Sickle cell bone marrow signals that drive platelet activation and red blood cell production
Official title: Sickle cell bone marrow niche and regulation of platelet activation and erythropoiesis
Funded at New York Blood Center · NIH-11365843 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing look at how sickle cell disease changes bone marrow to boost platelet activity and alter red blood cell formation, which may affect anemia and clotting.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York Blood Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rye, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 20, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $490,393 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL149626-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365843 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with sickle cell disease and healthy controls providing bone marrow samples for comparative studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without sickle cell disease may not directly benefit from this bone marrow-focused research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on how sickle cell disease changes the bone marrow environment and how these changes influence platelets and erythroid cells. It uses human samples and mouse models to study the interactions between mesenchymal stem cells, gas6, CXCL12, and EPOR signaling, and how heme-driven TLR4 activation impacts cell function. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could be targeted to reduce platelet activation and improve red blood cell production in patients with SCD. If successful, findings could point toward new therapeutic approaches to lessen anemia and complications from abnormal clotting. The work builds on prior discoveries about MSCs and their secreted factors to understand how the niche supports or hinders healthy blood cell formation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Potentially leading to new strategies to decrease platelet overactivity and improve red blood cell production in people with sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that bone marrow messaging and MSC interactions can influence blood cell production, supporting the relevance of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
New York Blood Center
Rye, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mendelson, Avital — New York Blood Center
- Study coordinator: Mendelson, Avital
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.