Cancelas Research Lab
What We Study
The Cancelas Lab studies hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), which are able to self-renew and differentiate into all functional types of blood cells. HSC attract clinical interest because of their potential use in stem cell and gene therapy and because of their involvement in leukemia. Current focus is on the molecular determinants that regulate the proliferation, survival, homing and retention of hematopoietic stem cells in relation to the so-called “stem cell niche” in benign and malignant hematopoiesis. We also investigate red cell storage and pathogen inactivation. We develop and validate new red cell-containing products with improved safety and efficacy profile for use in massive transfusion protocols. We recruit students from the molecular and developmental biology program.
The Cancelas research lab projects include:
- Rac GTPases inhibition in chronic myelogenous leukemia
- Vav / Rac as a molecular target in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- Connexin-43 in bone marrow failure after cancer-related chemotherapy
- Pathogen inactivation of red blood cell products
- In vivo viability of platelet cryopreservation
Jose A. Cancelas, MD, PhD, is director of Hoxworth Blood Center. He is program leader of the Stem Cell Biology Program; director of the Flow Cytometry Core Facility within Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology at Cincinnati Children’s; professor of pediatrics for the University of Cincinnati; and faculty member for the graduate programs in molecular and developmental biology, cell and cancer biology, immunobiology, and medical scientist training program within the University of Cincinnati.
