Durham, NC – Rohan Kulkarni, Ph.D., is named STEM CELLS‘s Young Investigator of 2019 for his work on the aging process of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). This award fosters advancements in the fields of stem cells and regenerative medicine by honoring a young researcher who is principle author of an article published in STEM CELLS that is deemed to have the most impact and to push the boundaries of novel and insightful research.
Dr. Kulkarni’s work shows that young mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can rejuvenate aged HSCs via an intercellular transfer of microvesicles (MVs) harboring autophagy-inducing mRNAs. Such pretreatment of aged HSCs could improve the efficacy of autologous transplants and also expand donor cohort.
The regulation of HSCs by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors has been studied for a long time, but the regulation of HSCs by extracellular vesicles (EVs) has not been looked at in detail. Some studies are now focusing on the aspect of HSC regulation by niche. Dr. Kulkarni’s paper is the first to show the role of EVs in the aging of HSC and their rejuvenation.
“This interesting study demonstrating the importance of the AKT pathway, autophagy, and specific miRNAs in the regulation of hematopoietic stem cell potency is novel and thought-provoking,” said Dr. Jan Nolta, Editor-in-Chief of STEM CELLS. “Our Young Investigator Awardee Dr. Kulkarni has shown that MSCs from young donors can transfer autophagy?initiating mRNAs to aged HSCs via intercellular transfer of microvesicles, leading to an increase in potency. This is a key advance in our understanding of the hematopoietic niche and could have future clinical implications.”
Dr. Kulkarni is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Dr. Adrienne Dorrance at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University. Dr. Kulkarni is continuing he research on hematopoietic stem cells and understanding their role in the development of leukemias.
Learn more about Dr. Rohan Kulkarni’s work on Hematopoietic stem cells or read his winning paper “Intercellular Transfer of Microvesicles from Young Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Rejuvenates Aged Murine Hematopoietic Stem Cells.
Video: Dr. Kulkarni from the Kale lab, National Center for Cell Science, Pune, India.
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About the Journal: STEM CELLS, a peer reviewed journal published monthly, provides a forum for prompt publication of original investigative papers and concise reviews. The journal covers all aspects of stem cells: embryonic stem cells/induced pluripotent stem cells; tissue-specific stem cells; cancer stem cells; the stem cell niche; stem cell epigenetics, genomics and proteomics; and translational and clinical research. STEM CELLS is co-published by AlphaMed Press and Wiley.
About AlphaMed Press: Established in 1983, AlphaMed Press with offices in Durham, NC, San Francisco, CA, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, publishes three internationally renowned peer-reviewed journals with globally recognized editorial boards dedicated to advancing knowledge and education in their focused disciplines. STEM CELLS® is the world’s first journal devoted to this fast paced field of research. THE ONCOLOGIST® is devoted to community and hospital-based oncologists and physicians entrusted with cancer patient care. STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE® is dedicated to significantly advancing the clinical utilization of stem cell molecular and cellular biology. By bridging stem cell research and clinical trials, SCTM will help move applications of these critical investigations closer to accepted best practices.
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