Charlotte Lees

I am a MRC-funded Clinical Research Fellow undertaking a DPhil in the Mead lab. The aim of my DPhil is to better understand the links between abnormally expanded blood stem cells (clonal haematopoiesis) and ischemic heart disease. Clonal haematopoiesis is associated with a 10-fold increased risk of developing blood cancers. However, it has more recently been shown to be associated with a twofold increased risk of ischemic heart disease, and up to 12 times risk of early heart attack with high risk mutations. There is evidence that some blood stem cells are biased towards the production of platelets as opposed to a balanced production of all cell types. We are interested to find out if stem cell clones that are platelet-biased could be particularly linked with ischemic heart disease, given the vital role that platelets play in inflammation and blood clots.

In collaboration with Professor Robin Choudhury’s group (Cardiovascular Sciences) we have set up the INFlammatory, proAtherogenic and MEtabolic Disorders in cardiovascular disease (INFLAMED) study, where we will be investigating the blood and bone marrow of patients with cardiovascular disease. 

By background I am a haematology registrar working in Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trusts with an interest in haematological cancers. I trained in Oxford and Imperial College London, where I also completed a laboratory science BSc.