Amit Verma, MD

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of blood cancers that cause low blood cell counts. The most common problem is anemia, which means the body does not have enough red blood cells. This can make people feel very tired and often leads to the need for blood transfusions.In MDS, the bone marrow (where blood cells are made) shows higher levels of inflammation. The cells in the bone marrow produce proteins that increase this inflammation in the body. In this project, we aim to reduce inflammation by targeting a key system called the inflammasome. The inflammasome is a group of proteins that helps to produce a substance called IL-1beta, which can make the disease worse.We are studying a new drug called HT-6184 in our lab. This drug helps block the inflammasome and reduce inflammation. In early lab tests, it has lowered inflammation and increased red blood cell levels.In this study, we will first identify the proteins and cells that cause increased inflammation in MDS. Then, we will test ways to block these targets using antibodies and specific drugs in lab-grown cells and patient blood samples. Most importantly, we will test how well the inflammasome-blocking drug works in MDS blood samples and in mouse models of the disease. This drug has already been approved by the FDA for clinical trials.If our results are successful, this research could help move this drug quickly into clinical trials designed for patients with MDS.