Olena Jacenko's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying skeletal development and blood cell differentiation. Her work investigates hematopoietic disorders such as bone marrow failure and immune dysfunction, alongside certain cancers including leukemia and lymphoma. The Jacenko laboratory explores the connection between skeletal formation and blood cell differentiation, particularly how the marrow microenvironment, essential for blood cell maturation, is established during endochondral ossification (EO). The lab employs various transgenic mouse models to examine the consequences of mutations affecting cartilage structure and cell cycle regulation on skeletal deformities and blood cell differentiation. Current projects assess the defects in marrow environments arising from collagen X disruptions and investigate the role of specific proteoglycans and cytokines in these processes. The laboratory's multidisciplinary approach integrates molecular biology, immunology, hematology, and histology to better understand and potentially address the skeleto-hematopoietic link.