Erythropoietin and its receptor in health and disease

Our research is focused on erythropoietin (EPO), the major hormone that regulates erythropoiesis, operating via activation of its cell surface receptor (EPO-R) on erythroid progenitor cells. Our choice to work on this EPO/EPO-R system was initiated to employ it as a model for understanding basic mechanisms of hormone/receptor function and regulation. Through that research we made a novel, original discovery, suggesting that EPO may actually act as a pleiotropic hormone with anti-neoplastic, immunomodulatory activities. Our research is thus focused on both the basic mechanisms of hormone/receptor interaction, as well as the function of this hormone as an immunomodulator.