Biographies of Research Team
Dr. Krishnamurti
Dr. Lakshmanan Krishnamurti specializes in Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplantation. Director of Bone Marrow Transplantation Program, Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. Professional interests: Blood and marrow transplantation for sickle cell disease; clinical research in sickle cell disease. He has developed a website (SickleOptions.org) to educate individuals about sickle cell disease and treatment options, including bone marrow transplantation, and guide users through the decision-making process when considering treatment for sickle cell disease. He is the principal investigator for the STELLAR project and is interested in long-term implications of bone marrow transplant on the patient transplanted for sickle cell disease.
Dr. Peter A. Lane
Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine; Director of the Sickle Cell Disease Program in the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, and Aflac Field Force Children’s Chair for Sickle Cell Disease, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia. His research focusses on neonatal screening, clinical management and health outcomes for children with sickle cell disease.
Dr. Ann E. Haight
Ann E. Haight, M.D., is Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation at Emory University School of Medicine, and attending physician in the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where she has lead the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. A native of Louisiana, Dr. Haight received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. She earned her medical degree at the Medical College of Georgia then completed a Pediatrics residency at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She trained in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she pursued additional fellowship training in the Transplantation and Gene Therapy Program prior to joining the faculty at her current position in Atlanta in 2001. Dr. Haight is a clinical investigator whose primary interests include transplantation for sickle cell disease, supportive care for transplant patients, and clinical research ethics. She leads the Emory University Institutional Review Board as a vice-chair, and is the medical director of the Aflac Clinical Research Office.
Crystal Smith, MS
Crystal Smith is the project manager for the STELLAR Project “The Sickle Cell Transplant Evaluation of Long-term and Late Effects Registry” at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Crystal received her Bachelor of Science degree from Savannah State University and her Masters of Science Degree in Clinical Research Administration. She has been involved in clinical research for 17 years and has experienced multiple areas of clinical research varying from asthma/allergies, women’s health, diabetes, and cancer and blood disorders. She exudes creativity and radiates a positive energy for this project. With her talent, charm, and winning smile, she easily develops solid relationships with her patients. With this ability, it allows her to relate to all patient needs and have a greater understanding of their journey. Often accused of being a perfectionist, Crystal directs her passion for perfection into everything she does from event logistics to managing the project. She is obsessed with details and believes that the details are what set apart ordinary projects from extraordinary projects.
For nearly 10 years, Crystal has been involved in the coordination of cancer and blood disorder studies. Taking her natural penchant for chaos control to the professional level in the Atlanta area in 2008, she decided to make Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta her professional home.
Diana Ross, PhD(c), MSN, RN
Diana Ross, MSN, RN. Diana is currently working on her PhD in nursing with a focus on qualitative and mixed methods research. She is employed at Emory University as a research coordinator and is a member of the Qualitative Core. Diana is specifically interested in decision making regarding daily disease management and treatment options in the sickle cell population. She is also interested in education of patients and families regarding sickle cell disease process and management.
Cynthia B. Sinha, PhD
Cynthia B. Sinha, PhD is a sociologist with a focus on family, medical sociology, and more specifically, sickle cell disease (SCD). Her research examines the challenges in medical decision-making for adults with SCD as well as parents of children with SCD. In addition to working with the STELLAR project, she is leading a study to understand the impact of living with SCD across the life course. She currently is a researcher at Emory University School of Medicine, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Sickle Cell Disease Program, Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Lillian Meacham
Dr. Lillian Meacham a pediatric endocrinologist, the Kathelen V Amos Children’s Chair for Cancer Survivorship and is a Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. She serves as the program director for the Aflac Cancer Survivor Program and the Aflac Fertility Preservation Program for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Professional interests: are endocrine late effects after cancer therapy and bone marrow transplant. She has studied gonadal function in sickle cell patients before and after bone marrow transplant. She provides consultation for risk for infertility after transplant and information regarding interventions before bone marrow transplant to preserve future fertility.