Dr. Stephen Nimer is Director of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Executive Dean for Research, and Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. A physician-scientist with more than 30 years of experience in clinical care, research, and leadership, Stephen D. Nimer led Sylvester to NCI designation in July 2019 — making it the only NCI-designated cancer center in South Florida and the second youngest among all NCI-designated centers nationwide. Under his leadership, the center was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top-ranked cancer hospital in 2022. Before joining the Miller School of Medicine in 2012, he spent nearly 20 years at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he held the Alfred P. Sloan Chair in Cancer Research, served as head of the division of hematologic oncology, and was chief of the Hematology Service. He has been continuously funded by the NIH for three decades, has authored more than 300 scientific publications, and holds two patents for the treatment of leukemia. He received the E. Donnall Thomas Award in 2015, was inducted into the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida in 2021, and has been elected to both the American Society of Clinical Investigators and the Association of American Physicians.
Current Positions
- Director, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
- Executive Dean for Research, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
- Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
- Chairman, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation
- Chairman, Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation (MDSF)
- Member, Science Policy and Government Affairs Committee (SPGAC), American Association for Cancer Research, 2020–present
- Member, Association of American Cancer Institutes, Nominating Committee, 2018–present
Education
- B.S., Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1975
- M.D., University of Chicago School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 1979
Postgraduate Training
- Residency, Internal Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 1982
- Residency, Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 1985
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Hematology/Oncology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 1986
Board Certifications
- Board Certified, Hematology — American Board of Internal Medicine
- Board Certified, Medical Oncology — American Board of Internal Medicine
Research Activity
- Transcriptional regulation of hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis: Long-standing research program focused on how stem cell self-renewal and differentiation are regulated in normal hematopoiesis and how these processes become aberrant in acute leukemia; ongoing studies on AML1-ETO (t(8;21)) driven leukemogenesis, including the role of caspase-3 and autophagy (Blood, 2017); regulation of AKT signaling by Id1 in t(8;21) leukemia initiation and progression (Blood, 2015); characterization of the stable transcription factor complex nucleated by oligomeric AML1-ETO controlling leukemogenesis (Nature, 2013)
- CARM1 and arginine methylation in myeloid malignancy: Demonstrated that CARM1 is essential for myeloid leukemogenesis but dispensable for normal hematopoiesis (Cancer Cell, 2018); tyrosine phosphorylation of CARM1 promotes enzymatic activity and alters target specificity (Nature Communications, 2024); broader work on arginine methyltransferases in normal and malignant hematopoiesis (Experimental Hematology, 2016)
- PRMT5 in hematopoiesis and DNA repair: Demonstrated that PRMT5 is essential for sustaining normal adult hematopoiesis (Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2015); PRMT5 regulates DNA repair by controlling alternative splicing of histone-modifying enzymes (Cell Reports, 2018); PRMT5-mediated histone arginine methylation antagonizes transcriptional repression by PRC2 (Nucleic Acids Research, 2020)
- p300/CBP and epigenetic regulation of MDS and AML: Demonstrated that p300 suppresses the transition of myelodysplastic syndromes to acute myeloid leukemia (JCI Insight, 2021); studies on epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of innate immunity in cancer (Cancer Research, 2022)
- ASXL1 and chromatin remodeling in myeloid malignancies: Studies on gain of function of ASXL1 truncating protein in the pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies (Blood, 2018); ASXL1 alteration cooperating with JAK2V617F to accelerate myelofibrosis (Leukemia, 2019); ASXL1 interaction with the cohesin complex for normal hematopoiesis (Science Advances, 2017)
