I was appointed as Director of the Division of Hematopoietic Stem Cell and Leukemia Research and co-Director of the Hematological Malignancies Program in the Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2006 to develop a basic and translational program in hematological malignancies and hematopoietic stem cells at our center. Since taking over this position, I have recruited and mentored an outstanding group of young faculty with a common interest in investigating mechanisms of regulation of normal stem cell growth; cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying hematopoietic cell transformation in patients with hematological malignancies; identification of critical therapeutic targets; and preclinical and clinical development of innovative, mechanism-based therapeutic interventions.