Targeting senescence to improve outcomes in myelofibrosis
Dr David Kipp, a clinical haematologist and bone-marrow transplant physician at The Alfred Hospital, is focusing his research on chromosomal instability and DNA sensing in cellular senescence in myelofibrosis.
Myelofibrosis is a rare blood cancer that scars the bone marrow, causing severe fatigue, infections, and sometimes fatal complications. It can progress to an aggressive form of leukaemia that remains difficult to treat.
Current therapies help manage symptoms but rarely stop disease progression. Damaged and “aged” (senescent) bone-marrow cells interfere with healthy cell growth and reduce the success of stem-cell transplants.
Dr Kipp’s research will:
- Study patient bone-marrow samples to understand why cells become senescent.
- Focus on the cGAS-STING signalling pathway that drives this process.
- Identify potential drug targets to block harmful pathways and treat the disease at its root.
By preventing bone-marrow damage earlier, his work could reduce the risk of leukaemia transformation, improve transplant outcomes, and lead to new therapies that extend and enhance patients’ lives.
This research has the potential to transform how myelofibrosis and similar blood cancers are treated — moving from symptom management toward genuine disease modification and hope for a cure.
