When Curiosity Sparks Discovery: Dr. William Wesson's Research Into Post CAR-T Cytopenias

When Dr. William Wesson, an Internal Medicine Resident at the University of Kansas Medical Center, first reviewed the results of the ZUMA-7 clinical trial (a landmark study regarding CAR-T cell therapy), one finding captured his attention: almost every patient treated with the new CAR-T therapy developed profoundly low blood counts afterward. This sparked Dr. Wesson’s curiosity in analyzing what healthcare providers and researchers were doing to address the problem, and became the foundation of his research journey.

Dr. Wesson’s team began by investigating how their own institution managed these low blood counts after CAR-T. But the deeper they looked, the more they realized they did not have a satisfying answer. The lack of clarity pushed them to share their early findings at a national conference. The presentations at the national conference transformed an internal review into a multi-institutional project spanning hospitals across the country.

As the project expanded, meaningful insights emerged. Dr. Wesson and his colleagues found that there were measurable factors that could predict which patients were more likely to develop cytopenias after CAR-T therapy. This discovery has already inspired other research groups to develop predictive scores that sort patients into higher and lower-risk categories. For Dr. Wesson, seeing their work spark approaches across the field has been incredibly rewarding.

The path to these discoveries was not without challenges. One of the most difficult aspects for Dr. Wesson was balancing the demands of clinical training. First medical school, and now residency, with the ongoing needs of the research project. There were moments of discouragement, particularly when the team realized they would not be able to turn their findings into a clinical trial. Instead of ending the project, that setback led them to pivot, ultimately contributing to further work that has had a meaningful impact, including changes at the federal policy level. The ability to persist through those tough moments proved to be one of the most satisfying parts of the experience.

Dr. Wesson was also positively surprised by the level of collaboration he encountered along the way. He found Hematology-Oncology researchers to be genuinely excited about advancing the field together, and their enthusiasm helped move the project forward. Just as important were his mentors, who continually pushed him to ask deeper questions and consider how each result fit into the broader landscape of CAR-T therapy. Their guidance led to new ideas, new directions, and eventually new projects.

Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Wesson emphasizes how much the project has changed clinical practice, both at his own institution and beyond. The work has influenced how CAR-T is managed locally and contributed to additional research efforts that are shaping how the therapy is delivered across the country.

For students hoping to begin their own research, Dr. Wesson offers straightforward advice: find a great mentor. “No one enters the field knowing how to conduct research,” he says, but with the right guidance, the learning process becomes far more manageable, and the work becomes deeply meaningful.