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Konstantine Halkidis, M.D., Ph.D.

Konstantine Halkidis portrait
Assistant Professor, Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics
khalkidis@kumc.edu

Professional Background

I am interested in the molecular interactions that underpin human biology and the pathogenesis of disease. I study the pathophysiology of immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a thrombotic microangiopathy caused by deficiency of the von Willebrand cleaving protease A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease with Thrombospondin-like Motif 13 (ADAMTS13). TTP is a potentially fatal and devastating disease, and patients tend to have relapses. Patients with TTP, even those who have not had recurrent disease, are more prone than matched control groups to life-threatening vascular events like strokes and heart attacks. Immune TTP is caused by antibodies that target ADAMTS13, though the exact manner by which these antibodies cause TTP is not yet known. My work focuses on understanding the way such antibodies work so that we can develop better diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for immune TTP. My research mentor, Dr. X. Long Zheng, is the Russell J. Eiliers Endowed Chair of the Department of Pathology andamp; Laboratory Medicine here at KUMC, and he is a world expert on TTP.

Education and Training
  • BS, Biochemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
  • MD, Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
  • PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
  • Internship, Internal Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
  • Residency, Internal Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
  • Clinical Fellowship, Hematology and Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Licensure, Accreditations & Certifications
  • Hematology, American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Medical License, Kansas Board of Healing Arts
  • Medical License, Missouri Division of Professional Registration
  • Medical Oncology, American Board of Internal Medicine
Professional Affiliations
  • Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Society, Member, 2018 - Present
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology, Member, 2017 - Present
  • American College of Physicians, Member, 2015 - Present
  • American Society of Hematology, Member, 2015 - Present
  • Temple University, Chemisty Society, President, 2003 - Present

Research

Overview

I received my doctorate degrees at Thomas Jefferson University. During my pre-doctoral training, I studied the enzymatic properties of CTP(ATP):tRNA nucleotidyltransferase under the tutelage of Dr. Ya-Ming Hou at Thomas Jefferson University. My thesis work was completed in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Root, where I worked on elucidating the stoichiometry of inhibition and the minimal receptor binding events necessary for viral-cell fusion mediated by the HIV-1 viral surface protein Env. I completed my residency in internal medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine, and my fellowship in hematology and oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. As a clinician, my primary focus is classical hematology. I am board certified by ABIM in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology. I am a member of several national organizations.

Publications
  • Dupasquier, Marcel, Kim, Sangbumn, Halkidis, Konstantine, Gamper, Howard, Houd, Ya-Ming. 2008. tRNA integrity is a prerequisite for rapid CCA addition: implication for quality control. Journal of Molecular Biology, 379 (3), 579-588. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18466919/
  • Kim, Sangbumn, Liu, Cuiping, Halkidis, Konstantine, Gamper, Howard., B, Hou, Ya-Ming. 2009. Distinct kinetic determinants for the stepwise CCA addition to tRNA. RNA, 15 (10), 1827-1836. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19696158/
  • Halkidis, Konstantine, Khasnis, Mukta., D, Bhardwaj, Anshul, Root, Michael., J. 2016. Receptor Activation of HIV-1 Env Leads to Asymmetric Exposure of the gp41 Trimer. PLoS Pathogens, 12 (12), e1006098. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27992602/
  • Sui, Jingrui, Cao, Wenjing, Halkidis, Konstantine, Abdelgawwad, Mohammad., S, Kocher, Nicole., K, Guillory, Bryan, Williams, Lance, Gangaraju, Radhika, Marques, Marisa., B, Zheng, X., Long. 2019. Longitudinal Assessments of Plasma ADAMTS13 Biomarkers Predict Recurrence of Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Blood Advances, 3 (24), 4177-4186. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31856267/
  • Halkidis, Konstantine, Siegel, Donald., L, Zheng, X., Long. 2021. A human monoclonal antibody against the distal carboxyl terminus of ADAMTS-13 modulates its susceptibility to an inhibitor in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.. Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH, 19 (8), 1888-1895. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33834592/
  • Malay., Kumar, Massicano, Felipe, Yu, Lijia, Halkidis, Konstantine, Pillai, Vikram, Cao, Wenjing, Zheng, Liang, Zheng, X., Long. 2021. Exome Sequencing Identifies Abnormalities in Glycosylation and ANKRD36C in Patients with Immune-Mediated Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 121 (4), 506-517. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33184803/
  • Sui, Jingrui, Lu, Ruinan, Halkidis, Konstantine, Kocher, Nicole., K, Cao, Wenjing, Marques, Marisa, Zheng, X., Long. 2021. Plasma levels of S100A8/A9, histone/DNA complexes, and cell-free DNA predict adverse outcomes of immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis : JTH, 19 (2), 370-379. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33188723/
  • Venkatesh, Priyanka, Bennett, Joseph, Halkidis, Konstantine. 2024. Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in the Setting of Cirrhosis and Baseline Thrombocytopenia. Cureus