Thomas Diacovo, MD

Dr. Diacovo’s research endeavors stem from his clinical interest in hemostasis and thrombosis, and in particular understanding and preventing thrombotic events in neonates undergoing complex cardiac repair for cyanotic heart lesions. This involves the interrogation of key adhesion and signaling pathways in platelets from pre and post-operative neonatal cardiac patients using low volume microfluidic technologies, state-of-the-art genetic and bioenergetic approaches, and a proprietary animal model that permits the in vivo study of human platelet mediated hemostasis and thrombosis.  Based on this work, a phase I PK /PD study has now been completed for the P2Y12 inhibitor cangrelor for use in the prevention of shunt thrombosis in neonates requiring palliation with a systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt. Plans are underway for a phase 3 national/international trial.  

Another focus of Dr. Diacovo’s laboratory is elucidating the role that class I PI3Ks play in innate and adaptive immune responses. His group discovered that it is possible to protect against and reduce the extent of tissue injury associated with an acute inflammatory response by selectively targeting the PI3K isoforms gamma and delta. He also made the seminal observation that (i) PI3Kgamma and PI3Kdelta can function as non-classical oncogenes, supporting the development and survival of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), and (ii) that it is feasible to therapeutically exploit the requirement of this leukemia to these PI3K isoforms, enabling the rational design of a PI3Kgamma/delta dual inhibitor for use in the treatment of childhood leukemia. Work is currently focused on further characterization of a novel dual PI3K gamma/delta inhibitor developed by the Diacovo and Landry labs at Columbia University, as well as understanding potential mechanisms of drug resistance.