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, MD, a world-renowned blood cancer doctor and researcher who has been with Ohio State for more than 12 years, has been named director of the Division of Hematology at (OSUCCC – James).

Woyach treats patients with blood cancers, namely chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Her research focuses on developing therapies that produce lasting remissions for patients with CLL and helping patients overcome resistance to those therapies.

“I am incredibly grateful and excited for the opportunity to follow the legacy of leadership in hematology at Ohio State, and lead our exceptional team of faculty and staff,” said Woyach. “Our program's mission is to provide world-class care for our patients, and perform pioneering basic, translational and clinical research that will improve the lives of patients with blood diseases and hematologic malignancies.”

Over the years, Woyach contributed to research at Ohio State that led to FDA approval of therapies including first-in-class Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor drug, ibrutinib, which began a revolutionary shift in the treatment of CLL. BTK inhibitors block a protein essential for growth and spread of CLL cells.

Woyach has been integral in leading research for a second-generation drug, acalabrutinib, that prevents or minimizes side effects of treatment. She also led an effort which identified the most common acquired mutations that cause CLL to resist drugs like ibrutinib and acalabrutinib. Then she ran studies to identify drugs that can overcome ibrutinib resistance. This work has led to clinical trials of reversible BTK inhibitors, including pirtobrutinib, which received FDA approval in 2023.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Woyach will be leading and advancing the transformative and patient-centered work of our hematology division,” said David Cohn, interim CEO and chief medical officer of the OSUCCC – James. “We are grateful for the previous leadership of Yiping Yang, MD, PhD, who directed the division since 2019.”

Woyach’s work has received National Institute of Health funding and support from Pelotonia, the annual community cycling event that raises money for cancer research at the OSUCCC – James. In addition, she is one of the leaders of the Experimental Hematology Lab, which has received more than $7.61 million in Pelotonia funding over the past six years. Woyach also mentors predoctoral students, postdoctoral trainees and junior faculty in basic and translation research.

Woyach has authored or co-authored nearly 200 articles in journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, The Lancet Oncology, Cancer Discovery and Blood. She has shared her work at many conferences, including the American Society of Hematology, American Society of Clinical Oncology and the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Among her many awards and honors are a Young Physician-Scientist Award from the American Society of Clinical Investigation, the Michael R. Grever Distinguished Professor Lectureship Award, an Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Most Significant Manuscript Award, a Clinical Research Forum Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Award (for 2020), a Pelotonia-Funded Researcher of the Year Award, and multiple appearances in the Castle Connolly “America’s Top Doctors” listings.

After receiving her undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame in 2001, Woyach came to Ohio State to earn her MD and serve her internship and residency (including a year as chief resident). She completed her postdoctoral training in hematology and medical oncology before joining the medical faculty.

Woyach holds the D. Warren Brown Designated Chair in Leukemia Research in the Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and serves as co-leader of the Leukemia and Hematologic Malignancies Research Program at OSUCCC – James. She joined the hematology division as an assistant professor in 2012 and moved up through the ranks to full professor in 2020.