Biography
Douglas K. Graham, MD, PhD, is the chief and William G. Woods, MD Chair of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Graham also serves as chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT. Board certified in pediatric hematology/oncology, his clinical focus is in pediatric leukemia.
Prior to joining the Aflac Cancer Center, Dr. Graham previously served as professor of pediatrics and immunology at the University of Colorado, with clinical practice at Children's Hospital Colorado. While there, Dr. Graham led the Biology and Treatment of Childhood Cancer Research Emphasis Area for the hospital. He directly oversaw all basic science, translational and clinical oncology research for the hospital.
Dr. Graham is a National Institutes of Health-funded investigator with an active laboratory focusing on developing novel therapeutics for pediatric cancer, recently validating MerTK as a novel cancer agent in leukemia, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer and glioblastoma. He was the co-program leader of the Hematologic Malignancy Program at the University of Colorado, a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.
Dr. Graham is a member of the Children's Oncology Group, COG Acute Myeloid Leukemia Disease Committee and the NIH Molecular and Cellular Hematology Study Section. He also holds memberships with American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, American Society of Hematology, American Society for Cancer Research, American Society for Clinical Investigation, Society for Pediatric Research and American Academy of Pediatrics.
Education
Dr. Graham received his Medical Degree as well as his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. He completed his residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at University of Colorado at Denver.
Titles & Roles
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Chief and William G. Woods, M.D. ChairAflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
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Professor, Department of PediatricsEmory University School of Medicine
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Chief, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMTEmory University School of Medicine
Research
Dr. Graham's lab is actively conducting research studying tyrosine kinase signaling pathways in cancer. In particular, his lab studies the Mer and Axl pathways in pediatric leukemia and pediatric brain cancer. They also study the role of these pathways in melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. His laboratory is working to develop novel inhibitors of these pathways to hopefully move forward into clinical trials in the near future.
Grants
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Publications
Title/Journal Authors Publication Date MERTK inhibition selectively activates a DC - T-cell axis to provide anti-leukemia immunity.
Leukemia
JM Huelse, SS Bhasin, KM Jacobsen, J Yim, BE Thomas, GM Branella, M Bakhtiari, ML Chimenti, TA Baxter, SS Raikar, X Wang, SV Frye, CJ Henry, HS Earp, M Bhasin, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 12/01/2024 MERTK Is a Potential Therapeutic Target in Ewing Sarcoma.
Cancers
SK Smart, TY Yeung, MO Santos, LF McSwain, X Wang, SV Frye, HS Earp, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 08/12/2024 MERTK Inhibition as a Targeted Novel Cancer Therapy.
International journal of molecular sciences
KM Tanim, A Holtzhausen, A Thapa, JM Huelse, DK Graham, HS Earp 07/12/2024 Discovery of Novel Macrocyclic MERTK/AXL Dual Inhibitors.
Journal of medicinal chemistry
D Kong, Q Tian, Z Chen, H Zheng, MA Stashko, D Yan, HS Earp, SV Frye, D DeRyckere, D Kireev, DK Graham, X Wang 04/11/2024 TAM family kinases as therapeutic targets at the interface of cancer and immunity.
