Assistant Professor of Medicine

Clinical/Academic Interests

Leukemic stem cell biology

Research Interests

Dr. Gerber's research focuses on cancer stem cell biology, particularly in myeloid leukemias.  His work involves the identification and characterization of leukemia stem cells in comparison to their normal counterparts, with the goal of identifying differences which can be clinically exploited.  Leukemia stem cells, which typically constitute only a small minority of the total leukemic burden, are theorized to be responsible for disease relapse.  These leukemia stem cells appear to be distinct from their offspring with respect to potential therapeutic targets and drug sensitivity profiles.  Indeed, it seems existing therapies often kill only the bulk leukemic cells, while sparing the rarer and more resistant leukemia stem cells which are then capable of regenerating the disease.  Clinically, this phenomenon may explain the significant disparities in leukemia (as well as in many other cancers) between remission and cure rates.  The successful targeting of leukemia stem cells remains a critical step in the development of curative treatments for leukemia, which are more effective but less toxic than current options.

Education/Training

• BA, Biology, Johns Hopkins University
• MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Research Fellowship, Raymond Curtis Hand Center, Union Memorial Hospital/Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Fellowship, Orthopedic Surgery/Internship, General Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Residency, Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Fellowship, Hematology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Selected Publications

1. Blom JM, Gerber JM, Nelson RJ. Day length affects immune cell numbers in deer mice:  interactions with age, sex, and prenatal photoperiod. AM J Physiol 1994; 267(2 Pt 2):R596-R601.
   
2. Moffatt CA, Gerber JM, Blom JM, Kriegsfeld LJ, Nelson, RJ. Photoperiodic effects on steroid negative feedback in female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Gen Comp Endocrinol 1995; 100(1):92-95.
   
3. Fetting JH, Comstock GW, Eby S, Huelskamp AM, Sullivan SA, Zahurak M, Gerber JM, Kass FH, Smith R. The effect of aging on the utilization of chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: a population-based study. Cancer Investigation 1997; 15(3):199-203.
   
4. DeVries AC, Gerber JM, Richardson HN, Moffatt CA, Demas GE, Taymans SE, Nelson RJ. Stress affects corticosteroid and immunoglobulin concentrations in male house mice (Mus Musculus) and prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Comp Biochem Physiol A Physiol 1997; 118(3):655-663.
   
5. Brushart TM, Gerber JM, Chen YG, Kessens PK, Royall R. The contribution of pathway and neuron to preferential motor reinnervation.  J Neurosci 1998 Nov 1; 18(21):8674-81.
   
6. Locke CFS, Dooley J, Gerber JM.  Comparison of rates of thrombocytopenia and HIT for     unfractionated heparin versus low molecular weight heparin in non-surgical patients. Thromb J. 2005 Apr 4; 3(1):4.
   
7. Jones RJ, Gocke CD, Kasamon YL, Miller CB, Perkins B, Barber JP, Vala MS, Gerber JM, Gellert LL, Siedner M, Lemas MV, Brennan S, Ambinder RF, and Matsui W.  Circulating clonotypic B cells in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma.  Blood 2009 Jun 4; 113(23):5920-5926.
   
8. Gerber JM, Qin L, Kowalski J, Smith BD, Griffin CA, Vala MS, Collector MI, Perkins B, Zahurak M, Matsui W, Gocke CS, Sharkis SJ, Levitsky HI, and Jones RJ.  Characterization of chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells.  [submitted 2010.]