| David Bryder, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Group Leader
Phone: 46 46 222 39 51 |
Our research focuses on hematopoiesis, the process whereby cells of the blood are produced.
This process serves to supply an individual for life with all types of mature effector cells. Most of such cells have a very short life-span (many just a day), and an individual therefore needs to be able to effectively produce new cells to cope with basic functions such as maintaining transport of oxygen, prevention of bleedings as well as to maintain an appropriate defense against foreign pathogens.
Hematopoietic stem cells, a rare cell type normally present in bone marrow, are ultimately responsible for the production of all types of blood cells, processes which can also be selectively adapted to meet an individual’s acute needs. In addition, stem cells have a unique ability in that they can also produce new stem cells via a mechanism commonly referred to as self-renewal.
Many aspects of aging are characterized by an inability to return to homeostasis following stress, and the blood cell system in particular is associated with many age-related changes, including a decreased resistance to infections and an increased incidence of leukemia occurrence.
Our previous research has shown that many of these changes can be deduced to an altered stem cell function, and we are currently working to identify and characterize genetic mechanisms that contribute to the altered behavior of aged stem cells.
Page Manager: Anna Appelberg
Last modified: 2012-02-08
