The Stem Cell Podcast Ep. 294: “HSC Development and Regulation” Featuring Dr. Margaret Goodell
May 13, 2025
Dr. Margaret Goodell, a leader in regenerative medicine and director at Baylor College, shares her groundbreaking research on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and aging. She discusses her discovery of a unique side population of HSCs and explores the implications of DNMT3A mutations. The conversation dives into clonal hematopoiesis and its relationship with cardiovascular diseases. Goodell also highlights Houston's vibrant research environment, showcasing innovative advancements in stem cell therapies for conditions like Parkinson's and cardiac fibrosis.
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Clonal Hematopoiesis Impact
- Clonal hematopoiesis (CHIP) reveals a dramatic decline in stem cell diversity with aging, affecting blood output.
- Mutant clones linked to diseases may influence inflammation and tissue dysfunction beyond blood.
Discovery of Side Population
- Margaret Goodell discovered the hematopoietic stem cell side population serendipitously as a postdoc using flow cytometry.
- She found these cells uniquely pump out dye, correlating with high stem cell activity after transplant.
Single-Cell Reveals HSC Diversity
- Single-cell transcriptomics confirms hematopoietic stem cells are diverse with distinct differentiation biases.
- Molecular data alone is incomplete; functional assays remain essential to interpret stem cell heterogeneity.