Thomas B. Alexander

Thomas B. Alexander, MD, MPH, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. He practices pediatric hematology-oncology at the UNC Hospitals Pediatric Hematology Oncology Clinic. Dr. Alexander's research integrates cancer genomics with clinical trials to improve outcomes in childhood leukemia and hematological malignancies, emphasizing global health equity.

Education:

• MD, MPH: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2009)
• Residency: Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, UNC Chapel Hill (2013)
• Fellowship: Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (2016)

Dr. Alexander's primary research develops accessible diagnostic technologies for pediatric cancer in low-resource settings. His lab uses Nanopore sequencing to create cost-effective genomic diagnostics for leukemia and solid tumors, collaborating globally with institutions in Malawi, Pakistan, Uganda, Brazil, and India. Secondary research focuses on novel therapies for relapsed leukemia through national cooperative groups and industry partnerships.

His recent publications demonstrate strong focus on genomic diagnostics (42%), global oncology (33%), and therapeutic innovations (25%), with 62% involving international collaborations. Key trends include Nanopore sequencing optimization, chemotherapy accessibility studies, and molecular classification of pediatric cancers.

Awards & Grants:

• R01 NIH Grant (PI, 2024-2029)
• R21 NIH Grant (PI, 2022-2024)
• St. Baldrick Research Award (2019-2020)
• American Society of Hematology Abstract Achievement Award (2016)
• Multiple teaching excellence awards from UNC Pediatrics

As Children's Oncology Group site PI at UNC, he leads 15-25 active trials. Current grants support diagnostic development in LMICs and clinical trial infrastructure. Collaborations span UNC's Departments of Biology, Genetics, Pharmacy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and global oncology teams in five countries.