Department of Pediatrics

Clinical Interests

Dr. Bednarski's clinical practice focuses on bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of malignant and immunological disorders in children and young adults. Dr. Bednarski is a member of the Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium and currently has an open clinical trial using a new regimen for bone marrow transplant in patients with immune deficiency. In collaboration with adult oncologists, Dr. Bednarski is also opening a trial using immune cells to treat leukemia.

Dr. Bednarski's research centers on the development of the immune system. During lymphocyte differentiation, the rearrangement of the antigen receptor genes is essential to ensure a diverse and function immune response. This process requires the intentional generation of breaks in DNA at specific locations in the genes. These breaks are subsequently repaired with removal of some DNA and joining of the remaining segments. The DNA breaks pose an extreme risk to the developing cells. Mis-repair can lead to cell death or to translocations that can result in leukemias and lymphomas. Therefore, it is critical that the breaks be carefully managed by cellular processes that ensure proper repair and maintenance of genomic integrity. Dr. Bednarski's research focuses on how the signals from this DNA damage cooperate with other developmental processes to direct lymphocyte differentiation and survival. His overall goals are to understand the signals important for lymphocyte development and how these signals may be corrupted and thus contribute to the generation of leukemia and lymphoma.

Education

• BS, Summa Cum Laude, Duke University, 1995
• PhD, University of Michigan, 2003
• MD, Graduation with Distinction in Research, University of Michigan, 2003

Training

• Postdoctoral Fellow in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, 2003 - 2003
• Resident in Pediatrics, St. Louis Children's Hospital, 2003 - 2006
• Clinical Fellow in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, 2006 - 2009
• Postdoctoral Fellow in Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 2007 - 2013

Licensure and Board Certification

• 2006 - PresAmerican Board of Pediatrics, Board Certified
• 2009 - PresMO, Medical License
• 2011 - PresPediatric Hematology-Oncology, Board Certified

Honors

• Phi Eta Sigma, National Freshman Honor Society, 1992
• Golden Key National Honor Society, 1993
• National Institute of General Medicine Summer Scholar, 1993
• Phi Beta Kappa, 1994
• Phi Lambda Upsilon, National Honorary Chemical Society, 1994
• Summa cum laude graduate, Duke University, 1995
• Regent's Fellowship, University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School, 1997 - 2001
• Graduation with Distinction in Research, University of Michigan Medical School, 2003
• James P. Keating Ouststanding Resident Award, St. Louis Children's Hospital, 2005
• David Gilstrap Memorial Award, St. Louis Children's Hospital, 2008
• Hyundai Hope on Wheels Scholar, 2012 - 2013
• American Society of Hematology Junior Faculty Scholar Award, 2018 - Pres

Recent Publications view all (20)

Publication Co-Authors

Mary C. Dinauer, M.D., Ph.D.

Avraham Beigelman, M.D.

Cecelia Calhoun

Aaron Ver Heul

Washington University has a long tradition of collaboration amongst colleagues.The faculty above have co-authored publications with Jeffrey J. Bednarski, M.D., Ph.D.

