How red blood cells are made and why they sometimes fail
Cellular and Molecular Control of Normal and Disordered Erythropoiesis
This work will learn how newborns and adults make red blood cells differently to find better treatments for people with Diamond-Blackfan anemia, sickle cell disease, and anemia of inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Feinstein Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhasset, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11266187 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will compare how red blood cells form in newborns versus adults using blood and bone marrow samples to find where the process breaks down in disease. They will examine the bone marrow niche called the erythroblastic island and test how immune-related drugs change red blood cell production and fetal hemoglobin levels. The team combines observations from human samples with laboratory experiments to pinpoint molecules and pathways that could be targeted by new treatments. Findings aim to translate lab discoveries into therapies for people with DBA, SCD, and anemia linked to inflammation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with Diamond-Blackfan anemia, sickle cell disease, or anemia of inflammation, and individuals (newborns or adults) willing to provide blood or bone marrow samples for research.
Not a fit: People without these specific blood disorders or those needing immediate clinical care are unlikely to gain direct benefits from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets and approaches that improve red blood cell production or raise protective fetal hemoglobin, easing symptoms for people with DBA, sickle cell disease, and related anemias.
How similar studies have performed: Related approaches such as boosting fetal hemoglobin in sickle cell disease and steroid use in some DBA patients have shown clinical benefit, but this program seeks new and partly untested targets and mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
Manhasset, United States
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research — Manhasset, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blanc, Lionel — Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Blanc, Lionel
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.