The Long Run with Luke Timmerman Ep185: Dr. Lachelle Weeks on Predicting Leukemia Risk At Scale
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Sep 17, 2025 Dr. Lachelle Weeks is a physician-scientist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, specializing in early detection and prevention of leukemia. She shares her journey from Newark to a pioneering career in medicine and research. Dr. Weeks delves into clonal hematopoiesis, a precursor to blood cancers, and discusses innovative methods like AI-driven blood smears for large-scale screening. With a focus on health equity, she emphasizes her vision for validated screening programs to help combat leukemia before it manifests. A must-listen for anyone interested in the future of cancer prevention!
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Preventing Leukemia By Early Detection
- Dr. Lachelle Weeks believes we can prevent leukemias by detecting precursors early and intervening before full disease develops.
- She frames her research around screening, risk stratification, and prevention rather than late-stage treatment.
From Newark To Wellesley
- Weeks grew up in Newark as the only science nerd in a family of six and credits her parents for broad education support.
- She attended public school then switched to private middle/high school and later studied at Wellesley College.
Chemistry Teacher Sparked A Career Pivot
- Weeks discovered chemistry in high school after being encouraged by her teacher-coach, Mr. Grant, who pushed her into AP chemistry.
- That shift opened new academic paths and eventually led her toward science and medicine.