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Kusumbe Lab | Tissue and Tumor Microenvironments

MRC Human Immunology Unit MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine

WE ARE RECRUITING POSTDOCS.

Contact: anjali.kusumbe@rdm.ox.ac.uk

We Study Vascular Changes Over Time With The Aim To Treat Diseases

Specialized blood vessels (green/yellow) form nurturing niches for osteoprogenitor cells (white) in bone
Specialized blood vessels (green/yellow) form nurturing niches for osteoprogenitor cells (white) in bone

Vascular & ImmUNE SYSTEM AGEING

Blood and lymphatic vessels form a versatile transport network. In addition to their conventional role as a transport system, vessels form niches for stem and progenitor cells and provide signals to maintain tissue functions. Vasculature also plays a fundamental role in supporting immune cell survival and transport. But how blood and lymphatic vessels change over time and how vascular ageing impacts the immune system, tissue and systemic ageing are not known. As opposed to the previously considered homogenous nature of vessels, recent evidence indicates the diversity of blood vessels across different tissues. Previous work shows that the skeletal system harbours specialized blood vessels (type H vessels) that drive bone formation; however, these vessels decline in ageing, leading to loss of bone mass. Blood stem cells residing in bone give rise to immune cells. Ageing is associated with a decline in the immune system and tissue functions. We examine vascular diversity and vascular changes over time with the aim of identifying therapeutic targets for ageing and immune system-associated diseases. We exploit cutting-edge 3D and 4D imaging to understand vascular and immune cell interactions over time and across diverse tissue and tumour microenvironments.The lab leads the organization of the Annual Vascular Biology Symposium.

IMAGING

The lab has developed and proactively shared imaging methods and tools and has generated and made available image databases as open resources for the scientific community. The lab leads the organization of the Annual Oxford Imaging Symposium. The lab collaborates closely with Miltenyi Biotec to advance tissue imaging.

Kusumbe led the set-up of the 3D tissue imaging, light sheet imaging of cleared tissues and contributed to funding acquisition which laid the foundation for the current Oxford-Zeiss Centre of Excellence (Zeiss CoE). Further, Kusumbe mentored and trained the Oxford-Zeiss Centre of Excellence (Zeiss CoE) facility staff in tissue imaging.

SUSTAINABILITY & EFFICIENCY IN RESEARCH

The lab received the 2022 and 2023 GOLD Award in recognition of exemplary actions undertaken to improve sustainability and efficiency practices as part of the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF).  

RecruitmenT

Positions Available:

Postdoc applicants: Doctoral scientists interested in joining the Kusumbe lab should contact Anjali. You should have published the first-author paper/s.

Visiting students: Prospective students interested in our lab should contact Anjali with their CV and scientific interests to inquire.

Lab Members

Recent publications

KUSUMBE LAB ALUMNI

Junyu Chen (Postdoc): Current position- Associate Professor, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China

Charlotte Owen-Woods (Postdoc): Current position - Scientific Editor, Cell Press

Unnikrishnan Sivan (Postdoc): Current Position - Assistant Professor, Indian Council of Medical Research Fellow, Cochin University, India

Alexandros Chatzis (Technician/Research Assistant): Current Position - PhD student, University of York, UK

Sina Stucker (MSc Student): Current Position - PhD student, University of Marburg, Germany

Joan Mane Pujol (Erasmus funded visiting undergraduate student): Current Position - MSc student, University of Barcelona, Spain

Sin Lih Tan (Research Assistant): Current Position - Senior Scientist AstraZeneca, UK

Luciana Lippo (Research Assistant/Technician): Current Position - Senior Scientist, Cignpost Diagnostics, UK

Pepijn Saraber (MSc Student): Now - PhD student, University of Maastricht

Related research themes

We aim to better understand, diagnose and treat heart and vascular disease through our extensive cutting edge research programmes. We have a particular focus on understanding disease mechanisms and on new approaches to stratifying patients. Our expertise encompasses genetic studies to identify causative and risk genes, cardiovascular physiology and cellular biology to understand health and disease, the development and application of advanced imaging, experimental medicine and clinical trials.
Cardiovascular Science
We seek to understand the causes of diseases of the blood and other malignancies, from a molecular to systems level, with a focus on blood cancers, rare inherited conditions and the tumour microenvironment. We use and develop innovative techniques to drive research in this area, and are committed to bringing about change in clinical diagnosis and practice. Our pathologists discovered many of the biomarkers now used routinely in clinical practice, translate laboratory findings into clinical tests and are developing digital pathology initiatives.
Haematology and Pathology
We use state of the art techniques to interrogate the intricacies of our body’s response to pathogens, cancer and non-communicable diseases. We have particular strengths in T cell signaling, the innate immune system and therapeutic antibody development – particularly in oncology and against pathogens. We have forged strong links with clinical medicine to accelerate translation of laboratory studies into therapeutic strategies.
Immunology and Infection
With an ageing population, it’s critical that we better understand diseases associated with old age. We have particular strengths in acute stroke research, with a two pronged approach encompassing molecular and clinical aspects to better understand the factors influencing stroke recovery.
Geratology
Using a range of imaging modalities, our researchers can probe – at the molecular level – the events that underpin cellular health and dysfunction.
Cellular and Preclinical Imaging
Understanding the fundamental biology that drives embryonic development and tissue maintenance provides the basis of much of our research into blood diseases, the cardiovascular system and rare genetic conditions.
Stem Cells and Developmental Biology
Our research is focused on both blood cancers (myeloid and lymphoid malignancies) and solid tumours, such as breast, colorectal, endocrine and lung cancers, with a number of drug discovery efforts and clinical trials taking place within the department. By understanding the basic biology and underlying disease mechanisms we aim to find effective new biomarkers and treatment approaches.
Cancer Biology