Michael P. Rettig, Ph.D.
- Assistant Professor
- Department of Medicine
- Oncology Division
- Stem Cell Biology Section
- Oncology Division
- Department of Medicine
- Research interests
- Graft-versus-host disease
- Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
- Suicide gene therapy
Research
Dr. Rettig's postdoctoral research was mentored by John DiPersio, M.D./Ph.D. of Washington University. Dr. Rettig helped develop and characterize a new chimeric suicide gene for the control of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This chimeric suicide gene consists of a highly active mutant form of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase fused in-frame to the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the human CD34 antigen (ΔCD34-TK). Dr. Rettig's preclinical studies demonstrated that the ΔCD34-TK/ganciclovir suicide gene therapy system could be used to modulate GVHD without abrogating the graft-versus-leukemia effect after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. His laboratory focuses on translating the ΔCD34-TK/ganciclovir suicide gene therapy system to the clinic and developing alternative strategies to maximize the graft-versus-leukemia effect while minimizing GVHD after allogeneic HSCT. Dr. Rettig is using murine allogeneic and xenogeneic transplant models and small animal imaging techniques (bioluminescence imaging and positron emission tomography) to determine whether monoclonal antibodies and a new class of regulatory T cells can be used to separate the toxicity of GVHD from the beneficial graft-versus-leukemia effect after HSCT.
Biographical Sketch
Education
| 1993 | BS (Chemistry), Illinois State University, Normal, IL |
| 2000 | PhD (Chemistry), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN |
Post-graduate Training
| 2000-2003 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO |
Academic Positions & Employment
| 1988-1991 | Lab Technician, Environmental Contract Laboratory Division, Applied Research and Development Laboratory, Mt. Vernon, IL |
| 1992 | Summer Intern, Control Division, The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, MI |
| 1992-1993 | Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, IL (Faculty Advisor: Michael E. Kurz, PhD) |
| 1993-2000 | Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (Faculty Advisor: Philip S. Low, PhD) |
| 2000-2003 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO (Faculty Advisor: John F. DiPersio, MD, PhD) |
| 2003-2005 | Research Associate, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO (Faculty Advisor: John F. DiPersio, MD, PhD) |
| 2005-2007 | Research Instructor, Division of Oncology, Stem Cell Biology Section, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO |
| 2007-present | Assistant Professor, Division of Oncology, Stem Cell Biology Section, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO |
Honors & Awards
| 1993 | Summa Cum Laude, Illinois State University |
| 2001 | Best Abstract Award, International Society of Hematotherapy & Graft Engineering, VIIth Annual Meeting, Quebec City, Canada |
| 2005 | Fellow Scholar Award, American Society of Hematology |
Professional Societies
| American Society of Hematology |
Updated: June 30, 2008
