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Mentor Areas

The Kurre laboratory has longstanding expertise in bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) biology and gene therapy. In focused studies of genetic HSC failure in Fanconi Anemia (FA), a rare inherited genetic condition with prominent hematologic complications and cancer predisposition, we hope to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Here, the lab is also developing novel gene repair strategies that will ameliorate those HSC losses, with the long term goal of reversing the erosion of the stem cell pool in children.

Description:

Available research projects include:

Mechanisms of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Failure and Preclinical Gene Repair in Fanconi Anemia (FA): Recent studies by our lab (Kovuru et al., Nature Communications 2024; Banda et al, Molecular Therapy-Nucleic Acids) have identified the origins of hematopoietic failure in FA during development and devised strategies for in vivo gene therapy in FA. In this project we will delve into the molecular and cellular underpinnings of our observation to develop pharmacological and genetic (CRISPR) strategies to reverse stem cell losses. Our studies will leverage new FA animal models, lipid nanoparticle delivery to the stem cell compartment and drug discovery for in vivo selection.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in molecular biology, tissue culture, bioinformatics (ATAC Seq, Ribo-Seq, RNA Seq)

Project Website

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Research Website

Details:

Preferred Student Year

First-year, Second-Year, Junior, Senior

Academic Term

Spring, Summer

I prefer to have students start during the above term(s).

Volunteer

Yes

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Paid

No

Yes indicates that faculty are open to paying students they engage in their research, regardless of their work-study eligibility.

Work Study

Yes

Yes indicates that faculty are open to hiring work-study-eligible students.