Prof Dr Miriam Erlacher

    since 04/2024

    Medical Director of the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Hospital

    since 2023

    Study group leader of the GPOH registry of the European Working Group of MDS in Childhood (EWOG-MDS)

    2020-2024

    Managing Senior Physician, Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine Freiburg

    2019-2024

    Medical Director of the Centre for Congenital and Acquired Blood Diseases, Freiburg Centre for Rare Diseases (FZSE)

    2018-2024

    		Medical Director of the coordinating study centre of EWOG-MDS/SAA

    2018-2020

    Senior Physician, Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Centre for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Freiburg University Medical Centre

    2003-2006

    MD/PhD studies in the Molecular Oncology programme at the Medical University of Innsbruck

    Dissertation: "The role of the BH3-only proteins Bim and Puma in development and cell death signalling" (Prof. Dr. A. Villunger)

    2000-2002

    Medical dissertation: "Interactions between T-cell receptor and glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in mouse thymocytes" (Prof. Dr G. Wick, Univ.-Ass. Dr G. J. Wiegers)

    1997-2003Study of human medicine, Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck

     

    Qualifications

    - Specialist in paediatrics and adolescent medicine
    - Specialist training in paediatric haematology and oncology
    - Authorisation for further training in paediatric and adolescent medicine
    - Authorisation for further training in paediatric haematology and oncology

     

    Scientific focus

    • Regulation of cell death in haematopoiesis, in haematological diseases (e.g. bone marrow failure, leukaemia) and in stress situations (e.g. stem cell transplantation, chemotherapy)

    • Characterisation of haematopoiesis and leukaemia development in syndromes that predispose to leukaemia

    • Pathophysiology and new therapeutic approaches for juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

    Clinical specialisations

    • Congenital and acquired diseases of the bone marrow: bone marrow failure, aplastic anaemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), leukaemias

    • Genetic predisposition to malignant diseases

    • Rare haematological and oncological diseases

     

     