- DPF2/SWI-SNF in myeloid differentiation: Histone-binding of DPF2 mediates its repressive role in myeloid differentiation (PNAS, 2017); the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling subunit DPF2 facilitates NRF2-dependent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant gene expression (Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2023)
- DNMT3A mutations and anthracycline resistance: DNMT3A mutations promote anthracycline resistance in AML via impaired nucleosome remodeling (Nature Medicine, 2016)
- MDS classification, risk stratification and disease progression: Stephen D. Nimer is a key contributor to the International Consortium for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (icMDS), co-authoring consensus papers on data-driven harmonised classification (The Lancet Haematology, 2024), contemporary diagnostic recommendations (Modern Pathology, 2024), state-of-the-art classification and risk stratification (Blood Reviews, 2023), and patient-centered drug development in MDS (HemaSphere, 2024); studies on risk of disease progression in low-risk MDS linked to epigenetic subtypes (Leukemia, 2019); pseudohypoxia as a mechanism underlying MDS (Cancer Discovery, 2018)
- SF3B1 mutations and nuclear export: Altered RNA export by SF3B1 mutants confers sensitivity to nuclear export inhibition (Leukemia, 2024)
- TAF1 in hematopoiesis: TAF1 is required for fetal but not adult hematopoiesis in mice (Developmental Cell, 2025)
- SETD2 in leukemogenesis: SETD2 deficiency accelerates MDS-associated leukemogenesis via S100a9 (Blood, 2020); catalytic activity of SETD2 essential for embryonic development (Frontiers of Medicine, 2024)
- Oxidized methylcytosine and synthetic lethality: Oxidized mC modulates synthetic lethality to PARP inhibitors for the treatment of leukemia (Cell Reports, 2023)
- RUNX1 and transcription factor biology: PRMT4 blocks myeloid differentiation by assembling a methyl-RUNX1-dependent repressor complex (Cell Reports, 2013); covalent modifications of RUNX proteins (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2017); loss of RUNX1/AML1 arginine-methylation impairs peripheral T cell homeostasis (British Journal of Haematology, 2015)
- Stem cell biology and leukemia stem cells: Acute myeloid leukemia iPSCs reveal a role for RUNX1 in the maintenance of human leukemia stem cells (Cell Reports, 2020); functional analysis of chromosomal deletion associated with MDS using isogenic human iPSCs (Nature Biotechnology, 2015)
- MDS and AML clinical research: Principal investigator on Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Specialized Center of Research awards; clinical characteristics and outcomes in lenalidomide-treated patients with lower-risk MDS and del(5q) (Journal of Hematology and Oncology, 2017)
- Trim33 and dendritic cell differentiation: Genome-wide screening identifies Trim33 as an essential regulator of dendritic cell differentiation (Science Immunology, 2024)
- KDM6B as a therapeutic target: Targeting lysine demethylase 6B ameliorates ASXL1 truncation-mediated myeloid malignancies in preclinical models (Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2024)
- Oncogenic signaling and epigenetic landscape: Co-author of landmark review on how oncogenic signalling reshapes the epigenetic landscape (Nature Reviews Cancer, 2016)
Honors and Awards
- Inducted, Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine of Florida, 2021
- Iron Arrow Honor Society Tapee, University of Miami
- Mary Brickell Trailblazer Award, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
- Power Leaders in Health Care, South Florida Business Journal
- Twelve Good Men Award, Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida
- E. Donnall Thomas Award, Bone Marrow Foundation, 2015
- Altruist Award, Modern Luxury Magazine, 2014
- Humanitarian of the Year Award, The Life Raft Group
- Israel Cancer Research Fund — Florida Award
- Elected to the Association of American Physicians
- Elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigators
- Fellow, American College of Physicians
- NCI Independent Investigator Award (R01 CA166835-01)
- Alfred P. Sloan Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society — New York Chapter Researcher of the Year Award
- Oscar de La Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research
- Irma T. Hirschl Career Scientist Award
- G & P Foundation “Angel of Hope” Award
- Paul Sherlock Housestaff Teaching Award
- Gabrielle Rich Foundation Award
- Lauri Strauss Leukemia Foundation Research Award
- Seymour Feldman Leukemia Research Award
- NIH Physician Scientist Award (K08)
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
- Joseph A. Capps Award for Proficiency in Clinical Medicine
- M.D. with Honors, University of Chicago School of Medicine
Patents
- “Method of treating and reducing the risk of acute myelogenous leukemia.” Patent 235506780160, 2014.
