Dr. Thomas-Tikhonenko has a long-standing interest in the pathobiology of solid and hematopoietic malignancies, in particular lymphomas and leukemias and other cancers driven by MYC overexpression. Within that research space, his studies focus mainly (but not exclusively) on RNA-based regulatory mechanisms, such as microRNAs and alternative mRNA splicing.

He is a tenured professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, receiving continuous funding for his research for nearly two decades. His robust external funding support, from federal sources as well as private foundations, has allowed Dr. Thomas-Tikhonenko to maintain an active lab that is currently composed of several fellows, two bioinformatics scientists, three thesis-level graduate students, and one technician.

Dr. Thomas-Tikhonenko's lab is an integral part of the Center for Childhood Cancer Research, presenting opportunities to foster new collaborations with key physician-scientists and pursue several translational projects. Because of his prior contributions to the field of immunobiology, in 2013 he became investigator of the multi-institutional Stand Up to Cancer-St. Baldrick's Pediatric Cancer Dream Team.

BS, Moscow State University (Biochemistry/Virology), 1984

PhD, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (Oncology/Virology), 1988

Fellowship, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Retrovirology), 1992

Chief, Division of Cancer Pathobiology

Mildred L. Roeckle Endowed Chair at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

American Association for Cancer Research, 1999-

International Cancer Microenvironment Society, 2007-

American Society of Hematology, 2008-

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, 2009-

Special Fellow, Leukemia Society of America, 1994

Elizabeth and William Whitney Clark Developmental Chair in Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, 1999

Pfizer Award for Research Excellence, Pfizer Animal Health, 2005

4th Annual Award for Excellence in Teaching in Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 2012

Ethel Brown Foerderer Fund for Excellence Award, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 2013

Immunogenomics Pediatric Dream Team Investigator, SU2C - St. Baldrick's Foundation, 2013

Center for Childhood Cancer Research Profile