My group focuses on the biology of megakaryocyte cells - large, rare cells found in the bone marrow that release blood platelets into the circulation and also produce many growth factors and other proteins that regulate blood cell development and the bone marrow microenvironment. We apply state-of-the-art single cell multi-omic approaches to clarify the cellular pathways by which megakaryocytes arise from haematopoietic stem cells. This is important as in certain malignancies, such as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), megakaryocytes develop abnormally and drive the key pathological features of the disease, including the harmful scarring that destroys the bone marrow in myelofibrosis, the most severe of the MPNs.
\n \n\n \n \nSingle Cell Biology of Hematopoietic Stem- and Progenitor Cells in Blood Cancer and Ageing
\n \n\n \n \nMolecular Immunology, Immunity to Influenza and Ebola viruses
\n \n\n \n \nCombining computational biology, computational chemistry, and machine learning techniques with biological big data to unravel the higher genomic code of life.
\n \n\n \n \nQuantitative biology of cell fate and tissue dynamics
\n \n\n \n \nComputational Functional Genomics
\n \n\n \n \nNovel statistical method development for discovery and interpretation of genetic contribution to human complex traits
\n \n\n \n \nOur laboratory is interested in the general question of how mammalian genes are switched on and off during lineage commitment and differentiation. We use the most recent genomics technologies and computational approaches to study both the entire genome and individual genes in detail. We study all aspects of gene expression including the key cis-regulatory elements (enhancers, promoters and insulators), the transcription factors and co-factors that bind them, the epigenetic modifications of chromatin and DNA, and the role of associated phenomena such as chromosome conformation and nuclear sub-compartmentalisation using state-of-the-art imaging techniques. These studies are performed both in cell systems and in model organisms as well as in material from human patients with various inherited and acquired, genetic and epigenetic abnormalities. The translational goal of our work is to develop new ways to modify gene expression during blood formation with the aim of manipulating gene expression and ameliorating the clinical phenotypes of patients with a variety of blood disorders.
\n \n\n \n \nChromatin remodelling in health and disease
\n \n\n \n \nWe study how iron and anaemia influence immunity and infectious diseases. Our research inspires therapies that control iron physiology to improve immunity, combat infections and treat disorders of iron metabolism. We work across the disciplines of immunology, haematology and global health, utilising in vitro, in vivo and human studies, and collaborate extensively to translate our mechanistic discoveries into clinically relevant progress.
\n \n\n \n \nIdentification of key determinants affecting the quality of human cancer specific cytotoxic T cells
\n \n\n \n \nEnhancing tumour specific immune responses for the treatment of ovarian cancer
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