How different bone marrow spaces influence blood-forming stem cells
Heterogeneity of bone marrow cavities shaping the hematopoietic microenvironment
This project looks at how distinct areas inside adult bone marrow affect the support and growth of blood-forming stem cells and leukemia cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11234254 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use a new image-guided method called Image-seq to take small samples from specific micro-areas (cavities) within bone marrow and read individual cells' RNA. They will compare stromal support cells from cavities that are building bone, breaking down bone, or doing both to see how each environment helps or hinders blood stem cells and early leukemia cells. The team already found that stem cell and leukemia cell expansion happens mainly in mixed-remodeling cavities, and they will map which stromal cell types and signals underlie that. This lab-focused work combines high-resolution imaging with single-cell sequencing to create a detailed map of the marrow environments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who can donate bone marrow samples or who are undergoing clinical bone marrow biopsy, including some patients with blood cancers, would be the most likely candidates to contribute samples.
Not a fit: Children and people seeking immediate treatment benefit are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to boost stem cell recovery after treatment or to block marrow environments that help leukemia grow.
How similar studies have performed: Mapping bone marrow niches has been done before, but using Image-seq to capture cells from individual cavity types is a novel approach that is only beginning to be tested.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, Charles P. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lin, Charles P.
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.