Skip to main content

Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

Saint Louis University's Division of Hematology and Oncology provides a full range of clinical services to children and adolescents with blood disorders and cancer.

The division is committed to advancing the care of children through collaboration with basic science research as well as numerous clinical research programs. We are an active participant in the Children's Oncology Group, the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium and the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, and are one of the founding institutions of the Beat Childhood Cancer Consortium, which is actively investigating innovative approaches to the treatment of childhood cancer. We also participate in several national and pharmaceutical company-sponsored studies in hemostasis and sickle cell disease.

Our referral area extends throughout Missouri and southern Illinois. Inpatient services include a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation unit. Outpatient services are provided within SSM Health Cardinal Glennon's Costas Center and include consultations for new patients, ongoing clinical care for patients with blood disorders or cancer, chemotherapy infusions and blood component transfusions.

Clinical Programs

There are currently seven clinical programs within the division. Our clinical programs include regular multidisciplinary clinics in neuro-oncology, hemostasis, sarcomas, and late effects; the latter also includes specific neuro-oncology and hematopoietic stem cell late effects clinics.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Deepika Bhatla, M.D., serves as our lead transplant physician. The program is accredited by the Foundation for Accreditation of Cellular Therapy. It is a designated transplant center for the Children's Oncology Group and a participant in the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium.

Neuro-Oncology Program

This multidisciplinary group encompasses all of the disciplines engaged in caring for these complex patients, including pediatric oncology, pediatric neurology, neurosurgery and radiation oncology. It also includes a Neuro-Oncology Long-Term Follow-up Clinic. Abbey Rocco M.D., is director of the Neuro-Oncology Program.

Hemostasis Program

Ours was the first federally-designated pediatric Comprehensive Hemophilia Treatment Center in the St. Louis area. Christopher Hugge, M.D., is administrative director of this program; John Puetz, M.D., serves as the clinical director. 

Sickle Cell Anemia/Hemoglobinopathies Program

Leili Dolatshahi, M.D., is director of this program. SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital is a designated sickle cell center for both Missouri and Illinois.

Sarcoma Program

David Greenberg, M.D., (orthopedic oncology), William Ferguson, M.D., (pediatric oncology), and John Dombrowski, M.D., (radiation oncology) are the principal participants in this program, which provides state-of-the-art treatment for children with bone and soft tissue sarcomas.

Apheresis Program

Alex Babic, M.D., serves as the medical director of this program.

Late Effects

John Puetz, M.D., is the physician director of this program.

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Training

Members of the division take an active role in the education of residents and medical students, both by providing didactic lectures as well as serving as attending physician supervision for subspecialty and general pediatric patients and supervising residents and students doing electives in hematology-oncology. The Division's Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Fellowship is under the leadership of Dr. Dolatschahi.

Research

Aleksandar Babic, M.D.

The research interests of Aleksandar Babic, M.D., are focused on the evaluation of outcomes of umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation. Dr. Babic was recruited as Medical Director at St. Louis Cord Blood Bank and subsequently became medical director the con combined Saint Louis University Cellular Therapy Laboratory.

Deepika Bhatla, M.D.

The research interests of Deepika Bhatla, M.D., include the treatment of acute leukemias and lymphomas (with particular reference to the influence of host polymorphisms on disease incidence and response to treatment) and stem cell transplantation with a special interest in umbilical cord blood transplantation. She serves as institutional co-principal investigator for the Primary Immune Deficiencies Treatment Consortium (PIDTC), including Protocol #6901 ("A Prospective Natural History Study of Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcomes of Children with SCID Disorders") and as institutional Principal Investigator for the National Marrow Donor Program protocol 10-CBA ("A multicenter access and distribution protocol for unlicensed and cryopreserved cord blood units (CBUs) for transplantation in pediatric and adult patients with hematological malignancies and other indications"). She is also the institutional PI for the multicenter trial entitled "A Study of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) in Pediatric Non-Malignant Disease Using a Reduced-Intensity Preparatory Regimen."

Lily Dolatshahi, M.D.

