Elucidating inflammatory remodeling of the bone marrow niche after ASCT (B15*)

• Subject Area: Medical Informatics and Medical Bioinformatics ; Hematology, Oncology ; Immunology ; Clinical Immunology and Allergology
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 324392634

Severe acute (a)GvHD is associated with long-lasting hematopoietic dysfunction, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We hypothesize that perturbed bone marrow niche interactions of HSCPs after ASCT impair regeneration of hematopoiesis in aGvHD. Using single-cell RNA-sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, we will reconstruct the spatial bone marrow architecture in patients with severe aGvHD, and compare between steroid-refractory and -responsive groups. By inferring perturbations of the bone marrow niche and underlying molecular pathways, we will identify key local cellular interactions contributing to BM failure.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 221: Modulation of graft-versus-host and graft-versus-leukemia immune responses after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
• Applicant Institution: Universität Regensburg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Dominic Grün; Dr. Sabrina Kraus