MD
Associate Professor, Medicine
Chief, Leukemia Research
Director, Clinical Cancer Research Commercial Integration
Associate Chief of Research, Hematology
UNC-Chapel Hill
Clinical Research
Meet Joshua Zeidner
Area of Interest
My research interests include discovering innovative methods to improve outcomes, drug discovery and development, and designing clinical trials in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).
I lead the Leukemia Clinical Trials Research Protocol Office Disease (POD) Group where we have a multitude of cutting-edge clinical trials for acute leukemia, MDS, and MPNs. I am the Principal Investigator of industry-sponsored, investigator-initiated, and academic collaborative clinical trials evaluating novel agents in MDS and AML. My research focus encompasses drug development in two distinct pathways in AML: 1) cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, and 2) innovative immunotherapeutic strategies.
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors:
Under the mentorship of Drs. Judy Karp and B. Douglas Smith, I was the lead investigator and author on a randomized phase 2 study of a novel cyclin-dependent kinase-9 (CDK9) inhibitor, Alvocidib, followed by cytarabine and mitoxantrone (FLAM) versus standard-of-care 7+3 in newly diagnosed AML patients. 7+3 has been traditionally considered “standard” induction therapy for newly diagnosed AML for the past 4 decades despite suboptimal outcomes. We found that FLAM led to a significant improvement in overall response. In collaboration with Tolero Pharmaceuticals, we are interested in assessing predictive biomarkers of response to Alvocidib. Due to its potent inhibition of CDK9, Alvocidib inhibits and down-regulates MCL-1, a critical pro-survival gene in AML. We hypothesize that patients dependent on MCL-1 for leukemia survival may respond best to Alvocidib. To that end, I am the lead Principal Investigator of 3 clinical trials assessing the role of Alvocidib in newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory AML patients.
Innovative Immunotherapy Approaches:
- Immunomodulation of T cells: In collaboration with Drs. Gojo and Luznik at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, I am the Co-Principal Investigator of a phase I study of an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD), pomalidomide, during early lymphocyte recovery after induction chemotherapy as a means to augment an anti-leukemic immune response after chemotherapy. We found that pomalidomide is safe, has clinical activity after induction chemotherapy, and leads to effective T cell modulation. We aim to expand this immunomodulatory platform at early lymphocyte recovery to other treatment settings in AML.
- Checkpoint Inhibition: I am the lead PI of a multicenter phase II study of high dose cytarabine followed by pembrolizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting PD-1, in relapsed/refractory AML. In collaboration with Drs. Jonathan Serody and Benjamin Vincent (UNC) and Leo Luznik and Ivana Gojo (Johns Hopkins), our goal is to assess for predictive immune biomarkers of response to pembrolizumab in AML in order to better tailor checkpoint inhibitors for subsets of AML patients who are most likely to respond.
Awards and Honors
- Junior Faculty Development Award, 2016
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Special Fellow in Clinical Research, 2014
- Bradley Stuart Beller Merit Award – awarded top abstract submitted by fellow to 2014 ASCO Conference, 2014
- Recipient of National Institute of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Program, 2013
- ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award, In memory of John R. Durant, MD, 2013
- American Society of Hematology (ASH) Abstract Achievement Award for 2012 ASH Conference, Atlanta, GA, 2012
- Selected Participant in AACR/ASCO Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop, Vail, CO, 2012
- Samuel Smith Leukemia Fellowship Award, 2012
- Department of Medicine Academic Award, 2008
- Selected Participant for Ninth Annual American College of Physicians Board Review, 2007
- Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, 2007
- American Society for Clinical Pathology Award, 2006
- Magna Cum Laude, 2004
- Golden Key International Honor Society, 2002
- Dean’s Scholarship, 2000
News and Stories
UNC Lineberger and UNC researchers discuss latest research at American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting
UNC Lineberger researchers will present the latest findings from studies and lead educational sessions at the 64th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Dec. 10-13.
Accurate assessment of heart rhythm can optimize chemotherapy use
Using the wrong mathematical formula to assess heartbeat rhythms may lead oncologists to inappropriately stop life-saving chemotherapy, according to research findings from UNC Lineberger scientists.
Couple unified through cancer, caregiver struggles
When a significant other is diagnosed with cancer, it can be just as hard on the loved one as it is on the patient. However, Stephen and Jackie Alston found themselves experiencing both roles when they were each diagnosed with cancer years apart.
Immunotherapy after high-dose chemotherapy leads to favorable outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia
Josh Zeidner, MD, Jon Serody, MD, and colleagues report clinical trial outcomes that benefited patients with resistant or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia.
