Research Studies

Dr. Yasmina Abajas is a clinical assistant professor in pediatric hematology/oncology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also completed her subspecialty training in 2016. A native of Miami, FL, she attended medical school at the University of Miami and completed her pediatrics residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. During her fellowship training, she focused on studying hemophilia B inhibitors in a humanized mouse model under the mentorship of Dr. Paul Monahan. As a NHF- Baxalta Clinical Fellow, Dr. Abajas will work on transitioning her efforts from bench research to a translational/clinical research focus under the mentorship of Nigel Key, MB ChB, FRCP, section chief of hematology and director of the Hemophilia Treatment Center at UNC Chapel Hill. Dr. Abajas will continue to focus on FIX inhibitors and evaluate whether or not a combined B and T cell immunosuppressive regimen helps with inhibitor eradication in affected hemophilia B patients.

Dr. Jessica Garcia is currently a pediatric hematology/oncology fellow at the Medical College of Wisconsin/Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. Her clinical mentor is Dr. Joan Gill, Director of the Comprehensive Center for Bleeding Disorders (CCBD) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Dr. Garcia's primary research mentor will be Dr. Veronica Flood, with Dr. Bob Montgomery as her secondary research mentor. Dr. Garcia attended medical school and completed her pediatric residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria/Children's Hospital of Illinois. During her pediatric residency, Dr. Garcia worked with Dr. de Alarcon studying the mechanisms underlying the thrombocytosis seen with iron deficiency anemia in an animal model. As a NHF-Baxalta Clinical Fellow, Dr. Garcia will receive specialized training in hemostasis and thrombosis, available through the Comprehensive Center for Bleeding Disorders (CCBD) and Blood Research Institute (BRI). Her research will focus on the biology of von Willebrand factor.