Ketan Kulkarni, MD, FRCPC

Education

• Pediatric Hematology Oncology (Stollery Children’s Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta)
• Pediatric Thrombosis (Clinical and Research Fellowship, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta)

Research interests

I have been interested in studying adverse events related to cancer and its therapy, complications associated with central venous catheters, and survival outcomes. To advance research and knowledge in the same, I am actively engaged in collaboration with basic and translational researchers in pharmacy, pharmacology, gastroenterology, immunology, cancer biology, mathematics and bioinformatics, and epidemiology amongst others to find innovative ways of improving the care of pediatric hematology oncology patients. I attempt to focus on using advanced technologies to improve care and outcome of children with cancer. I am fortunate to have an expanding research program with several students and trainees at all levels of training from undergraduate to postdoctoral and well as medical students and residents. 

I am also interested in studying thrombosis in high risk pediatric populations such as oncology, cardiology, intensive care and neonatology.

Selected publications  

1. Ricci C, Lim K, Subburaj D, Shukla N, Kaur J, Xie L, Laverty M, Zakaria D, Pole J, Pelland-Marcotte MC, Barber R, Isreals S, Tran TH, Oberoi S, MacDonald T, Sung L, Kulkarni K. Early Second Malignant Neoplasms (SMN) in Paediatric Oncology Patients: A National Canadian Cohort Study. Frontiers Oncol (In press) (Trainees underlined) Role: Senior and lead investigator
2. Power G, Morrison L, Kulkarni K, Barr H, Campbell-Yeo M, Singh B, Stratas A, Landry C, Higgins M, Ghotra S. Non Breast-milk-fed Very Preterm Infants Are At Increased Risk Of Iron Deficiency At 4-6-Months Corrected Age: A Retrospective Population-Based Cohort Study. Nutrients. 2024;16(3):407. doi: 10.3390/nu16030407 Role: Co-investigator. Media releases:
   https://www.hcplive.com/view/iron-deficiency-more-common-preterm-infants-not-fed-breast-milk; https://www.consultantlive.com/view/iron-deficiency-more-common-preterm-infants-not-fed-breast-milk
3. Pelland Marcotte MC, Kulkarni K, Tran TH, Stammers D, Gupta S, Sung L, Athale U. Risk factors and clinical impact of thrombosis during induction chemotherapy for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a report from CYP-C. Am J Hematol. 2024;99(2):274-283. doi: 10.1002/ajh.27171. Role: Co-investigator
4. Ross K, Kulkarni K, MacDonald T, Pinto T. Medication induced diabetes during induction therapy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Assessing risk. Pediatr Diabetes 2023. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1057639 Role: Co-investigator
5. Fischer K, Lassila R, Peyvandi F, Gatt A, Hollingsworth R, Lambert T, Kaczmarek R, Bettle A, Samji N, Rivard G, Carcao M, Iorio A, Makis M and EUHASS and CHESS participants. Inhibitor development according to concentrate in severe hemophilia: reporting on 1392 Previously Untreated Patients from Europe and Canada. Res Pract Thromb Hemostat. 2023;7:102265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rpth.2023.102265 Role: Collaborator
6. Barr H, Kulkarni K, Singh B, Sandila N, Morrison L, Beach, Ghotra S. Accuracy of Reticulocyte Hemoglobin for Diagnosing Iron Deficiency in Very Preterm Infants: A Population-Based Cohort Study. Front Pediatr. 2023;11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2023.1281513 Role: Co-investigator
7. Tomlinson D, Dupuis LL, Dix D, Crellin-Parsons N, Cook S, Kulkarni K, Schechter T, Tomlinson GA, Sung L. Validation of co-SSPedi: a novel dyadic approach to symptom screening in pediatric patients receiving cancer treatment. J Natl Cancer Inst 2024;116(1):160-166. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djad181 Role: Co-investigator
8. MacDonald T^*, Dunn KA^*, MacDonald J, Langille MGI,  Van Limbergen JE, Joseph P. Bielawski JP, Kulkarni K. The gastrointestinal antibiotic resistome in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma patients. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023;13:1102501 doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1102501 (*co-first authors) (Note: trainee as second author) Role: Senior investigator.  Media release: https://youriwk.com/2023/03/22/prolonged-and-repeated-use-of-antibiotics-has-negative-effect-on-gut-microbiome-and-gut-resistome-in-pediatric-cancer-patients/
