Radiation protection that works differently for men and women
Official title: Development of a radiation countermeasure with sex-dependent radiation response.
Funded at New York Blood Center · NIH-11373057 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand why men and women react differently to radiation and to develop a new countermeasure that helps protect blood cells after radiation exposure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York Blood Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rye, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 15, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $170,800 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI193881-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373057 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk of or exposed to radiation where sex-specific responses could influence treatment or prevention strategies (e.g., patients undergoing radiotherapy or first responders in radiological events).
✕Less likely to help
People without a risk of radiation exposure or those whose condition is not linked to hematopoietic radiation damage may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how sex-specific biology affects radiation response and aims to create a protective treatment that targets those differences. Researchers will study mechanisms involving hematopoietic cells and proteins like Bcl-2, using animal models and cellular experiments. The goal is to identify a countermeasure that can reduce radiation damage and improve recovery, with attention to safety and potential regulatory steps. The work builds on prior findings with Lxn-/- mice and inhibition strategies that may boost blood cell survival after radiation exposure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have better protection of their blood-forming system after radiation exposure, potentially reducing short- and long-term complications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest sex-specific radiation responses exist and that targeted interventions can improve hematopoietic outcomes, supporting further exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
New York Blood Center
Rye, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liang, Ying — New York Blood Center
- Study coordinator: Liang, Ying
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.