Nature reviews. Clinical oncology
D DeRyckere, JM Huelse, HS Earp, DK Graham 11/01/2023 Genome medicine
HL Mumme, SS Raikar, SS Bhasin, BE Thomas, T Lawrence, EP Weinzierl, Y Pang, D DeRyckere, C Gawad, DS Wechsler, CC Porter, SM Castellino, DK Graham, M Bhasin 10/16/2023 Nature communications
H Mumme, BE Thomas, SS Bhasin, U Krishnan, B Dwivedi, P Perumalla, D Sarkar, GB Ulukaya, HS Sabnis, SI Park, D DeRyckere, SS Raikar, M Pauly, RJ Summers, SM Castellino, DS Wechsler, CC Porter, DK Graham, M Bhasin 10/05/2023 Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society
JM Kelvin, ML Chimenti, DY Zhang, EK Williams, SG Moore, GM Humber, TA Baxter, LA Birnbaum, M Qui, H Zecca, A Thapa, J Jain, NT Jui, X Wang, H Fu, Y Du, ML Kemp, WA Lam, DK Graham, D DeRyckere, EC Dreaden 09/01/2023 Pharmaceutical research
JM Kelvin, J Jain, A Thapa, M Qui, LA Birnbaum, SG Moore, H Zecca, RJ Summers, JM Switchenko, E Costanza, B Uricoli, X Wang, NT Jui, H Fu, Y Du, D DeRyckere, DK Graham, EC Dreaden 09/01/2023 Scientific reports
SS Bhasin, BE Thomas, RJ Summers, D Sarkar, H Mumme, W Pilcher, M Emam, SS Raikar, SI Park, SM Castellino, DK Graham, MK Bhasin, D DeRyckere 08/02/2023 bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
JM Kelvin, J Jain, A Thapa, M Qui, LA Birnbaum, SG Moore, H Zecca, RJ Summers, E Costanza, B Uricoli, X Wang, NT Jui, H Fu, Y Du, D DeRyckere, DK Graham, EC Dreaden 03/15/2023 Frontiers in immunology
J Cruz Cruz, KC Allison, LS Page, AJ Jenkins, X Wang, HS Earp, SV Frye, DK Graham, MR Verneris, AB Lee-Sherick 01/01/2023 Oncoimmunology
Y Galat, Y Du, M Perepitchka, XN Li, IV Balyasnikova, WT Tse, S Dambaeva, S Schneiderman, PM Iannaccone, O Becher, DK Graham, V Galat 01/01/2023 Cancers
RJ Summers, J Jain, E Vasileiadi, B Smith, ML Chimenti, TY Yeung, J Kelvin, X Wang, SV Frye, HS Earp, JW Tyner, EC Dreaden, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 12/13/2022 MERTK activation drives osimertinib resistance in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer.
The Journal of clinical investigation
D Yan, JM Huelse, D Kireev, Z Tan, L Chen, S Goyal, X Wang, SV Frye, M Behera, F Schneider, SS Ramalingam, T Owonikoko, HS Earp, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 08/01/2022 JCO precision oncology
RJ Summers, SM Castellino, CC Porter, TJ MacDonald, GD Basu, S Szelinger, MK Bhasin, T Cash, AB Carter, RC Castellino, JR Fangusaro, SG Mitchell, MG Pauly, B Pencheva, DS Wechsler, DK Graham, KC Goldsmith 04/01/2022 Obesity-induced galectin-9 is a therapeutic target in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Nature communications
M Lee, JAG Hamilton, GR Talekar, AJ Ross, L Michael, M Rupji, B Dwivedi, SS Raikar, J Boss, CD Scharer, DK Graham, D DeRyckere, CC Porter, CJ Henry 03/03/2022 Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
MJ O'Melia, A Mulero-Russe, J Kim, A Pybus, D DeRyckere, L Wood, DK Graham, E Botchwey, AJ García, SN Thomas 03/01/2022 Targeting MERTK and AXL in EGFR Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
Cancers
D Yan, HS Earp, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 11/11/2021 Pharmacology & therapeutics
JM Huelse, DM Fridlyand, S Earp, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 09/01/2021 UNC5293, a potent, orally available and highly MERTK-selective inhibitor.
European journal of medicinal chemistry
H Zheng, J Zhao, B Li, W Zhang, MA Stashko, KA Minson, MG Huey, Y Zhou, HS Earp, D Kireev, DK Graham, D DeRyckere, SV Frye, X Wang 08/05/2021 MERTK inhibition alters the PD-1 axis and promotes anti-leukemia immunity.
JCI insight
AB Lee-Sherick, KM Jacobsen, CJ Henry, MG Huey, RE Parker, LS Page, AA Hill, X Wang, SV Frye, HS Earp, CT Jordan, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 12/03/2020 Pharmacology & therapeutics
JM Huelse, DM Fridlyand, S Earp, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 09/01/2020 BPTF regulates growth of adult and pediatric high-grade glioma through the MYC pathway.
Oncogene
AL Green, J DeSisto, P Flannery, R Lemma, A Knox, M Lemieux, B Sanford, R O'Rourke, S Ramkissoon, K Jones, J Perry, X Hui, E Moroze, I Balakrishnan, AF O'Neill, K Dunn, D DeRyckere, E Danis, A Safadi, A Gilani, B Hubbell-Engler, Z Nuss, JMM Levy, N Serkova, S Venkataraman, DK Graham, N Foreman, K Ligon, K Jones, AL Kung, R Vibhakar 03/01/2020 Correction: BPTF regulates growth of adult and pediatric high-grade glioma through the MYC pathway.
