How blood stem cells move and organize in the bone marrow during recovery
A spatial view of hematopoietic regeneration dynamics in the bone marrow
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · NIH-11187041
Researchers are mapping where blood stem cells sit and move in the bone marrow to learn how they refill blood and respond after injury.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11187041 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project will use advanced cellular barcoding (MEMOIR) and spatial RNA imaging (seqFISH) to create high-resolution maps of individual hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) inside bone marrow. The team will follow how HSPC positions and neighbors change as they divide and become different blood cells, and how those patterns shift when the body needs more of a specific cell type after bleeding or infection. By linking cell location with the signals they receive, the researchers aim to identify bone marrow micro-environments that promote expansion or differentiation. Results are intended to improve understanding of how blood and immune cells regenerate after injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who can donate bone marrow or blood samples, or who are recovering from bleeding, infection, or treatments that affect the bone marrow, would be the most relevant candidates to participate.
Not a fit: People with conditions unrelated to blood or bone marrow, or those unable or unwilling to provide bone marrow or blood samples, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal the bone marrow environments that help blood stem cells recover, pointing to new ways to speed or improve blood recovery after bleeding, infection, or chemotherapy.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell and spatial methods have recently mapped bone marrow cell types with promising insights, but combining MEMOIR barcoding and seqFISH to track dynamic HSPC positioning is a relatively new and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LU, RONG — UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- Study coordinator: LU, RONG
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.