Young Investigator Grant Supports Promising Pediatric AML Research

Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health pediatric hematologist-oncologist Ashley Varkey, D.O., received a $300,000 Young Investigator Grant through the Hyundai Hope on Wheels program to fund pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) research.

Dr. Varkey spent three years as a Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Fellow at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, working alongside Johannes Zakrzewski, M.D., at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) to study pediatric AML. During her fellowship, she was involved in research that identified a new molecule that is a potential target for future AML treatments.

“After completing my fellowship in 2025, I decided to join the CDI to continue research on the molecule,” said Dr. Varkey. “We have continued to make progress and are now partnering with a biotech company to create a development pipeline for novel drug therapies using this new target.”

Dr. Varkey presented her research on the molecule at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2024 Annual Meeting in December 2024 and received the Hyundai grant in September 2025.

“My goal is to see our research lead to the development of a new drug that can provide a new treatment option for pediatric AML,” said Dr. Varkey. “Although I am passionate about patient care, I knew that the CDI would be a place where I could work on a potential cure that could benefit young patients for years to come.”