Dr Maitta earned his B.S. from The City College of New York where he would return to earn his M.A. degree in cell biology two years later. He then attended the Medical Scientist Training Program at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM) in New York where he earned first his M.S., and later his Ph.D. degrees both in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology where he studied structure/function differences in antibodies generated to encapsulated pathogens. This was followed by his M.D degree. After graduation from AECOM he proceeded to do his residency in Clinical Pathology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. His residency training was followed by completion of a fellowship in Transfusion Medicine from Yale University’s Yale New Haven Hospital. He joined the faculty of UHCMC in 2011.
Research Information
Research Interests
Dr Maitta research interests span both clinical/ translational medicine and basic science. His work was the first to report using a murine model the importance of α-synuclein in development/ maturation of immune-competent B and T cells. Currently, studies are focused on looking at α-synuclein as a marker of senescence in platelets, and potential role in diagnosing neurological neoplasms. Dr Maitta is also actively studying the role that immature platelets have in differentiating thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura from other microangiopathic hemolytic anemia presentations. These studies have expanded to study thrombocytopenias at large. Thirdly, he has also studied blood safety and transfusion reaction incidences secondary to blood component transfusions. He is also interested in alloimmunization in sickle cell disease and immune dysregulation in these patients. Studies are also ongoing to determine role of apheresis in defined disease processes.
External Appointments
Publications
Maitta, R.W. Apheresis collection of mononuclear cells for chimeric-antigen receptor therapies. Eur. J. Haematol. 2023. doi:10.1111/ejh.14071.
Maitta, R.W., Reeves, H.M., Downes, K.A., He, X., Hackney, L.R., Ahuja, S.P. Immature platelet dynamics in management of protracted response to therapy of a young pediatric patient with immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Thromb. Res. 2023;228:145-147. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2023.06.002.
Maitta, R.W., Reeves, H.M., Fontaine, M.J. Editorial: Developments in sickle cell disease therapy and potentials for gene therapy. Front. Med. 2023.10:1208192. doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1208192.
Zhou, Y.Y., Reeves, H.M, Webb, L., Santiago, Z., Maitta, R.W. Chronic red cell exchange in sickle cell patients with iron overload may not affect mortality. Front. Med. 2022;9:892967. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.892967.
Maitta, R.W., Raval, J.S., Reeves, H.M., Fontaine, M.J. Editorial: Thrombotic microangiopathies, diagnostic and therapeutic advances. Front. Med. 2021. 8:778352. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.778352.
Maitta, R.W. Immature platelets in COVID-19 infection. Br J Haematol. 2021;194(3):494-495. doi: 10.1111/bjh.17676.
Reeves, H.M., Maitta, R.W. Comparison of absolute immature platelet count to the PLASMIC score in predicting ADAMTS13 deficiency in suspected thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Thromb. Res. 2022;215:30-36. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2022.05.008.
Stefaniuk, C.M., Schlegelmilch, J., Meyerson, H.J., Harding, C.V., Maitta, R.W. Initial assessment of α-synuclein structure in platelets. J. Thromb. Thrombolysis 2022:53(4):950-953. doi: 10.1007/s11239-021-02607-z.
Maitta, R.W. Anti-CD20 therapeutic options in immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Br J Haematol. 2022. doi:10.1111/bjh.18215.
Zhu, M., Reeves, H.M., Maitta, R.W. Immature platelet dynamics correlate with ADAMTS13 deficiency and predict therapy response in immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Thromb. Res. 2021;198:72-78. doi:10.1016/j.thromres.2020.11.028.
Reeves, H.M., Maitta, R.W. Immature platelet dynamics in immune-mediated thrombocytopenic states. Front. Med. 2020;7:597734. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.597734.
Kundrapu, S., Reeves, H.M., Maitta, R.W. Absolute immature platelet counts suggest platelet production suppression during complicated relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Acta Haematol. doi: 10.1159/000510913.
Kundrapu, S., Srivastava, S., Good, C.E., Lazarus, H.M., Maitta, R.W., Jacobs, M.R. Bacterial contamination and septic transfusion reaction rates associated with platelet components before and after introduction of primary culture: experience at a US academic medical center 1991 through 2017. Transfusion. 2020;60(5):974-985. doi: 10.1111/trf.15780.
Behtaj, M., Zhu, M., Bittencourt, C.E., Ha, J.P., Maitta, R.W. Non-O blood group thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura patients take longer to recover as measured by number of therapeutic plasma exchanges needed for platelet recovery. Thromb. Res. 2020;185:79-84. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2019.11.022.
