David Wald, MD, PhD

Professor
Department of Pathology
School of Medicine
Co-Leader
Immune Oncology Program
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Associate Director
Medical Scientist Training Program
School of Medicine

David Wald graduated from Cornell University in 1997. He then matriculated to Case Western Reserve University as an MSTP Student. While a graduate student, he studied Toll-like receptor signaling ultimately attaining a Ph.D. in Pathology. After the completion of his medical school requirements, Dr. Wald continued his clinical training in Clinical Pathology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. Dr. Wald also conducted postdoctoral research in the laboratories of Drs. Bryan Roth and William Tse. While in these laboratories, Dr. Wald developed an interest in cancer drug development and began to identify novel drug candidates for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and to explore their mechanisms of action. In 2008, Dr. Wald joined Case Western Reserve University's Department of Pathology.

Research Information

Research Projects

Our research efforts are centered around the identification and development of novel therapeutic strategies for cancer with a particular focus on Acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML is one of the most common forms of leukemia in adults and despite advances in treatment the median survival in patients over the age of 56 is less than one year. One of the major problems is that elderly patients frequently are not able to tolerate the current therapeutics which have high toxicities leaving them with no satisfactory options. Our laboratory is involved in elucidating novel therapeutic approaches to more specifically target AML cells to try to improve the efficacy and lessen the toxicities of AML therapy. In particular, we are actively investigating three approaches that involve ATP depletion-mediated differentiation, the design of novel nucleoside analogues that exhibit leukemic cell preferential uptake, and the targeting of a particular kinase that appears to be dysregulated in AML. We are currently conducting studies to both define the mechanisms of these strategies as well as to further assess their clinical potential using both in vitro and mouse in vivo based approaches.

External Appointments

Title
Physician, Department of Pathology, Clinical
Organization/Publication
University Hospitals

Publications

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Education

Doctor of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University
Pathology
2005
Bachelor of Science
Cornell University
1997

Residencies, Internships and Fellowships

Clinical Pathology
University Hospitals Case Medical Center

Additional Information