Erythroblastic island macrophages and their role in sickle cell-related red blood cell production
Official title: Erythroblastic Island Macrophages in SCD Disordered Erythropoiesis.
Funded at New York Blood Center · NIH-11365836 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how a special type of immune cell in the bone marrow may fix or worsen how red blood cells are made in people with sickle cell disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York Blood Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rye, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 20, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $490,393 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL149626-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365836 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with sickle cell disease or other hemolytic anemias whose bone marrow environments are studied to understand erythropoiesis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without hemolytic anemia or sickle cell disease may not experience direct benefit from this basic mechanistic research.
What this research studies
Researchers study erythroblastic island macrophages (EBI Mϕ) and how their signals affect erythropoiesis, especially in the context of sickle cell disease and related anemia. The work explores EPOR signaling, macrophage function, and how hemolysis may disrupt the bone marrow environment, with the aim of restoring proper red blood cell formation. It uses mouse models of sickle cell disease and treatment with hemin to understand inflammatory changes and enucleation of erythroblasts. Findings could point to new ways to support healthy erythropoiesis in patients with blood disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to therapies that improve red blood cell production in people with sickle cell disease and related anemias.
How similar studies have gone: prior work has shown that immune cells in the bone marrow can influence erythropoiesis, with ongoing investigation to translate these findings to human disease.
Where this research is happening
-
New York Blood Center
Rye, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: An, Xiuli — New York Blood Center
- Study coordinator: An, Xiuli
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.