Richard Meagher, PhD

Research Associate Professor of Hematology and Oncology
Department of Medicine
Feinberg School of Medicine

Faculty Biography:
Richard C. Meagher, Ph.D. is Associate Research Professor in the Division of Hematology/Onocology and Director of the Cell Therapy Processing Facility at the Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Meagher's primary research interests include the role of the hematopoietic microenvironment (stroma) on the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of stem cell progenitors and precursors, especially the role it plays in directing the immune arm of the hematopoeitic system. In addition, Dr. Meagher has studied the mechanisms of action of hematopoietic growth factors and cytokines and the control they exert on stem cell precursors. These interests have led him to develop novel translational methods and procedures for the collection and long-term cryopreservation of human stem cell sources including bone marrow, peripheral blood progenitors and umbilical cord blood cells. He is currently investigating novel replacement agents for dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) that is considered the gold standard for cryopreservation of human blood products intended for clinical transplantation.