Oncogene
AL Green, J DeSisto, P Flannery, R Lemma, A Knox, M Lemieux, B Sanford, R O'Rourke, S Ramkissoon, K Jones, J Perry, X Hui, E Moroze, I Balakrishnan, AF O'Neill, K Dunn, D DeRyckere, E Danis, A Safadi, A Gilani, B Hubbell-Engler, Z Nuss, JMM Levy, N Serkova, S Venkataraman, DK Graham, N Foreman, K Ligon, K Jones, AL Kung, R Vibhakar 03/01/2020 Data-Driven Construction of Antitumor Agents with Controlled Polypharmacology.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
C Da, D Zhang, M Stashko, E Vasileiadi, RE Parker, KA Minson, MG Huey, JM Huelse, D Hunter, TSK Gilbert, J Norris-Drouin, M Miley, LE Herring, LM Graves, D DeRyckere, HS Earp, DK Graham, SV Frye, X Wang, D Kireev 10/02/2019 Cancer immunology research
A Holtzhausen, W Harris, E Ubil, DM Hunter, J Zhao, Y Zhang, D Zhang, Q Liu, X Wang, DK Graham, SV Frye, HS Earp 10/01/2019 Nature metabolism
F Ni, WM Yu, Z Li, DK Graham, L Jin, S Kang, MR Rossi, S Li, HE Broxmeyer, CK Qu 03/01/2019 Inhibition of MERTK Promotes Suppression of Tumor Growth in BRAF Mutant and BRAF Wild-Type Melanoma.
Molecular cancer therapeutics
L Sinik, KA Minson, JJ Tentler, J Carrico, SM Bagby, WA Robinson, R Kami, T Burstyn-Cohen, SG Eckhardt, X Wang, SV Frye, HS Earp, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 02/01/2019 Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
D Yan, RE Parker, X Wang, SV Frye, HS Earp, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 12/15/2018 The Emerging Role of TYRO3 as a Therapeutic Target in Cancer.
Cancers
SK Smart, E Vasileiadi, X Wang, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 11/29/2018 Highly Selective MERTK Inhibitors Achieved by a Single Methyl Group.
Journal of medicinal chemistry
J Zhao, D Zhang, W Zhang, MA Stashko, D DeRyckere, E Vasileiadi, RE Parker, D Hunter, Q Liu, Y Zhang, J Norris-Drouin, B Li, DH Drewry, D Kireev, DK Graham, HS Earp, SV Frye, X Wang 11/21/2018 MERTK inhibition alters the PD-1 axis and promotes anti-leukemia immunity.
JCI insight
AB Lee-Sherick, KM Jacobsen, CJ Henry, MG Huey, RE Parker, LS Page, AA Hill, X Wang, SV Frye, HS Earp, CT Jordan, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 11/02/2018 MERTK Mediates Intrinsic and Adaptive Resistance to AXL-targeting Agents.
Molecular cancer therapeutics
NK McDaniel, CT Cummings, M Iida, J Hülse, HE Pearson, E Vasileiadi, RE Parker, RA Orbuch, OJ Ondracek, NB Welke, GH Kang, KD Davies, X Wang, SV Frye, HS Earp, PM Harari, RJ Kimple, D DeRyckere, DK Graham, DL Wheeler 11/01/2018 The small-molecule MERTK inhibitor UNC2025 decreases platelet activation and prevents thrombosis.
Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH
BR Branchford, TJ Stalker, L Law, G Acevedo, S Sather, C Brzezinski, KM Wilson, K Minson, AB Lee-Sherick, P Davizon-Castillo, C Ng, W Zhang, KB Neeves, SR Lentz, X Wang, SV Frye, H Shelton Earp, D DeRyckere, LF Brass, DK Graham, JA Di Paola 02/01/2018 GAS6/TAM Pathway Signaling in Hemostasis and Thrombosis.
Frontiers in medicine
LA Law, DK Graham, J Di Paola, BR Branchford 01/01/2018 Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
D DeRyckere, AB Lee-Sherick, MG Huey, AA Hill, JW Tyner, KM Jacobsen, LS Page, GG Kirkpatrick, F Eryildiz, SA Montgomery, W Zhang, X Wang, SV Frye, HS Earp, DK Graham 03/15/2017 Discovery of Macrocyclic Pyrimidines as MerTK-Specific Inhibitors.
ChemMedChem
AL McIver, W Zhang, Q Liu, X Jiang, MA Stashko, J Nichols, MJ Miley, J Norris-Drouin, M Machius, D DeRyckere, E Wood, DK Graham, HS Earp, D Kireev, SV Frye, X Wang 02/03/2017 The Current State of FLT3 Inhibition in Acute Myeloid Leukemia - Pitfalls and Promises.
