Faculty

Bio

Dr. Okay Saydam is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology. He received his undergraduate degree in medical-biological science and his masters of science at the School of Medicine of Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey. He earned his PhD in molecular biology from the Institute of Molecular Biology of the University of Zürich in Switzerland. Dr. Saydam went on to complete postdoctoral studies in gene therapy at the University of Zürich and a fellowship under Xandra Breakefield, PhD, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He has had academic appointments at Harvard Medical School and the Medical University of Vienna in Austria.

Dr. Saydam's research has received funding from the United States, Austria, Switzerland, and the Turkish National Foundation. His most current project, on extracellular vesicles, is funded by the University of Minnesota, BRAINS program. The main goal of his research is to explore the molecular pathways/factors that control development and progression of brain tumors, with an ultimate objective of translating molecular mechanistic knowledge into clinical applications by developing novel therapeutic drugs and early biomarker screening tools for brain tumors.

Dr. Saydam serves as an ad-hoc reviewer of numerous scientific journals and has served on several grant review panels. He is the author of several dozen papers and book chapters and holds three patents related to his work on brain tumors.

Research Summary

The main goal of my research is to explore the molecular pathways/factors that control tumor development and progression in the central nervous system. My ultimate objective is to translate our molecular mechanistic knowledge into clinical applications by developing novel therapeutic drugs and early biomarker screening tools for brain tumors. My strategy involves comprehensive analyses of patient-derived specimens such as tumor tissue/cells and sera through use of cutting-edge technologies such as next-generation sequencing, RNA sequencing, miRNA and drug screening, gene arrays, and proteomics in order to identify tumor-specific molecular targets that can be used for novel drug development or employed as early tumor biomarker.

My research topics are as follows:

Clinical Biomarker Development Studies for brain tumors:
Glioblastomas: we are working on several clinical biomarker development studies for glioblastomas using serum, tissues and extracellular vesicles. We are employing comprehensive analyses of tumor tissues/cells through the high-throughput screening methodologies such as proteomics, gene arrays, next generation sequencing (NGS), tumor-associated autoantibody (TAA) array, and Proseek Multiplex Cancer Panel, directing for discovery of novel drug targets and biomarkers.

Meningiomas: we are performing similar screening studies (see above) for meningioma patients as well and develop a panel consisting of 5 circulating protein biomarkers which can be useful in the clinical practice to monitor transition of meningiomas from benign to malignant forms.

Medulloblastomas: we recently discovered an oncogene in the extracellular vesicles of medulloblastoma patients that can be used as a worldwide screening tool in newborns for early detection of medulloblastomas. Additionally, we also developed a nano-string based panel biomarkers that can be useful to genetically diagnose sub-types of medulloblastomas in the patient serums.

Genetically engineering extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a novel small-molecule delivery tool for brain tumors: we have recently developed genetically engineered EVs by expressing high levels of the mRNA and protein (Mizrak et al., 2013; Erkan et al.: 2016 and 2017). We are now using these molecules as a miRNA/RNA/protein and small molecule delivery tool to treat brain tumors

High-throughput drug discoveries for brain tumors: another topic of my research is to perform High-throughput Drug Discovery Studies (HTDDS) for brain tumors using the several libraries consisting of FDA approved drugs and bioactive compounds.

Bio

Dr. Steiner is a Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Hematology/Oncology as well as the Division of Critical Care. She attends on the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and conducts Pediatric Hematology and Hemostasis clinics at the M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital Journey Clinic.

Dr. Steiner received her MS degree in Genetics at the University of Minnesota in 1978 before earning her MD there in 1982. She remained at the University of Minnesota, completing her internship and residency in Pediatrics in 1985 and then both Hematology-Oncology and Critical Care post-doctoral fellowships in 1989. She moved to West Virginia University in 1990. At WVU, she started a pediatric bone marrow transplant program. She also served as pediatric critical chair division chair and PICU director, and started a PICU fellowship. She returned to the University of Minnesota in 1997, and has been the PICU Fellowship Director here since 2007.

Dr. Steiner's academic appointment is in the Clinical Scholar Academic track. She is an advisor to multiple medical students, residents, and fellows and has mentored several in their clinical research projects.

She serves on several additional hospital committees, including the University of Minnesota Infection Control, Pediatric Infection Control, and Transfusion (co-chair).

Dr. Steiner's clinical research is focused on hemostasis and transfusion practice in critically ill children. Dr. Steiner has participated in the publication of over 50 articles, teaching manuals, and book chapters. She is a member of several professional societies, including American Society of Hematology, International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, and Society of Critical Care Medicine. She also holds leadership positions in the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators.

Research Summary

Coagulopathology of Critical Illness; Use of rFVIIa in Non-Hemophiliac Populations; Hemostasis in Congenital Cardiac Surgery Patients; Hemostasis Management of Extracorporeal Circuits; Transfusion Practice in Critically Ill Children

Clinical Summary

Bleeding and clotting disorders; Critical care for oncology and blood and marrow transplant; Hemostasis management of extracorporeal circuits; Transfusion practice

Bio

Amanda Termuhlen, MD, is the senior associate dean for faculty affairs at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a professor of pediatrics. An internationally recognized expert in rare pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Dr. Termuhlen came to the Medical School in 2018 from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California Keck Medical School. She served as the medical director of clinical services and director of medical education and faculty development for pediatric hematology/oncology/blood and marrow transplant.