    - Erlacher, M., E. M. Michalak, P. N. Kelly, V. Labi, H. Niederegger, L. Coultas, J. M. Adams, A. Strasser and A. Villunger (2005). "BH3-only proteins Puma and Bim are rate-limiting for gamma-radiation- and glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis of lymphoid cells in vivo." Blood 106(13): 4131-4138.
    - Erlacher, M., V. Labi, C. Manzl, G. Bock, A. Tzankov, G. Hacker, E. Michalak, A. Strasser and A. Villunger (2006). "Puma cooperates with Bim, the rate-limiting BH3-only protein in cell death during lymphocyte development, in apoptosis induction." J Exp Med 203(13): 2939-2951.
    - Labi, V., M. Erlacher, G. Krumschnabel, C. Manzl, A. Tzankov, J. Pinon, A. Egle and A. Villunger (2010). "Apoptosis of leukocytes triggered by acute DNA damage promotes lymphoma formation." Genes Dev 24(15): 1602-1607.
    - Niemeyer, C. M., M. W. Kang, D. H. Shin, I. Furlan, M. Erlacher, N. J. Bunin, S. Bunda, J. Z. Finklestein, T. A. Gorr, P. Mehta, I. Schmid, G. Kropshofer, S. Corbacioglu, P. J. Lang, C. Klein, P. G. Schlegel, A. Heinzmann, M. Schneider, J. Stary, M. M. van den Heuvel-Eibrink, H. Hasle, F. Locatelli, D. Sakai, S. Archambeault, L. Chen, R. C. Russell, S. S. Sybingco, M. Ohh, B. S. Braun, C. Flotho and M. L. Loh (2010). "Germline CBL mutations cause developmental abnormalities and predispose to juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia." Nat Genet 42(9): 794-800.
    - Labi, V., D. Bertele, C. Woess, D. Tischner, F. J. Bock, S. Schwemmers, H. L. Pahl, S. Geley, M. Kunze, C. M. Niemeyer, A. Villunger and M. Erlacher (2013). "Haematopoietic stem cell survival and transplantation efficacy is limited by the BH3-only proteins Bim and Bmf." EMBO Mol Med 5(1): 122-136.
    - Krombholz, C. F., K. Aumann, M. Kollek, D. Bertele, S. Fluhr, M. Kunze, C. M. Niemeyer, C. Flotho* and M. Erlacher* (2016). "Long-term serial xenotransplantation of juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia recapitulates human disease in Rag2-/-gammac-/- mice." Haematologica 101(5): 597-606.
    - Buonocore, F., P. Kuhnen, J. P. Suntharalingham, I. Del Valle, M. Digweed, H. Stachelscheid, N. Khajavi, M. Didi, A. F. Brady, O. Blankenstein, A. M. Procter, P. Dimitri, J. K. H. Wales, P. Ghirri, D. Knobl, B. Strahm, M. Erlacher, M. W. Wlodarski, W. Chen, G. K. Kokai, G. Anderson, D. Morrogh, D. A. Moulding, S. A. McKee, C. M. Niemeyer, A. Gruters and J. C. Achermann (2017). "Somatic mutations and progressive monosomy modify SAMD9-related phenotypes in humans." J Clin Invest 127(5): 1700-1713.
    - Kollek, M., G. Voigt, C. Molnar, F. Murad, D. Bertele, C. F. Krombholz, S. Bohler, V. Labi, S. Schiller, M. Kunze, S. Geley, C. M. Niemeyer, A. Garcia-Saez and M. Erlacher (2017). "Transient apoptosis inhibition in donor stem cells improves hematopoietic stem cell transplantation." J Exp Med 214(10): 2967-2983.
    - Ripperger, T., S. S. Bielack, A. Borkhardt, I. B. Brecht, B. Burkhardt, G. Calaminus, K. M. Debatin, H. Deubzer, U. Dirksen, C. Eckert, A. Eggert, M. Erlacher, G. Fleischhack, M. C. Fruhwald, A. Gnekow, G. Goehring, N. Graf, H. Hanenberg, J. Hauer, B. Hero, S. Hettmer, K. von Hoff, M. Horstmann, J. Hoyer, T. Illig, P. Kaatsch, R. Kappler, K. Kerl, T. Klingebiel, U. Kontny, U. Kordes, D. Korholz, E. Koscielniak, C. M. Kramm, M. Kuhlen, A. E. Kulozik, B. Lamottke, I. Leuschner, D. R. Lohmann, A. Meinhardt, M. Metzler, L. H. Meyer, O. Moser, M. Nathrath, C. M. Niemeyer, R. Nustede, K. W. Pajtler, C. Paret, M. Rasche, D. Reinhardt, O. Riess, A. Russo, S. Rutkowski, B. Schlegelberger, D. Schneider, R. Schneppenheim, M. Schrappe, C. Schroeder, D. von Schweinitz, T. Simon, M. Sparber-Sauer, C. Spix, M. Stanulla, D. Steinemann, B. Strahm, P. Temming, K. Thomay, A. O. von Bueren, P. Vorwerk, O. Witt, M. Wlodarski, W. Wossmann, M. Zenker, S. Zimmermann, S. M. Pfister and C. P. Kratz (2017). "Childhood cancer predisposition syndromes-A concise review and recommendations by the Cancer Predisposition Working Group of the Society for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology." Am J Med Genet A 173(4): 1017-1037.
    - Krombholz, C. F., L. Gallego-Villar, S. S. Sahoo, P. K. Panda, M. W. Wlodarski, K. Aumann, M. Hartmann, D. B. Lipka, M. Daskalakis, C. Plass, C. M. Niemeyer, M. Erlacher* and C. Flotho* (2019). "Azacitidine is effective for targeting leukaemia-initiating cells in juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia." Leukemia 33(7): 1805-1810.
    - Afreen, S., S. Bohler, A. Muller, E. M. Demmerath, J. M. Weiss, J. S. Jutzi, K. Schachtrup, M. Kunze and M. Erlacher (2020). "BCL-XL expression is essential for human erythropoiesis and engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells." Cell Death Dis 11(1): 8.
    - Hamarsheh, S., L. Osswald, B. S. Saller, S. Unger, D. De Feo, J. M. Vinnakota, M. Konantz, F. M. Uhl, H. Becker, M. Lubbert, K. Shoumariyeh, C. Schurch, G. Andrieux, N. Venhoff, A. Schmitt-Graeff, S. Duquesne, D. Pfeifer, M. A. Cooper, C. Lengerke, M. Boerries, J. Duyster, C. M. Niemeyer, M. Erlacher, B. R. Blazar, B. Becher, O. Gross, T. Brummer and R. Zeiser (2020). "Oncogenic Kras(G12D) causes myeloproliferation via NLRP3 inflammasome activation." Nat Commun 11(1): 1659.
    - Bohler, S., S. Afreen, J. Fernandez-Orth, E. M. Demmerath, C. Molnar, Y. Wu, J. M. Weiss, V. R. Mittapalli, L. Konstantinidis, H. Schmal, M. Kunze and M. Erlacher (2021). "Inhibition of the anti-apoptotic protein MCL-1 severely suppresses human hematopoiesis." Haematologica 106(12): 3136-3148.