Lily Dolatshahi, M.D.,'s major clinical research interests include participation in a clinical trial designed to improve the outcome of sickle cell disease. She was co-investigator for an ongoing clinical trial, "Adjuvant low dose rituximab for the patients with severe TTP."  

William S. Ferguson, M.D.

William S. Ferguson, M.D.,'s research interests include participation in Children's Oncology Group studies treating newly diagnosed osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and other soft tissue sarcomas; clinical trials evaluating new antineoplastic agents in the treatment of solid tumors, in particular neuroblastoma; and utilizing genetic profiling of high-risk tumors to guide therapy. He is the institutional Principal Investigator for the Children's Oncology Group, the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium, and the Pediatric Transplant and Cellular Therapy Consortium.

Christopher Hugge, M.D.

Major clinical research interests include continued participation in clinical trials designed to improve drug treatment of children with bleeding disorders and participation in clinical trials conducted through the Children's Oncology Group.

Shermini Saini, M.D.

Clinical research interests include stem cell transplantation and improving the utilization of palliative and end-of-life care in children with chronic, complex, and life-limiting illnesses. She is Medical Director for CGCH's palliative care program, Footprints.

Maggie Cupit-Link, M.D.

Dr. Cupit-Link's reserach interests centers around the acute and long-term toxicities of cancer-directed therapies, including chemotherapy and novel immunotherapies. 

John Puetz M.D.

The focus of Dr. Puetz's clinical research has been in pediatric hemostasis and thrombosis, with investigative studies into hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, fresh frozen plasma, and thrombosis in children. He has participated in government and industry sponsored research for over 20 years. He also completed several investigator-initiated trials. Current endeavors include data and submission trials for HRSA , CDC, and the American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network (ATHN) while he  continues to investigate hemophilia carriers and children with pulmonary embolism.

Publications, Abstracts and Presentations

Publications

  • Puetz J, Wurm F. Recombinant Proteins for Industrial versus Pharmaceutical Purposes: A Review of Process and Pricing Processes 2019, 7(8), 476

  • Puetz J, Cheng D. Descriptive analysis of bleeding symptoms in haemophilia carriers enrolled in the ATHNdataset. Haemophilia 2021; 27: 6: 1045-1050.

  • Puetz J, Hu B. Factor Activity Levels and Bleeding Scores in Pediatric Hemophilia Carriers Enrolled in the ATHNdataset. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2023; 70: 30644.

  • Puetz J. Emergent data influences the risk/benefit assessment of hemophilia gene therapy using recombinant adeno-associated virus. Front Med 2023: 10;12569

  • Puetz J, Kumanan K, Zhang Z. Is Confirmatory Testing Still Necessary to Diagnose Von Willebrand Disease? Blood Vessels, Thrombosis and Hemostasis 2024; 1

  • Puetz J. Hemophilia Gene Therapy: Another Blessing or Another Curse?. Missouri Medicine 2024; 121: 231-234.

  • Cupit-Link M, Hagiwara K, Nagy M, et al. Response to PARP Inhibition in BARD1-Mutated Refractory Neuroblastoma [published correction appears in N Engl J Med. 2024 Oct 17;391(15):1464. doi: 10.1056/NEJMx240007.]. N Engl J Med. 2024;391(7):659-661. doi:10.1056/NEJMc2403316

  • Ligon JA, Cupit-Link MC, Yu C, et al. Pediatric Cancer Immunotherapy and Potential for Impact on Fertility: A Need for Evidence-Based Guidance. Transplant Cell Ther. 2024;30(8):737-749. doi:10.1016/j.jtct.2024.06.006

  • Cupit-Link M. It Mattered Later: A Patient-Turned-Doctor's Perspective on Fertility Loss. J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(27):3257-3258. doi:10.1200/JCO.24.00491

  • Cupit-Link M, Khan R, Pappo A, Helmig S. Immune-related Adverse Events from Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Pediatric Patients: A Literature Review and Case Series. EJC Paediatric Oncology. 2023; 2: 100117. Published 2023 Dec. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejcped.2023.100117.

