How One Hematologist’s Curiosity Is Changing Care: Dr. Lauren Merz Redefines “Benign Ethnic Neutropenia”
Sindy Escobar Alvarez, Program Director for Medical Research at Doris Duke Foundation, posted on LinkedIn:
”Scientists take nagging questions, and through relentless pursuit of the answers, make discoveries that can change lives, including their own.
This trajectory is illustrated in a recent Medscape feature on hematologist Dr. Lauren Merz, whose curiosity about a condition flagged as “benign ethnic neutropenia” changed the course of her career. Despite the fact that this particular marker of a low neutrophil count has little clinical impact, it has kept patients out of clinical trials, made them ineligible for certain chemotherapies, and subjected others to needless invasive testing.
Dr. Merz, assistant professor at Rogel Cancer Center at the University of Michigan has led the DDF-supported work of the American Society of Hematology to develop new reference ranges for patients with the phenotype that causes this low neutrophil count, and test them nationwide.
Read the interview to see how her quick path from curiosity to action is changing medical understanding, and will improve patient care for millions.”
Stay updated with Hemostasis Today.
-
Jul 5, 2026, 16:42Marta Sobas: Advancing Pregnancy Care in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms in IHEM
-
Jul 5, 2026, 15:19Marc Carrier: Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence in Thrombosis Training at ISTH 2026
-
Jul 5, 2026, 15:10Arthur Allen: Grateful for the Opportunity to Participate to Enhancing DOAC Surveillance in Acute Care
-
Jul 5, 2026, 15:03Lin Fung Elected The New President of The ISBT – University of the Sunshine Coast
-
Jul 5, 2026, 14:53Angie Read: How Purpose Helps Shape Life After Stroke
-
Jul 5, 2026, 14:46Yomna Maarouf: Should All Adolescent Girls Be Screened for Iron Deficiency?
-
Jul 5, 2026, 14:42Ahmed Mohsen: How Well Do You Know Pulmonary Embolism?
-
Jul 5, 2026, 14:35Vera Ignjatović: Looking Forward to AI in Thrombosis and Hemostasis Session at ISTH 2026
-
Jul 5, 2026, 14:25The Folding Pathway That Shapes Prothrombin Function – JTH