Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) awarded $249,999 to The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York (Health Sciences Division) on June 15, 2026, under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847). This one-year R56 bridge project, completing May 31, 2027, investigates the reversibility of chromatin dynamics-driven erythroid differentiation defects in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients with STAG2 mutations. The research aims to determine whether STAG2-dependent defects in erythroid output, erythropoietin (EPO) responsiveness, and transcription factor engagement are functionally reversible through laboratory-based studies examining the impact of STAG2 loss and restoration on erythroid function in vivo.

The project deliverables include mechanistic and feasibility data demonstrating whether STAG2-dependent erythroid defects can be reversed, establishment of an experimental system for testing reversibility of these defects, and validation data to support a subsequent R01 application focused on therapeutic restoration of erythroid function in STAG2-mutant MDS. These research outputs directly address the molecular basis of EPO resistance in this genetically defined MDS subtype and will provide critical preliminary data for future therapeutic development efforts to restore erythroid competence in affected patients.