A Scientific Partnership Built in the Lab and at Home
Scientists Jolanta Grembecka and Tomasz Cierpicki, married researchers at the University of Michigan, developed a menin inhibitor called ziftomenib (Komzifti™) for leukemia treatment, which received FDA approval in late 2025. Their collaborative work, funded by the American Cancer Society, targets aggressive blood cancers like acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and mixed lineage leukemia (MLL).
Two researchers, Jolanta Grembecka, PhD, and Tomasz Cierpicki, PhD, both funded by the American Cancer Society, have partnered to advance leukemia treatment through their work at the University of Michigan Department of Pathology. Their collaboration led to the development of ziftomenib (Komzifti™), a menin inhibitor approved by the FDA in late 2025 for treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML), one of the most aggressive blood cancers. Grembecka and Cierpicki’s joint efforts combined their expertise in structural biology and leukemia drug discovery. Grembecka, who earned her PhD in chemistry from Poland’s University of Technology, focuses on understanding mixed lineage leukemia (MLL), a rare and deadly cancer in infants and children. Cierpicki, who studied at the University of Wroclaw, specializes in protein interactions driving leukemia growth. Their complementary skills accelerated the discovery of menin inhibitors, which block the protein menin’s role in sustaining leukemia cell growth. Menin inhibitors like ziftomenib disrupt the binding between menin and MLL1, a gene that promotes abnormal blood cell growth. By shutting off these signals, the treatment slows or halts leukemia progression. The researchers’ personal connection—both are married—fostered continuous collaboration, even outside the lab, leading to breakthroughs in therapy development. Their work was critical in moving ziftomenib from early-stage research to FDA approval, offering new hope for patients with AML. Both researchers were motivated by personal experiences: Cierpicki’s drive stemmed from witnessing patients’ suffering, while Grembecka’s research was inspired by family members affected by leukemia. The American Cancer Society provided pivotal funding, enabling their discoveries at key stages. The success of ziftomenib marks a milestone in targeted leukemia therapy, demonstrating how interdisciplinary collaboration and sustained effort can translate lab findings into life-saving treatments. The researchers’ partnership highlights the importance of both scientific and personal support in advancing medical science.
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