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James Palis, M.D.

Contact Information

Phone Numbers

Appointment: (585) 275-2981

Administrative: (585) 273-2428

Office: (585) 275-5098

Fax: (585) 276-0233

Research Labs

Faculty Appointments

Biography

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

Research

Dr. Palis' research interests are:
1) Ontogeny of the mammalian hematopoietic system,
2) Differentiation of the erythroid lineage,
3) Erythroid precursor self-renewal, and
4) Response of the hematopoietic system to ionizing radiation

Hematopoietic stem cells responsible for the production of blood cells throughout life arise during embryogenesis. However, the mechanisms that initiate blood cell development are largely unknown. The long-term aim of Dr. Palis' laboratory is to elucidate the cellular and molecular events underlying the initiation of hematopoiesis in the mammalian embryo. The first hematopoietic cells to emerge during mammalian embryogenesis are "primitive" red cells that are necessary for survival of the fetus. Their recent studies indicate that the primitive erythroid lineage in mice as "mammalian", rather than "non-mammalian" in character. Primitive erythropoiesis will thus serve as an important model of mammalian erythroid differentiation. Hematopoiesis originates in the yolk sac of embryos and transitions to the liver of the fetus. Two waves of hematopoietic progenitors have been identified in the yolk sac prior to colonization of the liver and the lineage composition and relationships of these primitive and definitive progenitor waves are under active investigation. Their studies indicate that the onset of hematopoiesis within the yolk sac of mammals is much more complex than previously thought.

The hematopoietic system of the adult is exquisitely sensitive to xenotoxic insults. The Palis laboratory is investigating the response of the erythroid and megakaryocyte lineages to ionizing radiation. These studies will provide for the rational use of cytokines and other agents to mitigate the deleterious effects of external radiation.

An understanding of the ontogeny of mammalian hematopoiesis and its response to damage will ultimately produce insights into the regulation and expansion of hematopoietic stem cells. These insights will also lead to a better understanding of genetic disorders, bone marrow failure syndromes and leukemias, ultimately leading to improvements in bone marrow transplantation for the curative treatment of numerous congenital anemias, genetic diseases, and several forms of childhood and adult cancers.

Credentials

Education

1975
BA | University of Rochester
Biology and Hellenic Studies

1981
MD | University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Medicine

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

07/01/1984 - 06/30/1988
Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Golisano Children's Hospital-University of Rochester

07/01/1982 - 06/30/1984
Residency in Pediatrics at Golisano Children's Hospital-University of Rochester

07/01/1981 - 06/30/1982
Internship in Pediatrics at Golisano Children's Hospital-University of Rochester

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Awards

2022
Donald Metcalf Award
Sponsor: ISEH

2022
Dean's Lecture
Location: University of Rochester

2021
Ruth Lawrence Award for Research Excellence
Location: University of Rochester

2015 - 2015
Davey Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cancer Research

2005
George Washington Goler Associate Professor of Pediatrics

2005
George Washington Goler Professor of Pediatrics

1999
University of Rochester Postdoctoral Academic Mentoring Award

1982
Second Choremion Research Award, Athens, Greece

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Patents

Patent Title: Human Extensively Self-Renewing Erythroblasts (ESRE)
Patent #: ZL2014800280231
Issue Date: Jul 28, 2020
Country: China, People's Republic of
Invented By: Samantha England, Ah Ram Kim, James S Palis

Patent Title: Human Extensively Self-Renewing Erythroblasts (ESRE)
Patent #: 6704848
Issue Date: May 15, 2020
Country: Japan
Invented By: Samantha England, Ah Ram Kim, James S Palis

Patent Title: Human Extensively Self-Renewing Erythroblasts (ESRE)
Patent #: 2997135
Issue Date: Apr 29, 2020
Country: Europe
Invented By: Samantha England, Ah Ram Kim, James S Palis

Patent Title: Human Extensively Self-Renewing Erythroblasts (ESRE)
Patent #: FR2997135
Issue Date: Apr 29, 2020
Country: France
Invented By: Samantha England, Ah Ram Kim, James S Palis

Patent Title: Human Extensively Self-Renewing Erythroblasts (ESRE)
Patent #: 60 2014 064 603.4
Issue Date: Apr 29, 2020
Country: Germany
Invented By: Samantha England, Ah Ram Kim, James S Palis

Patent Title: Human Extensively Self-Renewing Erythroblasts (ESRE)
Patent #: GB2997135
Issue Date: Apr 29, 2020
Country: United Kingdom
Invented By: Samantha England, Ah Ram Kim, James S Palis

Patent Title: Human Extensively Self-Renewing Erythroblasts (ESRE)
Patent #: 10,260,043
Issue Date: Apr 16, 2019
Country: United States
Invented By: Samantha England, Ah Ram Kim, James S Palis

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Publications

Journal Articles

3/23/2023
Maurya P, Ture SK, Li C, Scheible KM, McGrath KE, Palis J, Morrell CN. "Transfusion of Adult, but Not Neonatal, Platelets Promotes Monocyte Trafficking in Neonatal Mice." Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology.. 2023 Mar 23; Epub 2023 Mar 23.

1/24/2023
Buoninfante OA, Pilzecker B, Spanjaard A, de Groot D, Prekovic S, Song JY, Lieftink C, Ayidah M, Pritchard CEJ, Vivié J, Mcgrath KE, Huijbers IJ, Philipsen S, von Lindern M, Zwart W, Beijersbergen RL, Palis J, van den Berk PCM, Jacobs H. "Mammalian life depends on two distinct pathways of DNA damage tolerance." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.. 2023 Jan 24; 120(4):e2216055120. Epub 2023 Jan 20.

3/7/2022
Atkins MH, Scarfò R, McGrath KE, Yang D, Palis J, Ditadi A, Keller GM. "Modeling human yolk sac hematopoiesis with pluripotent stem cells." The Journal of experimental medicine.. 2022 Mar 7; 219(3)Epub 2021 Dec 20.

Books & Chapters

2021
Chapter Title: Hematology of the Newborn
Book Title: William's Hematology
Author List: Palis J, Segel GB
Edited By: Beutler, E.
Published By: McGraw-Hill 2021 in New York

2016
Chapter Title: Imaging flow cytometric analysis of primary bone marrow megakaryocytes
Book Title: Imaging Flow Cytometry-Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology
Author List: Niswander LM, Palis J, McGrath KE
Edited By: Barteneva, N
Published By: Springer 2016 in New York

2016
Chapter Title: Primitive and definitive erythropoiesis
Book Title: Atlas of the Cellular and Molecular Development of Human Hematopoiesis
Author List: Palis, J
Edited By: Dame, C
Published By: Springer Verlag 2016 in Heidelberg

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