9. Seemann N, Erker C, Irwin M, Lopushinsky S, Kulkarni K, Fernandez C, Romao R. Survival effect of complete surgical resection of the primary tumor in patients with metastatic, high-risk neuroblastoma in a large Canadian cohort. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023 Mar 28;e30286. doi: 10.1002/pbc.30286. Role: Co-investigator
10. Curwin J, MacNevin W, El-Hawary R, Kulkarni K. Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Use by Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeons in Canada for the Pediatric Orthopedic Surgical Population. Cureus 2022;14:e29933 doi:10.7759/cureus.29933. (Note: Trainee as first two authors) Role: Senior investigator. Media releases/publications: https://youriwk.com/2022/11/09/screening-tool-could-minimize-risk-of-blood-clots-after-pediatric-orthopedic-surgeries-as-well-as-lessen-the-burden-of-their-treatment/; https://ckdu.ca/community-news/81?fbclid=IwAR0W47AnRRVarqDymf8atbGNroyoBWQT_-DRvIj-70W8km8bQZsZF8K9X28; https://canada-info.ca/en/childrens-hospital-researchers-look-to-make-blood-clot-screening-tool-national/?fbclid=IwAR0qUyiVwPVvNqEWKNacJplekG6DsiGSllfexfC8GUpokDotJfNFOLyn5Zc
11. Cruickshank B, MacDonald T, Kulkarni K, Warren A. The Efficacy and Toxicity of Dexrazoxane in Children with Cancer. A Population-based Control Study. Dal Medical Journal. 2023;49:23-29 (trainee as first author). Role: Co-investigator
12. Tibout P, Ledjiar O, Athale U, Rayar M, Kulkarni K, Truong TH, Cellot S, Bittencourt H, Pelland-Marcotte MC, Tran TH. Prognostic factors and outcomes of infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), hypodiploid ALL and mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) in Canada: a population-based study. Leuk Lymphoma. 2022 Dec;63:3208-3216. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2022.2118536. Role: Co-investigator
13. Dunn KA, MacDonald T, Rodrigues G, Forbrigger Z, Bielawski J, Langille M, VanLimbergen J, Kulkarni K. Antibiotic and antifungal use in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma patients are associated with increasing opportunistic pathogens and decreasing bacteria responsible for activities that enhance colonic defense. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol. 2022. 12:924707. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.924707 (Note: Trainees underlined) Role: Senior author and investigator. Media releases/publications: https://www.dal.ca/news/media/media-releases/2022/08/09/media_opportunity__dalhousie_university_study_shows_the_ill_effects_of_antimicrobials_in_large_pediatric_leukemia_and_lymphoma_population_in_atlantic_canada.html; https://youriwk.com/2022/08/21/iwk-health-study-investigates-effect-of-treatment-and-disease-on-microbiome-in-children-with-cancer/; https://halifax.citynews.ca/local-news/iwk-researchers-study-impact-of-cancer-treatment-on-gut-microbiome-in-pediatric-patients-5728559; https://hriportal.ca/daily-media-digest-august-23-2022/ (top article); https://bhcri.ca/research-publications
14. Greencorn D, Kuhle S, Ye L, Moore K, Kulkarni K, Langley J. Risk factors for mechanical complications of peripherally inserted central catheters in children. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol.2022 Oct 20;1-6. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2022.193 (Note: Trainees as first 2 authors) Role: Co-supervising/co-senior investigator
15. Nathan P, Kulkarni K, MacDonald T. Incidence and Risk Factors of Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Long-Term Survivors of Pediatric Cancer: A Population Based Cohort Study. Pediatr Hem Onc J. 2022;7:136-141 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phoj.2022.06.004 (Note: Trainee as first author) Role: Co-supervisor, Co-Senior investigator
16. Poon E, Bissonnette P, Sedighi S, MacNevin W, Kulkarni K (June 02, 2022) Improving Financial Literacy Using the Medical Mini-MBA at a Canadian Medical School. Cureus 14(6): e25595. doi:10.7759/cureus.25595 (Note: Trainees as first 4 authors) Role: Supervising-investigator, Senior Investigator
17. Subburaj S, Kulkarni K, MacDonald T. Optimizing pegasparaginase therapy in patients with hypersensitivity reactions. Leuk Lymphoma. 2022;63:2727-2730 https://doi.org/10.1080/10428194.2022.2086251 (Note: Trainee as first author) Role: Co-principal Investigator
18. Power G, Stratas A, Landry C, Morrison L, Kulkarni K, Campbell-Yeo M, Singh B, Higgins M, Ghotra S. Post discharge iron status in very preterm infants receiving prophylactic iron supplementation after birth. J Pediatr. 2022 May 14;S0022-3476(22)00424-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2022.04.050 (Note: Trainees as first 3 authors) Role: Co-investigator. Media release: https://globalnews.ca/video/9320722/iwk-releases-new-research-studying-iron-deficiency-in-preterm-infants/; https://youriwk.com/tag/prophylactic-iron-supplementation/
