Dr. Justin Taylor Appointed The Pap Corps Endowed Professorship in Leukemia
The distinguished honor recognizes Dr. Taylor’s dedication to improving outcomes for patients with hematologic malignancies through transformative research.
As a self-proclaimed “science nerd,” Justin Taylor, M.D., was drawn to the study of leukemia because it was using molecular genetics to sequence genes long before the rest of the cancer field. But what got him hooked was witnessing the rapid pace of discovery. For decades, there had been only one treatment plan for patients with leukemia.
That changed during Dr. Taylor’s fellowship, when researchers began testing two new drugs as non-traditional chemotherapies. Their remarkable success inspired the young scientist, whose career now focuses on researching the role of recurrent mutations in hematologic malignancies and how to target these with novel therapeutics.
In recognition of the enormous potential behind this research, Dr. Taylor, translational leader for leukemia at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, was appointed the newest holder of The Pap Corps Endowed Professorship in Leukemia, thanks to a generous gift from The Pap Corps Champions for Cancer Research.
“I joined Sylvester five years ago and still see myself as relatively early in my career, so having something to receive is a huge step,” said Dr. Taylor. “More importantly, this funding is going to help further the research that I do and that we do as the leukemia group together. It will serve as an accelerator, advancing research from the lab and into the clinic.”
Bench-to-Bedside Research
Dr. Taylor and his team are currently investigating innovative technologies, such as single-cell sequencing, to detect residual disease, as well as new drug treatments for leukemia with a focus on kinase-targeted therapies, including the understudied STK17A.
These are just a couple of examples of the potentially life-altering research taking place within the Taylor Lab. Dr. Taylor considers them among the most meaningful because they’re directly related to patient care and improving patient outcomes. As a clinician who sees patients, he’s grateful for The Pap Corps’ support, which promises to advance his research.
“It’s inspirational how much money they’ve raised and that they commit to continuing to do so every year as the organization has grown,” said Dr. Taylor. “I’m in awe that they’re able to do that and thankful that they chose Sylvester – and me – to be the recipient of this philanthropy.”
Supporting Innovative Cancer Research
Since its founding more than 70 years ago, The Pap Corps has been a proud partner of Sylvester, raising more than $110 million to support innovative cancer research. This funding has helped fuel scientific progress by supporting three endowed positions and hundreds of research projects, bringing Sylvester’s world-renowned physicians and scientists closer to uncovering the causes and potential treatments and cures for this terrible disease.
“Since day one, our mission has been to fund cancer research, and endowed positions are a perfect way for us to be able to do that,” said Susan Dinter, chair of The Pap Corps Board of Directors. “To me, it’s such an honor that in doing so, we give these incredible doctors opportunities to continue with their particular research, and we’re also allowing Sylvester to attract and retain the highest caliber of physicians and scientists.”
Attracting the Best and Brightest
Sylvester Director Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., was instrumental in recruiting Dr. Taylor to Sylvester and nominated him for The Pap Corps Endowed Professorship in Leukemia.
“The Pap Corps’ incredible generosity has supported Sylvester researchers for decades. With the Pap Corps Endowed Professorship in Leukemia, we are able to recognize the incredible talents of Dr. Taylor, enabling us to have one of the strongest leukemia programs in the country,” said Dr. Nimer, who is also the Oscar de la Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and executive dean for research at the Miller School. “Our mission at Sylvester is clear — to do research that matters so we can save lives. And that is exactly what Dr. Taylor will pursue, thanks to The Pap Corps.”
In confirming the honor upon Dr. Taylor, Guillermo “Willy” Prado, Ph.D., interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, noted that an endowed professorship is one of the highest honors the University of Miami can bestow on a faculty member.
“Endowed faculty positions are an important and valuable mechanism to recognize faculty who contribute significantly to the scholarly reputation and academic excellence of the institution,” said Dr. Prado, who is also the University of Miami’s chief academic officer. “As a holder of an endowed appointment, you serve as an active scholarly role model to which others can aspire. Yours is an essential role in establishing a culture of continuing excellence at the University.”
Tags: Division of Hematology, Dr. Justin Taylor, Dr. Stephen Nimer, hematology, Leukemia, Susan Dinter, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Pap Corps Champions for Cancer Research, The Pap Corps Endowed Professorship in Leukemia