Sex differences in the bone marrow environment and how they affect stem cell transplants
Official title: Sex dimorphism in bone marrow niche and its effect on hematopoietic transplantation
Funded at New York Blood Center · NIH-11297678 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at why men and women’s bone marrow environments differ and how those differences influence stem cell transplants for blood diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 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, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $703,389 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL179131-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11297678 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with blood diseases who may need HSCT could benefit from improved donor–recipient matching and personalized transplant approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not considering HSCT or without donor options may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation helps treat blood diseases, but success can depend on the donor and recipient. The researchers study how sex differences in the bone marrow niche affect blood-forming cells and engraftment after transplantation. Using mouse models, co-culture, and single-cell RNA sequencing, they’re identifying key factors like CXCL12 and a sex-linked gene called Kdm5c that may shape engraftment. Their work could reveal why sex-mspecific biology matters in HSCT and point toward strategies to improve outcomes for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of sex-specific factors could lead to more reliable HSCT outcomes for patients with blood diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous data show sex differences in hematopoiesis and niche biology, with early signaling that targeting niche factors may improve engraftment.
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
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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.