Researcher | Research Overview
As a clinical researcher with expertise in management of children with myeloid malignancies, Dr. Pollard’s research has focused on development of novel prognostication tools and utilization of targeted therapeutics to improve clinical outcomes within pediatric AML. Specifically, she has studied the role of CD33 expression in pediatric AML and its impact on gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) response. She has also aided development of targeted therapeutic approaches for pediatric patients with FLT3/ITD+ AML and has studied the role of maintenance sorafenib treatment in this disease subset (COG AAML1031). As the vice chair for the upcoming phase III COG AML de novo AML study (AAML1831), she will study whether a second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, gilteritinib, will provide further clinical benefit for FLT3 mutated disease, particularly when utilizing a backbone of chemotherapy that also includes GO and a liposomal form of anthracycline (CPX-351). Dr. Pollard will continue to develop clinical trials that study novel targeted therapies in pediatric myeloid malignancies and will expand her studies to include investigation of novel agents in the treatment of MDS and germline disorders that predispose to AML. She will also partner with colleagues in both the field of AML and ALL to develop collaborative leukemia trials that will utilize rigorous diagnostic methodologies to aid identification of clinically relevant mutations that can be targeted with novel agents within the context of relapsed/refractory leukemia.