How SAMD9L gene changes harm blood stem cells in children

Elucidating function of disease-related SAMD9L mutations in hematopoiesis

NIH-funded research Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-11456712

This project looks at how changes in the SAMD9L gene damage blood-forming stem cells in children with inherited bone marrow failure and pediatric myelodysplastic syndrome.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVirginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Blacksburg, United States)
Project IDNIH-11456712 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will study blood-forming stem cells made from patients' cells and use mice engineered to carry SAMD9L changes to follow how those changes affect blood production. They will examine how cellular stress responses, metabolism, and inflammatory signals cause stem cell dysfunction. The team will combine genetic tests, cell-based experiments, and functional assays to link faulty SAMD9L to disease progression. Results are meant to reveal key pathways that could guide future therapies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants would be children or families with known germline SAMD9L mutations or diagnosed inherited bone marrow failure or pediatric myelodysplastic syndrome who can provide clinical information or biological samples.

Not a fit: Patients without SAMD9L-related disease or those seeking an immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to biological targets for new treatments that protect or restore healthy blood formation in affected children.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have linked SAMD9L mutations to inherited bone marrow failure, but using patient-derived stem cells together with engineered mouse models to define the cellular mechanisms is a more recent and developing approach.

Where this research is happening

Blacksburg, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Blood DiseasesBone Marrow Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.