  • Cupit-Link M, Federico SM. Treatment of High-Risk Neuroblastoma with Dinutuximab and Chemotherapy Administered in all Cycles of Induction. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(18):4609. Published 2023 Sep 18. doi:10.3390/cancers15184609

  • Cupit-Link MC. The BARF Project: A Pilot Study Using the BARF Scale to Assess CINV in Children. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04678947. 2021.  

  • Blackall D, Dolatshahi L. Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in Children: Laboratory Investigation, Disease Associations, and Treatment Strategies. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2022 Apr 1;44(3):71-78. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000002438. PMID: 35235549.
  • Lantz M, Dolatshahi L. Hereditary Pyropoikilocytosis as a Modifier of Sickle Cell Disease Severity. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2025 Apr 1;47(3):128-130. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000003012. Epub 2025 Mar 3. PMID: 40036694.
  • Lewis EC, Kraveka JM, Ferguson W, Eslin D, Brown VI, Bergendahl G, Roberts W, Wada RK, Oesterheld J, Mitchell D, Foley J, Zage P, Rawwas J, Rich M, Lorenzi E, Broglio K, Berry D, Saulnier Sholler GL. A subset analysis of a phase II trial evaluating the use of DFMO as maintenance therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma [published online ahead of print, 2020 May 11]. Int J Cancer. 2020;10.1002/ijc.33044. doi:10.1002/ijc.33044
  • Moskop, A., Dalrymple, A., & Dolatshahi, L. (2020). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Evans Syndrome, and Neurofibromatosis: An Unusual Combination in Pediatric Patient. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/oncology, 42(4), e244–e247.
  • Lewis, E. C., Kraveka, J. M., Ferguson, W., Eslin, D., Brown, V. I., Bergendahl, G., … Saulnier Sholler, G. L. (2020). A subset analysis of a phase II trial evaluating the use of DFMO as maintenance therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma. International Journal of Cancer.
  • Lewis EC, Kraveka JM, Ferguson W, Eslin D, Brown VI, Bergendahl G, Roberts W, Wada RK, Oesterheld J, Mitchell D, Foley J, Zage P, Rawwas J, Rich M, Lorenzi E, Broglio K, Berry D, Saulnier Sholler GL.  A Subset Analysis of a Phase II Trial Evaluating the Use of DFMO as Maintenance Therapy for High-Risk Neuroblastoma. Int J Cancer 2020; 147(11):3152-3159.
  • Babic A, Buchanan P, Gill A, Bloomquist J, Regan D, Bhatla D, Ferguson W. Analysis of Outcomes of Single-Unit Cord Blood Transplantation with Umbilical Cord Blood Units Processed with Two Different Red Blood Cell Sedimentation Reagents. Transfusion 2021; 61(6):1856-1866.
  • Byron SA, Hendricks WPD, Nagulapally AB, Kraveka JM, Ferguson WS, Brown VI, Eslin DE, Mitchell D, Cornelius A, Roberts W, Isakoff MS, Oesterheld JE, Wada RK, Rawwas J, Neville K, Zage PE, Harrod VL, Bergendahl G, VanSickle E, Dykema K, Bond J, Chou HC, Wei JS, Wen X, Reardon HV, Roos A, Nasser S, Izatt T, Enriquez D, Hegde AM, Cisneros F, Christofferson A, Turner B, Szelinger S, Keats JJ, Halperin RF, Khan J, Saulnier Sholler GL, Trent JM. Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Relapsed and Refractory Childhood Solid Tumors Reveals a Diverse Molecular Landscape and Mechanisms of Immune Evasion. Cancer Res. 2021 Dec 1;81(23):5818-5832.
  • Kraveka JM, Lewis EC, Bergendahl G, Ferguson W, Oesterheld J, Kim E, Nagulapally AB, Dykema KJ, Brown VI, Roberts WD, Mitchell D, Eslin D, Hanson D, Isakoff MS, Wada RK, Harrod VL, Rawwas J, Hanna G, Hendricks WPD, Byron SA, Snuderl M, Serrano J, Trent JM, Saulnier Sholler GL. A pilot study of genomic-guided induction therapy followed by immunotherapy with difluoromethylornithine maintenance for high-risk neuroblastoma. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2022 Nov;5(11):e1616. doi: 10.1002/cnr2.1616. Epub 2022 Mar 31. PMID: 35355452; PMCID: PMC9675391.
  • Saulnier-Sholler G, Duda DG, Bergendahl G, Ebb D, Snuderl M, Laetsch TW, Michlitsch J, Hanson D, Isakoff MS, Bielamowicz K, Kraveka JM, Ferguson W, Carmeliet P, De Deene A, Gijsen L, Jain RK. A Phase I Trial of TB-403 in Relapsed Medulloblastoma, Neuroblastoma, Ewing Sarcoma, and Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2022 Sep 15;28(18):3950-3957. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-22-1169. PMID: 35833850; PMCID: PMC9481695.
