Scientists from the Weizmann Institute isolate rare circulating hematopoietic stem cells and apply single-cell genetic sequencing in a blood test to detect myelodysplastic syndrome and assess leukemia risk, potentially replacing bone marrow biopsy and enabling earlier intervention.

Key points

• Teams at the Weizmann Institute capture rare circulating CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells in peripheral blood.
• Single-cell genetic sequencing identifies somatic mutations linked to myelodysplastic syndrome and leukemia.
• Blood‐based assay predicts MDS severity and leukemia risk, replacing invasive bone marrow biopsy.

Why it matters: A noninvasive blood test for early leukemia risk could transform diagnosis, enabling timely therapy and reducing reliance on invasive bone marrow biopsies.