by David Wallace
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $2.4 million grant to Dr. Golam Mohi, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at the University of Virginia, to advance understanding of a group of blood cancers known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).
The research project, titled “Molecular Basis for Progression of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Induced by JAK2V617F,” aims to uncover new therapeutic approaches for treating these diseases that normally affect older adults.
MPNs encompass several related blood and bone marrow cancers, including polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and myelofibrosis (MF). A key discovery in this field has been the identification of a mutation called JAK2V617F, which is present in over 95% of PV cases and 50-60% of ET and MF cases.
While current treatments using JAK2 kinase inhibitors can help manage some symptoms, such as spleen enlargement and constitutional symptoms, they fall short of achieving disease remission or significantly reducing bone marrow fibrosis in MPN patients.
Dr. Mohi’s laboratory has recently identified several promising new targets in MPNs. The NIH-funded research will investigate how these targets contribute to both the development and progression of these blood cancers. “Results from these studies could lead to new therapeutic approaches for treatment of patients with MPNs,” explains Dr. Mohi.
This R01 grant, one of the NIH’s most prestigious research funding mechanisms, will support this critical investigation into improving treatment options for patients. The research holds particular significance given the current limitations of available therapies.
Source: University of Virginia School of Medicine. (2025, February 4). Golam Mohi, PhD, Awarded $2.4 Million to Study Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, a Group of Blood Cancers. UVA School of Medicine Research News. Retrieved from https://news.med.virginia.edu/research/
