Understanding how blood stem cells grow and where they can be made
Functional characterization of the endothelial cell niche for hematopoietic stem cells
This project aims to find new ways to help your body make healthy blood cells by creating new supportive environments for blood stem cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159789 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies rely on special blood stem cells to create all types of blood cells, and these stem cells need a specific environment, called a niche, to thrive. We are learning how these niches, found in specialized veins, support blood stem cell growth and division. Our goal is to discover how to create new, supportive environments for blood stem cells in other parts of the body, like the liver, especially when the bone marrow is not working well. We are looking at specific genetic instructions that can transform tissues to better support blood stem cells. This could offer new hope for patients who need to produce more blood cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but could eventually benefit individuals with conditions affecting blood cell production or bone marrow function.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment options would not directly benefit from this early-stage laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that help patients produce healthy blood cells in alternative locations, especially when their bone marrow is compromised.
How similar studies have performed: While the concept of reprogramming tissues is innovative, preliminary data in animal models and human cell lines show promising initial results for transforming liver cells to support blood stem cells.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zon, Leonard Ira — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Zon, Leonard Ira
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 below.