Red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets together constitute the most abundant as well as the smallest cells of our blood. They lack a nucleus and are produced from their respective progenitor cells that are much larger in size. Extraordinary changes in the progenitor cells are executed in a controlled fashion to control both the quality and quantity of the RBCs and platelets in our body. In our laboratory, we study the mechansims used by the progenitor cells to achieve this quality and quantity control. This encompasses both normal and pathological development of the two lineages. For example, abnormal numbers of the RBCs and/or platelets is a key feature of myeloproliferative neoplasm. Myeloproliferative neoplasm is a "pre-leukemic" state and patients eventualy develop secondary acute myeloid leukemia.

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Additionally, we analyze the role of key transcription factors in leukemia. For example, we are working on the effects of IKAROS in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.