Research

Inflammatory memory
across the lifespan.

Our research investigates how inflammatory experiences leave lasting molecular memories in human blood stem cells — and how these changes influence healthy aging, clonal hematopoiesis, and leukemia. Inflammatory memory is the unifying concept that connects all three of our research themes.

1

Inflammatory Memory in Human Blood Stem Cells

Not all blood stem cells respond to inflammatory stress in the same way.

We discovered a distinct population of stem cells that retain durable molecular memories of prior inflammation. Using single-cell multiomics, genome engineering, and human stem cell models, we seek to understand how these memory states emerge, whether they are beneficial or harmful, and how they shape blood regeneration across life.

Key Questions

  • How do blood stem cells remember past inflammatory events?
  • Which molecular pathways encode inflammatory memory?
  • Can inflammatory memory predict regeneration and transplant outcomes?
  • Can maladaptive stem cell states be reversed?
Related publications
2

Preventing Clonal Hematopoiesis

Clonal hematopoiesis is a common age-related condition in which mutant blood stem cells gradually expand over time, increasing the risk of blood cancer and cardiovascular disease.

We investigate how inflammation and metabolism promote clonal expansion — and whether clinically available therapies, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, can reduce inflammatory stress and restore healthy blood production.

Key Questions

  • Why do certain mutant stem cells outcompete normal stem cells?
  • How does chronic inflammation influence clonal evolution?
  • Can anti-inflammatory interventions slow or prevent disease progression?
  • Can we develop new strategies to promote healthy hematopoietic aging?
Related publications
3

Targeting Inflammation in Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains difficult to cure because leukemia stem cells can survive therapy and drive relapse.

We study how inflammatory signaling supports leukemia stem cell survival, how these pathways interact with metabolism, and how they can be therapeutically targeted. Our goal is to identify biomarkers and treatments that disrupt inflammation-dependent leukemia while preserving normal blood formation.

Key Questions

  • How does inflammation support leukemia stem cells?
  • Which AML patients are most dependent on inflammatory signaling?
  • How do metabolic and inflammatory pathways cooperate in leukemia?
  • Can anti-inflammatory therapies improve treatment outcomes?
Related publications
Our Approach

How we work.

We combine discovery science with clinical research to uncover fundamental mechanisms while developing practical solutions for patients.

  • Human stem cell biology
  • Single-cell & spatial multiomics
  • Functional genomics & CRISPR engineering
  • Patient-derived samples
  • Humanized xenograft models
  • Translational & clinical collaborations
Our Impact

Why it matters.

Inflammation is increasingly recognized as a central driver of aging and cancer.

Our research seeks to explain how inflammatory experiences become biologically embedded within blood stem cells and how these changes influence lifelong health. By identifying biomarkers and therapeutic vulnerabilities, we aim to promote healthy aging, prevent disease progression, and improve outcomes for patients with hematologic disorders.