How blood-forming stem cells come from vessel-lining cells during a dormant phase
Dormancy-dependent determination of hematopoietic stem cell fate from hemogenic endothelium
Researchers are figuring out what signals let early vessel-lining cells become lifelong blood-forming stem cells so future treatments for blood and immune disorders can improve.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11317206 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks for the specific factors that let embryonic vessel (hemogenic endothelium) cells turn into hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that make all blood types and self-renew. Scientists use a lab-grown vascular niche that supports mouse embryonic HSC development and apply single-cell analyses to compare cells that gain HSC potential to those that do not. They focus on a pattern of metabolic and cell-cycle dormancy and will use genetic tools, including CRISPR, to test which molecular changes are required. The aim is to reproduce these conditions in stem cell cultures so reliable, functional HSCs can be made for research and future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with blood marrow failure, leukemia, or other blood and immune disorders who may eventually need stem cell transplants would be the likely beneficiaries of therapies informed by this research.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to the blood or immune system, or anyone seeking an immediate treatment now, are unlikely to benefit directly from this laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable lab-made blood-forming stem cells for safer, more available transplants and new treatments for blood and immune diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Related lab and animal studies have shown partial progress, but reliably creating fully functional HSCs from pluripotent cells for human therapy remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hadland, Brandon K — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Hadland, Brandon K
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 below.