Since 1985, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) has presented early-career investigators with the ASH Scholar Award to help exceptional hematology researchers transition from training to independent careers. This year, Tzu-Chieh (Kate) Ho, PhD, a researcher at the Indiana University School of Medicine, received the distinguished award in the basic/translational research junior faculty category.
Hematology is the study of blood and blood disorders, including blood cancers. For Ho, an assistant research professor of pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, the award is a significant milestone.
"The ASH Scholar Award affirms that I am on the right track in building an independent research program and continuing a long-standing commitment to blood cancer research that began during my PhD training," Ho said.
As a scientist in the Wells Center and the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ho focuses on understanding the causes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and finding potential treatments. AML is a blood cancer that is especially challenging because of its resistance to treatment and high relapse rate. According to the National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rate for AML is only 32.9%.
The ASH Scholar Award will provide Ho with additional resources to test innovative strategies and generate critical data about the disease. She recently led a study that uncovered a weakness in AML by identifying the cancer's reliance on a specific signaling pathway involved in the body’s inflammation response.
Ho's interest in science began in childhood when her mother bought her a toy microscope.
"Looking at everyday objects under the lens sparked a lasting curiosity about how biological systems work beneath the surface," she shared.
Today, that curiosity has evolved into a passion for the entire process of scientific discovery. Whether she is asking why a disease occurs, finding ways to test how it works or exploring ways to address it, Ho finds the work deeply energizing.
"The possibility that the work I do could ultimately benefit patients is what makes the effort truly worthwhile," she said.
Through every stage of her career, Ho has benefited from encouraging mentors. While completing her PhD training at the University of Rochester Medical Center, she worked with Craig Jordan, PhD, and Michael Becker, MD, who helped cement her interest in bench-to-bedside research. During her postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with Michael Kharas, PhD, and at Columbia University with Kam Leong, PhD, she further developed this interest through complementary research experiences.
At the IU School of Medicine, Ho continues to build her research portfolio within a collaborative and supportive environment. She works closely with 2000 ASH Scholar Reuben Kapur, PhD, and 2019 recipient Ji Zhang, PhD, who mentored Ho during her application for the award.
“Since joining the Wells Center, I have been deeply grateful for the mentorship and support of Dr. Reuben Kapur and the broader research community,” Ho said. “Their support for early-career investigators has given me the guidance and resources to grow as an independent principal investigator and to build my own research program.”
Kapur, who is the director of the Wells Center and program leader of the Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Biology Program, understands the award’s profound impact firsthand.
"The ASH Scholar Award helped launch my career and gave me the confidence to stay the course," Kapur shared. "Kate has that same drive. Her deep passion for discovery makes her destined for a career full of transformative breakthroughs that will truly change lives for people with cancer."
By receiving the ASH Scholar Award, Ho joins a prestigious alumni group of nearly 700 investigators recognized over the last 40 years. To further support this vital work, the organization presented an additional 18 awards in 2026 to meet the growing need for hematology research.
To students or other early-career researchers, Ho's advice is to stay resilient. She believes research is a journey full of challenges that are best met by embracing teamwork and different perspectives. She also understands the value of having a healthy work-life balance to rest and recharge. Outside of the lab, she enjoys live opera, Broadway performances and sporting events.
Ho plans to carry her values of collaboration and balance into the next phase of her career.
"My ultimate goal is to lead my own lab and recruit a team of people who truly love science," she said. "I want to create an environment where we can have fun with discovery while working together to advance blood cancer research."
