deFIBER: Dissecting the cellular and molecular dynamics of bone marrow fibrosis for improved diagnostics and treatment

Project summary

Bone marrow (BM) fibrosis is the continuous replacement of blood forming cells in the bone marrow by scar tissue, ultimately leading to failure of the body to produce blood cells. Primary myelofibrosis (PMF), an incurable blood cancer, is the prototypic example of the step-wise development of BM fibrosis. The specific mechanisms that cause BM fibrosis are not understood, in particular as the cells driving fibrosis have remained obscure. This project aims to expand our knowledge of the BM fibrosis pathogenesis.

These findings will be translated into patient samples with the aim to improve the early diagnosis of the disease and to identify novel therapeutic targets to directly block the cellular and molecular changes occurring in BM fibrosis, in order to ultimately develop novel targeted therapies with curative intentions.