- “Modulation of Transcription Initiation Factor TFIID Subunit 1 (TAF1) for Treating Leukemia.” Patent 235507052544, 2019.
Memberships / Affiliations
- American Society of Clinical Investigators (elected member)
- Association of American Physicians (elected member)
- American College of Physicians (Fellow)
- American Association for Cancer Research — Science Policy and Government Affairs Committee, 2020–present
- Association of American Cancer Institutes — Nominating Committee, 2018–present
- MDS Foundation — Chairman
- Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation — Chairman
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society — former chair
- AAMDSIF — former chair
- Invited member, Faculty of 1000, Anemias and Hypocellular Marrow Disorders Section
Areas of Specialization
- Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) — pathogenesis, classification, and treatment
- Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) — molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets
- Multiple myeloma and lymphoma
- Transcriptional regulation of hematopoiesis
- Epigenetic regulation in myeloid malignancies
- Arginine methylation and PRMT enzymes in cancer
- RUNX1/AML1-ETO leukemogenesis
- ASXL1 and chromatin remodeling in myeloid disease
- Stem cell self-renewal and differentiation
- Cancer center leadership and NCI designation
- Health disparities in oncology
Selected Publications
Liu F, Yue J, Tamiro F, Sun J, Cingaram PKR, Hossack KL, Caja CM, Xu Y, Chen C, Beckedorff F, Shiekhattar R, Nimer SD. “TAF1 is required for fetal but not adult hematopoiesis in mice.” Developmental Cell 60(21):2946–2961, 2025. PMID 40675153.
Komrokji RS, Lanino L, Ball S, Bewersdorf JP, Marchetti M, Nimer SD, Zeidan AM, Della Porta MG, et al. (International Consortium on Myelodysplastic Syndromes). “Data-driven, harmonised classification system for myelodysplastic syndromes: a consensus paper from the International Consortium for Myelodysplastic Syndromes.” The Lancet Haematology 11(11):e862–e872, 2024. PMID 39393368.
Aakash F, Gisriel SD, Zeidan AM, Bennett JM, Nimer SD, et al. “Contemporary Approach to the Diagnosis and Classification of Myelodysplastic Neoplasms/Syndromes — Recommendations From the International Consortium for MDS (icMDS).” Modern Pathology 37(12):100615, 2024. PMID 39322118.
Itonaga H, Mookhtiar AK, Greenblatt SM, Liu F, Martinez C, Bilbao D, Rains M, Hamard PJ, Sun J, Nimer SD, et al. “Tyrosine phosphorylation of CARM1 promotes its enzymatic activity and alters its target specificity.” Nature Communications 15(1):3415, 2024. PMID 38649367.
Tiniakou I, Hsu PF, Lopez-Zepeda LS, Garipler G, Esteva E, Adams NM, Liu F, Nimer SD, Reizis B, et al. “Genome-wide screening identifies Trim33 as an essential regulator of dendritic cell differentiation.” Science Immunology 9(94):eadi1023, 2024. PMID 38608038.
Chaudhry S, Beckedorff F, Jasdanwala SS, Totiger TM, Affer M, Lawal AE, Nimer SD, Taylor J, et al. “Altered RNA export by SF3B1 mutants confers sensitivity to nuclear export inhibition.” Leukemia 38(9):1894–1905, 2024. PMID 38997434.
Ge G, Zhang P, Sui P, Chen S, Yang H, Guo Y, Nimer SD, Yang FC, et al. “Targeting lysine demethylase 6B ameliorates ASXL1 truncation-mediated myeloid malignancies in preclinical models.” Journal of Clinical Investigation 134(1):e163964, 2024. PMID 37917239.
Stahl M, Bewersdorf JP, Xie Z, Della Porta MG, Komrokji R, Nimer SD, Zeidan AM, et al. (International Consortium for MDS). “Classification, risk stratification and response assessment in myelodysplastic syndromes/neoplasms (MDS): A state-of-the-art report on behalf of the icMDS.” Blood Reviews 62:101128, 2023. PMID 37704469.
