
Dr. Kurtzberg conducts both clinical and laboratory-based translational research efforts, all involving various aspects of normal and malignant hematopoiesis. In the laboratory, her early work focused on studies determining the mechanisms that regulate the choice between the various pathways of differentiation available to the pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell. Her laboratory established a CD7+ cell line, DU.528, capable of multilineage differentiation as well as self-renewal, and subsequently described the aggressive leukemic syndrome of CD7+ALL and demonstrated that a normal counterpart of the CD7+, TN malignant cell can be isolated from postnatal human thymus, bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells. The leukemic CD7+ cell has been established in model systems nude and SCID mice where direct IL2-cytotoxicity has been demonstrated. The mechanism of IL2-induced cytotoxicity is currently a major focus of work in the laboratory. One focus of Dr. Kurtzberg's translational research is the use of novel deoxynucleosides to purge normal and malignant T-cells from human bone marrow. She has also played an important role in the development of PEG-L Asparaginase and Nelarabine, two novel antileukemia drugs that are now used routinely in the clinic. Dr. Kurtzberg is active in the Children's Oncology Group and coordinated the ALinC 16 high risk study for children with newly diagnosed B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as well as relapsed studies for children with T- and B-lineage ALL. Under Dr. Kurtzberg's leadership, Duke has established an internationally known children's transplant program which currently treats children with cancer, blood disorders, immune deficiencies, hemoglobinopathies and inherited metabolic diseases. Over the past 2 years, the cord blood transplant program at Duke has initiated studies of autologous cord blood in children with neonatal brain injury and cerebral palsy. Dr. Kurtzberg’s laboratory is also pursuing preclinical studies isolating oligodendrocytes from cord blood with the goal of using these cells for cell therapy to treat acquired agenetic brain injuries in the next few years. Over the past 2 decades, Dr. Kurtzberg pioneered and is investigating the use of banked umbilical cord blood as an alternative stem cell source for unrelated marrow transplantation. She was awarded with a banking and transplant center contract from NHLBI for 1996-2005, to establish the Carolinas Cord Blood Bank (CCBB)at Duke and was the PI on the cord blood transplantation study (COBLT) in children with hematological malignancies and inborn errors of metabolism. In 2006, the CCBB was awarded a contract from HRSA to become a member bank of the National Cord Blood Inventory (NCBI) of the CW Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program after legislation was passed in 2005 to establish this network. Dr. Kurtzberg is also the Duke PI for the NIH-sponsored, Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT-CTN) and the PI on a national trial comparing single and double cord blood transplantation in children with hematological malignancies. In 2008-2009, Dr. Kurtzberg’s lab pioneered studies to predict cord blood potency through novel assays on segments attached to cryopreserved cord blood units. The program is also performing translational research testing cord blood expansion, cellular targeted therapies and tissue repair and regeneration.
Education and Training
- New York University, M.D. 1976
Selected Grants and Awards
- Duke Women's Reproductive Health Research Scholars
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network
- MS Clinical Trial: DUOC
- Marcus Foundation Phase II MSC ASD
- High Fidelity Diffusion MRI for Children with Cerebral Palsy in Stem Cell Therapy
- Marcus Foundation Grant Agreement
- Phase I clinical trial for the use of hCT-MSc in children with COVID-19
- Reprogramming Inflammatory Cells with Mesenchymal Stromal Cell RNA Granules
- Data Enabled Automation for the Improved Efficiency, Yield, and Reproducibility of the Manufacturing of Human Umbilical Cord Tissue Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Clinical Therapeutic Use
- UNC - Duke Immunotherapy Training Program
- Clinical Transplant-Related Long-term Outcomes of Alternative Donor Allogeneic Transplantation (CTRL-ALT-D) BMT CTN Protocol #1702
- RVT 802: FDA BLA Support (Addendum #23)
- Transfusion Medicine and Hematology
- Pilot Study of Safety and Efficacy of Cord Tissue Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (hCT-MSC) in COVID-19 Related Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
