A new chapter in leukaemia and hematologic disease research

Dr Ari Melnick, new Director of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute

Image credit: Dr Ari Melnick

Founded in 2010 by the Government of Catalonia and the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Foundation and based in Badalona, the Josep Carreras Institute specialises in biomedical research and precision medicine in the field of leukaemia and other hematologic malignancies. 

Dr Ari Melnick brings extensive experience in haematological research to the Josep Carreras Institute. He graduated in Medicine from the University of Buenos Aires in 1990 and has worked at prestigious institutions such as the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the Weill Cornell Cancer Center (New York, USA), where he has led the “Hematologic Malignancies Program” and been "Gebroe Family" Professor since 2013. Internationally recognised in the field of haematological diseases and cancer epigenetics, Dr Melnick was among the first to develop rationally designed transcription factor inhibitors and conduct large-scale epigenomic studies in humans. His research demonstrated that aberrant epigenetic programming is a hallmark of cancer, and that epigenetic diversity is a fundamental determinant of tumour fitness and unfavourable clinical outcomes. He has authored more than 360 manuscripts, and therapeutic approaches he developed and identified have been approved by the FDA or moved to phase III clinical trials. For this he has been awarded the American Society of Hematology Ernest Beutler Prize in Translational Research. Dr Melnick serves on the Board of Directors of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

“It is a tremendous honour to be appointed Director of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute”, says Melnick. “In just a short time, the Institute has emerged as a global leader in blood cancer research and is already making a meaningful impact by delivering innovative treatments to patients with leukaemia. As both an oncologist and a scientist, I am confident that the Josep Carreras Institute is poised to build on this remarkable momentum pioneering new cures and enhancing the quality of life for people affected by haematologic malignancies.” 

According to the new Director, “the unique opportunity for translational research here, driven by the Institute’s strong partnerships with Barcelona’s world-class hospitals and research centres, is truly unparalleled. We will continue to find innovative ways to embed scientific research directly into clinical care, ensuring that discoveries move swiftly and seamlessly from bench to bedside. At the same time, we will strengthen our global outlook by establishing strategic collaborations with leading centres across Europe, North and South America, and Asia—harnessing the best science the world has to offer.” 

As an oncologist, Dr Melnick has devoted his career to ending the pain and suffering caused by these devastating tumours. He is confident that there is no better place to realise this mission than at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute: “I am deeply inspired by the vision and tireless commitment of the Josep Carreras Foundation, which has dedicated many resources and extraordinary efforts in creating and supporting the Institute continue to drive real progress towards our shared goals. Together, as a team, we will accelerate the development and application of cutting-edge systems biology, artificial intelligence, tumour 3D reconstruction, and physiologically relevant disease models—bringing transformative advances to patients around the world.” 

Under the leadership of Dr Ari Melnick, the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute embarks on a new chapter, maintaining its strong commitment to excellence in research, internationalisation, and talent attraction. 

Source: Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute

23.04.2025

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