DEFINING NEW MOLECULAR PATHWAYS FOR TREATMENT OF ANEMIA
- Reference number
- ICA10-0049
- Start and end dates
- 120401-150331
- Amount granted
- 3 000 000 SEK
- Administrative organization
- Lund University
- Research area
- Life Sciences
Summary
More than a billion people suffer from anemia, a debilitating condition often caused by failure to produce red blood cells Today the only drug used to symptomatically increase red blood cell production in anemic patients is recombinant erythropoietin (Epo). While Epo injections effectively promote red blood cell production in patients suffering low endogenous Epo production, many forms of anemia do not respond well to recombinant Epo treatment. The long-term aim of my research is therefore to develop new erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) that act at an earlier stage than Epo, by increasing formation of Epo-responsive cells. Such drugs would allow better treatment of “Epo-resistant” anemias such as aplastic anemia and anemia associated with cancer, inflammation and infection. In order to reach this long-term goal it is important to first understand how Epo-responsive erythroblasts are naturally regenerated. I will perform extensive screens for genes and chemical compounds that are able to increase formation of these Epo-responsive erythroblasts. This project is strategically important for Sweden because genes pathways and compounds identified in this study will be of great scientific, medical and financial value.
Popular science description
Över en miljard människor lider av blodbrist, vilket orsakar enorma mänskliga och ekonomiska förluster. Min forskning syftar till att utveckla nya läkemedel mot blodbrist genom att förstå de mekanismer som får en röd blodkropps stamcell att självförnya sig och därmed fördubbla sin kapacitet att tillverka nytt blod. En upptäckt av en ny grupp ämnen som stimulerar bildandet av röda blodkroppar genom nya mekanismer skulle vara en viktig medicinsk upptäckt och ha en enorm kommersiell potential.