David Sykes, MD, PhD
About David Sykes, MD, PhD
David Sykes grew up in Canada and completed his undergraduate training in Biochemistry at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.
He entered the Medical Scientist Training Program (M.D., Ph.D.) at the University of California San Diego. At UCSD, he did his Ph.D. research with Dr. Mark Kamps where he became interested in the problems that arise during white blood cell development.
He did his internship and residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital as well as a year as a Chief Medical Resident in the Department of Internal Medicine. He was a fellow in Hematology and Oncology within the combined Dana-Farber Cancer Institute + MGH Cancer Center fellowship program.
In 2010, David joined the MGH Cancer Center as an attending in benign hematology.
He completed his post-doctoral research training in the laboratory of Dr. David Scadden, working to identify new therapies for patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
As an assistant professor, David led his own basic science laboratory from 2017-2024.
David has a special interest in trying to understand rare hematologic conditions.
In 2011 he discovered and defined a new syndrome - the TEMPI syndrome - which affects approximately 50 patients across the world (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1106670).
Clinical Interests:
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- Autoimmune neutropenia
- Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP)
- Monoclonal gammopathies of clinical significance (MGCS)
- Neutropenia
- Pure Red Cell Aplasia (PRCA)
- TEMPI syndrome
Treats:
- Adult
Languages:
- French
Locations
Mass General Cancer Center: Hematology Oncology
55 Fruit St.
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-724-4000
Fax: 617-724-6801
Medical Education
- MD, UCSD
- Residency, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Fellowship, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
American Board Certifications
- Hematology, American Board of Internal Medicine
- Medical Oncology, American Board of Internal Medicine
Accepted Insurance Plans
- Aetna
- Beech Street
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
- Cigna
- Commonwealth Care Alliance
- Coventry
- Fallon Health
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Humana
- Maine Community Health Options
- Mass General Brigham Health Plan
- MassHealth
- Medicaid ME
- Medicaid NH
- Medicaid VT
- Medicare
- Medicare ACO
- Multiplan
- Senior Whole Health
- TriCare
- Tufts Health Plan
- United Health Care
- Wellpoint
- WellSense
- WellSense NH
Note: This provider may accept more insurance plans than shown; please call the practice to find out if your plan is accepted.
Research
The Sykes Lab is interested in a variety of topics, all centered around white blood cell development and how this development can be corrupted in the setting of infection, cancer or inherited disorders.
1. Acute myeloid leukemia represents a defect in white blood cell development where the white blood cells are frozen at an immature (called undifferentiated) stage of maturation. We are working to develop 'differentiation therapy' for patients with AML -- therapy designed to trick the immature leukemia cells into resuming their normal process of maturation.
2. The Barth Syndrome is a rare inherited X-linked disorder in which children do not have the enzyme tafazzin, and therefore develop both cardiomyopathy and neutropenia. We are working to understand the mechanism that links the lack of tafazzin activity to the development of neutropenia.
3. Metastatic prostate cancer almost always targets the bone and bone marrow. We are working to understand this specific relationship between prostate cancer and why it preferentially targets the bone marrow and how to stimulate the immune cells to eradicate the tumor cells.
Dr. Sykes was wonderful! He did an awesome job helping me understand my case, what has happened to date, and what I need to be aware of for the future. He was very knowledgeable, understanding, and caring. He explained everything perfectly and was a very good listener. Thank you, Dr. Sykes.
He was very in tuned to my needs and listened to what I was asking . Great doc
Dr. Sykes is one of the kindest, most intelligent, most compassionate, and attentive physicians I've ever had.
Dr. Sykes was very easy to talk to. He answered all of my long list of questions with patience and competence. I was reassured about my health after our conversation.
Dr. Sykes was very personable yet professional and I felt very comfortable chatting with him about my health concerns.
Dr. Sykes does a great job and he takes very good care of me.
Possibly the best Dr I hv experienced Patient Listened Did not rush Kind Considerate Welcoming Very good explanations
I was greeted with a smile. I felt very welcome. The Dr took his time explaining everything in terms I could understand. I would highly recommend him
Dr. Sykes did a wonderful job explaining (and diagramming) my condition and the possible courses of action.
The provider was very great. Everything went so well. He was the best. I would recommend him to anyone. He is 10 out of 10.