My research efforts focus on diseases where there is inadequate production of healthy blood cells (i.e., ineffective hematopoiesis). Many of these disorders also have a tendency to progress into acute leukemia. I am primarily interested in the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and related chronic myeloid disorders, and the sideroblastic anemias. I also study several inherited and acquired forms of anemia, and abnormalities of iron handling and porphyrin metabolism. I am currently leading several clinical trials where we are trying to improve anemia and quality of life for patients with MDS or the anemia of cancer, conducted through the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, the North Central Cancer Treatment Group, or the Mayo Clinic Cancer Research Consortium. My laboratory focus is the molecular mechanisms of myeloid cancers, particularly pre-mRNA splicing abnormalities involving the apoptotic machinery. In these efforts I collaborate with a number of other investigators at Mayo, including several within the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, and with individuals with like interests at institutions worldwide.