The Bednarski lab studies mechanisms that regulate early hematopoeisis and B cell lymphopoeisis. In particular, we are interested in understanding how signals induced by DNA damage activate cellular programs that promote normal differentiation and suppress leukemogesis. During early development, B cells intentionally generate and repair DNA breaks to assemble antigen receptor genes for expression of a diverse antibody repertoire. These DNA breaks activate a broad cellular program, including B cell specific developmental signals.
Our research investigates the transcriptional programs regulated by DNA damage responses in B cells and the molecular mechanisms that coordinate this unique cellular signaling pathway. We also have projects studying transcriptional regulation of early stem cell development and function. Our goal is to understand the programs that drive normal hematopoietic development and how these pathways are corrupted in leukemia and primary immune deficiencies.
