Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are clonal haematological malignancies (blood cancers) characterized by excessive proliferation of myeloid cells driven by mutated hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. As, so far, no curative treatment for MPNs exists, the DFG Research Unit 5659 aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms of disease persistence and progression in order to develop novel targeted therapies.

For this, a team of leading researchers with a long-standing expertise in genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic and proteomic assessment of MPNs assembled and joined forces with experts in data management and data integration. Together, the Research Unit investigates cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic aspects of MPN disease biology to understand yet unknown aspects of MPN persistence and progression, including the genetic and epigenetic control of gene expression, the impact of translational and post-translational protein modifications on cell-signaling as well as the role of the microenvironment, inflammation and the immune system. By this, the Research Unit aims to answer questions beyond the current understanding of MPN disease biology which might ultimately allow for the development of targeted therapies to eradicate MPN clones. Central questions the research unit aims to target are:

How can the disease status be defined beyond description of the genetic (mutational) state?

Are changes in or evolution of the epigenetic or the signaling landscape detectable in the absence of novel mutations?

Are common functional dependencies detectable in genetically diverse MPN cells?

How does the bone marrow microenvironment impact disease persistence and evolution in MPN?