Thomas Bhatt

Thomas Bhatt has investigated systemic mastocytosis, a rare mast cell neoplasm driven by KIT D816V mutations, and the development of KIT-targeted therapy approaches for advanced disease. His research contributed to clinical investigation of midostaurin, a multi-kinase inhibitor with activity against KIT D816V, which demonstrated significant responses in patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis and received FDA approval. He has studied avapritinib, a more potent and selective KIT D816V inhibitor, in patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis including mast cell leukemia, characterizing deep and durable responses with high rates of histological remission. His translational work examines biomarkers predicting midostaurin versus avapritinib response and characterizes disease progression mechanisms in mastocytosis patients treated with KIT-targeted therapy.