Pei, Y., Maitta, R.W. Alpha synuclein in hematopoiesis and immunity. Heliyon. 2019;5(10):e02590. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02590.
Bashover, E.M., Stefaniuk, C.M., Harding, C.V., Maitta, R.W. Use of a whole-cell ELISA to detect additional antibodies to platelets in the setting of suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Eur. J. Haematol. 2019;103(2):99-106. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13263.
Gokozan, H.N., Reeves, H.M., Maitta, R.W. Absolute immature platelet count dynamics of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura patients with high ADAMTS13 inhibitor. Thromb. Res. 2019;179:128-131. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2019.05.011.
Kundrapu, S., Datla, S., Griffin, V., Maitta, R.W. Adverse events during apheresis: a ten year experience at a tertiary academic medical center. J. Clin. Apher. 2019;34(5):528-536. doi: 10.1002/jca.21706.
Dosani, T., Covut, F., Pinto, R., Kim, B-G., Ali, N., Beck, R., Maitta, R., Downes, K., Fox, R., Reese, J., de Lima, M., Malek, E. Impact of lenalidomide on collected hematopoietic myeloid and erythroid progenitors: peripheral stem cell collection may not be affected. Leuk Lymphoma. 2019;60(9):2199-2206. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2019.1573367.
Tashkandi, H., Shameli A., Harding, C.V., Maitta, R.W. Ultrastructural changes in peripheral blood leukocytes in α-synuclein knockout mice. Blood Cells Mol. Dis. 2018;73:33-37. doi: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2018.09.001.
Maitta, R.W. Current state of apheresis technology and its applications. Transfus Apher Sci. 2018;57(5):606-613. doi:10.1016/j.transci.2018.09.009.
Stefaniuk, C.M., Hong, H., Harding, C.V., Maitta, R.W. α-Synuclein concentration increases over time in plasma supernatant of single donor platelets. Eur. J. Haematol. 2018;101(5):630-634. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13152.
Chen, W., Ha, J.P., Hong, H., Maitta, R.W. Absolute Immature platelet counts in the setting of suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia may predict anti-PF4-heparin immunoassay testing results. Transfus Apher Sci. 2018;57(4):507-511. doi:10.1016/j.transci.2018.04.001.
Stefaniuk, C.M., Reeves, H.M., Maitta, R.W. Dynamic changes in absolute immature platelet count suggest the presence of a co-existing immune process in the setting of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Transfusion. 2017;57(4):913-918. doi:10.1111/trf.13974.
Li, Y., Li, J., Reeves, H.M., Reyes, R., Maitta, R.W. Comparison of two apheresis systems during peripheral blood stem cells collections at a tertiary medical center. Transfusion. 2016;56(11):2833-2838. doi:10.1111/trf.13754.
Zheng, Y., Maitta, R.W. Alloimmunisation rates of sickle cell disease patients in the United States differ from those in other geographical regions. Transfus Med. 2016;26(3):225-230. doi:10.1111/tme.12314.
Jacobs, M.R., Lazarus, H.M., Maitta, R.W. Septic transfusion reactions to platelet transfusions. Blood. 2016. http://www.bloodjournal.org/content/127/4/496.e-letters
Hong, H., Xiao, W., Lazarus, H.M., Good, C.E., Maitta, R.W., Jacobs, M.R. Detection of septic transfusion reactions to platelet transfusions by active and passive surveillance. Blood. 2016;127(4):496-502. doi:10.1182/blood-2015-07-655944
Shameli, A., Xiao, W., Zheng, Y., Shyu, S., Sumodi, J., Meyerson, H.J., Harding, C.V., Maitta, R.W. A critical role for alpha-synuclein in development and function of T lymphocytes. Immunobiology. 2016;221(2):333-340. doi:10.1016/j.imbio.2015.10.002
Jacobs, M.R., Lazarus, H.M., Maitta, R.W. The safety of the blood supply-Time to raise the bar. N. Engl. J. Med. 2015. 373(9):882. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1507761#SA1.
Bittencourt, C.E., Ha, J.P., Maitta, R.W. Re-examination of 30-day survival and relapse rates in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura-hemolytic uremic syndrome. PLoS One. 2015. 10(5): e0127744. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0127744.
Hong, H., Xiao, W., Stempak, L.M., Sandhaus, L.M., Maitta, R.W. Absolute immature platelet count dynamics in diagnosing and monitoring the clinical course of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Transfusion. 2015;55(4):756-765. doi:10.1111/trf.12912.
