Rivella Laboratory

The Rivella Laboratory has expertise in the use of lentiviral vectors for modulation of gene expression and gene transfer for the cure of hemoglobinopathies, and in the pathophysiology and genetics of several murine models of hematopoiesis-, inflammation-, and iron-related disorders. Investigators in the lab are generating several lentiviral vectors aimed at curing beta-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, and the team uses various murine model of hemoglobinopathies and patient cells to characterize these vectors.

The lab is also studying the role of seminal factors contributing to the morbidity and mortality in ß-thalassemia, polycythemia vera, and hemochromatosis; and in anemia of inflammation, such as hepcidin, intereleukin-2, ferroportin, the phosphokinase Jak2, and macrophages. Based on some of these studies, the lab is developing or contributing to the characterization of novel therapeutics.

Project Highlights

• Gene transfer for the cure of ß-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia
• Erythropoiesis and iron metabolism in ß-thalassemia
• Ineffective erythropoiesis in ß-thalassemia
• The role of macrophages in normal and diseased erythropoiesis
• Characterization of iron metabolism and erythropoiesis in inflammation and anemia