Ellie Nacheva, MD, PhD, has devoted her research to understanding the role of genetic changes in cancer. By searching for recurrent genome abnormalities, she aims to get insights into the events that lead to disease initiation and progression. These insights not only clarify the biology but also empower the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. Her team pioneered the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for identification, quantification and mapping of gene rearrangements, thus contributing to the establishment of molecular cytogenetic analysis as an essential part of the disease diagnosis and management. They also pioneered the use of genomic arrays for the diagnosis of leukemia. Current work includes viral incorporation of HHV6 within chromosome telomere, genomic array investigations of donor cell leukemia with emphasis on progenitor (stem) cells, blast transformation events and factors influencing the development of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors treatment in chronic myeloid leukemia.