SEATTLE, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Puget Sound Blood Center researchers, Manish J. Gandhi, M.D. and Jonathan Drachman, M.D., have discovered a gene that most likely plays a significant role in thrombocytopenia, a little-understood bleeding disorder in humans. Though the research is still in its early stages, continued investigation of this gene holds promise for a better understanding of platelet production -- and future gene and drug therapies that may help thousands.
Dr. Gandhi, a research fellow at the Blood Center, has been invited to present the findings at the 45th Annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) Conference's distinguished Plenary Scientific Session. The mission of ASH is to further the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting the blood, bone marrow, and the immunologic and other systems, by promoting research, clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology.
Entitled "FLJ14813: A Novel Kinase Mutated in Autosomal Dominant Thrombocytopenia on Human Chromosome 10," the study focuses on a gene that appears to be responsible for low platelet counts in one large family and can result in bleeding disorders. Though Blood Center scientists have yet to fully understand the role this mutated gene plays in platelet development, identifying it opens up significant possibilities for developing future therapies to regulate platelet production.
Dr. Drachman, director of the Megakaryocyte and Platelet Development Laboratory where Dr. Gandhi conducts his research, believes the recent findings merit presentation at the conference.
"We are proud of the research being done here and are delighted that Dr. Gandhi will be presenting our findings before such a distinguished audience," said Dr. Drachman. "Being selected to participate in the Plenary Sessions is a great honor and reflects the significance that the ASH review board placed on our data. We expect our findings to have a long term impact in advancing hematology and are eager to share what we've learned with our peers and colleagues."
Dr. Gandhi is research fellow at Puget Sound Blood Center and received his medical degree from the University of Bombay before coming to the Blood Center in 2000. Prior to that, from 1997-2000, he served as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Transfusion Research Program at the University of California in San Francisco. In addition to being selected to participate in the ASH Plenary Scientific Session, Dr. Gandhi was also distinguished with the Paul E. Standjord Young Investigator Award from the Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists in 1998.
About ASH
The American Society of Hematology is the world's largest professional society concerned with the causes and treatment of blood disorders. Because blood is essential to human function, the science of hematology profoundly affects the understanding of many diseases.
Each December, the Society's annual meeting provides hematologists from around the world a forum for discussing critical issues in hematology. Nearly 20,000 clinicians, scientists, and others attend the four-day meeting, which consists of a superb educational program and cutting-edge scientific sessions. Oral and poster presentations, which are chosen by peer-reviewers from abstracts submitted prior to the annual meeting, are featured at the annual meeting and contain the latest and most exciting developments in scientific research. Plenary symposia and named lectures on specialized areas of hematology are also presented throughout the meeting program. During the annual meeting, attendees can also visit the state-of-the-art exposition, which features exhibits from pharmaceutical companies, medical suppliers, clinical diagnostic and research-based companies, publishers, and non-profit organizations.
About Puget Sound Blood Center
Internationally recognized for groundbreaking research in transfusion and transplantation medicine, the nonprofit Puget Sound Blood Center is the resource for patients in Western Washington who need blood, tissue and specialized laboratory services. Founded in 1944, the Blood Center has a long and unique tradition of blending community volunteerism, medical science and research to improve patients' lives. The Blood Center, which serves patients in more than 70 hospitals and clinics in 14 counties with blood services, provides tissue and transplantation support to 185 hospitals across the Northwest.
Puget Sound Blood CenterCONTACT: Steve McLean of Puget Sound Blood Center, +1-206-292-6511, orstevemc@psbc.org, or pager, +1-206-680-2610
Web site: http://www.psbc.org/