19. Betensky M, Kulkarni K, Rizzi M, Jones S, Brandão L, Goldenberg NA, Sharathkumar A. Recommendations for Clinical Assessment, Standardized Definitions and Future Research in Pediatric Asymptomatic Venous Thromboembolism: Communication on behalf of the Pediatric and Neonatal Thrombosis and Hemostasis Subcommittee of the ISTH SSC. J Thromb Hemostat. 2022;20:1729–1734. https://doi.org/10.1111/jth.15731 Role: International guideline panel member, second author
20. Samji N, Bhatt M. Kulkarni K. Challenges in management of VTE in children with cancer: risk factors and treatment options. Front Pediatr. 2022;10:855162 (Special issue: Pediatric Hematology and Hematological malignancies) https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.855162 Role: Senior Author. Note: Invited article for special issue of the journal on VTE in children
21. Moore K, Greencorn D, Kuhle S, Langley J, Kulkarni K. Mechanical Complications Associated with Central Venous Catheters at a Canadian Tertiary Care Centre. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021;21:1-7 https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2021.493 (Note: Trainees as first 2 authors) Role: Senior investigator
22. Pike M, Kulkarni K, MacDonald T. Asparaginase activity monitoring and management of asparaginase hypersensitivity reactions in Canada. J Oncol Pharm Prac. 2021. Dec 2; 29:105-111 doi: 10.1177/10781552211055405 (Note: Trainee as first author) Role: Co-senior investigator
23. Wertman J, Dunn KA, Kulkarni K. The impact of the host intestinal microbiome on carcinogenesis and the response to chemotherapy. Future Oncol. 2021;17:4371-4387. https://doi.org/10.2217/fon-2021-0087 (Note: Trainee as first author) Role: Lead and senior investigator
24. Dunn KA, Forbrigger Z, Connors J, Rahman M, Cohen A, Van Limbergen J, Langille MGI, Stadnyk A, Bielawski JP, Penney SL, MacDonald T, Kulkarni K. Gut bacterial gene changes following pegaspargase treatment in pediatric patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Leuk Lymphoma. 2021;62:3244-3255 DOI:10.1080/10428194.2021.1953006 (Note: Trainee underlined) Role: Lead and senior investigator Dalhousie media release: https://www.dal.ca/news/media/media-releases/2021/09/07/media_opportunity__dalhousie_university_researchers_discover_how_chemotherapy_drug_used_to_treat_most_common_childhood_cancer_affects_patients__offering_hope_for_more_individualised_therapy.html
25. P-Marcotte Marie-Claude, Kulkarni K, Athale U, Pole J Brandão L, Sung S. Thrombosis is associated with worse survival in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a report from CYP-C. Am J Hematol. 2021;96:796-804. DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26193 Role: Co-investigator, second author
26. Bhatt MD, Hamilton K, Kulkarni K, Raffini L, Simpson E, Thabane L, Chan AK. A pilot feasibility and safety multicenter trial of administering weight adjusted FiXED dose of low molecular weight heparin (ENOXAPARIN) to neonates and children with thrombosis. Med Case Rep Study Protoc. 2021;2:2(e0053) Role: Randomized control trial co-investigator and site PI
27. Howie C, Erker C, Moorehead P, Crooks B, Kulkarni K. Incidence and risk factors of venous thrombotic events in pediatric patients with CNS tumors compared with non-CNS cancer: a population-based cohort study. Thromb Res. 2021;200:51-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.thromres.2021.01.014 (Note: Trainee as first author)Role: Senior investigator

Selected awards and honours

• >25 international awards (please contact for complete list of awards and honours)
  

Leadership positions

• Leading several physician wellness initiatives that are underway including:
  • IWK peer support network: Coaching role for physician peer support December 2021 onwards
  • Volunteer coach for Physician Coach Support: October 2021 onwards (https://physiciancoachsupport.com/volunteers)
  • Physician Wellness Representative, Department of Pediatrics, Lead representative for the Department of Pediatrics on the recently formed Faculty wellness committee, Dalhousie University Wellness Implementation Group Advisory Committee. December 2020 onwards
  • Department of Pediatric Mentorship committee
  • Pediatric Hematology Oncology Research Committee (PHORC), Pediatric Hematology Oncology (IWK). July 2016 onwards (member); August 2019 onwards (Chair)

Administrative interests

• Physician Wellness
  
• Medical leadership and coaching