Stanford Physician-Scientist Wins
ASBMT/Astellas New Investigator Award

A physician-scientist at Stanford University Medical School is the recipient of a New Investigator Award from ASBMT and Astellas Pharma US, Inc.

Jing-Zhou Hou, MD, PhD, is a clinical fellow in hematology in the school’s Division of Hematology and BMT.  His research project is a preclinical study of human T regulatory cells.

The $50,000 award, payable over two years, is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Astellas Pharma US, Inc.

Dr. Hou will explore the molecular mechanisms and possible clinical implications of CD4+CD25+ T-regulatory cells (Tregs), thought to play an important role in the control of graft-versus-host (GvHD) disease in hematopoietic cell transplantation.

According to Dr. Hou, Tregs in mouse models play a critical role in controlling GvHD and stem cell engraftment while preserving graft-versus-tumor activity.  However, many key questions remain, including how sufficient numbers of Tregs can be isolated from human for clinical use.

Using an intracellular staining assay for FoxP3 – a major transcription factor associated with Treg function – Dr. Hou has developed strategies to identify the CD4+CD25+ cells that have regulatory function by an in vitro mixed lymphocytes reaction (MLR) assay.  His research will attempt to identify important receptors influencing Treg function. 

He also will look at the ways in which Tregs interact with the immunosuppressive drugs used to prevent rejection in transplant recipients.