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Abkowitz
Janis L. Abkowitz, MD
- Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
- Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
- Adjunct Professor, Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine
- Clement A. Finch, MD Endowed Professorship in Hematology, UW Medicine
About
Dr. Janis Abkowitz is a hematologist and scientist who combines decades of patient care with research focused on red blood cell development, anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.
Background
Dr. Abkowitz’s laboratory research focuses on the molecular and cellular events that control how red blood cells grow and mature in the bone marrow. She studies how this process can fail, leading to anemia, especially in conditions such as aplastic anemia and MDS. She is especially interested in ineffective erythropoiesis, which occurs when immature red blood cell precursors die before fully developing, a common cause of anemia in people with MDS. Her current work aims to understand the underlying physiology of these disorders and to use that knowledge to develop new therapies.
Dr. Abkowitz has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than 35 years and is widely recognized for her contributions to hematology. She is a past president of the American Society of Hematology and an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the American Academy of Physicians and the National Academy of Medicine. Her honors include being named the 2023 Danny Thomas Lecturer at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the 2018 Helen Ranney Lecturer at the University of California. Currently, she is studying MDS and ineffective erythropoiesis more broadly with the intent of understanding its physiology and deriving new therapies.
Research Interests
Bidirectional translation
Ineffective erythropoiesis
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) anemia
Erythroblastic islands
Current Studies
Studies of the pathophysiology of MDS anemia and of ineffective erythropoiesis more broadly
Languages
English
Education and Experience
Fellowship, Hematology, University of Washington
Residency, Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Hospital
MD, Harvard Medical School
AB, Biochemical Sciences, Harvard University
Other
Member, Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 2017–2021; Elected to the National Academy of Medicine, 2013; President, American Society of Hematology, 2013
Board Certifications
Medical Oncology, 1983; Hematology, 1982; Internal Medicine, 1980, American Board of Internal Medicine
Awards
Seattle Magazine's 2025 Top Doctors Award
Dr. Abkowitz has received this peer-nominated award for exceptional patient care for multiple years.
Pioneer Award, Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation, 2018