    Eslin D, Zage PE, Bergendahl G, Lewis E, Roberts W, Kraveka J, Mitchell D, Isakoff MS, Rawwas J, Wada RK, Fluchel M, Brown VI, Ginn K, Higgins T, Beeravally Nagulapally A, Dykema K, Hanna G, Ferguson W, Saulnier Sholler GL. A phase II trial of nifurtimox combined with topotecan and cyclophosphamide for refractory or relapsed neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. Int J Cancer. 2023 Sep 1;153(5):1026-1034. doi: 10.1002/ijc.34569. Epub 2023 May 29. PMID: 37246577.
  • Oesterheld J, Ferguson W, Kraveka JM, Bergendahl G, Clinch T, Lorenzi E, Berry D, Wada RK, Isakoff MS, Eslin DE, Brown VI, Roberts W, Zage P, Harrod VL, Mitchell DS, Hanson D, Saulnier Sholler GL. Eflornithine as Postimmunotherapy Maintenance in High-Risk Neuroblastoma: Externally Controlled, Propensity Score-Matched Survival Outcome Comparisons. J Clin Oncol. 2024 Jan 1;42(1):90-102. doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.02875. Epub 2023 Oct 26. PMID: 37883734; PMCID: PMC10730038.
  • Saulnier Sholler GL, Bergendahl C, Lewis EC, Kraveka J, Ferguson W, Nagulapally AB, Dykema K, Brown VI, Isakoff MS, Junewick J, Mitchell D, RawwasJ, Roberts W, Eslin D, Oesterheld J, Wada RK. Pastakia D, Harrod V, Ginn K, Saab R, Bielamowicz K, Glover J, Chang E, Hanna GK, Enriquez D, Izatt T, Halperin RF, Moore A, Byron SA, Hendricks WPD, Trent JM. Molecular-Guided Therapy for the Treatment of Patients with Relapsed and Refractory Childhood Cancers: A Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium trial.  Genome Med. 2024 Feb 12;16(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s13073-024-01297-5. PMID: 38347552; PMCID: PMC10860258.
  • Ferguson, WS.  The fault…is not in our stars, but in ourselves. J Pediatr 2020 Jan; 216:1.
  • Ferguson, WS. A better way to detect iron deficiency? J Pediatr 2021 Dec; 239:2.
  • Ferguson, WS.  Neurodevelopmental Consequences of Neonatal Thrombocytopenia. J Pediatr 2023; 258:113555.
  • Ferguson, WS. Preventing Thrombosis in Children with MIS-C. J Pediatr 2023 262:113766.
Abstracts
  • Oesterheld JE, Bergendahl G, Berry DA, Lorenzi E, Clinch T, Kraveka JM, Ferguson W, Brown VI, Eslin D, Hanson D, Harrod VL, Isakoff M, Mitchell D, Wada R, Zage PE, Saulnier Sholler GL. Matched external control analysis of event-free survival (EFS) in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) receiving eflornithine (DFMO) maintenance.  American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, June 2022.
  • Oesterheld JE, Bergendahl G, Berry DA, Lorenzi E, Clinch T, Kraveka JM, Ferguson W, Brown VI, Eslin D, Hanson D, Harrod VL, Isakoff M, Mitchell D, Wada R, Zage PE, Saulnier Sholler GL. Comparison of event free survival (EFS) in high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) patients receiving enflornithine (DFMO) maintenance to an external control immunotherapy study database.  International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) annual meeting, Sept-Oct 2022.
  • Saulnier Sholler GL, Kraveka J, Bergendahl G, Lewis E, Ferguson  W, Nagulapally A, Dykema K, Brown V, Isakoff M, Junewick  J, Mitchell D, Eslin D, Harrod V, Roberts W, Oesterheld J, Wada R, Rawwas J, Pastakia D, Ginn K, Saab R, Bielamowicz K, Glover J, Chang E, Hanna G, Enriquez D, Izatt T, Halperin R, Byron S, Hendricks W, Trent J. Molecular-guided therapy for the treatment of patients with relapsed and refractory childhood cancers: a Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium trial. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting April 2023.
  • Kraveka J, Ferguson W, Bergendahl G, Lewis EC, Nagulapally AB, Dykema K, Brown VI, Isakoff MS, Junewick J, Mitchell D, Rawwas J, Roberts W, Eslin D, Oesterheld J, Wada RK, Pastakia D, Harrod V, Ginn K, Saab R, Bielamowicz K, Glover J, Chang E, Hanna GK, Enriquez D, Izatt T, Halperin RF, Byron SA, Hendricks WPD, Trent JM, Saulnier Sholler GL. Molecular-guided therapy for the treatment of relapsed neuroblastoma: A Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium Trial. Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Annual Meeting May 2023.
