Role of a genetic axis in blood stem cells and leukemia
Official title: Role of HOTTIP/beta-catenin-HOXA9/PRMT1 axis in hematopoietic and leukemic stem cells
Funded at Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr · NIH-11535293 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how a specific genetic pathway keeps healthy blood stem cells in check and how it goes wrong in acute myeloid leukemia, with the goal of guiding future therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $202,989 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA264932-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11535293 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with AML or related blood disorders where leukemia stem cells play a role, or samples derived from such patients.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or those without involvement of the studied pathway are less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how self-renewal in blood-forming stem cells is controlled by a network involving beta-catenin, HOXA9, and PRMT1, and how this same network supports leukemia stem cells. Researchers will study how these molecules interact in both healthy and malignant cells to identify potential points for intervention. The work involves lab studies on human cells and relevant animal models to uncover the molecular details of this pathway. Findings could reveal new targets for drugs that selectively affect leukemia cells while sparing normal blood formation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could point to new ways to disrupt leukemia stem cell maintenance and improve treatments for AML.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows the pathway components are important for leukemia cell survival, suggesting a promising, though still developing, approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
Hershey, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Suming — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Huang, Suming
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.