Mas G, Man N, Nakata Y, Martinez-Caja C, Karl D, Beckedorff F, Tamiro F, Chen C, Nimer SD, et al. “The SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling subunit DPF2 facilitates NRF2-dependent antiinflammatory and antioxidant gene expression.” Journal of Clinical Investigation 133(13):e158419, 2023. PMID 37200093.
Brabson JP, Leesang T, Yap YS, Wang J, Nimer SD, Bilbao D, Figueroa ME, Cimmino L, et al. “Oxidized mC modulates synthetic lethality to PARP inhibitors for the treatment of leukemia.” Cell Reports 42(1):112027, 2023. PMID 36848231.
Chen C, Man N, Liu F, Martin GM, Itonaga H, Sun J, Nimer SD. “Epigenetic and Transcriptional Regulation of Innate Immunity in Cancer.” Cancer Research 82(11):2047–2056, 2022. PMID 35320354.
Zeidan AM, Bewersdorf JP, Buckstein R, Sekeres MA, Nimer SD, et al. “Finding consistency in classifications of myeloid neoplasms: a perspective on behalf of the International Workshop for Myelodysplastic Syndromes.” Leukemia 36(12):2939–2946, 2022. PMID 36266326.
Man N, Mas G, Karl DL, Sun J, Liu F, Yang Q, Torres-Martin M, Itonaga H, Nimer SD, et al. “p300 suppresses the transition of myelodysplastic syndromes to acute myeloid leukemia.” JCI Insight 6(19):e138478, 2021. PMID 34622806.
Zhang P, Sui P, Chen S, Guo Y, Li Y, Ge G, Nimer SD, Yang FC, et al. “INTS11 regulates hematopoiesis by promoting PRC2 function.” Science Advances 7(36):eabh1684, 2021. PMID 34516911.
Zhu G, Luo H, Feng Y, Guryanova OA, Xu J, Chen S, Nimer SD, Xu M, et al. “HOXBLINC long non-coding RNA activation promotes leukemogenesis in NPM1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia.” Nature Communications 12(1):1956, 2021. PMID 33782403.
Wesely J, Kotini AG, Izzo F, Luo H, Yuan H, Sun J, Nimer SD, Papapetrou EP, et al. “Acute Myeloid Leukemia iPSCs Reveal a Role for RUNX1 in the Maintenance of Human Leukemia Stem Cells.” Cell Reports 31(9):107688, 2020. PMID 32492433.
Liu F, Xu Y, Lu X, Hamard PJ, Karl DL, Man N, Mookhtiar AK, Martinez C, Sun J, Nimer SD. “PRMT5-mediated histone arginine methylation antagonizes transcriptional repression by polycomb complex PRC2.” Nucleic Acids Research 48(6):2956–2968, 2020. PMID 32025719.
Chen BY, Song J, Hu CL, Chen SB, Zhang Q, Nimer SD, Chen Z, Chen SJ, Sun XJ, Wang L, et al. “SETD2 deficiency accelerates MDS-associated leukemogenesis via S100a9 in NHD13 mice and predicts poor prognosis in MDS.” Blood 135(25):2271–2285, 2020. PMID 32202636.
Yue J, Vendramin R, Liu F, Lopez O, Valencia MG, Nimer SD, Shiekhattar R, et al. “Targeted chemotherapy overcomes drug resistance in melanoma.” Genes & Development 34(9-10):637–649, 2020. PMID 32241802.
Qin T, Sotzen J, Rampal RK, Rapaport FT, Levine RL, Klimek V, Nimer SD, Figueroa ME. “Risk of disease progression in low-risk MDS is linked to distinct epigenetic subtypes.” Leukemia 33(11):2753–2757, 2019. PMID 31332268.
