James B. Reinecke, MD
Contact Information
James B. Reinecke, MD, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He is a pediatric neuro-oncologist and physician-scientist whose clinical work focuses on the care of children, adolescents and young adults with brain and spinal cord tumors.
Dr. Reinecke’s research is focused on understanding why pediatric brain tumors spread, persist after therapy and recur. His laboratory studies medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood, with a particular emphasis on leptomeningeal metastasis — the spread of tumor cells through the fluid-filled spaces surrounding the brain and spinal cord. His work integrates preclinical models, single-cell transcriptomics, imaging and tumor microenvironment biology to define how metastatic tumor cells interact with surrounding tissues and how these interactions promote treatment resistance.
Dr. Reinecke completed pediatric residency, pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship and advanced pediatric neuro-oncology fellowship training at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. He earned his MD and PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. His prior research has defined mechanisms of metastatic niche formation in pediatric solid tumors, including osteosarcoma and medulloblastoma, and his work has been supported by organizations including Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, CancerFree Kids and Hyundai Hope on Wheels.
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Hematology/Oncology & BMT
Physician Team -
Primary Department
Pediatrics -
Primary Section
Hematology & Oncology
Date of Appointment at Nationwide Children’s Hospital: 08/29/2025
Board Certifications
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
- Pediatrics
| Medical School | UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | Date Completed: 05/30/2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate School | UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | Date Completed: 06/01/2016 |
- Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
- Central Nervous System Tumors
- High-Grade Glioma
- Leptomeningeal Metastasis
- Medulloblastoma
- Pediatric Brain Tumors
- Pediatric Neuro-Oncology
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Hyundai Hope On Wheels Young Investigator, Principal Investigator
Vascular determinants of Metastatic Phenotype and Treatment Response in Medulloblastom
Nationwide Children's Hospital
St. Baldrick's Foundation Scholar Award, Principal Investigator
Development of a 'Bench-to-mouse' pipeline for elucidating mechanisms of leptomeningeal metastasis in pediatric brain tumors"
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Hyundai Hope On Wheels Bridge2K Grant, Principal Investigator
Defining the functions of adhesion signaling in promoting leptomeningeal metastasis and therapy resistance in pediatric brain tumors