My main area of clinical investigation is the supportive care of children and adolescents undergoing treatment for cancer, in particular infectious complications. A major emphasis is the investigation of methods of early diagnosis and prevention of septic shock and gram negative sepsis in immunocompromised patients through the use of intracellular cytokine analysis.

In addition, our division is an affiliate of the Childrens Oncology Group (COG), which is composed of institutions that collaborate on clinical treatment trials for pediatric malignancies. I coordinate COG trials at Cornell and am a member of the study committee for the Children's Oncology Group clinical research trial AALL0031 : "A COG Pilot Study for the Treatment of Very High Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children and Adolescents." I am also active in COG investigations of infant leukemia.

The pediatric oncology program's clinical research activities receive generous support from the Children's Blood Foundation [http://www.childrensbloodfoundation.org].