Colleen S. Delaney, MD

Delaney’s research interests include hematopoietic stem cell regulation and the development of novel and clinically feasible ex vivo expansion systems for hematopoietic progenitor cells using the Notch ligand, Delta1, which is a known regulator of cell fate determination. Her goal is to improve the outcome of patients in need of a cord blood transplant. Delaney’s research on the role of Notch signaling in hematopoietic stem cell regulation has resulted in the development of a pilot study investigating the use of ex vivo expanded cord blood progenitors to augment conventional cord blood transplantation. She is lead investigator in this trial, which began accrual in summer 2006. Delaney is principal investigator on four additional FHCRC clinical trials investigating the use of single or double unrelated donor umbilical cord blood grafts as an alternative source of stem cells for hematopoietic cell transplant, including a multicenter protocol investigating the use of single versus double unrelated donor umbilical cord blood grafts as the source of stem cells for hematopoietic cell transplantation.