How microRNA breakdown affects blood cell formation
Official title: Mechanisms and Relevance of miRNA Decay during Hematopoietic Development
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11497673 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are using human stem cell models to learn how problems breaking down microRNAs can lead to blood cell disorders like poikiloderma with neutropenia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $617,978 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HL174789-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11497673 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with inherited bone marrow failure syndromes such as poikiloderma with neutropenia, or those willing to donate blood or skin samples for genetic and cell-based research, would be most relevant.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with unrelated, non-genetic blood problems or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
What this research studies
You would hear from a team that grows human pluripotent stem cells and guides them to become blood cells to see how microRNAs are processed during that change. They made stem cell lines that carry disease-causing mutations in USB1 and other enzymes that trim microRNAs, then compare normal and mutant cells to find what goes wrong. The work maps the molecular pathways that lead to abnormal microRNA decay and how that affects blood stem cells and their mature descendants. Results could point to biomarkers or molecular targets that future therapies might aim to fix.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify biological targets or diagnostic clues that help restore healthy blood cell production in some inherited bone marrow failure disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Genetic studies previously tied USB1 mutations to poikiloderma with neutropenia, but using human stem-cell models to map microRNA decay pathways during blood development is a newer approach with limited prior clinical translation.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Batista, Luis Francisco Zirnberger — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Batista, Luis Francisco Zirnberger
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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.