How blood-forming stem cells split to decide what they become
Investigating the mechanisms of lysosome segregation and cell fate regulation in dividing hematopoietic stem cells
This project looks at how blood-forming stem cells divide and share internal parts so people who need bone marrow or blood transplants could have more donor cells available.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11135308 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will watch individual hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) divide using advanced live 3D imaging to see how cellular components like lysosomes are passed to daughter cells. They will track single cells over several days to link how that partitioning affects whether a cell stays a stem cell or becomes a mature blood cell. The team will test molecular factors that might push divisions toward making two stem cells to expand HSC numbers. Work will combine high-resolution imaging with cell culture experiments and molecular tools to manipulate the dividing cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who need hematopoietic stem cell or bone marrow transplants for blood cancers, bone marrow failure, or inherited blood disorders would be the long-term beneficiaries and may be eligible for related future trials.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to blood or bone marrow function are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic laboratory research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal ways to expand transplant-ready blood stem cells, making more transplants possible and safer for patients.
How similar studies have performed: Some lab methods and small molecules have helped expand blood stem cells in culture, but directly watching lysosome segregation live and manipulating it is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Loeffler, Dirk — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Loeffler, Dirk
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.