis (2009-2015). He has mentored numerous researchers and has an h-index of 32 with 2,598 citations across 101 research outputs.

His laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms of leukemia development, particularly investigating the roles of Casein Kinase 2 and IKAROS in normal hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. The team employs a range of molecular, cellular, and animal model approaches to identify novel therapeutic targets for high-risk leukemias, with a particular focus on addressing health disparities in pediatric cancer outcomes.