1. Zafar R, Ver Heul A, Beigelman A, Bednarski JJ, Bayliss SJ, Dehner LP, Rosman IS, Coughlin CC. Omenn Syndrome Presenting with Striking Erythroderma and Extreme Lymphocytosis in a Newborn. Pediatr Dermatol. 2017;34(1):e37-e39. PMID:27862277 
2. Bednarski JJ, Pandey R, Schulte E, White LS, Chen BR, Sandoval GJ, Kohyama M, Haldar M, Nickless A, Trott A, Cheng G, Murphy KM, Bassing CH, Payton JE, Sleckman BP. RAG-mediated DNA double-strand breaks activate a cell type-specific checkpoint to inhibit pre-B cell receptor signals. J Exp Med. 2016;213(2):209-23. PMCID:PMC4749927  PMID:26834154 
3. Franco M, Panas MW, Marino ND, Lee MC, Buchholz KR, Kelly FD, Bednarski JJ, Sleckman BP, Pourmand N, Boothroyd JC. A Novel Secreted Protein, MYR1, Is Central to Toxoplasma's Manipulation of Host Cells. MBio. 2016;7(1):e02231-15. PMCID:PMC4742717  PMID:26838724 
4. Liu C, Duffy B, Bednarski JJ, Calhoun C, Lay L, Rundblad B, Payton JE, Mohanakumar T. Maternal T-Cell Engraftment Interferes With Human Leukocyte Antigen Typing in Severe Combined Immunodeficiency. Am J Clin Pathol. 2016;145(2):251-7. PMCID:PMC4901308  PMID:26834123 
5. Bednarski JJ. DNA damage signals inhibit neutrophil function. Blood. 2015;126(26):2773-4. PMCID:PMC4692138  PMID:26705340 
6. Koues OI, Kowalewski RA, Chang LW, Pyfrom SC, Schmidt JA, Luo H, Sandoval LE, Hughes TB, Bednarski JJ, Cashen AF, Payton JE, Oltz EM. Enhancer sequence variants and transcription-factor deregulation synergize to construct pathogenic regulatory circuits in B-cell lymphoma. Immunity. 2015;42(1):186-98. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2014.12.021  PMCID:PMC4302272  PMID:25607463 
7. Griffith LM, Cowan MJ, Notarangelo LD, Kohn DB, Puck JM, Pai SY, Ballard B, Bauer SC, Bleesing JJ, Boyle M, Brower A, Buckley RH, van der Burg M, Burroughs LM, Candotti F, Cant AJ, Chatila T, Cunningham-Rundles C, Dinauer MC, Dvorak CC, Filipovich AH, Fleisher TA, Bobby Gaspar H, Gungor T, Haddad E, Hovermale E, Huang F, Hurley A, Hurley M, Iyengar S, Kang EM, Logan BR, Long-Boyle JR, Malech HL, McGhee SA, Modell F, Modell V, Ochs HD, O'Reilly RJ, Parkman R, Rawlings DJ, Routes JM, Shearer WT, Small TN, Smith H, Sullivan KE, Szabolcs P, Thrasher A, Torgerson TR, Veys P, Weinberg K, Zuniga-Pflucker JC, workshop participants. Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium (PIDTC) report. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;133(2):335-47. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2013.07.052  PMCID:PMC3960312  PMID:24139498 
8. Steinel NC, Lee BS, Tubbs AT, Bednarski JJ, Schulte E, Yang-Iott KS, Schatz DG, Sleckman BP, Bassing CH. The ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase controls Igκ allelic exclusion by inhibiting secondary Vκ-to-Jκ rearrangements. J Exp Med. 2013;210(2):233-9. doi:10.1084/jem.20121605  PMCID:PMC3570110  PMID:23382544 
9. Bednarski JJ, Sleckman BP. Integrated signaling in developing lymphocytes: the role of DNA damage responses. Cell Cycle. 2012;11(22):4129-34. doi:10.4161/cc.22021  PMCID:PMC3524208  PMID:23032308 
10. Bednarski JJ, Nickless A, Bhattacharya D, Amin RH, Schlissel MS, Sleckman BP. RAG-induced DNA double-strand breaks signal through Pim2 to promote pre-B cell survival and limit proliferation. J Exp Med. 2012;209(1):11-7. doi:10.1084/jem.20112078  PMCID:PMC3260864  PMID:22201128 
11. Bednarski JJ, Sleckman BP. Lymphocyte development: integration of DNA damage response signaling. Adv Immunol. 2012;116:175-204. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-394300-2.00006-5  PMID:23063077 
12. Gapud EJ, Dorsett Y, Yin B, Callen E, Bredemeyer A, Mahowald GK, Omi KQ, Walker LM, Bednarski JJ, McKinnon PJ, Bassing CH, Nussenzweig A, Sleckman BP. Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (Atm) and DNA-PKcs kinases have overlapping activities during chromosomal signal joint formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011;108(5):2022-7. doi:10.1073/pnas.1013295108  PMCID:PMC3033293  PMID:21245316 
13. Helmink BA, Tubbs AT, Dorsett Y, Bednarski JJ, Walker LM, Feng Z, Sharma GG, McKinnon PJ, Zhang J, Bassing CH, Sleckman BP. H2AX prevents CtIP-mediated DNA end resection and aberrant repair in G1-phase lymphocytes. Nature. 2011;469(7329):245-9. doi:10.1038/nature09585  PMCID:PMC3150591  PMID:21160476 
14. Helmink BA, Bredemeyer AL, Lee BS, Huang CY, Sharma GG, Walker LM, Bednarski JJ, Lee WL, Pandita TK, Bassing CH, Sleckman BP. MRN complex function in the repair of chromosomal Rag-mediated DNA double-strand breaks. J Exp Med. 2009;206(3):669-79. doi:10.1084/jem.20081326  PMCID:PMC2699138  PMID:19221393 
15. Bednarski JJ, Lyssiotis CA, Roush R, Boitano AE, Glick GD, Opipari AW Jr. A novel benzodiazepine increases the sensitivity of B cells to receptor stimulation with synergistic effects on calcium signaling and apoptosis. J Biol Chem. 2004;279(28):29615-21. doi:10.1074/jbc.M403507200  PMID:15123639 
16. Bednarski JJ, Warner RE, Rao T, Leonetti F, Yung R, Richardson BC, Johnson KJ, Ellman JA, Opipari AW Jr, Glick GD. Attenuation of autoimmune disease in Fas-deficient mice by treatment with a cytotoxic benzodiazepine. Arthritis Rheum. 2003;48(3):757-66. doi:10.1002/art.10968  PMID:12632430 
17. Fleming JC, Tartaglini E, Kawatsuji R, Yao D, Fujiwara Y, Bednarski JJ, Fleming MD, Neufeld EJ. Male infertility and thiamine-dependent erythroid hypoplasia in mice lacking thiamine transporter Slc19a2. Mol Genet Metab. 2003;80(1-2):234-41. PMID:14567973 
18. Blatt NB, Bednarski JJ, Warner RE, Leonetti F, Johnson KM, Boitano A, Yung R, Richardson BC, Johnson KJ, Ellman JA, Opipari AW Jr, Glick GD. Benzodiazepine-induced superoxide signals B cell apoptosis: mechanistic insight and potential therapeutic utility. J Clin Invest. 2002;110(8):1123-32. doi:10.1172/JCI16029  PMCID:PMC150800  PMID:12393848 
19. Chung SH, Song WJ, Kim K, Bednarski JJ, Chen J, Prestwich GD, Holz RW. The C2 domains of Rabphilin3A specifically bind phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate containing vesicles in a Ca2+-dependent manner. In vitro characteristics and possible significance. J Biol Chem. 1998;273(17):10240-8. PMID:9553075 
20. Clementz T, Bednarski JJ, Raetz CR. Function of the htrB high temperature requirement gene of Escherichia coli in the acylation of lipid A: HtrB catalyzed incorporation of laurate. J Biol Chem. 1996;271(20):12095-102. PMID:8662613