- (TEACH) Immune Tolerance Network
- Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy-Phase II-Robertson Foundation
- NMDP / Be the Match Biobank
- HLA Typing and Release Testing Addendum
- Transmission electron microscope (TEM)
- RVT 802: Research Thymus Manufacturing (Addend #19)
- Optimized Procedures and SOP's for Thymus Tissue Processing
- Comparing Reduced Intensity Allo HCT to Hypomethylating Therapy or Best Supportive Care in Patients Aged 50-75 with Intermediate-2 and High Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome
- Reduced-Intensity Conditioning for Children and Adults with Hemophagocytic Syndromes or
Reduced-Intensity Conditioning for Children and Adults with Hemophagocytic Syndromes or Selected Primary Immune Deficiencies (RICHI) - Tissue Collection and Processing for Thymus Transplantation
- Notch Mediated Expansion of Cord Blood Progenitors for Stem Cell Transplant
- 2018 Cord Blood Collection Agreement
- RVT 802: Media Fill and FDA Response (Addend #20)
- Enzyvant Sub Award Vendors (Addend #18)
- NMDP / Be the Match Biobank
- HRSA National Cord Blood Inventory, Fifth Cohort
- RVT 802: Media Fill and FDA Response (Addend #17)
- HRSA National Cord Blood Inventory
- Creation of Storage Space Dedicated to RVT-802 (Project Addendum #15)
- Purchase of Environmental Monitoring (EM) Equipment (Project Addendum #14)
- Raw Materials Testing (Project Addendum #16)
- Potency and Release Assays for Thymus Tissue Processing
- Duke-UNC Clinical Hematology and Transfusion Research Career Development Program
- A Phase I Trial of a Single ProHema CB Product (Ex Vivo Modulated Human Cord Blood Cells) as Part of Single Cord Blood Unit Transplant after Busulfan/Cyclophosphamide/ATG Conditioning for Pediatric Patients with Inherited Metabolic Disorders
- A Single-arm, Prospective Study of Remestemcel-L, Ex-Vivo Cultured Adult Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells, for the Treatment of Pediatric Patients who have Failed to Respond to Steroid Treatment for Acute GVHD
- Safety Follow-up Through 180 Days of Treatment with Remestemcel-L in Study MSB-GVHD001 in Pediatric Patients who have Failed to Respond to Steroid Treatment for Acute GVHD
- Duke Research Training Program for Pediatricians
- (TEACH) Atemtuzumab, Costimulation Blockade and Sirolimus: A Tolerogenic Canvas for Donor Antigen Delivery via Mesenchymal
- NMDP New or Expanded Collection Hospital Development for Public Cord Blood Collection
- National Marrow Donor Program Kit Collection Project Agreement 210224
- Notch Mediated Expansion of Cord Blood Progenitors for Stem Cell Transplant
- Autologous Umbilical Cord Blood Infusion for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD
- Correlating TCR Diversity to Immune Reconstitution After Cord Blood Transplant
- NMDP New or Expanded Collection Hospital Development for Public Cord Blood Collection
- Research Training In Neuro-Oncology
- Cord Blood Biomarkers for Engraftment
- UNC-Duke Collaborative Clinical Pharmacology Postdoctoral Training Program
- National Marrow Donor Program Amendment 1 to the Duke University Cord Blood Collection Agreement 206432
- HRSA National Cord Blood Inventory, Fifth Cohort
- Clinical Oncology Research Career Development Program
- Multidisciplinary Neonatal Training Grant
- National Marrow Donor Program ISBT 128 Implementation Project Agreement 205793
- Maintenance of NHLBI Cord Blood Units
- New or Expanded Collection Hospital Development for Public Cord Blood Collection
- Nutrition, Deregulation of Imprinted Genes and Rapid Weight Gain in Early Life
- HRSA National Cord Blood Inventory, Fifth Cohort
- CTSA UL
- Research Training In Neuro-Oncology
- Non-Myeloablative Cord Blood Transplantation
- In-utero Exposure and Infant Loss of IGF2 Imprinting
- Parental Caregiving of Children PostStem Cell Transplant
- Transplant Centers For Clinical Research On
- Collection And Storage Centers For Clinical Research...
- Pediatric Oncology Group (POG)
- Pediatric Oncology Group
- Pediatric Oncology Group Studies
- Pediatric Oncology Group Studies
- Viral Control And Immune Reconstitution In Hiv Infection
- Viral Control & Immune Reconstitution In Hiv Infection
- Cancer Center Core Support Grant
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Core Support Grant
- Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation In Breast And Ovari
- Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation-Breast And Ovarian
- Pediatric Oncology Group Studies
- Pediatric Oncology Group Studies
- Effect Of Swainsonine On Human Bone Marrow Stem Cells Trea
- Effect Of Swainsonine On Human Bone Marrow Stem Cells Trea