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
Learn more about the researcher and/or the project here. Research Website
Details:
Preferred Student Year
First-year, Second-Year, Junior, Senior
Academic Term
Spring, Summer
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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