Understanding why some myeloproliferative neoplasm patients resist interferon therapy
Official title: Elucidating Mechanisms of Therapy-Resistance to Interferon-alfa in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Stem Cells
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11357543 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying why interferon-alpha works for some blood cancer patients but not others, by looking closely at stem cells from CALR-mutated myeloproliferative neoplasms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $686,979 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL167139-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11357543 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with CALR-mutated myeloproliferative neoplasms who are treated with interferon and provide bone marrow samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing interferon therapy or without CALR mutations may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses patient bone marrow samples to analyze single cells and their mutation status after interferon exposure, aiming to uncover why tumor burden doesn’t always shrink. The team leverages a technique that links mutation identity with full gene activity in the same cell to map how different cells respond. By comparing mutated and non-mutated cells, they hope to identify pathways driving resistance and potential new targets for therapy. The ultimate goal is to improve treatment strategies for CALR-mutated patients who don’t clear the disease at the molecular level.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide more effective treatment choices and lead to new strategies to overcome interferon resistance in CALR-mutated MPN.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data using the GoT platform shows differential effects of interferon on mutated versus wild-type cells, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nam, Seung Ha — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Nam, Seung Ha
Related research
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Inherited genetic risks shaping myeloid cancer initiation
A research project at Boston Children’s Hospital is exploring how inherited genetic differences may push blood stem cells toward the start of myeloproliferative neoplasms, with potential implications for earlier detection and prevention.
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Genetic and epigenetic factors shaping response in advanced myeloproliferative neoplasms
This grant looks at how genetic and epigenetic differences influence how patients with advanced myeloproliferative neoplasms respond to therapies.
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Understanding why some patients with blood cancers don't respond to interferon-alpha treatment
This study is looking at how certain blood cancer stem cells with CALR mutations react to a treatment called interferon-alpha, to help understand why some patients improve in their blood counts but not in tumor size, which could lead to better treatments for people with blood cancers.
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.