Dr. Kathleen Sakamoto, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Sakamoto is Chief, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA. In her role as Division Chief, Dr. Sakamoto is a physician-scientist tirelessly leading the dynamic growth of the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA. She is Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (Pediatrics) in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and is also the Co-Director of the Signal Transduction Program Area, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. She holds a joint appointment in the Division of Biology at California Institute of Technology. . Dr. Sakamoto earned her Board certification in Pediatrics in 1989, and her Board certification in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, American Board of Pediatrics, in 1992. She earned her M.D. at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and her Ph.D. in Biology from the California Institute of Technology. She completed her residency and fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. She has been on the faculty of the UCLA School of Medicine since 1993.

Dr. Sakamoto’s research interest focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of leukemogenisis and in identifying novel approaches to treating leukemia. Her research to date has demonstrated that an overabundance of a specific protein occurs in acute leukemia and contributes to the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Her team has developed an animal model of pre-leukemia, and under her direction is also studying new targeted therapies in hopes of translating those findings into clinical practice for pediatric patients with various forms of cancer.

From 2000 to date, Dr. Sakamoto has published more than two dozen scholarly articles in leading scientific and medical journals, reporting research findings relating to molecular genetics and metabolism in the disease process and design of therapeutic responses.

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