G. David Roodman
Distinguished Professor (Emeritus) - 2020
Kenneth Wiseman Professor - 2012 - 2019
G. David Roodman earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky in 1973 and 1975, respectively. He joined the IU School of Medicine as the director of the Hematology/Oncology Division in the Department of Medicine in 2011.
His research focuses on how cell-to-cell interactions among hematopoietic cells and cells in the bone marrow microenvironment control normal and malignant hematopoiesis and diseases affecting bone remodeling. His laboratory has undertaken studies of the molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis and progression of myeloma bone disease, and how cell-to-cell interactions between tumor cells, bone-resorbing cells, and bone-building cells, as well as other cells in the bone microenvironment, leading to increased bone destruction and suppressed bone formation. These changes in bone remodeling further increase tumor cell growth, survival, and chemoresistance. His laboratory has identified multiple factors driving bone destruction in myeloma and the vital role that the marrow microenvironment plays in tumor growth and bone destruction in myeloma patients. Most recently, Dr. Roodman's lab identified several novel inhibitors of osteoblast differentiation that are induced or produced by myeloma cells and essential contributions of osteocytes (the most numerous cells in bone) on tumor growth and bone destruction in myeloma.
Dr. Roodman has authored more than 450 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His laboratory has been funded by the NIH and the VA Merit Review Program since 1981.
Roodman received the IU Bicentennial Medal in August 2020 in recognition of his distinguished contributions to Indiana University.