Understanding how genes and lifestyle affect blood cell changes and age-related diseases
The impact of inherited and modifiable risk factors on clonal hematopoiesis and age-related disease
This project aims to understand how changes in blood cells, called clonal hematopoiesis, develop and contribute to diseases like Alzheimer's and heart disease as we get older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176999 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is a common condition where some blood stem cells develop mutations and grow more than others, which can affect how your immune system works. This project wants to find out what causes these changes in blood cells to expand and how they are connected to age-related conditions like heart disease and Alzheimer's. We will look at both inherited factors and lifestyle choices to see how they influence CH. By understanding these connections, we hope to find ways to prevent the negative health effects of CH and support healthy aging.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future related studies might be older adults interested in understanding their risk for age-related diseases and willing to share health information and lifestyle data.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have clonal hematopoiesis or age-related conditions like cardiovascular disease or Alzheimer's may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or manage age-related diseases like Alzheimer's and heart disease by targeting the underlying changes in blood cells.
How similar studies have performed: While preclinical models suggest chronic inflammation promotes CH, this project aims to establish these links in human studies, indicating a novel focus on human data for these specific mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bolton, Kelly Leigh — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Bolton, Kelly Leigh
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.