Specialization
Hematology, Stem cells, Aging, Leukemia
Focus of research
My research is aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms that contribute to hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) functioning.
A small population of selfrenewing HSCs ensures that all the various types of blood cells are produced during the lifetime of an organism. Nevertheless, during aging blood cell production is impaired, resulting in either a deficit of blood cells (leading to anemia, thromocytopenia, or susceptibility to infections) or an excess of blood cells (myeloproliferative diseases or leukemias).
The identification of the molecular machinery that is associated with aberrant selfrenewal of aged HSCs should allow the development of interventions that improve or restore selfrenewal of normal aged stem cells, and that target exessive selfrenewal of leukemic stem cells.