Notch signals that control fetal liver blood stem cells
Notch signaling regulates stem cell function in the fetal liver hematopoietic niche
This work looks at whether Notch signals help fetal liver blood stem cells grow into stronger cells that could improve outcomes for people who need bone marrow transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11292877 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the team is studying special blood-forming stem cells found in the fetal liver and how Notch signaling turns those cells on and helps them grow. They use genetic reporter tools to find Notch-active stem cells, laboratory assays, and transplant tests in model systems to compare which cells engraft and rebuild blood systems best. The researchers will test the roles of different Notch receptors and ligands such as Jag1 and examine how the fetal liver environment supports expansion and maturation. The goal is to learn mechanisms that could eventually be used to make donor stem cells more effective for transplantation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who might benefit include patients needing hematopoietic stem cell transplants for blood cancers, marrow failure, or certain immune disorders.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to blood or bone marrow transplantation are unlikely to directly benefit from this research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to ways to expand or improve donor blood stem cells that make bone marrow transplants safer and more effective.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory work has shown Notch1 and the ligand Jag1 affect fetal liver HSC function and that Notch-active cells can engraft well in animal models, but translation to human therapies is still unproven.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pajcini, Kostandin — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Pajcini, Kostandin
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.