Mending aging blood stem cells by boosting their mitochondria
Official title: Rejuvenation of aged hematopoietic stem cells and niche via mitochondrial engineering.
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11428504 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach aims to refresh aging blood-forming stem cells by improving their energy production and mitochondrial function to improve transplant success.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $829,659 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG102849-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11428504 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with hematologic or immunologic disorders who might benefit from stem cell transplantation or HSC-based therapies.
✕Less likely to help
The study may not directly benefit patients if they are not candidates for HSCT or related cell therapies.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on aging blood stem cells and their bone marrow niche. It explores how mitochondrial problems contribute to stem cell aging and how fixing these issues could improve outcomes for stem cell transplants and related therapies. Researchers are looking at ways to supplement mitochondria and enhance communication between stem cells and their niche to preserve self-renewal and function under stress. The work integrates biology of aging, metabolism, and stem cell biology with the goal of better, safer treatments for blood diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more reliable stem cell transplants and gene therapies for blood diseases, especially in older patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that improving mitochondrial function and niche communication can protect stem cells, with early-stage evidence supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singh, Abhishek — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Singh, Abhishek
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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.