Hematopoiesis and Bone Marrow Failure

Research in the Hematopoiesis and Bone Marrow Failure Laboratory, led by Dr. Neal Young, spans the basic sciences, clinical trials, and epidemiology. Bench work involves methods of cell and molecular biology, immunology, and virology.

Neal Young

Senior Investigator Research Interests

Research Interests

Research in the Cell Biology Section spans the basic sciences, clinical trials, and epidemiology. Bench work involves methods of cell and molecular biology, immunology, and virology. Blood cell production in healthy individuals and especially in patients with bone marrow failure is the main theme. Advanced techniques most recently include single cell RNAseq, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, multicolored bar coded flow cytometry, and SomaLogic deep proteomics. Use of patient samples is encouraged, as the Hematology Branch clinic for patients with aplastic anemia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), large granular lymphocytosis (LGL), and constitutional marrow failure is one of the largest in the world. Results in the laboratory have had real impact on the care of patients with these life-threatening illnesses, and access to patient samples over time and with therapeutic perturbation makes the laboratory strategies both innovative and concrete.

Some Current Laboratory Projects

Single cell RNAseq of normal and diseased bone marrow stem and progenitor cells

Gene editing in human cell lines of genes that affect the epigenome

RNAseq and gene editing applied to PNH cells

Murine models of immune mediated marrow failure, potential therapies and mechanisms

Sex hormone action on human marrow cells

Some Current and Planned Clinical Protocals

Eltrombopag in marrow failure, including treatment-naïve SAA, MAA, and MDS

Campath in LGL

Rapamycin to prevent relapse in AA

Sex hormone modulation of telomeres in patients with telomeropathies

Organization and Mentoring

The Cell Biology Section is large and has a nucleus of expert senior staff to provide training and supervision in a wide variety of advanced techniques. The Section is part of the Hematology Branch, and there is close interaction among all the Branch’s members, including sharing of resources and expertise. There is an active program of lectures and group meetings. In addition to knowledge acquisition, clear thinking and crisp verbal and written expression are priorities for development in trainees.

Dr. Young’s former trainees are leaders in hematology in the United States, Asia, Europe, and South America.

Clinical Trials and Studies

Recruiting
All Ages
All Genders
Not Accepting Healthy Volunteers
Do you have short telomeres and a telomere gene mutation? Some people who have aplastic anemia have very short telomeres, which protect the ends of DNA in chromosomes. This study is testing whether low doses of the medicine danazol help prevent telomeres from getting shorter and reduce signs of damage from aplastic anemia or related conditions. Participants in this study must be 3 years or older and have a telomere disease and signs of aplastic anemia, lung disease such as pulmonary fibrosis, or liver disease. This study is located in Bethesda, Maryland.
Recruiting
Adult, Older Adult
All Genders
Not Accepting Healthy Volunteers
Are you an adult with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) or clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance (CCUS)? This study is working with people who have CHIP and CCUS to determine whether they have changes in their genes that raise the risk of atherosclerosis or blood cancers. To participate in this study, you must be at least 18 years old with CHIP or CCUS. This study is located at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Recruiting
All Ages
All Genders
Not Accepting Healthy Volunteers
Do you or your child have bone marrow failure disease or a telomere biology disorder? This study looks at the long-term effects of bone marrow failure disease and its treatments on organ function. Participants in this study must be 2 years or older with bone marrow failure or telomere biology disorder. This study is located at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Recruiting
Adult, Older Adult
All Genders
Not Accepting Healthy Volunteers
Are you aged 18 and older with an immune bone marrow failure? This study is testing a drug called ruxolitinib in people with different types of immune bone marrow failure. Participants will have blood tests every week while they are taking the drug. These tests can be done by the participant s own physician and the results sent to the researchers. This study will take place at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Recruiting
All Ages
All Genders
Not Accepting Healthy Volunteers
Are you or your child taking cyclosporine for aplastic anemia? This study is testing whether the medicine sirolimus helps prevent the return of aplastic anemia after stopping cyclosporine. Participants in this study must be 2 years or older and have severe aplastic anemia. This study is located in Bethesda, Maryland.
Recruiting
All Ages
All Genders
Not Accepting Healthy Volunteers
Do you or your child have severe aplastic anemia? This study tests the safety and effectiveness of two medicines called cyclosporine and eltrombopag in people with severe aplastic anemia. The typical treatment is a combination of three medicines: cyclosporine, eltrombopag, and horse anti-thymocyte globulin. Researchers want to see if starting people at a lower dose of cyclosporine and eltrombopag before giving them horse anti-thymocyte globulin is helpful. Participants in this study must be 4 years or older with severe aplastic anemia. This study is located at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Recruiting
All Ages
All Genders
Accepting Healthy Volunteers
Are you or your child willing to donate blood or bone marrow to help research? This study collects samples of blood, bone marrow, and buccal mucosa (cells from the inside of the cheek). Researchers will use these samples to study blood cells, blood diseases, and the role of the immune system in conditions such as aplastic anemia. Participants in this study must be at least 8 years old. This study is located at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Recruiting
All Ages
All Genders
Not Accepting Healthy Volunteers
Have you or your child been diagnosed with aplastic anemia but not been treated yet? This study is testing whether adding the medicine eltrombopag to standard treatments is a better way to treat severe aplastic anemia. Participants in this study must be 2 years or older and have severe aplastic anemia that has not yet been treated. This study is located in Bethesda, Maryland.

Meet the Team

Neal Young

Neal Young, M.D.

Senior Investigator

Neal Young received a A.B. cum laude from Harvard College in 1967 and his M.D. in 1971 from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He did post-graduate medical training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Barnes Hospital at Washington University in St. Louis before joining the NHLBI in 1981. He is a Master of the American College of Physicians and has accrued many academic honors. His efforts as a US Government employee were recognized with Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal in Science and the Environment. Dr. Young has authored over 280 original scientific and medical articles in peer reviewed journals and more than 160 reviews and book chapters. He also is author or editor of 10 medical and scientific books, including a new textbook of hematology. Dr. Young is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, American Association of Physicians, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Society of Hematology, and International Society for Experimental Hematology. He is co-inventor on 7 patents concerning B19 parvovirus. Dr. Young’s trainees head departments of hematology worldwide. He has lectured and published prolifically in hematology. He led a novel training program in Vietnam that transformed that country’s approach to blood diseases. He now heads a successful new trans-NIH initiative in human immunology.

avatar

Kate Roskom

Research Nurse