How the Ikaros protein guides blood and immune cell development
Ikaros regulation: study on hemo-lymphopoiesis
This project looks at how changes in the Ikaros protein shape the development of blood and immune cells, which could help people with blood cancers or immune disorders.
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-11327421 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are examining stem and early blood progenitor cells to see how Ikaros controls which cell types they become. They use single-cell methods to map gene activity and chromatin accessibility, and they study the 3D folding of DNA that helps regulate genes. The team uses a lab tool that can quickly remove and restore Ikaros to watch how chromatin and gene programs change and whether normal patterns can come back. They also identify other proteins that work with or against Ikaros so scientists can understand the network that drives healthy and diseased blood and immune cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with blood cancers (like some leukemias), inherited or acquired immune deficiencies, or anyone willing to donate blood or bone marrow samples for research are most likely to be connected to this work.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to blood or the immune system, or those needing immediate clinical treatment, are unlikely to directly benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets for new treatments that correct or prevent blood and immune cell disorders such as certain leukemias and immunodeficiencies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked Ikaros to lymphoid development and leukemia, but combining single-cell chromatin mapping with reversible Ikaros removal and 3D genome analysis is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Georgopoulos, Katia — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Georgopoulos, Katia
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.