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Immunomodulatory roles of bone marrow stromal cells
Laura Calvi
Department of Medicine, Endocrine/Metabolism
University of Rochester
Dr. Calvi’s research program focuses on the cellular and molecular interactions between the bone marrow microenvironment and hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) at homeostasis, with myeloablation and in the setting of hematologic malignancies. Using genetic and pharmacologic models, her team is defining the molecules that participate in these important cellular interactions in order to identify targets for treatments that can expand stem cells, accelerate hematopoietic recovery after injury and aid in the treatment of malignant stem cells. Her laboratory uses several techniques, including intravital microscopy, cell culture of osteoblastic and osteoclastic cells, as well as multi-parameter and imaging flow cytometric analysis and sorting to isolate and quantify populations of bone marrow cells in order to define the benign HSC niche. Dr. Calvi has made significant contributions to the understanding of how aging affects the bone marrow microenvironment. Her laboratory studies a novel mechanism of aging of mesenchymal stromal cells.