Throughout her career, Dr. Termuhlen has been involved in faculty development. She is a member of the American Association for Medical Colleges Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA) Steering Committee and serves as chair of the GFA Professional Development Conference for 2020 and 2021. A graduate of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine fellowship, Dr. Termuhlen is devoted to helping faculty members navigate the complexities of academic healthcare systems and meet their career goals. She often conducts local and national workshops on professional development for faculty members.

Dr. Termuhlen received a BS in biochemistry and MD from The Ohio State University. She completed a pediatric residency at Wright State University and a pediatric hematology/ oncology fellowship at University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center. Termuhlen served as associate chief for clinical research, academics and education for hematology/oncology/blood and marrow transplantation at The Ohio State University. A board-certified pediatric hematologist/oncologist, Dr. Termuhlen has clinical expertise in rare pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma and cancer survivorship. Her research focuses on the late effects of cancer treatment in children and adolescents.

Bio

Dr. Lucie Turcotte is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Minnesota. She received her MPH in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in 2005, her medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 2007, and her MS in Clinical Research from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in 2015. Dr. Turcotte completed her residency in Pediatrics in 2010 at Seattle Children's Hospital
(University of Washington) in Seattle, WA, and completed her fellowship in Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant in 2013 at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital. Dr. Turcotte's research has focused on second malignancies and short- and long-term outcomes in pediatric cancer survivors. She has specific clinical interest in childhood leukemias and lymphomas, as well as in histiocytic disorders.

Research Summary

Research Summary/Interests: Short- and long-term outcomes of cancer and hematopoietic cell transplantation therapies. Subsequent malignancies after childhood cancer therapy.

Research Interests

Dr. Turcotte’s research is primarily focused on short- and long-term outcomes of cancer and hematopoietic cell transplantation therapies, and on understanding the biologic underpinnings of cancer etiology and treatment response. She leads the Second Malignancy Working Group within the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and is the Silo Leader for the Subsequent Malignant Neoplasm and Cancer Screening Task Force for the Children’s Oncology Group Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines. Dr. Turcotte has received institutional, foundation, and federal funding to investigate novel topics in cancer survivorship with the overarching goal of enhancing the quantity and quality of life among survivors.

Clinical Summary

Clinical Interests:

Clinical Interests: Leukemia, lymphoma, histiocyte disorders

Clinics:

Katie Hageboeck CCRF Clinic
2450 Riverside Avenue, Floor 9
Minneapolis, MN 55454
612-365-8100

Bio

Dr. Beau Webber is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Minnesota. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin- LaCrosse in 2007 with a BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology and conducted his PhD studies at the University of Minnesota where he studied the embryonic development of hematopoietic stem cells. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation program at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Webber developed advanced strategies for genetic modification of human lymphohematopoietic and pluripotent stem cells for cancer immunotherapy and correction of inherited diseases. Dr. Webber joined the Department of Pediatrics Faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2017.

Research Summary

Dr. Webber's laboratory is focused on synergizing genome engineering, stem cell biology, and adoptive cellular therapy to develop novel treatments for genetic disease and cancer. Research projects in the lab currently fall into two broad areas: the application of genome engineering to develop improved cell-based immune and gene therapies, and the development of "bottom-up" cancer models using human pluripotent stem cells. 

Bio

Dr. Brenda Weigel is currently the Director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. She is a professor cross-appointed at the University of Minnesota's Cancer Center and the Department of Pediatrics, and the recipient of the Lehman/Children's Cancer Research Fund Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cancer. She is also the Co-Director of the Sarcoma Program for the Masonic Cancer Center, and an Associate Director of the Cancer Experimental Therapeutics Initiative for the Masonic Cancer Center.

Dr. Weigel received her medical degree from MacMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and did her residency in Pediatrics at the University of Western Ontario. She came to the University of Minnesota in 1996 to do a Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant. During her four-year fellowship, Dr. Weigel worked in the lab of Dr. Bruce Blazar and developed a murine model of rhabdomyosarcoma.

Clinical Summary

Sarcomas; developmental therapeutics; leukemias

Bio

Dr. Williams is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Minnesota. Prior to coming to the University of Minnesota, Dr. Williams received an MS in Pathology in 2005, an MD in 2011, and completed Pediatrics residency in 2014, all at the University of Iowa. Dr. Williams completed a fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant in 2017 here at the University of Minnesota. During her fellowship, she completed post-doctoral research with Dr. Michael Verneris where she worked on characterizing the presence T cell exhaustion in the peripheral blood of AML patients undergoing haploidentical NK cell adoptive therapy and in the bone marrow of patients with relapsed/refractory leukemia undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Dr. Williams is currently performing research under the mentorship of Dr. Bruce Blazar. Her current project is focused on investigating transcriptional regulators of T cell differentiation that can be manipulated in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to produce longer acting and more potent cytotoxic T cells for cellular therapy.