  • Oesterheld J, Saulnier Sholler G, Ferguson W, Bergendahl G, Kraveka JM, Clinch T, Lorenzi E, Berry DA, Wada RK, Isakoff MS, Eslin DE, Brown VI, Zage P, Harrod VL, Mitchell DS, Hanson D. Confirmation of Event Free Survival (EFS) in High-Risk Neuroblastoma (HRNB) Patients Receiving Eflornithine (DFMO) Maintenance Treatment based on a Retrospective, Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) of Imaging during Long-Term Follow-Up. American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, June 2023.
  • Bergendahl G, Kraveka J, Ferguson W, Oesterhald J, Clinch T, Gullo KL, Staines H, Sholler G.  EFS and OS in Study 3b Patients with High-Risk Neuroblastoma Receiving Eflornithine (DFMO) Maintenance Treatment with Matched External Controls.  Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) Annual Conference September 2023.
  • Kraveka J, Oasterheld J, Ferguson W, Bergendahl G, Clinch T, Staines H, Sholler G.  MICE Sensitivity Analysis of Event Free Survival in High-Risk Neuroblastoma Patients Receiving Eflornithine (DFMO) Maintenance Treatment with Matched External Controls.  International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) annual meeting, October 2023.
  • Kraveka J, Berg A, Bergendahl G, Ferguson W, Ginn K, Mitchell D, Wada R, Brown V,  Isakoff M, Moore A, SaulnierSholler G. End of Induction Response Correlates with Clinical Outcome in High-Risk Neuroblastoma Patients. Annual meeting of American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Seattle, WA, April 2024
  • Clinch T, Ferguson W, Kraveka J, Staines H, Bergendahl G, Berg A, SaulnierSholler G. Assessment of Household Poverty Exposure in Patients with HRNB Receiving DFMO Maintenance Treatment. Annual meeting of American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Seattle, WA, April 2024.
  • Saulnier Sholler GL, Ferguson W, Bergendahl G, Clinch T, Kraveka JM. Survival Outcomes in High-Risk Neuroblastoma (HRNB) Patients in Remission after Relapsed or Refractory Treatment Receiving Eflornithine (DFMO) Maintenance. Submitted to American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, June 2024.
  • Bergendahl G, Steinbrecher J, Smith L, Lincoln J, Moore A, Clinch T, Ferguson W, Kraveka JM, Saulnier Sholler G. Clinical Administration of DFMO (Eflornithine) is Flexible in Pediatric Patients with HRNB.  Submitted to Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) Annual Conference September 2024.
  • Kraveka J, Ferguson W, Bergendahl G, Clinch T, Moore A, Eslin D, Brown V, Roberts W, Wada R, Mitchell D, Zage P, Rawwas J, Saulnier Sholler G. Survival Outcomes in Patients with High-Risk Neuroblastoma (HRNB) in Remission After Relapsed or Refractory Treatment Receiving Eflornithine (DFMO) Maintenance. Submitted to International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) annual meeting, October 2024.
  • Moore A, Lincoln J, Bergendahl G, Treadway S, Halley N, Caran E, Ambar N, Nagulapally A, Draveka J, Ferguson W, Saulnier Sholler G. Use of Eflornithine (DFMO) in High Risk Neuroblastoma (HRNB) Patients from Brazil: A Promising Experience for the Future. Submitted to International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) annual meeting, October 2024.
  • Kraveka JM, Ferguson W, Bergendahl G, Clinch T, Moore A, Lincoln J, Wada RK, Isakoff MS, Eslin DE, Brown VI, Roberts W, Harrod VL, Mitchell DS, Saulnier Sholler G. Survival Outcomes in Patients with High-Risk Neuroblastoma (HRNB) Receiving Eflornithine (DFMO) Maintenance Treatment with Matched External Controls: Subgroup Analysis on Geographic Region. Oral presentation at the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) annual meeting, October 2024.
  • Saulnier Sholler G, Ferguson W, Bergendahl G, Clinch T, Staines H, Berg A, Kraveka JM. Assessment of Household Poverty Exposure in Patients with High-Risk Neuroblastoma (HRNB) Receiving Eflornithine (DFMO) Maintenance Treatment. Submitted to International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) annual meeting, October 2024.
