Decoding cytokine-driven hematopoietic stem cell fate in aging
Dr. Ang Cui’s computational-experimental hybrid lab uses big-data genomic approaches to decode the complexity of the immune system. She is investigating how aging alters cytokine signaling in blood stem cells, which are essential for producing healthy blood and immune cells. With age, these cells lose their regenerative capacity, leading to immune decline, inflammation, and an increased risk for a wide range of diseases. Dr. Cui’s AFAR project applies a cytokine dictionary approach she recently developed to comprehensively map how cytokine signaling affects blood stem cell function across the lifespan in mice. Using single-cell genomic and computational methods, her team aims to identify cytokine pathways that become dysregulated with age and uncover mechanisms that drive blood stem cell functional decline. This work has the potential to reveal new strategies to restore healthy blood production and promote healthy aging in older adults.
