Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center received a $819,998 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), awarded May 1, 2026, with completion targeted for January 31, 2030. This award funds investigative research into the molecular mechanisms by which telomere stress compromises hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function and self-renewal capacity. The research examines how progressive telomere shortening induces aberrant HSC activation and differentiation through innate immune signaling pathways, with the objective of identifying therapeutic strategies to ameliorate bone marrow failure disorders.

The project extends preliminary findings demonstrating that telomere damage triggers HSC exhaustion through IFI20X/IFI16-mediated innate immune signaling rather than through apoptosis or senescence mechanisms. Research activities encompass functional studies of telomere biology disorders (TBDs) in patient populations, analysis of clonal hematopoiesis patterns and associated genetic mutations, and investigation of disease progression mechanisms that predispose to myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia. The anticipated products include mechanistic discoveries, biomarker characterization, and evidence-based therapeutic targets for treating HSC exhaustion in the context of bone marrow failure, contributing to NHLBI's mission of reducing morbidity and mortality from blood disorders through basic and translational research.