Golam Mohi, PhD
Golam Mohi, PhD, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, was recently awarded a $2.4 million R01 grant from the NIH for a project titled “Molecular Basis for Progression of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Induced by JAK2V617F.”
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and myelofibrosis (MF), are blood/bone marrow cancers that are predominantly seen in elderly patients.
An oncogenic JAK2V617F mutation has been found in more than 95% cases of PV and 50-60% cases of ET and MF. Currently, approved JAK2 kinase inhibitors can attenuate constitutional symptoms and splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen), but they do not offer disease remission or significant reduction of bone marrow fibrosis in patients with MPNs.
There is a critical need to better understand the molecular pathogenesis of MPNs and identify new therapeutic approach. Dr. Mohi’s lab has recently identified several new targets in MPNs. In this R01 project, Dr. Mohi’s group will investigate the contribution of these targets in the development and progression of MPNs. Results from these studies could lead to new therapeutic approaches for treatment of patients with MPNs.
Filed Under: Research