Alexander Bick, M.D., Ph.D.
![](/-/media/post-launch-images/2022/06/scholars/stewart/alexander-bick.jpg?la=fr&h=1000&w=1000&hash=1FD35F6E40ABD5CF8DF1426A4B2E93CA)
- Title
- Assistant Professor
- Department
- Medicine
- Institution
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Address
- 2200 Pierce Ave., RRB 550
- City, State, ZIP
- Nashville, TN 37232
- Phone
- 615-936-9296
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://www.bicklab.org/
- Research field
- Cancer Genomics
- Award year
- 2022
Research
The Bick lab will develop an algorithm to determine why and how only a small subset of pre-cancerous cells drive the development of blood cancers. Hematopoietic stem cells give rise to a repertoire of different blood cell types in our body. As people age, a process known as clonal hematopoiesis (CH) can occur, where hematopoietic stem cells acquire mutations and begin making a substantial portion of blood cells with that particular mutation or mutations. These blood cells have the potential to progress to blood cancers, yet not all experience this outcome, a phenomenon that we seek to understand. Previously, the lab identified certain mutations that seem to “drive” CH. Now, the lab will use state-of the-art genomic techniques and computational biology to identify CH in 1 million individuals and characterize the mechanisms that allow hematopoietic stem cells to rapidly expand in number and become cancer-causing. Work from my lab could have significant impact on early intervention strategies toward cancer and identify individuals who are most at risk for developing malignant disease.