    - Bortnick, R., M. Wlodarski, V. de Haas, B. De Moerloose, M. Dworzak, H. Hasle, R. Masetti, J. Stary, D. Turkiewicz, M. Ussowicz, E. Kozyra, M. Albert, P. Bader, V. Bordon, G. Cario, R. Beier, J. Schulte, D. Bresters, I. Muller, H. Pichler, P. Sedlacek, M. G. Sauer, M. Zecca, G. Gohring, A. Yoshimi, P. Noellke, M. Erlacher, F. Locatelli, C. M. Niemeyer, B. Strahm and E.-M. for (2021). "Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children and adolescents with GATA2-related myelodysplastic syndrome." Bone Marrow Transplant 56(11): 2732-2741.
    - Dannenmann, B., M. Klimiankou, B. Oswald, A. Solovyeva, J. Mardan, M. Nasri, M. Ritter, A. Zahabi, P. Arreba-Tutusaus, P. Mir, F. Stein, S. Kandabarau, N. Lachmann, T. Moritz, T. Morishima, M. Konantz, C. Lengerke, T. Ripperger, D. Steinemann, M. Erlacher, C. M. Niemeyer, C. Zeidler, K. Welte and J. Skokowa (2021). "iPSC modelling of stage-specific leukemogenesis reveals BAALC as a key oncogene in severe congenital neutropenia." Cell Stem Cell 28(5): 906-922 e906.
    - Sahoo, S. S., V. B. Pastor, C. Goodings, R. K. Voss, E. J. Kozyra, A. Szvetnik, P. Noellke, M. Dworzak, J. Stary, F. Locatelli, R. Masetti, M. Schmugge, B. De Moerloose, A. Catala, K. Kallay, D. Turkiewicz, H. Hasle, J. Buechner, K. Jahnukainen, M. Ussowicz, S. Polychronopoulou, O. P. Smith, O. Fabri, S. Barzilai, V. de Haas, I. Baumann, S. Schwarz-Furlan, M. D. S. i. C. European Working Group of, M. R. Niewisch, M. G. Sauer, B. Burkhardt, P. Lang, P. Bader, R. Beier, I. Muller, M. H. Albert, R. Meisel, A. Schulz, G. Cario, P. K. Panda, J. Wehrle, S. Hirabayashi, M. Derecka, R. Durruthy-Durruthy, G. Gohring, A. Yoshimi-Noellke, M. Ku, D. Lebrecht, M. Erlacher, C. Flotho, B. Strahm, C. M. Niemeyer and M. W. Wlodarski (2021). "Clinical evolution, genetic landscape and trajectories of clonal hematopoiesis in SAMD9/SAMD9L syndromes." Nat Med 27(10): 1806-1817.
    - Sharma, R., S. S. Sahoo, M. Honda, S. L. Granger, C. Goodings, L. Sanchez, A. Kunstner, H. Busch, F. Beier, S. M. Pruett-Miller, M. B. Valentine, A. G. Fernandez, T. C. Chang, V. Geli, D. Churikov, S. Hirschi, V. B. Pastor, M. Boerries, M. Lauten, C. Kelaidi, M. A. Cooper, S. Nicholas, J. A. Rosenfeld, S. Polychronopoulou, C. Kannengiesser, C. Saintome, C. M. Niemeyer, P. Revy, M. S. Wold, M. Spies, M. Erlacher, S. Coulon and M. W. Wlodarski (2022). "Gain-of-function mutations in RPA1 cause a syndrome with short telomeres and somatic genetic rescue." Blood 139(7): 1039-1051.
    - Masetti, R., F. Baccelli, D. Leardini, F. Gottardi, F. Vendemini, A. Di Gangi, M. Becilli, M. Lodi, M. Tumino, L. Vinci, M. Erlacher, B. Strahm, C. M. Niemeyer and F. Locatelli (2023). "Venetoclax-based therapies in pediatric advanced MDS and relapsed/refractory AML: a multicentre retrospective analysis." Blood Adv 7(16): 4366-4370.
    - Schreiber, F., G. Piontek, Y. Schneider-Kimoto, S. Schwarz-Furlan, R. De Vito, F. Locatelli, C. Gengler, A. Yoshimi, A. Jung, F. Klauschen, C. M. Niemeyer, M. Erlacher and M. Rudelius (2023). "Development of MDS in Pediatric Patients with GATA2 Deficiency: Increased Histone Trimethylation and Deregulated Apoptosis as Potential Drivers of Transformation." Cancers (Basel) 15(23).
    - Vinci, L., C. Flotho, P. Noellke, D. Lebrecht, R. Masetti, V. de Haas, B. De Moerloose, M. Dworzak, H. Hasle, T. Gungor, J. Stary, D. Turkiewicz, M. Ussowicz, C. D. de Heredia, J. Buechner, K. Jahnukainen, K. Kallay, I. Bodova, O. P. Smith, M. Zecca, D. Bresters, P. Lang, T. N. Masmas, R. Meisel, H. Pichler, M. Erlacher, G. Gohring, F. Locatelli, B. Strahm, C. M. Niemeyer and A. Yoshimi (2023). "Second allogeneic stem cell transplantation can rescue a significant proportion of patients with JMML relapsing after first allograft." Bone Marrow Transplant 58(5): 607-609.
    - Erlacher, M., F. Andresen, M. Sukova, J. Stary, B. De Moerloose, J. Bosch, M. Dworzak, M. G. Seidel, S. Polychronopoulou, R. Beier, C. P. Kratz, M. Nathrath, M. C. Fruhwald, G. Gohring, A. K. Bergmann, C. Mayerhofer, D. Lebrecht, S. Ramamoorthy, A. Yoshimi, B. Strahm, M. W. Wlodarski and C. M. Niemeyer (2024). "Spontaneous remission and loss of monosomy 7: a window of opportunity for young children with SAMD9L syndrome." Haematologica 109(2): 422-430.
    - Vinci, L., B. Strahm, C. Speckmann and M. Erlacher (2024). "The different faces of GATA2 deficiency: implications for therapy and surveillance." Front Oncol 14: 1423856.
    - Wu, Y., P. M. A. Zehnle, J. Rajak, N. Koleci, G. Andrieux, L. Gallego-Villar, K. Aumann, M. Boerries, C. M. Niemeyer, C. Flotho, S. Bohler and M. Erlacher (2024). "BH3 mimetics and azacitidine show synergistic effects on juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia." Leukemia 38(1): 136-148.
    - Yoshimi, A., P. Noellke, J. Stary, K. Kallay, O. Smith, F. Locatelli, J. Buechner, I. Bodova, J. Sevilla, M. Schmugge, M. Bierings, T. Masmas, M. Dworzak, V. Labarque, K. Pawelec, K. Jahnukainen, S. Polychronopoulou, P. Kjollerstrom, M. Kavcic, M. Erlacher, C. M. Niemeyer and B. Strahm (2024). "Comparison of outcomes of immunosuppressive therapy with rabbit versus horse antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporine a in children with acquired severe aplastic anemia." Am J Hematol 99(7): 1403-1406.