Yang H, Kurtenbach S, Guo Y, Lohse I, Durante MA, Li J, Nimer SD, Harbour JW, Yang FC, et al. “Gain of function of ASXL1 truncating protein in the pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies.” Blood 131(3):328–341, 2018. PMID 29113963.
Liu N, Song J, Xie Y, Wang XL, Rong B, Man N, Nimer SD, Chen Z, Chen SJ, Roeder RG, Wang L, Sun XJ, et al. “Different roles of E proteins in t(8;21) leukemia: E2-2 compromises the function of AETFC and negatively regulates leukemogenesis.” PNAS 116(3):890–899, 2019. PMID 30593567.
Greenblatt SM, Man N, Hamard PJ, Asai T, Karl D, Martinez C, Bilbao D, Nimer SD, et al. “CARM1 Is Essential for Myeloid Leukemogenesis but Dispensable for Normal Hematopoiesis.” Cancer Cell 33(6):1111–1127, 2018. PMID 29894694.
Hamard PJ, Santiago GE, Liu F, Karl DL, Martinez C, Man N, Mookhtiar AK, Duffort S, Greenblatt S, Verdun RE, Nimer SD. “PRMT5 Regulates DNA Repair by Controlling the Alternative Splicing of Histone-Modifying Enzymes.” Cell Reports 24(10):2643–2657, 2018. PMID 30184499.
Zhang P, He F, Bai J, Yamamoto S, Chen S, Zhang L, Nimer SD, Yang FC, et al. “Chromatin regulator Asxl1 loss and Nf1 haploinsufficiency cooperate to accelerate myeloid malignancy.” Journal of Clinical Investigation 128(12):5383–5398, 2018. PMID 30226831.
Hayashi Y, Zhang Y, Yokota A, Nimer SD, Huang G, et al. “Pathobiological Pseudohypoxia as a Putative Mechanism Underlying Myelodysplastic Syndromes.” Cancer Discovery 8(11):1438–1457, 2018. PMID 30139811.
Man N, Tan Y, Sun XJ, Liu F, Cheng G, Greenblatt SM, Martinez C, Karl DL, Nimer SD, Wang L, et al. “Caspase-3 controls AML1-ETO-driven leukemogenesis via autophagy modulation in a ULK1-dependent manner.” Blood 129(20):2782–2792, 2017. PMID 28381396.
Huber FM, Greenblatt SM, Davenport AM, Martinez C, Xu Y, Vu LP, Nimer SD, Hoelz A. “Histone-binding of DPF2 mediates its repressive role in myeloid differentiation.” PNAS 114(23):6016–6021, 2017. PMID 28533407.
Li Z, Zhang P, Yan A, Guo Z, Ban Y, Li J, Nimer SD, Yang FC, et al. “ASXL1 interacts with the cohesin complex to maintain chromatid separation and gene expression for normal hematopoiesis.” Science Advances 3(1):e1601602, 2017. PMID 28116354.
Guryanova OA, Shank K, Spitzer B, Luciani L, Koche RP, Nimer SD, Levine RL, et al. “DNMT3A mutations promote anthracycline resistance in acute myeloid leukemia via impaired nucleosome remodeling.” Nature Medicine 22(12):1488–1495, 2016. PMID 27841873.
Liu F, Wang L, Perna F, Nimer SD. “Beyond transcription factors: how oncogenic signalling reshapes the epigenetic landscape.” Nature Reviews Cancer 16(6):359–372, 2016. PMID 27220480.
Man N, Sun XJ, Tan Y, García-Cao M, Liu F, Hatlen M, Nimer SD, Wang L, et al. “Differential role of Id1 in MLL-AF9-driven leukemia based on cell of origin.” Blood 127(19):2322–2326, 2016. PMID 26944543.
Taggart J, Ho TC, Amin E, Xu H, Nimer SD, Kharas MG, et al. “MSI2 is required for maintaining activated myelodysplastic syndrome stem cells.” Nature Communications 7:10739, 2016. PMID 26898884.
