Zachary Walker, MS

Professional Titles

• Director of Hematology Lab Operations

Research Interests

My current research interests are focused on the development and optimization of new therapies for the treatment of multiple myeloma at the University of Colorado. My initial work spearheaded the inception of a personalized medicine tool termed Myeloma Drug Sensitivity Testing (My-DST), a foundational tool in our group that led to further studies from myself and others describing the potential of protein translation inhibitors and novel bispecific t-cell engagers in myeloma. In addition, I focus on the laboratory correlate portion of myeloma clinical trials at CU. I also support the overall laboratory research efforts within the Division of Hematology through the dedicated training and mentoring of students and laboratory staff.

Publications

• Ohlstrom D, Walker ZJ, Pandey A, Davis LN, Engel KL, Pan Z, Forsberg PA, Mark TM, Gillen AE, Sherbenou DW. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing before and after Light Chain Escape Reveals Intrapatient Multiple Myeloma Subpopulations with Divergent Osteolytic Gene Expression. Cancer Res Commun. 2025 Jan 1;5(1):106-118. PubMed PMID: 39699274
• Davis LN, Walker ZJ, Reiman LT, Parzych SE, Stevens BM, Jordan CT, Forsberg PA, Sherbenou DW. MYC Inhibition Potentiates CD8 T Cells Against Multiple Myeloma and Overcomes Immunomodulatory Drug Resistance. Clin Cancer Res. 2024 Jul 15;30(14):3023-3035. PubMed PMID: 38723281
• Davis LN, Walker ZJ, Reiman LT, Parzych SE, Stevens BM, Jordan CT, Forsberg PA, Sherbenou DW. MYC Inhibition Potentiates CD8+ T Cells Against Multiple Myeloma and Overcomes Immunomodulatory Drug Resistance. Clin Cancer Res. 2024 Jul 15;30(14):3023-3035. PubMed PMID: 38723281
• Ohlstrom D, Walker ZJ, Pandey A, Davis LN, Engel KL, Pan Z, Forsberg PA, Mark TM, Gillen AE, Sherbenou DW. Single Cell RNA Sequencing Before and After Light Chain Escape Reveals Intra-patient Multiple Myeloma Subpopulations with Divergent Osteolytic Gene Expression. Cancer Res Commun. 2024 Dec 19. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 39699274
• Denis Ohlstrom, Zachary J. Walker, Abhishek Pandey, Lorraine N. Davis, Krysta L. Engel, Zenggang Pan, Peter A. Forsberg, Tomer M Mark, Austin E. Gillen, Daniel W. Sherbenou; Single Cell RNA Sequencing Before and After Light Chain Escape Reveals Intra-patient Multiple Myeloma Subpopulations with Divergent Osteolytic Gene Expression. Cancer Research Communications 2024; https://doi.org/10.1158/2767-9764.CRC-24-0170
• VanWyngarden MJ, Walker ZJ, Su Y, Perez de Acha O, Stevens BM, Forsberg PA, Mark TM, Matsui W, Liu B, Sherbenou DW. CD46-ADC Reduces the Engraftment of Multiple Myeloma Patient-Derived Xenografts. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Nov 9;15(22). PubMed PMID: 38001595
• Perez de Acha O, Reiman L, Jayabalan DS, Walker ZJ, Bosma G, Keller AL, Parzych SE, Abbott D, Idler BM, Ribadeneyra D, Niesvizky R, Forsberg PA, Mark TM, Sherbenou DW. CD38 antibody re-treatment in daratumumab-refractory multiple myeloma after time on other therapies. Blood Adv. 2023 Nov 14;7(21):6430-6440. PubMed PMID: 37648670
• Walker ZJ, Idler BM, Davis LN, Stevens BM, VanWyngarden MJ, Ohlstrom D, Bearrows SC, Hammes A, Smith CA, Jordan CT, Mark TM, Forsberg PA, Sherbenou DW. Exploiting Protein Translation Dependence in Multiple Myeloma with Omacetaxine-Based Therapy. Clin Cancer Res. 2021 Feb 1;27(3):819-830. PubMed PMID: 33109736
• Reiman L, Walker Z, Babcock L, Forsberg P, Mark T, Sherbenou D. A Case for Improving Frail Patient Outcomes in Multiple Myeloma with Phenotype-driven Personalized Medicine. Aging and Cancer 2021; 2 (1): 6-12.
• Walker ZJ, VanWyngarden MJ, Stevens BM, Abbott D, Hammes A, Langouët-Astrie C, Smith CA, Palmer BE, Forsberg PA, Mark TM, Jordan CT, Sherbenou DW. Measurement of ex vivo resistance to proteasome inhibitors, IMiDs, and daratumumab during multiple myeloma progression. Blood Adv. 2020 Apr 28;4(8):1628-1639. PubMed PMID: 32311014
• Reed JL, Walker ZJ, Basu D, Allen V, Nicol MP, Kelso DM, McFall SM. Highly sensitive sequence specific qPCR detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in respiratory specimens. Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2016 Dec;101:114-124. PubMed PMID: 27865380

Specialty Information

Specialties

• MB(ASCP): Technologist in Molecular Biology, certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology, Board Certification (2018)