     

    Management bodies

    • Study group leader of the German study group European Working Group of MDS in Childhood (EWOG-MDS)

    • Spokesperson of the BMBF-funded consortium MyPred ("Optimising care for young individuals with syndromes predisposing to myeloid malignancies")

     

    Prizes and scholarships

    • Research award from the Förderverein für krebskranke Kinder e.V. Freiburg (2021)

    • "Advanced Clinician Scientist" grant from the Berta Ottenstein Programme (2019)

    • ERC Starting Grant, "ApoptoMDS" project (2015)

    • FRIAS Junior Fellowship (Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (2013)

    • Prize of the German Association for Bone Marrow and Blood Stem Cell Transplantation (2013)

    • "Translational Research Training in Hematology" (TRTH), European Hematology Association and American Society for Hematology (2010)

    • Margarete von Wrangell Fellowship, Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts in Baden-Württemberg / European Social Fund (2009)

     

    Ongoing projects

    • BMBF National Funding for Rare Diseases:

    • MyPred: Optimising care for young individuals with syndromes predisposing to myeloid malignancies; spokesperson of the research network and sub-project leader, since 2019

    • DFG SFB 1479 "Oncoescape":

    • Subproject: "Understanding the crosstalk between juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML) and immune cells"; since 2021

    • DFG TRR 353 "Regulation of decisions in cell death processes"

    • Subproject: "Investigations of cell type-specific decision-making processes induced by constitutive RAS"; since 2023

    • EU, EJP-RD: "3D-GATA2: How GATA2 Deficiency affects development and disease";

    • Sub-project leader; Spokesperson: Marlene Pasquet (Toulouse Cancer Research Centre, Toulouse); since 2024

    • German José Carreras Leukaemia Foundation:

    • "The investigation of genetic and mechanistic effects of monosomy 7 in GATA2 deficiency", joint project with Alessandra Giorgetti, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona; since 2022