Blood is Life

When Greggory Myers was asked how to describe blood in one word, his answer was simple: “life.” 

Myers has studied blood at the University of Michigan for over a decade. In 2018, he began his Ph.D. in Cell & Developmental Biology under the dual mentorship of Doug Engel and Rami Khoriaty. 

Currently, Myers studies the genes essential for red blood cell development. Red blood cells are crucial for transporting oxygen throughout our bodies and carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be exhaled. Abnormal red blood cell production is linked to disease—for example, misshapen blood cells are the hallmark of sickle cell disease, an inherited condition marked by anemia, frequent infections, and pain episodes.

Analogies are Myers’ language, he draws reference to World War II and a proposed new method for adding armor to bomber planes. Mathematician Abraham Wald noted that the most vulnerable regions of planes weren’t represented on the aircraft that survived, because when these regions were hit, the plane didn’t return. Similarly, Myers studies survivors and failures by investigating which genes, when knocked out, continue or halt red blood cell production. Myers hopes to narrow down the 10,000 genes expressed in red blood cells to those most essential, which could help researchers develop effective treatments for diseases such as sickle cell.

While gene therapies for the treatment of sickle cell disease have recently hit the U.S. market, Myers is skeptical of their reach: “Most people who have the disease live in Africa and India, and the majority cannot afford the treatment.” Instead, he recommends small-molecule inhibitors, affordable, readily available molecules specific in their targeting, a promising treatment avenue for patients with limited access.

Myers’ methodological approach—tackling research questions one at a time—has paid off. He will defend his thesis on April 17th, 2025.