Journal of cell signaling
KA Minson, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 01/01/2017 Design and Synthesis of Novel Macrocyclic Mer Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.
ACS medicinal chemistry letters
X Wang, J Liu, W Zhang, MA Stashko, J Nichols, MJ Miley, J Norris-Drouin, Z Chen, M Machius, D DeRyckere, E Wood, DK Graham, HS Earp, D Kireev, SV Frye 12/08/2016 Targeting the TAM Receptors in Leukemia.
Cancers
MG Huey, KA Minson, HS Earp, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 11/08/2016 JCI insight
KA Minson, CC Smith, D DeRyckere, C Libbrecht, AB Lee-Sherick, MG Huey, EA Lasater, GD Kirkpatrick, MA Stashko, W Zhang, CT Jordan, D Kireev, X Wang, SV Frye, HS Earp, NP Shah, DK Graham 03/01/2016 PloS one
A Sufit, AB Lee-Sherick, D DeRyckere, M Rupji, B Dwivedi, M Varella-Garcia, AM Pierce, J Kowalski, X Wang, SV Frye, HS Earp, AK Keating, DK Graham 01/01/2016 Molecular cancer therapeutics
CT Cummings, W Zhang, KD Davies, GD Kirkpatrick, D Zhang, D DeRyckere, X Wang, SV Frye, HS Earp, DK Graham 09/01/2015 Oncotarget
AB Lee-Sherick, W Zhang, KK Menachof, AA Hill, S Rinella, G Kirkpatrick, LS Page, MA Stashko, CT Jordan, Q Wei, J Liu, D Zhang, D DeRyckere, X Wang, S Frye, HS Earp, DK Graham 03/30/2015 Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
F Alvarez-Calderon, MA Gregory, C Pham-Danis, D DeRyckere, BM Stevens, V Zaberezhnyy, AA Hill, L Gemta, A Kumar, V Kumar, MF Wempe, DA Pollyea, CT Jordan, NJ Serkova, DK Graham, J DeGregori 03/15/2015 The TAM family: phosphatidylserine sensing receptor tyrosine kinases gone awry in cancer.
Nature reviews. Cancer
DK Graham, D DeRyckere, KD Davies, HS Earp 12/01/2014 Oncotarget
CT Cummings, RM Linger, RA Cohen, S Sather, GD Kirkpatrick, KD Davies, D DeRyckere, HS Earp, DK Graham 11/15/2014 UNC2025, a potent and orally bioavailable MER/FLT3 dual inhibitor.
Journal of medicinal chemistry
W Zhang, D DeRyckere, D Hunter, J Liu, MA Stashko, KA Minson, CT Cummings, M Lee, TG Glaros, DL Newton, S Sather, D Zhang, D Kireev, WP Janzen, HS Earp, DK Graham, SV Frye, X Wang 08/28/2014 Molecular cancer therapeutics
S Christoph, D Deryckere, J Schlegel, JK Frazer, LA Batchelor, AY Trakhimets, S Sather, DM Hunter, CT Cummings, J Liu, C Yang, D Kireev, C Simpson, J Norris-Drouin, EA Hull-Ryde, WP Janzen, GL Johnson, X Wang, SV Frye, HS Earp, DK Graham 11/01/2013 Pre-clinical evaluation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for treatment of acute leukemia.
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE
S Christoph, AB Lee-Sherick, S Sather, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 09/18/2013 MERTK receptor tyrosine kinase is a therapeutic target in melanoma.
The Journal of clinical investigation
J Schlegel, MJ Sambade, S Sather, SJ Moschos, AC Tan, A Winges, D DeRyckere, CC Carson, DG Trembath, JJ Tentler, SG Eckhardt, PF Kuan, RL Hamilton, LM Duncan, CR Miller, N Nikolaishvili-Feinberg, BR Midkiff, J Liu, W Zhang, C Yang, X Wang, SV Frye, HS Earp, JM Shields, DK Graham 05/01/2013 ACS medicinal chemistry letters
J Liu, C Yang, C Simpson, D Deryckere, A Van Deusen, MJ Miley, D Kireev, J Norris-Drouin, S Sather, D Hunter, VK Korboukh, HS Patel, WP Janzen, M Machius, GL Johnson, HS Earp, DK Graham, SV Frye, X Wang 02/09/2012 PloS one
J Migdall-Wilson, C Bates, J Schlegel, L Brandão, RM Linger, D DeRyckere, DK Graham 01/01/2012