World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Biology and Biochemistry

D-Index
50
Citations
15220
World Ranking
17437
National Ranking
7160

Overview

Joseph T. Opferman is affiliated with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the United States and conducts research primarily within the fields of Medicine and Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology. Their work focuses especially on subfields such as Molecular Biology, Hematology, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Immunology, and Genetics.

The scientist's research contributions include investigations into disease mechanisms and treatments related to leukemia and cancer cell biology. Their main topics of study cover:

  • Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research
  • Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Research
  • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Research
  • Cell Death Mechanisms and Regulation
  • Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treatments
  • Immune Cell Function and Interaction
  • Mitochondrial Function and Pathology

Notable papers they have contributed to include:

  • Venetoclax and Navitoclax in Combination with Chemotherapy in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, 2021, Cancer Discovery
  • Venetoclax in combination with cytarabine with or without idarubicin in children with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia: a phase 1, dose-escalation study, 2020, The Lancet Oncology
  • Trans-vaccenic acid reprograms CD8+ T cells and anti-tumour immunity, 2023, Nature
  • Anti-apoptotic MCL-1 promotes long-chain fatty acid oxidation through interaction with ACSL1, 2024, Molecular Cell
  • MCL-1 is a master regulator of cancer dependency on fatty acid oxidation, 2022, Cell Reports

Their frequent publication venues include:

  • Blood
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma & Leukemia
  • Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
  • Cell Reports

Collaborations form a significant part of their research output, with frequent co-authors including:

  • Amit Budhraja
  • Charles G. Mullighan
  • Meghan E. Turnis
  • Jeffrey E. Rubnitz
  • Lindsey E. Montefiori

Best Publications

  • BAX and BAK Regulation of Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+: A Control Point for Apoptosis

    Luca Scorrano;Scott A. Oakes;Joseph T. Opferman;Emily H. Cheng

  • Development and maintenance of B and T lymphocytes requires antiapoptotic MCL-1

    Joseph T. Opferman;Anthony Letai;Caroline Beard;Mia D. Sorcinelli

  • NIX is required for programmed mitochondrial clearance during reticulocyte maturation

    Rachel L. Schweers;Ji Zhang;Mindy S. Randall;Melanie R. Loyd

  • Obligate role of anti-apoptotic MCL-1 in the survival of hematopoietic stem cells.

    Joseph T. Opferman;Hiromi Iwasaki;Christy C. Ong;Christy C. Ong;Heikyung Suh;Heikyung Suh

  • Apoptosis in the development and maintenance of the immune system

    Joseph T. Opferman;Stanley J. Korsmeyer

  • Gene expression-based chemical genomics identifies rapamycin as a modulator of MCL1 and glucocorticoid resistance

    Guo Wei;Guo Wei;David Twomey;David Twomey;Justin Lamb;Krysta Schlis

  • Proapoptotic BAX and BAK regulate the type 1 inositol trisphosphate receptor and calcium leak from the endoplasmic reticulum

    Scott A. Oakes;Luca Scorrano;Joseph T. Opferman;Michael C. Bassik

  • Linear Differentiation of Cytotoxic Effectors into Memory T Lymphocytes

    Joseph T. Opferman;Bertram T. Ober;Philip G. Ashton-Rickardt

  • Anti-apoptotic MCL-1 localizes to the mitochondrial matrix and couples mitochondrial fusion to respiration

    Rhonda M. Perciavalle;Daniel P. Stewart;Brian Koss;John Lynch

  • GM1-Ganglioside Accumulation at the Mitochondria-Associated ER Membranes Links ER Stress to Ca2+-Dependent Mitochondrial Apoptosis

    Renata Sano;Ida Annunziata;Annette Patterson;Simon Moshiach

  • Anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family members in development.

    Joseph T Opferman;Anisha Kothari

  • LC3-Associated Phagocytosis in Myeloid Cells Promotes Tumor Immune Tolerance.

    Larissa Dias Cunha;Mao Yang;Robert Carter;Clifford Guy

  • Hax1-mediated processing of HtrA2 by Parl allows survival of lymphocytes and neurons

    Jyh-Rong Chao;Evan Parganas;Kelli Boyd;Cheol Yi Hong

  • Delving deeper: MCL-1's contributions to normal and cancer biology

    Rhonda M. Perciavalle;Rhonda M. Perciavalle;Joseph T. Opferman

  • Deletion of MCL-1 causes lethal cardiac failure and mitochondrial dysfunction

    Xi Wang;Madhavi Bathina;John Lynch;Brian Koss

  • Multiple signaling pathways promote B lymphocyte stimulator–dependent B-cell growth and survival

    Robert T. Woodland;Casey J. Fox;Madelyn R. Schmidt;Peter S. Hammerman

  • Mcl-1 is a key regulator of apoptosis during CNS development and after DNA damage

    Nicole Arbour;Jacqueline L Vanderluit;J Nicole Le Grand;Arezu Jahani-Asl

  • Long-term T cell memory requires the surface expression of self-peptide/major histocompatibility complex molecules.

    Mary A. Markiewicz;Cristina Girao;Joseph T. Opferman;Jiling Sun

  • MCL-1 is a stress sensor that regulates autophagy in a developmentally regulated manner.

    Marc Germain;Angela P Nguyen;J Nicole Le Grand;Nicole Arbour

  • Apoptosis in the development of the immune system.

    J T Opferman

Frequent Co-Authors

Douglas R. Green
Douglas R. Green St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Jeffrey E. Rubnitz
Jeffrey E. Rubnitz St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Charles G. Mullighan
Charles G. Mullighan St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Martin Sattler
Martin Sattler Harvard University
John D. Schuetz
John D. Schuetz St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Loren D. Walensky
Loren D. Walensky Harvard University
Marco J. Herold
Marco J. Herold Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Anthony Letai
Anthony Letai Harvard University
Ching-Hon Pui
Ching-Hon Pui St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Craig B. Thompson
Craig B. Thompson Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

If you’re interested in Biology and Biochemistry, a range of online degree and certification options in health and science are available. Many students explore allied health fields, blending their biology background with practical, career-focused studies.

For example, some choose careers in health data by asking, is medical coding a good job? Medical coding is a vital field that offers flexibility and remote opportunities, but may require persistence to handle the detailed work.

Those interested in data and management roles might consider earning a credential from one of the most affordable online health information management degree programs. These programs prepare graduates to oversee medical records, compliance, and informatics.

Nutrition science is another pathway. Students with a passion for health and wellness often pursue an online nutrition masters to launch or advance their careers as nutritionists or dietitians.

Technology-focused roles such as medical imaging are also popular. Completing an ultrasound tech certification online can lead directly into jobs as a sonographer in hospitals or clinics.

These online degrees and certifications offer flexible, affordable options to launch or grow your science-based career in healthcare.

Best Scientists Citing Joseph T. Opferman

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles