Petri Pölönen, PhD
- Cancer and Blood Disorders
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine
Scholar, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
Email: pxpolone@texaschildrens.org
Languages: English, Finnish
Office location:
1102 Bates Avenue
Houston, TX 77030
Get to know Petri Pölönen, PhD
Dr. Petri Pölönen is a computational leukemia biologist at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine from the University of Eastern Finland and completed postdoctoral training at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. His research focuses on the genetic and epigenetic alterations that drive leukemia in children and young adults, particularly T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). He led genomic analyses of more than 1,300 patients that helped establish the molecular classification of childhood T-ALL. His laboratory combines computational biology, cancer genomics, and functional genomics to investigate noncoding regulatory alterations, molecular subtypes, treatment resistance, and therapeutic vulnerabilities. He also develops computational approaches for integrating genomic and transcriptomic information to improve leukemia classification and risk assessment. His long-term goal is to translate discoveries from the leukemia genome into improved diagnosis and precision treatment.
Education
| School | Education | Degree | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Post-doctoral Fellowship | Research Training | 2026 |
| University of Eastern Finland | PhD | Doctor of Philosophy, Molecular Medicine | 2020 |
| University of Eastern Finland | Masters | Master of Science, Bioinformatics and Biochemistry | 2013 |
| University of Eastern Finland | Bachelors | Bachelor of Science, Biosciences | 2011 |
Organizations
| Organization Name | Role |
|---|---|
| American Association for Cancer Research | Member |
| American Society of Hematology | Member |
| European Hematology Association | Member |
Honors and awards
- 2026
-
CPRIT Scholar Award, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
- 2025
-
Young Investigator Award, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
- 2025
-
Abstract Achievement Award, American Society of Hematology
- 2023
-
Computational Biology Training in Hematology Award, European Hematology Association / European Bioinformatics Institute / European Molecular Biology Laboratory
- 2022
-
Best of ASH Award, American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting
- 2022
-
Best Abstract Award and Presidential Symposium Presentation, European Hematology Association Congress
- 2020
-
Young Researcher Award for Ph.D. Thesis Work, University of Eastern Finland
* Texas Children’s Hospital physicians’ licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician’s office and were not verified by Texas Children’s Hospital.
The Pölönen laboratory investigates the genomic and epigenomic mechanisms that drive pediatric and young adult leukemia, with a particular focus on T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma. A major emphasis is understanding how alterations in the noncoding genome and gene-regulatory elements activate oncogenes and contribute to leukemia development and treatment resistance. The laboratory integrates whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing with long-read sequencing, chromatin profiling, single-cell genomics, computational modeling, and functional studies. Research priorities include defining molecular subtypes, identifying noncoding driver alterations, understanding mechanisms of relapse and treatment resistance, and developing genomic biomarkers and classifiers. Through collaboration with clinical investigators, the laboratory aims to translate these discoveries into improved molecular diagnosis, risk assessment, and precision treatment strategies.
Research Interests
Pediatric and young adult leukemia
T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma
Cancer genomics and epigenomics
Enhancer hijacking/alterations and gene regulation
Computational biology and bioinformatics
Multi-omic data integration
Long-read sequencing
Molecular classification and risk stratification
Genomic biomarkers
Treatment resistance and relapse
Therapeutic vulnerabilities and precision oncology
Selected Publications
1. Pölönen P, et al. The genomic basis of childhood T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Nature. 2024;632:1082–1091.
Comprehensive genomic analysis defining the molecular architecture and major subtypes of childhood T-ALL.
2. Di Giacomo D, Pölönen P, et al. Deregulation of FOXF1/FENDRR from t(14;16)(q32;q24) defines a subtype of high-risk lineage ambiguous leukemia. Blood. 2026;148:317–334.
Identification of a recurrent regulatory mechanism involving FOXF1/FENDRR that defines a distinct high-risk lineage-ambiguous leukemia subtype.
3. Dufva O*, Pölönen P*, et al. Immunogenomic Landscape of Hematological Malignancies. Cancer Cell. 2020;38:380–399.e13.
Large-scale immunogenomic analysis across hematologic malignancies defining immune phenotypes and potential immunotherapeutic vulnerabilities. *Equal contribution
4. Pölönen P, Mullighan CG, Teachey DT. Classification and risk stratification in T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood. 2025;145:1464–1474.
Review of emerging molecular classification and risk-stratification frameworks in T-ALL. Co-corresponding author.
5. Pölönen P, Teachey DT, Mullighan CG. Genomic insights into the biology of T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood Cancer Discovery. 2026;7:353–368.
Review integrating recent genomic discoveries with T-ALL biology and therapeutic implications. Co-corresponding author.