apl. Prof., Dr. med.  Thomas Ernst (Group Leader)

Abt. Hämatologie und Internistische Onkologie
Klinik für Innere Medizin II
Universitätsklinikum Jena
email:

Research Focus

The group is working on the molecular pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy of myeloid leukemia with a focus on chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and related myeloproliferative (MPN) and myelodysplastic (MDS) diseases. In close connection between the clinic and the laboratory, several translational research projects in the fields of molecular genetics, epigenetics, clonal evolution and aging are being worked on. Using state-of-the-art sequencing techniques (pyrosequencing, next-generation sequencing) and array technology, genome-wide studies of genetic and epigenetic alterations are performed and functionally characterized in the cell model. The data obtained are analyzed and correlated with clinical parameters (e.g., response to therapy and disease progression). As a result, new prognostic markers and molecular targets can be identified, which could help to develop new targeted therapies for affected patients.

Publications (Selection; Top 10)

1. Jayavelu AK, Schnöder TM, Perner F, Herzog C, Meiler A, Krishnamoorthy G, Huber N, Mohr J, Edelmann-Stephan B, Austin R, Brandt S, Palandri F, Schröder N, Isermann B, Edlich F, Sinha AU, Ungelenk M, Hübner CA, Zeiser R, Rahmig S, Waskow C, Coldham I, Ernst T, Hochhaus A, Jilg S, Jost PJ, Mullally A, Bullinger L, Mertens PR, Lane SW, Mann M, Heidel FH. Splicing factor YBX1 mediates persistence of JAK2-mutated neoplasms. Nature 2020; 588(7836):157-163.
2. Kaiser A, Schmidt M, Huber O, Frietsch JJ, Scholl S, Heidel FH, Hochhaus A, Müller JP, Ernst T. SIRT7: an influence factor in healthy aging and the development of age-dependent myeloid stem-cell disorders. Leukemia 2020; 34(8):2206-2216.
3. Branford S, Kim DDH, Apperley JF, Eide CA, Mustjoki S, Ong ST, Nteliopoulos G, Ernst T, Chuah C, Gambacorti-Passerini C, Mauro MJ, Druker BJ, Kim DW, Mahon FX, Cortes J, Radich JP, Hochhaus A, Hughes TP; International CML Foundation Genomics Alliance. Laying the foundation for genomically-based risk assessment in chronic myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2019; 33(8):1835-1850.
4. Xiao G, Chan LN, Klemm L, Braas D, Chen Z, Geng H, Zhang QC, Aghajanirefah A, Cosgun KN, Sadras T, Lee J, Mirzapoiazova T, Salgia R, Ernst T, Hochhaus A, Jumaa H, Jiang X, Weinstock DM, Graeber TG, Müschen M. B-Cell-Specific Diversion of Glucose Carbon Utilization Reveals a Unique Vulnerability in B Cell Malignancies. Cell 2018;1 73(2):470-484.
5. Rinke J, Müller JP, Blaess MF, Chase A, Meggendorfer M, Schäfer V, Winkelmann N, Haferlach C, Cross NCP, Hochhaus A, Ernst T. Molecular characterization of EZH2 mutant patients with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms. Leukemia 2017; 31(9):1936-1943.
6. Chan LN, Chen Z, Braas D, Lee JW, Xiao G, Geng H, Cosgun KN, Hurtz C, Shojaee S, Cazzaniga V, Schjerven H, Ernst T, Hochhaus A, Kornblau SM, Konopleva M, Pufall MA, Cazzaniga G, Liu GJ, Milne TA, Koeffler HP, Ross TS, Sánchez-García I, Borkhardt A, Yamamoto KR, Dickins RA, Graeber TG, Müschen M. Metabolic gatekeeper function of B-lymphoid transcription factors. Nature 2017; 542(7642):479-483.
7. Shojaee S, Chan LN, Buchner M, Cazzaniga V, Cosgun KN, Geng H, Qiu YH, von Minden MD, Ernst T, Hochhaus A, Cazzaniga G, Melnick A, Kornblau SM, Graeber TG, Wu H, Jumaa H, Müschen M. PTEN opposes negative selection and enables oncogenic transformation of pre-B cells. Nature Medicine 2016; 22(4):379-387.
8. Schmidt M, Rinke J, Schäfer V, Schnittger S, Kohlmann A, Obstfelder E, Kunert C, Ziermann J, Winkelmann N, Eigendorff E, Haferlach T, Haferlach C, Hochhaus A, Ernst T. Molecular-defined clonal evolution in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia independent of the BCR-ABL status. Leukemia 2014; 28(12):2292-2299.
9. Ernst T, Chase AJ, Score J, Hidalgo-Curtis CE, Bryant C, Jones AV, Waghorn K, Zoi K, Ross FM, Reiter A, Hochhaus A, Drexler HG, Duncombe A, Cervantes F, Oscier D, Boultwood J, Grand FH, Cross NCP. Inactivating mutations of the histone methyltransferase gene EZH2 in myeloid disorders. Nature Genetics 2010; 42(8):722-726.
10. Jones AV, Kreil S, Zoi K, Waghorn K, Curtis C, Zhang L, Score J, Seear R, Chase AJ, Grand FH, White H, Zoi C, Loukopoulos D, Terpos E, Vervessou EC, Schultheis B, Emig M, Ernst T, Lengfelder E, Hehlmann R, Hochhaus A, Oscier D, Silver RT, Reiter A, Cross NC: Widespread occurrence of the JAK2 V617F mutation in chronic myeloproliferative disorders. Blood 2005; 106:2162-2168.

Theses and Dissertations

If you are interested in doing your experimental doctoral dissertation with us, please contact Prof. Thomas Ernst.

Funding

Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Deutsche José-Carreras-Leukämie-Stiftung, Hector-Stiftung