SUMMARY
The research of Dr. Madiha Iqbal, M.B.B.S., M.D., pertains to hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy.
CAR-T combines antigen binding and T cell activation into a single protein. CAR-T allows T cells to recognize cancer cells more effectively and destroy them.
From a disease interest standpoint, her focus is on lymphomas.
Dr. Iqbal studies and develops novel therapeutics for patients who experience disease relapse post-CAR-T therapy and for patients experiencing graft-versus-host disease.
Additional research includes therapeutic development of agents for lymphomas with limited therapeutic options such as T-cell lymphomas and Hodgkin's lymphomas.
Focus areas
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Prognostic markers. Dr. Iqbal explores and validates emerging prognostic markers such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients receiving hematopoietic cell transplantation and CAR-T. ctDNA is DNA that comes from cancer cells and tumors.
She is developing an investigator-initiated proposal to assess the prognostic value ctDNA in patients with large B-cell lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma and recipients of CAR-T therapy.
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Graft-versus-host disease. Dr. Iqbal assesses novel combinations and therapeutics to ameliorate the burden of graft-versus-host disease in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.
She is the principal investigator of clinical trials at Mayo Clinic in Florida that investigate agents with new and novel mechanisms to treat recurrent or refractory acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease.
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Evidence-based medicine. Dr. Iqbal has published several studies that help in understanding possible efficacies for preventive and therapeutic interventions in the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation.
She focuses on the safety and efficacy of hematopoietic cell transplantation in rare diseases. Her research assists in laying the foundation for additional studies that can improve the currently observed outcomes for patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Significance to patient care
Bone marrow transplantation and hematopoietic cell transplantation are procedures that have rapidly evolved over the last century and possess the unique ability to cure a variety of diseases. Some of these possibly cured diseases are hematological malignancies, inherited metabolic disorders and autoimmune diseases.
Dr. Iqbal's research improves safety and efficacy for patients who need hematopoietic cell transplantation and other cellular therapies. She published several papers in the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation and is currently developing a clinical trial to improve the safety and efficacy of hematopoietic cell transplantation for various autoimmune diseases.
This allows patients to derive the maximum benefit from the procedure. Hematopoietic cell transplantation and bone marrow transplantation, for autoimmune diseases, are currently being offered only at Mayo Clinic in Florida.
Professional highlights
- Member, editorial board, Frontiers in Immunology, 2023-present.
- Member, editorial board, eJHaem, 2022-present.
- Member, Fellowship Program Evaluation Committee, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 2022-present.
- Member, Infection Prevention and Control Subcommittee, Mayo Clinic 2021-present.
- Scholar, Kern Center, Mayo Clinic, 2023-2026.
- Chief fellow, Department of Hematology-Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 2019-2020.
- Education chair, Mayo Fellows Association, Mayo Clinic, 2019-2020.
- Fellow liaison Mayo Clinic, Florida Society of Clinical Oncology, 2019-2020.
- Member, Mayo Clinic Graduate Education Committee, Mayo Clinic, 2019-2020.