Xiao, W., Shameli, A., Harding, C.V., Meyerson, H.J. Maitta, R.W. Late stages of hematopoiesis and B cell lymphopoiesis are regulated by α-synuclein, a key player in Parkinson's disease. Immunobiology. 2014; 219(11):836-844. doi:10.1016/j.imbio.2014.07.014.
Zheng, Y., Hong, H., Reeves, H.M., Maitta, R.W. Absolute immature platelet count helps differentiate thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura from hypertension-induced thrombotic microangiopathy. Transfus Apher Sci. 2014; 51(1):54-57. doi:10.1016/j.transci.2014.07.004.
Maitta, R.W., Vasovic, L.V., Mohandas, K., Music-Aplenc, L., Bonzon-Adelson, A., Uehlinger, J. A safe therapeutic apheresis protocol in paediatric patients weighing 11 to 25 Kg. Vox Sanguinis 2014; 107(4):375-380. doi:10.1111/vox.12164.
Hong, H., Xiao, W., Maitta, R.W. Steady increment of immature platelet fraction is suppressed by irradiation in single-donor platelet components during storage. PLoS One. 2014; 9(1): e85465. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0085465.
Kier, Y.E., Stempak, L.M., Maitta, R.W. Immature platelet fraction can help adjust therapy in refractory thrombotic microangiopathic hemolytic anemia cases. Transfus Apher Sci. 2013; 49(3):644-6.
Xiao, W. Tormey, C.A., Capetillo, A., Maitta, R.W. Allergic transfusion reactions to platelets may be more commonly associated with pooled components than apheresis components. Vox Sanguinis 2013; 105(4):334-40.
Maitta, R.W.,Choate, J., Emre, S.H., Luczycki, S.M., Wu Y. Emergency ABO-incompatible liver transplant secondary to fulminant hepatic failure: outcome, role of TPE and review of the literature. J. Clin. Apher. 2012; 27:320-9.
Maitta, R.W., Avery, L., Champion, M., Vaughn, D., Baillargeon, C., Lederer, J., Snyder, E.L. Integration of transfusion medicine and tissue dispensing programs in an academic medical center: response to a changing regulatory environment. Transfusion 2012;52:1172-81.
Zhang, H., Maitta, R.W., Bhattacharyya, P.K., Dulau Florea, A., Sen, F.,Wang, Q., Ratech, H.γ-synuclein is a promising new marker for staining normal follicular dendritic cells, follicular dendritic cell sarcoma, Kaposi sarcoma, and benign and malignant vascular tumors. Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 2011;35:1857-65.
Maitta, R.W., Wolgast, L.R., Wang, Q., Zhang, H., Bhattacharyya, P., Gong, J.Z., Sunkara, J., Albanese, J.M., Pizzolo, J.G., Cannizzaro, L.A., Ramesh, K.H., Ratech, H. Alpha- and beta-synucleins are new diagnostic tools for acute erythroid leukemia and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia. Am. J. Hematol. 2011;86:230-4.
Patel, K.P., Pan, Q., Wang, Y., Maitta, R.W., Du, J., Xue, X., Lin, J., Ratech, H. Comparison of BIOMED-2 versus home-brew PCR assays for detecting T-cell receptor gamma gene rearrangements. J. Mol. Diagn. 2010;2: 226-37.
Maitta, R.W., Cannizzaro, L.A., Ramesh, K.H. Association of MLL amplification with poor outcome in acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Genet. Cytogenet. 2009;192:40-3.
Maitta, R.W., Datta, K., Pirofski, L. Protective efficacy of immune sera from human immunoglobulin transgenic mice immunized with a peptide mimotope of Cryptococcus neoformans glucuronoxylomannan. Vaccine 2004;22: 4062-8.
Maitta, R.W., Datta, K., Chang, Q., Luo, R.X., Witover, B., Subramaniam, K., Pirofski, L. Protective and non-protective human IgM monoclonal antibodies to Cryptococcus neoformans glucuronoxylomannan manifest different specificity and gene use. Infect. & Immun. 2004;72:4010-8.
Maitta, R.W., Datta, K., Lees, A., Belouski, S., Pirofski, L. Immunogenicity and efficacy of a cryptococcal glucuronoxylomannan peptide mimotope-protein conjugate in human immunoglobulin transgenic mice. Infect. & Immun. 2004;72:196-208.
Literature/Books:
Immunologic Concepts in Transfusion Medicine. Maitta, R.W. Editor. First Edition. 2019. Elsevier Inc., St Louis, MO.
Clinical Principles of Transfusion Medicine. Maitta, R.W. Editor. First Edition. 2018. Elsevier Inc., St Louis, MO.