Shailaja Hegde, PhD

My academic interests are centered on advancing the understanding and treatment of leukemia across the spectrum of basic science discovery, translational investigation, clinical innovation. I am particularly focused on childhood leukemia and high-risk hematologic malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). My overarching goal is to bridge laboratory discoveries with clinical application to improve outcomes for patients, especially children with aggressive or treatment-refractory disease. From a research perspective, I am deeply interested in the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive leukemogenesis, therapeutic resistance, and disease relapse. I aim to investigate the genetic, epigenetic, and microenvironmental factors that contribute to disease heterogeneity in AML, CLL, and B-ALL. In childhood leukemia, I am particularly motivated to study the unique biological features that distinguish pediatric from adult disease, with an emphasis on identifying vulnerabilities that can be therapeutically exploited. I am especially interested in rational combination strategies, targeted small molecules, and immunotherapeutic approaches that can overcome resistance and minimize toxicity. Within the department’s teaching mission, I aim to foster curiosity-driven inquiry while providing rigorous training in experimental design, critical data analysis, and translational thinking. Ultimately, my academic mission is to integrate research, teaching, and through collaborative, multidisciplinary efforts, I aim to contribute to the development of safer, more effective therapies.