Hematopoiesis

The main goal of the hematopoiesis program is to study hematopoietic stem cells, in particular the regulation of self-renewal, differentiation and other cell fate options.

This program involves approximately 15 research groups and includes the Hemato-Linne program, an excellence program project funded by The Swedish Research Council. The program studies the cellular pathways that are taken during differentiation and lineage restriction to produce more differentiated progeny and the molecular pathways that govern cell fate options are also investigated.

Specific parts of the hematopoietic system, for example erythropoiesis and the regulation of lymphopoiesis and NK cell generation, are also studied. Normal hematopoietic cells are studied but stem cell aging and the initiation and maintenance of malignant hematopoietic cells is also investigated. Efforts are made to isolate leukemic stem cells and to determine the mutations that initiate and maintain the growth of the leukemic clones. The program uses transgenic and knockout mouse models but cells from patients are also investigated. Genetic disorders of the blood system, including Diamond Blackfan anemia and osteopetrosis are also studied in order to determine the pathogenesis and to develop novel therapies. Therefore, this program includes basic studies in hematopoiesis but also translational stem cell biology that aim to develop cell and gene therapy for blood disorders.