Understanding how sickle cell disease affects bone marrow and blood cell production
Official title: Sickle cell bone marrow niche and regulation of platelet activation and erythropoiesis
Funded at New York Blood Center · NIH-11015294 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how sickle cell disease changes the bone marrow, which might help us understand why patients have issues with blood clotting and red blood cell production.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York Blood Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $427,000 |
| NIH project number | 2P01HL149626-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11015294 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is for patients with sickle cell disease who are interested in the underlying biological mechanisms of their condition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical intervention would not directly benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
In sickle cell disease, patients often have too many active platelets, which can lead to complications, and also struggle with anemia because their red blood cells are destroyed and not made properly. We believe that changes in the bone marrow, where blood cells are made, play a big role in these problems. Specifically, we are looking at how certain cells in the bone marrow, called Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), are affected by sickle cell disease and how this impacts the production of platelets and red blood cells. Our goal is to uncover the exact ways these bone marrow changes contribute to the disease, hoping to find new ways to help patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that target the bone marrow to improve blood cell production and reduce harmful platelet activity in sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of platelets and erythropoiesis in SCD is known, this specific focus on heme-driven alterations in MSCs within the bone marrow niche represents a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
New York Blood Center
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Su, Shan — New York Blood Center
- Study coordinator: Su, Shan
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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.