  • Bergendahl G, Kraveka JM, Ferguson W, Brown V, Huang M, Steinbrecher J, Moore A, Lincoln J, Salnier Sholler, G.  Safety Comparison of Two Different Dosing Regimens for Oral Eflornithine (DFMO) in Pediatric Solid Tumors.  Submitted to the American Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology annual meeting, May 2025.
  • Kraveka JM, Bergendahl G, Ferguson W, Berg A, Wada RK, Tiera P, Bielamowicz K, Michon B, Alva E, Steinbrecher J, Moore A, Saulnier Sholler G.  Safety of Naxitimab + Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating (GM-CSF) in Combination with Induction Chemotherapy in High-Risk Neuroblastoma (HRNB). Submitted to the American Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology annual meeting, May 2025.
  • Bergendahl G, Ferguson W, Kraveka JM, Moore A, Clinch T, Saulnier Sholler G.  Survival Outcomes in Patients with HRNB in Remission 7 Years After Starting DFMO Maintenance Therapy. Submitted to the American Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology annual meeting, May 2025.
  • Bergendahl G, Kraveka JM, Ferguson W, Brown V, Huang MAC, Steinbrecher J, Moore A, Lincoln J, Saulnier Sholler G.  Safety Comparison of Two Different Dosing Regimens for Oral Eflornithine (DFMO) in Pediatric Solid Tumors.  Submitted to the Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Association meeting, May 2025.
  • Kraveka JM, Bergendahl G, Ferguson W, Berg A, Wada RK, Tiera P, Bielamowicz K, Michon B, Alva E, Steinbrecher J, Moore A, Saulnier Sholler G.  Safety of Naxitimab + Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating (GM-CSF) in Combination with Induction Chemotherapy in High-Risk Neuroblastoma (HRNB). Submitted to the Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Association meeting, May 2025.
  • Saulnier Sholler G, Lincoln J, Bergendahl G, Ferguson W, Brown V, Steinbrecher J, Moore A, Kraveka JM.  Safety and ALK Inhibitors in Combination with Eflornithine (DFMO) in High-Risk Neuroblastoma (HRNB). Submitted to the Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Association meeting, May 2025.
  • Berg A, Kraveka J, Bergendahl G, Gerguson W, Ginn K, Mitchell D, Wada RK, Brown VI, Isakoff MS, Moore A, Saulnier Sholler G.  End-of-Induction Response as a Surrogate Endpoint for Overall Survival in High-Risk Neuroblastoma.  Submitted to the Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Association meeting, May 2025.
  • Ferguson W, Kraveka JM, Bergendahl G, Moore A, Clinch T, Saulnier Sholler G.  Survival Outcomes in Patients with High-Risk Neuroblastoma on Eflornithine (DFMO) Maintenance: Matched External Control Analysis at 7-Year Follow-Up. Submitted to the Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Association meeting, May 2025.
  • Bergendahl G, Steinbrecher J, Smith L, Treadway S, Kraveka JM, Ferguson W, Brown V, Saulnier Sholler G.  Safety Comparison of Two Different Dosing Regimens for Oral Eflornithine (DFMO) in Pediatric Solic tumors.  Submitted to Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) Annual Conference September 2025.
  • Harrod V, Brown V, Ferguson W, Kraveka J, Mitchell M, Eslin D, Wada R, Roberts W, Bergendahl G, Lincoln J, Steinbrecher J, Moore A, Treadway S, Gollamudi VRM, Bansai S, Ambar N, Caran E, Saulnier Sholler G.  Impact of Eflornithine Maintenance Therapy on Survival in high Risk Neuroblastoma Patients from China, India and Brazil. Submitted to the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) annual meeting, October 2025.
  • Moore A, Nagulapally A, Kraveka J, Ferguson W, Brown V, Harrod V, Eslin D, Glover J, Mitchell M, Michael M, Hanna G, Dovat S, Saulnier Sholler G.  Pediatric Consortium Development and Oversight of an International Molecular Tumor Board. Submitted to the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) annual meeting, October 2025.
  • Saulnier Sholler G, Lincoln J, Bergendahl G, Ferguson W, Brown V, Moore A, Steinbrecher J, Kraveka J.  Safety of Alk Inhibitors in Combination with Eflornithine (DFMO) in High-Risk Neuroblastoma (HRNB). Submitted to the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) annual meeting, October 2025.
Presentations

