Jennifer Trowbridge, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Bar Harbor, ME

Researches regulation of stem cells in the blood in normal development, aging and leukemia transformation.

The JAX Cancer Center

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About Jennifer Trowbridge, Ph.D.

The Trowbridge laboratory studies cell fate regulation within the hematopoietic system. Our current focus is on the epigenetic regulation of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and progenitor cell lineage commitment in three contexts: (1) normal blood development and maintenance, (2) alterations that occur during the process of aging, and (3) alterations that occur during the process of transformation giving rise to leukemia. Our ultimate goal is to reveal epigenetic patterns and processes that are uniquely deregulated during aging and/or transformation, which can be used to identify novel biomarkers of disease and targets for development of therapeutics.

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Education and experience

Education

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Postdoctoral fellow, hematology
2012

University of Western Ontario
Ph.D., microbiology & immunology
2006

University of Western Ontario
B.S., genetics
2002

Experience

Tufts University
Adjunct Faculty
2012-present

The Jackson Laboratory
Assistant Professor
2012-present

University of Maine
Adjunct Faculty at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
2012-present

Harvard Medical School
Instructor in Pediatrics
2011-2012

Harvard Medical School
Research Fellow in Pediatrics
2006-2011

Grants, Honors, and Accomplishments

Ellison Medical Foundation New Scholar Award in Aging
2013-present

American Society of Hematology (ASH) Scholar Award
2011-2013

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Career Development Program Fellowship
2007-2010

Poland Award for Top Graduating Ph.D. Student
2006-2007

National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) Research Studentship
2005-2007

Ontario Graduate Society (OGS) Studentship
2002-2003

Selected Publications

Highlighted Abstract

Declining immune function with age is associated with reduced lymphoid output of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Currently, there is poor understanding of changes with age in the heterogeneous multipotent progenitor (MPP) cell compartment, which is long lived and responsible for dynamically regulating output of mature hematopoietic cells. In this study, we observe an early and progressive loss of lymphoid-primed MPP cells (LMPP/MPP4) with aging, concomitant with expansion of HSCs. Transcriptome and in vitro functional analyses at the single-cell level reveal a concurrent increase in cycling of aging LMPP/MPP4 with loss of lymphoid priming and differentiation potential. Impaired lymphoid differentiation potential of aged LMPP/MPP4 is not rescued by transplantation into a young bone marrow microenvironment, demonstrating cell-autonomous changes in the MPP compartment with aging. These results pinpoint an age and cellular compartment to focus further interrogation of the drivers of lymphoid cell loss with aging.

View full list of publications

Research HighlightJanuary 29, 2019
Tracing a pathway to leukemia
New research led by Jennifer Trowbridge provides insight into risk factors for clonal hematopoiesis-to-leukemia progression.
- Cancer/Tumors
- Leukemia
- Aging
- Cancer
Research HighlightDecember 13, 2016
The aging immune system and loss of adaptive immune response
Using mice spanning a spectrum of ages, a Jackson Laboratory research team led by Assistant Professor Jennifer Trowbridge, Ph.D., investigated changes in the maturation process of hematopoietic stem cells over time.
- Aging
- Stem cells
- Immunology
- Aging
Press ReleaseJuly 11, 2016
Open chromatin profiling key to identifying leukemia cells of origin
Jackson Laboratory (JAX) researchers have found a precise and reliable way — whole-genome profiling of open chromatin — to identify the kind of cell that leads to a given case of leukemia, a valuable key to cancer prognosis and outcome
- Cancer/Tumors
- Cancer
Press ReleaseMay 29, 2014
Trowbridge, Dai awarded grants under NCI 'provocative questions' initiative
Asst. Professors Jennifer Trowbridge, Ph.D., and Chengkai Dai, M.D., Ph.D., receive federal research grants to address questions about cancer set out by National Cancer Institute.

Research HighlightJuly 23, 2018
$2.4 million grant to JAX for strategies to extend healthy function of blood and immune systems during aging
The five-year grant enables studies exploring ways to boost the hematopoietic system for better regenerative capacity, immune cell function during aging.
- Aging
- Aging
Search MagazineDecember 01, 2016
Young blood
JAX cancer researcher Jennifer Trowbridge wants to know why, specifically, older people are more likely to get acute myeloid leukemia.
Press ReleaseJuly 23, 2014
Maine Cancer Foundation awards grants to four Jackson Laboratory scientists
Four Jackson Laboratory (JAX) scientists will receive grants for their cancer-related research from Maine Cancer Foundation (MCF).
Press ReleaseOctober 07, 2013
Jennifer Trowbridge of JAX named Ellison Medical Foundation New Scholar in Aging
Jennifer Trowbridge, Ph.D., a Jackson Laboratory cancer researcher, has received a four-year, $400,000 grant from The Ellison Medical Foundation as a New Scholar in Aging.