John Kersey, M.D.
Dr. Kersey is the founding director of the Masonic Cancer Center, which became a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in 1998. He currently holds the Children’s Cancer Research Fund Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology and is a professor in the University of Minnesota Departments of Laboratory Medicine/Pathology and Pediatrics. As Blood and Marrow Transplant Program director, Dr. Kersey led the team that completed the world’s first successful bone marrow transplant for lymphoma in 1975. Dr. Kersey’s research accomplishments include pioneering work in the development of some of the earliest monoclonal antibodies for leukemia study in the early 1980s, and the subsequent use of these antibodies for cleansing the bone marrow of leukemia cells prior to reinfusion of a patient’s own bone marrow.
Current focus
“My current research is focused on leukemia in infants and children, particularly the leukemias caused by an abnormality of a gene called MLL. We study this abnormality in both human and mouse models.”
Committed to finding a cure
“This form of leukemia in infants and children has a very poor outcome with therapy. I want to change that.”
Children's Cancer Research Fund: Making a difference
“Children's Cancer Research Fund has provided grants that allow us to obtain larger grants. Children’s Cancer Research Fund allowed us to develop the world’s first mouse model for this rare and deadly form of leukemia.”