Lucrezia della Volpe is a postdoctoral fellow in the Sakaran Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital who received a travel award from the CEH to attend the 2026 International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual Meeting.
Can you give us a summary of the research you presented?
Our work identified ferroptosis as a major barrier to the ex vivo expansion of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). We demonstrated that pharmacological inhibition of ferroptosis significantly enhances the expansion of functional long-term HSCs while preserving their regenerative capacity in xenotransplantation models. Mechanistically, ferroptosis inhibition promotes metabolic rewiring, including increased ribosome biogenesis and cholesterol synthesis, that support HSC maintenance. Together, these findings establish ferroptosis inhibition as a promising strategy to improve HSC expansion for stem cell transplantation and gene therapy.
What was the coolest thing that your learned at the meeting?
One of the most fascinating talks I attended was by Elvan Böke on oocyte aging. Although her research is outside my field of expertise, I found it incredibly interesting because I had never really thought about how oocytes age. I learned a great deal about the unique biology of these cells and the mechanisms that preserve their function over time. it was one of the most memorable talks of the meeting and gave me a new perspective on stem cell biology and aging.
Outside of the research presentations, what else did you enjoy about the meeting?
Beyond the research presentations, I really enjoyed the networking opportunities. The poster sessions led to many inspiring discussions, where I received valuable feedback on my work and learned about exciting research from others. It was also wonderful to reconnect with old friends and colleagues while meeting many new people and expanding my professional network.
Do you have a favorite hematopoietic cell?
Hematopoietic stem cells, of course!
