Dr. Bilon Khambu, Assistant Professor at the Tulane Cancer Center, has received a prestigious National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) R01 grant to uncover how chronic liver injury influences hematopoietic stem cell behavior and drives systemic inflammation, addressing a critical gap in our understanding of chronic liver disease pathogenesis.

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is frequently associated with systemic inflammation (SI), which contributes to serious complications including multi-organ failure. The proposed research seeks to uncover how chronic liver injury influences hematopoietic stem cell behavior and drives SI, addressing a critical gap in our understanding of CLD pathogenesis. This work aligns with the mission of NIDDK by advancing knowledge that supports the development of science-based strategies to improve outcomes for patients with liver disease.

Dr. Khambu is a past LA CaTS Center Pilot Grant Awardee (Round 11). His project is titled "Response and role of Bone marrow-derived Hematopoietic Stem Cells (BMHSCs) to Chronic liver injury". The project will provide a strong scientific basis for using BMHSCs as a treatment for CLD by filling these knowledge gaps. On behalf of the entire center, we are proud to highlight Dr. Khambu's accomplishment and look forward to his continued research success.