Shih AH, Jiang Y, Meydan C, Shank K, Nimer SD, Melnick A, Levine RL, et al. “Mutational cooperativity linked to combinatorial epigenetic gain of function in acute myeloid leukemia.” Cancer Cell 27(4):502–515, 2015. PMID 25873173.
Liu F, Cheng G, Hamard PJ, Greenblatt S, Wang L, Man N, Perna F, Xu H, Tadi M, Luciani L, Nimer SD. “Arginine methyltransferase PRMT5 is essential for sustaining normal adult hematopoiesis.” Journal of Clinical Investigation 125(9):3532–3544, 2015. PMID 26258414.
Kotini AG, Chang CJ, Boussaad I, Delrow JJ, Dolezal EK, Nimer SD, Papapetrou EP, et al. “Functional analysis of a chromosomal deletion associated with myelodysplastic syndromes using isogenic human induced pluripotent stem cells.” Nature Biotechnology 33(6):646–655, 2015. PMID 25798938.
Wang L, Man N, Sun XJ, Tan Y, García-Cao M, Liu F, Hatlen M, Nimer SD, et al. “Regulation of AKT signaling by Id1 controls t(8;21) leukemia initiation and progression.” Blood 126(5):640–650, 2015. PMID 26084673.
Perna F, Vu LP, Themeli M, Kriks S, Hoya-Arias R, Khanin R, Nimer SD, et al. “The polycomb group protein L3MBTL1 represses a SMAD5-mediated hematopoietic transcriptional program in human pluripotent stem cells.” Stem Cell Reports 4(4):658–669, 2015. PMID 25754204.
Abdel-Wahab O, Adli M, LaFave LM, Gao J, Hricik T, Shih AH, Perna F, Nimer SD, Levine RL, et al. “ASXL1 mutations promote myeloid transformation through loss of PRC2-mediated gene repression.” Cancer Cell 22(2):180–193, 2012. PMID 22897849.
Sun XJ, Wang Z, Wang L, Jiang Y, Kost N, Soong TD, Nimer SD, Roeder RG, et al. “A stable transcription factor complex nucleated by oligomeric AML1-ETO controls leukaemogenesis.” Nature 500(7460):93–97, 2013. PMID 23812588.
Vu LP, Perna F, Wang L, Voza F, Figueroa ME, Nimer SD, et al. “PRMT4 blocks myeloid differentiation by assembling a methyl-RUNX1-dependent repressor complex.” Cell Reports 5(6):1625–1638, 2013. PMID 24332853.
Gruber TA, Larson Gedman A, Zhang J, Koss CS, Nimer SD, Downing JR, et al. “An Inv(16)(p13.3q24.3)-encoded CBFA2T3-GLIS2 fusion protein defines an aggressive subtype of pediatric acute megakaryoblastic leukemia.” Cancer Cell 22(5):683–697, 2012. PMID 23153540.
Xu H, Menendez S, Schlegelberger B, Bae N, Aplan PD, Göhring G, Deblasio TR, Nimer SD. “Loss of p53 accelerates the complications of myelodysplastic syndrome in a NUP98-HOXD13-driven mouse model.” Blood 120(15):3089–3097, 2012. PMID 22927245.
Zhao X, Chen A, Yan X, Zhang Y, He F, Hayashi Y, Tse W, Nimer SD, Huang G, et al. “Downregulation of RUNX1/CBFβ by MLL fusion proteins enhances hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal.” Blood 123(11):1729–1738, 2014. PMID 24449215.
Hatlen MA, Arora K, Vacic V, Grabowska EA, Liao W, Nimer SD, Levine RL, et al. “Integrative genetic analysis of mouse and human AML identifies cooperating disease alleles.” Journal of Experimental Medicine 213(1):25–34, 2016. PMID 26666262.
Hatlen MA, Wang L, Nimer SD. “AML1-ETO driven acute leukemia: insights into pathogenesis and potential therapeutic approaches.” Frontiers of Medicine 6(3):248–262, 2012. PMID 22875638.
All information is sourced from publicly available materials.