The Section of Benign Hematology  (Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology) has 9 clinical Faculty members active in clinical and basic/translational research. This group represents one of the largest benign hematology programs in the U.S.

Areas of research excellence include hemophilia and bleeding disorders (Drs. Ragni, Seaman, and Machin), whose clinical and research activities are housed in the state-of-the-art Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania (HCWP), which is funded by a 340B program. Another area of excellence is sickle cell disease (Drs. Novelli and De Castro). The UPMC Adult Sickle Cell Program is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. In addition, blood banking and transfusion medicine benefit from a close collaboration between the Department of Pathology (Dr. Triulzi), and the Section of Benign Hematology (Dr. Kiss).

Areas of research focus in hemophilia and bleeding disorders include novel therapies and bleeding prophylaxis in bleeding disorders, gene therapy in hemophilia, inhibitor formation, bleeding disorders in women, and aging and biomarkers in von Willebrand disease.

Areas of research focus in sickle cell disease include neurocognitive dysfunction, new biomarker development, and designing and testing evidence-based mHealth tools for improving stress and pain management.

Areas of research focus in general hematology include clinical trials in thrombotic microangiopathies/thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and autoimmune hemolytic anemias.

Areas of research focus in transfusion medicine include red cell storage, platelet transfusions, transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI), transfusion associated circulatory overload (TACO), leukoreduction, and transfusion support of stem cell and solid organ transplant recipients.