Deepika Bhatla, M.D.

 

Leili Dolatshahi, M.D.

  • “Severe Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in a 7-month-old Infant Associated With a Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection” (Journal of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, November 2017
  • SCHOLARSHIP
  • Dissemination and Implementation of Stroke Prevention Looking at the Care Environment (DISPLACE Study), Site Investigator (July 2017 – now)
  •  Sickle cell and hemoglobinopathies of Illinois State, Principal Investigator (July 2017 – now)
  • Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Pediatric Hemoglobinopathy Resource Center Service, Principal Investigator (June 2017 – now)

William Ferguson, M.D.

  • Pediatric Research Colloquium: “DFMO (Eflornithine) as Maintenance
    Therapy for High-Risk Neuroblastoma”
  • Introduction to Academic Medicine: “Informed Consent and the Ethics of Clinical Research”

Maggie Cupit-Link, M.D.

  • Treatment of High-Risk Neuroblastoma Using Dinutuximab Chemoimmunotherapy in All Cycles of Induction. Advances in Neuroblastoma. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 2023     
  • Predictors of Nausea During Early Treatment in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. American Society of Pediatric Hematology Oncology. Fort Worth, TX. 2023     
  • Treatment of High-Risk Neuroblastoma Using Dinutuximab Chemoimmunotherapy in All Cycles of Induction. American Society of Pediatric Hematology Oncology. Fort Worth, TX. 2023                 

                                                     

John Puetz M.D.

  • Hemophilia Carrier, Regional Meeting, New Orleanes, 2024
  • Hemophilia Gene Therapy, Grand Rounds. Columbia, Missouri. 2023
  • Hemophilia Gene Therapy, Project ECHO. Houston, Texas. 2022
  • Hemostasis Update, Grand Rounds, St. Louis, Missouri. 2021
  • Microbleeds, Regional Meeting. Lansing, Michigan. 2020