Researcher Spotlight: Timothy Vorhees, MD

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are aggressive forms of lymphoma that develop after a solid organ transplant, often due to reactivation of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) following the use of immunosuppressants. Treatment options for patients with PTLD are limited, but Dr. Voorhees seeks to remedy this. His research project proposes a series of clinical trials evaluating novel treatment approaches in PTLD, which he hopes will help improve outcomes for people with PTLD and even prevent PTLD from developing.

As a young student, Dr. Voorhees became interested in the field of immunology and was excited to find a place in medicine to utilize the knowledge and skills he had acquired in the field. He found that lymphoma research was a perfect match. “I was fortunate to have several amazing mentors along my journey who showed me not only the scientific aspects of the field but also the humanistic parts as well,” he adds. “I absolutely love taking care of my patients, and there is nothing better than designing a trial to provide new treatments for patients with the possibility of better outcomes and a better-tolerated treatment.”

Dr. Voorhees earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, where he now works as an assistant professor of clinical internal medicine. He was named a Lymphoma Scientific Research Mentoring Program (LSRMP) scholar in 2023 and is excited to continue giving back to the lymphoma community through his work. “The [Lymphoma Research] Foundation has played a critical role in the success of my early academic career, and I look forward to continuing to work with them in the future to improve outcomes for patients with lymphoma.”