Tracing how and where blood-forming stem cells develop

Cellular barcoding of developmental hematopoiesis

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · NIH-11267219

Using DNA barcodes to follow which embryonic cells become long-lasting blood stem cells, with the goal of helping people with blood disorders.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorSTANFORD UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (STANFORD, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11267219 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Researchers will apply next-generation DNA barcoding to label individual embryonic cells and track their descendants over time to find which tissues produce durable hematopoietic stem cells. They will combine lineage tracing with single-cell analysis to map the cell states and signals that lead to long-term blood stem cell potential. The team will compare different embryonic sites to see how origin affects lifelong stem cell behavior. Insights will guide methods to recreate those steps in the lab to grow functional stem cells for therapy.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This is a laboratory-based project that does not recruit patients now, though adults with blood diseases could be candidates for future clinical trials of lab-grown stem cell therapies.

Not a fit: People needing immediate treatment or those with conditions unrelated to blood or stem-cell replacement are unlikely to benefit in the short term.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could enable lab generation of long-lasting, transplantable blood stem cells to treat a range of blood disorders.

How similar studies have performed: Related lineage-tracing and single-cell studies have advanced understanding of blood development, but reliably producing HSCs in vitro for durable transplant remains largely unachieved.

Where this research is happening

STANFORD, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Blood Diseases

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.