Wilmot's BMT and Cellular Therapies Program appointed Patrick Reagan as its new director.
Patrick M. Reagan, MD, has been named the new director of the Blood & Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies program at Wilmot Cancer Institute. Dr. Reagan, who has been serving as interim director since 2022, will take on this role permanently.
Dr. Reagan's appointment has been met with enthusiasm by Aram Hezel, MD, chief of Hematology and Oncology at Wilmot Cancer Institute. Dr. Hezel expressed his confidence in Dr. Reagan's ability to lead the program, citing his significant contributions to the institute, particularly in the field of CAR T-cell therapy.
In his role as clinical director of the Immune Effector Cell Therapy Program at Wilmot since 2020, Dr. Reagan has been instrumental in adapting innovative therapies, such as CAR T-cell therapy, into clinical trials for patients. This groundbreaking therapy, now available for a variety of types of blood cancers, including multiple myeloma, some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and adult and pediatric patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia, is a testament to Dr. Reagan's dedication to advancing cancer treatment.
Dr. Reagan's role includes collaborating with lab researchers studying immunotherapy, with the aim of bringing treatments from the lab into clinical trials for patients. This collaboration is expected to further boost the institute's efforts in the field of stem cell transplantation and immune effector therapies.
Jonathan W. Friedberg, MD, MMSc, director of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, acknowledged Dr. Reagan's instrumental role in the success of the CAR T-cell therapy program at Wilmot and his suitability for the position of the program's new director.
Dr. Reagan, a dedicated educator, has mentored medical students, residents, and fellows, while contributing to various educational programs during his tenure at Wilmot Cancer Institute. He graduated with honors from the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in 2009.
The Wilmot Cancer Institute's BMT program, which started in 1989, has performed over 4,400 transplants. The center performs approximately 175 transplants per year and about 230 infusions such as CAR T-cell therapy.
Dr. Reagan anticipates improving the delivery of care and increasing the ability to support all BMT patients, in light of the recent explosion of new cellular therapies. His goal is to help Wilmot continue to lead in the stem cell transplantation and immune effector field, benefiting patients locally and nationally.
The future plans for the program would likely involve continued collaboration with other institutions to advance cell and gene therapies. This could include participating in consortia like the Empire State Cellular Therapy Consortium to improve access to innovative treatments for patients across New York State.
Sources: [1] University of Rochester Medical Center. (2022, March 22). Patrick M. Reagan, MD, named new director of Blood & Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies program at Wilmot Cancer Institute. Retrieved from https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/4925/patrick-m-reagan-md-named-new-director-of-blood-marrow-transplant-and-cellular-therapies-program-at-wilmot-cancer-institute.aspx [2] University of Rochester Medical Center. (n.d.). Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program. Retrieved from https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/cancer-centers/wilmot/services/stem-cell-transplant-and-cellular-therapy-program.aspx
Dr. Reagan's significant contributions to the Wilmot Cancer Institute, particularly in the field of science and health-and-wellness, have extended to adapting cutting-edge therapies, such as CAR T-cell therapy, into clinical trials for medical-conditions like cancer. As the new director, he aims to improve the delivery of care and boost the institute's efforts in areas like stem cell transplantation and immune effector therapies.
Dr. Reagan's role requires collaboration with lab researchers on science projects studying immunotherapy, with the ultimate goal of bringing these treatments from the lab into clinical trials for patients, potentially through collaborations with other institutions to advance cell and gene therapies.
