How metabolism controls red blood cell production
Metabolic Regulation of erythropoiesis
This project looks at how changes in cell metabolism help people with anemia from chronic inflammation make more healthy red blood cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174398 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will hear this described as stress erythropoiesis, the way the body makes a burst of new red blood cells when inflammation lowers normal production. The team will study the early expanding progenitor cells (TA-SEPs) and how amino acid transport and other metabolic pathways let them multiply and mature. They will use mouse models alongside human cells or patient samples to trace these pathways and test whether changing metabolism boosts red blood cell output. Lab methods will include genetic and biochemical experiments to identify specific metabolic targets that could become future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with anemia caused by chronic inflammatory conditions or other disorders that suppress steady-state red blood cell production.
Not a fit: Patients whose anemia is mainly from acute blood loss, simple iron deficiency without inflammation, or inherited hemoglobin disorders (like sickle cell disease or thalassemia) may not benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that help people with anemia from chronic inflammation produce more red blood cells.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work in mice and human cells has shown stress erythropoiesis is a valid target, but the specific metabolic mechanisms this project targets are relatively new and not yet proven as therapies.
Where this research is happening
University Park, United States
- Pennsylvania State University, the — University Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Paulson, Robert Frank — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Paulson, Robert Frank
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.