Joshua D. Schiffman

About

Joshua D. Schiffman is a principal investigator at the University of Utah Health, affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics (Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology), the Genomics, Epigenetics, and Metabolism Program, and the Department of Oncological Sciences (adjunct). He serves as the Medical Director of the High Risk Pediatric Cancer Clinic and is involved in the High Risk Genetics Multi-Disciplinary Group, among other roles. His research focuses on pediatric cancer, with particular emphasis on understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying cancer susceptibility and development. Schiffman’s work aims to improve the understanding of childhood cancers such as Ewing sarcoma and to develop strategies for early detection, prevention, and targeted therapies. His leadership in the field is reflected in his involvement in various cancer research programs and his commitment to advancing personalized health care.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Internal medicine
• Biology
• Computer Science
• Genetics
• Pathology
• Immunology
• Ecology
• Data Mining
• Anesthesia

Selected publications

• COVID-19 and Sepsis Are Associated With Different Abnormalities in Plasma Procoagulant and Fibrinolytic Activity

  Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology · 2020 · 139 citations

  OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with derangement in biomarkers of coagulation and endothelial function and has been likened to the coagulopathy of sepsis. However, clinical laboratory metrics suggest key differences in these pathologies. We sought to determine whether plasma coagulation and fibrinolytic potential in patients with COVID-19 differ compared with healthy donors and critically ill patients with sepsis. Approach and Results: We performed comparative studie…

  DOI

• Lifetime cancer prevalence and life history traits in mammals

  Evolution Medicine and Public Health · 2020 · 94 citations

  BACKGROUND: Cancer is a common diagnosis in many mammalian species, yet they vary in their vulnerability to cancer. The factors driving this variation are unknown, but life history theory offers potential explanations to why cancer defense mechanisms are not equal across species. METHODOLOGY: Here we report the prevalence of neoplasia and malignancy in 37 mammalian species, representing 11 mammalian orders, using 42 years of well curated necropsy data from the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Saf…

  DOI

• Elephant Genomes Reveal Accelerated Evolution in Mechanisms Underlying Disease Defenses

  Molecular Biology and Evolution · 2021 · 67 citations

  Disease susceptibility and resistance are important factors for the conservation of endangered species, including elephants. We analyzed pathology data from 26 zoos and report that Asian elephants have increased neoplasia and malignancy prevalence compared with African bush elephants. This is consistent with observed higher susceptibility to tuberculosis and elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) in Asian elephants. To investigate genetic mechanisms underlying disease resistance, including…

  DOI

• Evidence for improved DNA repair in the long-lived bowhead whale

  Nature · 2025-10-29 · 26 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Physicians’ strategies for using family history data: having the data is not the same as using the data

  JAMIA Open · 2020 · 22 citations

  OBJECTIVE: To identify needs in a clinical decision support tool development by exploring how primary care providers currently collect and use family health history (FHH). DESIGN: Survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were administered to a mix of primary and specialty care clinicians within the University of Utah Health system (40 surveys, 12 interviews). RESULTS: Three key themes emerged regarding providers' collection and use of FHH: (1) Strategies for collecting FHH vary by le…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Genetic Risk Factors for Ewing's Sarcoma

  NIH · $3.0M · 2012–2018

• NIH Grant R21CA187516

  NIH · $377k · 2016

Frequent coauthors

• David Malkin

  Hospital for Sick Children

  232 shared

• Lisa M. Abegglen

  Huntsman Cancer Institute

  231 shared

• Katherine A. Janeway

  Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

  197 shared

• Wendy Kohlmann

  University of Utah

  190 shared

• Constantine A. Stratakis

  National Institutes of Health

  150 shared

• Lee J. Helman

  150 shared

• Karel Pacák

  Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

  146 shared

• Anita Villani

  116 shared

Labs

• Schiffman LabPI

  Not provided

Education

• M.D.

  Brown University School of Medicine

• Other, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

  Stanford University

• Other, Pediatrics

  Stanford University

• Other, Pediatrics

  Stanford University

Similar researchers at University of Utah

• Michael Allen Pulsipherh-110
• Anne C. Kirchhoffh-59
• Echo Lyn Warnerh-33