Understanding how blood stem cells decide to self-renew or differentiate
Official title: Defining the molecular basis controlling hematopoietic stem cell symmetric and asymmetric divisions
Funded at Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr · NIH-11384837 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH grant looks at how blood stem cells choose between making more stem cells or becoming mature blood cells, which is important for treating blood diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00DK128602-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384837 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with blood diseases or those who have or may require stem cell–based therapies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
People without hematologic conditions may not directly benefit from these basic science findings.
What this research studies
The project will use new systems and high-throughput tests to study how hematopoietic stem cells decide their fate. It will explore the role of m6A RNA methylation in symmetric commitment and examine a protein called NYNRIN to see how it influences division choices. A novel method called FATE-seq will barcode stem cells, track their divisions in vitro, and analyze their gene activity at the single-cell level. The goal is to uncover molecular programs that could be targeted to improve blood cell production after stress or disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new ways to promote healthy blood formation and help treat hematologic diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Early work suggests RNA methylation and RBPs influence stem cell fate, but this approach is innovative and builds on preliminary data.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Luo, Hanzhi — Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Luo, Hanzhi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Omega-3 dietary supplement profiles for Asian American adults at risk for cardiometabolic diseases
A grant to better understand how omega-3 supplements affect heart and metabolic health in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipino adults ages 18–64.
-
Targeting the IL-1R Pathway to Boost Immunotherapy for Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
Aims to make CD30 CAR therapies work better for people with ALCL by blocking a immune-evasion pathway.
-
How an immune signal in brain support cells helps breast cancer spread to the brain
This project looks at whether a specific immune signal in brain support cells (astrocytes) helps breast cancer cells grow in the brain, aiming to help people with breast cancer that has spread to the brain.
-
Intercepting pancreatic cancer by targeting a tumor-supporting network
A patient-facing overview of a funded project that aims to stop pancreatic cancer from progressing by targeting the supportive tissue around tumors.
-
Refolding Mutant p53: A Strategy to Help People with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
Aims to develop drugs that stabilize mutant p53 in people with Li-Fraumeni syndrome to prevent cancers before they develop.
-
Informatics Core supports precision cancer research at Fox Chase Cancer Center
A data and stats support program helps cancer researchers design smarter studies and manage high-quality data to speed preventive and early-interception cancer work.
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.