Grant will support innovate research on inflammation and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
Fan He, PhD, Instructor in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, has been awarded a Young Investigator Award (YIA) from the Edward P. Evans Foundation to support innovative research investigating inflammatory mechanisms that drive myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
MDS is characterized by ineffective blood production, bone marrow failure, and risk of progression to acute leukemia. Increasing evidence suggests that chronic inflammation within the bone marrow microenvironment plays a central role in disease progression, yet the molecular mechanisms sustaining this inflammatory niche remain poorly understood.
Dr. He’s project focuses on galectin-1 (Gal-1), an inflammatory lectin found to be highly upregulated in MDS patient hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The study will investigate how Gal-1 interacts with the innate immune receptor TLR4 to activate NF-κB signaling and promote inflammatory cytokine production that disrupts normal hematopoiesis.
Using advanced single-cell profiling technologies, including a novel lectin-CyTOF platform developed in the laboratory, the project aims to map glycan-mediated inflammatory signaling within the MDS microenvironment at single-cell resolution. These studies are expected to uncover new mechanisms driving disease progression and further establish a foundation for novel inflammation-targeted therapeutic strategies for patients with MDS.
“Inflammation is increasingly recognized as a major driver of ineffective hematopoiesis and disease progression in MDS,” said Dr. He. “This award will support efforts to better understand how inflammatory signaling reshapes the bone marrow microenvironment and help identify new therapeutic approaches for patients.”
This award highlights ongoing efforts within the Division of Hematology at Washington University School of Medicine to advance innovative translational research and improve therapies for patients with hematologic malignancies. WashU Medicine is an Edward P. Evans Foundation Center for Myelodysplastic Syndromes.
The award is designed to support promising early-career investigators in the MDS field as they transition to independent research careers, providing funding for salary and research supplies while they advance their research programs and work toward securing independent investigator positions.
Founded in 1984, The Edward P. Evans Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust dedicated to funding research on Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) through its EvansMDS initiative. The mission of EvansMDS is to fuel the discovery of new knowledge that will lead to the development of better MDS therapies and ultimately, disease cures. Since its inception, the EvansMDS initiative has committed over $160M to MDS research.