The purpose of the research in the laboratory is to examine the role of the stromal marrow niche in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) fate with a particular emphasis in the development of myelodysplasia (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Specifically, we are exploring how extrinsic factors triggered from the bone marrow stroma microenvironment can affect growth of disease initiating stem cells in MDS or AML as well as the transformation of MDS to AML. We are interested in identifying the mechanisms and the lineage-specific stage at which osteoblasts and other cells of the bone marrow microenvironment interact with HSCs to induce or select for genetic alterations in them that transform them to malignant cells, the specific HSC functions that they are affecting and the molecular pathways that mediate the interactions between the two cell types.