Member Biography

My research interests align closely with Aims 1 and 2 of the Hematopoiesis and Hematologic Malignancies (HHM) research program at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. The primary focus of my work is identifying mechanisms through which the extracellular matrix (ECM) regulates both intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing osteogenic progenitors and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) within the bone marrow microenvironment. Both senescence-associated aging and hematologic malignancies lead to dysregulated HSPC self-renewal and differentiation while also perturbing critical regulatory signals within the bone marrow (BM) niche. Despite the significance of these microenvironmental changes, their study has been hindered by the complexity of the bone marrow matrix and cell-matrix interactions. Recent advancements in ex vivo generation of BM ECM have provided the tools to experimentally model cell-matrix interactions and investigate matrix-mediated signaling pathways that influence HSPC fate and phenotype. My current and future research addresses Aim 1 of the HHM research program by exploring key MSC-mediated regulators of HSPC function through co-culture systems involving umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs and HSPCs on ECMs from young and aged donors. This work examines how these regulators influence HSPC phenotype, colony formation, and quiescence. Further, my research evaluates whether restoring the compositional, structural, or biomechanical properties of aged or disease-altered BM ECM can mitigate disruptions to hematopoietic function and niche integrity, addressing mechanisms underlying both normal and pathological regulation of HSPC self-renewal and differentiation. My work also aspires address HHM Aim 2, by developing therapeutic strategies that utilize extracellular cues to enhance HSPC survival and improve engraftment following transplantation. This includes investigating how engineered modifications to the BM ECM can optimize HSPC resilience and reduce complications such as graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). By advancing our understanding of the microenvironmental factors that govern HSPC survival and function, my research seeks to contribute to innovative therapeutic approaches for improving outcomes in hematologic malignancies and transplantation.

Ph.D. - University of Texas Health, San Antonio, TX 01/2018