Researcher Spotlight: Amaris Balitsky, MD

McMaster University
Stephanie A. Gregory, MD, FACP Distinguished Scholar

Although most patients who receive chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy never develop serious complications, most patients are admitted to hospital for extended stays after receiving treatment so that they can be monitored for potential side effects. Dr. Balitsky’s research aims to determine whether patients can instead be monitored at home using virtual care, remote monitoring, and real-time symptoms tracking. “If successful, this approach could reduce unnecessary hospital stays, lower healthcare costs, and significantly improve patient quality of life without compromising safety,” she explains.

Treatments such as CAR T-cell therapies have transformed the lymphoma research landscape, offering potentially curative results to patients who once had very limited treatment options. But these breakthroughs have also introduced new challenges in patient care. “During my clinical training, I cared for patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy who spent long periods in hospital despite feeling relatively well,” Dr. Balitsky says. “Many expressed a strong desire to be at home with their families, especially during such an intense and vulnerable time. This project grew out of those conversations. It aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge treatment and patient-centered care— ensuring that as we advance scientifically, we also improve the lived experience of our patients.”

Dr. Balitsky earned her medical degree from the University of Toronto and currently serves as an assistant professor at McMaster University. As a clinician scientist, she is focused on work that improves the patient experience for those receiving cellular therapies such as CAR T-cell therapy. “My primary source of inspiration is my patients,” she says. “Seeing their resilience, especially while undergoing intensive therapies, is incredibly motivating.” Dr. Balitsky is most inspired by her patients who are willing to pursue innovative treatments not just for themselves but for the hope that it will help other patients in the future. “That sense of trust and contribution is something I carry with me in my work,” she adds. “It is a constant reminder that research is not abstract—it directly impacts real people and their families.”