Doctors and Researchers

Kids Without Cancer works with the incredible doctors and researchers at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and Wayne State University who have dedicated their lives to diagnosing, treating and curing pediatric cancer. We feel incredibly fortunate to have such a close working relationship with these talented scientists.

Yaddanapudi Ravindranath

Yaddanapudi RavindranathGeorgie Ginopolis Chair for Pediatric Cancer and Hematology
Professor, Pediatrics
Wayne State University

Education and training:

  • Gandhi Medical College, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, MBBS, 1964
  • Children’s Hospital, Pittsburg, PA, Residency in Pediatrics, 1969
  • Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Fellowship in Hematology and Oncology, 1971

Certifications:

  • American Board of Pediatrics, 1971
  • Sub-Board of Hematology/Oncology, 1974

Clinical interests:

  • Leukemia
  • Bone Tumors
  • Aplastic Anemia
  • Hemolytic Anemias

Research interests:

  • Leukemia
  • Red Cell Disorders
  • Vitamin B-12 and Folic Acid Metabolism
  • Drug Resistance in Cancer

Jeffrey W. Taub, MD, FAAP

Jeffrey W. TaubDivision Chief, Oncology
Director, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program
Professor, Pediatrics
Wayne State University

Education and training:

  • University of Western Ontario, MD, 1987
  • Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Residency in Pediatrics, 1990
  • Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 1994

Certifications:

  • American Board of Pediatrics, 1991, 1998
  • Sub-Board of Hematology/Oncology, 1994
  • Recertified 2001, 2008

Clinical interests:

  • Childhood Cancer
  • Leukemia
  • Down Syndrome in Children with Leukemia
  • Lymphoma and Retinoblastoma
  • Late Effects of Cancer Treatment

Research interests:

  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Pharmacology of Childhood Leukemia

Kanta J. Bhambhani

Kanta J. BhambhaniCo-Director, Neuro-Oncology Program
Director, Lead Poisoning Clinic
Professor, Pediatrics
Wayne State University

Education and training:

  • Lady Hardinge Medical College, University of Delhi, India, MBBS, 1969
  • Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Residency in Pediatrics, 1974
  • Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 1977

Certifications:

  • American Board of Pediatrics, 1976
  • Sub-Board of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Clinical interests:

  • Pediatric Hematologic Diseases
  • Hematologic Malignancies
  • Brain Tumors in Children
  • Lead Poisoning in Children

Research interests:

  • Late Effects of Treatment of Survivors of Childhood Tumors
  • Late Effects of Brain Tumors
  • Lead Poisoning in Children

Sureyya Savasan, MD

Sureyya SavasanAssistant Professor, Pediatrics
Wayne State University

Education and training:

  • Hacettapu University, Ankarra, Turkey, MD, 1984
  • Istanbul University, Residency in Pediatrics, 1993
  • Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Residency in Pediatrics, 1996

Certifications:

  • American Board of Pediatrics
  • Sub-Board of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Clinical interests:

  • Bone Marrow
  • Transplantation
  • Autoimmune Blood Disorders

Research interests:

  • Role of Apoptosis in Leukemia
  • Free Radical Metabolism in Leukemia
  • Endothelial Cell Biology
  • Immune Regulation in Autoimmune Diseases

Yubin Ge, Ph.D.

Yubin GeAssistant Professor
Karmanos Cancer Institute
and the Wayne State University
School of Medicine’s
Department of Pediatrics

Research Interests:

  • Leukemia biology and leukemogenesis
  • Combination therapies
  • Translational studies

Research Description:

Research in the Ge laboratory spans the basic biology and development of acute leukemia in children, to combinational therapies and translational studies with primary patient specimens. Leukemia is the most common form of childhood cancer and cancer is the leading cause of death from disease of American children. Hence, improving leukemia therapy is of utmost importance in pediatric health.

 

Ryan Thummel, Ph.D.

Ryan Thummel, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Cell Biology and Anatomy/Ophthalmology
Wayne State University

Education and training:

  • Joined the faculty at Wayne State University in 2009
  • Research Assistant Professor, University of Notre Dame, 2007 – 2009
  • Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Notre Dame, 2004 – 2007
  • Ph.D., Developmental Genetics, University of Kansas Med. Ctr., 2004
  • B.A., Psychology, University of Notre Dame, 1998

Research Description:

Research focuses on retinal development and regeneration in zebrafish. Zebrafish are an attractive model to study neurodegenerative diseases due to its incredible ability to regenerate neuronal tissues. In particular, he is focused on better understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie retinal regeneration in the adult zebrafish.

Participates in the teaching of Medical Histology and Medical Embryology to first year medical students. Finds teaching and mentoring students very rewarding, especially training young scientists in the laboratory.