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Contact information

Email
marella.debruijn@imm.ox.ac.uk

Telephone
+44 (0)1865 222397

Research groups

de Bruijn Group: Developmental Haematopoiesis

Colleges

Green Templeton College

Websites

MRC Molecular Haematology Unit
Research Unit
MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine
Research Institute

Marella de Bruijn

Professor of Developmental Haematopoiesis

Director of Graduate Studies

I obtained my BSc in Biomedical Sciences from Leiden University and my PhD from Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where I trained in Immunology. I was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics at Erasmus University, and a Fellow of the Dutch Cancer Society at Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH. In 2003 I moved to Oxford to join the faculty of the MRC Molecular Haematology Unit at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine.

My main research interest is the birth of blood stem and progenitor cells during embryonic development. Work in my group focuses on the cellular lineages and gene regulatory networks that underlie the de novo generation of blood stem cells, with the ultimate aim to contribute this knowledge to the development of novel and improved stem cell therapies for regenerative medicine.

As Principal Investigator at the MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, I have trained DPhil students and postdocs, and undergraduates that visit the lab for short projects. Along my research I have been actively involved in coordinating the recruitment, training and supervision of DPhil students, as Director of Graduate Studies at the Radcliffe Department of Medicine and WIMM.

Recent publications

The emerging sequence grammar of 3D genome organisation.

Tamon L. et al, (2025), Hum Genet, 144, 917 - 928

Resolving hematopoietic stem versus progenitor cell potential in the mouse dorsal aorta by differential Runx1 +110 enhancer activity

Anselmi G. et al, (2025)

developmental route to hematopoietic stem cells.

Wilkinson AC. and de Bruijn MFTR., (2025), Nat Biotechnol, 43, 1242 - 1243

Spatiotemporal dynamics of fetal liver hematopoietic niches.

Mesquita Peixoto M. et al, (2025), J Exp Med, 222

Tracking early mammalian organogenesis - prediction and validation of differentiation trajectories at whole organism scale.

Imaz-Rosshandler I. et al, (2024), Development, 151

Development of the hematopoietic system

De Bruijn M. and Palis J., (2024), 145 - 157

Yolk sac cell atlas reveals multiorgan functions during human early development.

Goh I. et al, (2023), Science, 381

GATA2 mitotic bookmarking is required for definitive haematopoiesis.

Silvério-Alves R. et al, (2023), Nat Commun, 14

Dynamic Runx1 chromatin boundaries affect gene expression in hematopoietic development.

Owens DDG. et al, (2022), Nat Commun, 13

The onset of circulation triggers a metabolic switch required for endothelial to hematopoietic transition.

Azzoni E. et al, (2021), Cell Rep, 37

Ezh2 is essential for the generation of functional yolk sac derived erythro-myeloid progenitors.

Neo WH. et al, (2021), Nat Commun, 12

KMT2A-AFF1 gene regulatory network highlights the role of core transcription factors and reveals the regulatory logic of key downstream target genes.

Harman JR. et al, (2021), Genome Res, 31, 1159 - 1173

The genome-wide impact of trisomy 21 on DNA methylation and its implications for hematopoiesis.

Muskens IS. et al, (2021), Nat Commun, 12

The T-box transcription factor Eomesodermin governs haemogenic competence of yolk sac mesodermal progenitors.

Harland LTG. et al, (2021), Nat Cell Biol, 23, 61 - 74

DynamicRunx1chromatin boundaries affect gene expression in hematopoietic development

Owens DDG. et al, (2021)

Gata3 targets Runx1 in the embryonic haematopoietic stem cell niche.

Fitch SR. et al, (2020), IUBMB Life, 72, 45 - 52

Phenotypic analysis of an MLL-AF4 gene regulatory network reveals indirect CASP9 repression as a mode of inducing apoptosis resistance

Harman J. et al, (2020)

EOMESODERMIN GOVERNS THE HEMOGENIC COMPETENCE OF MURINE YOLK-SAC MESODERMAL PROGENITORS

Harland L. et al, (2020), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 88, S34 - S34

Microhomologies are prevalent at Cas9-induced larger deletions.

Owens DDG. et al, (2019), Nucleic Acids Res, 47, 7402 - 7417

Blood stem cell-forming haemogenic endothelium in zebrafish derives from arterial endothelium.

Bonkhofer F. et al, (2019), Nat Commun, 10

Kit ligand has a critical role in mouse yolk sac and aorta-gonad-mesonephros hematopoiesis.

Azzoni E. et al, (2018), EMBO Rep, 19

Cell-extrinsic hematopoietic impact of Ezh2 inactivation in fetal liver endothelial cells.

Neo WH. et al, (2018), Blood, 131, 2223 - 2234

Transcriptional regulation of Hhex in hematopoiesis and hematopoietic stem cell ontogeny.

Migueles RP. et al, (2017), Dev Biol, 424, 236 - 245

Runx transcription factors in the development and function of the definitive hematopoietic system.

de Bruijn M. and Dzierzak E., (2017), Blood, 129, 2061 - 2069

The Role of Runx1 in Embryonic Blood Cell Formation.

Yzaguirre AD. et al, (2017), 962, 47 - 64

Disruption of the aortic wall by coelomic lining-derived mesenchymal cells accompanies the onset of aortic hematopoiesis.

Arraf AA. et al, (2017), Int J Dev Biol, 61, 329 - 335

Initial seeding of the embryonic thymus by immune-restricted lympho-myeloid progenitors.

Luis TC. et al, (2016), Nat Immunol, 17, 1424 - 1435

Turning it down a Notch.

de Bruijn M., (2016), Blood, 128, 1541 - 1542

Hematopoietic Reprogramming In Vitro Informs In Vivo Identification of Hemogenic Precursors to Definitive Hematopoietic Stem Cells.

Pereira C-F. et al, (2016), Dev Cell, 36, 525 - 539

n experimentally validated network of nine haematopoietic transcription factors reveals mechanisms of cell state stability.

Schütte J. et al, (2016), Elife, 5

n experimentally validated network of nine haematopoietic transcription factors reveals mechanisms of cell state stability

Schutte J. et al, (2016), ELIFE, 5

EMBRYONIC HEMATOPOIETIC PROGENITORS DEPEND ON KIT LIGAND FOR IN VIVO EXPANSION AND DIFFERENTIATION

Azzoni E. et al, (2016), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 44, S43 - S43

PATHWAYS REGULATING THE ENDOTHELIAL-TO-HEMATOPOIETIC TRANSITION

de Bruijn M. et al, (2016), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 44, S29 - S29

DEFINITIVE ERYTHRO-MYELOID PROGENITORS (EMP) WITH MACROPHAGE-RESTRICTED LINEAGE POTENTIAL EMERGE IN MYB-NULL MURINE EMBRYOS

Palis J. et al, (2016), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 44, S93 - S93

EMBRYONIC THYMOPOIESIS IS INITIATED BY AN IMMUNE-RESTRICTED LYMPHO-MYELOID PROGENITOR INDEPENDENTLY OF NOTCH SIGNALING

Luis TC. et al, (2016), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 44, S65 - S65

The Origin of Tissue-Resident Macrophages: When an Erythro-myeloid Progenitor Is an Erythro-myeloid Progenitor.

Perdiguero EG. et al, (2015), Immunity, 43, 1023 - 1024

n international effort to cure a global health problem: A report on the 19th Hemoglobin Switching Conference.

Blobel GA. et al, (2015), Exp Hematol, 43, 821 - 837

SMAD1 and SMAD5 Expression Is Coordinately Regulated by FLI1 and GATA2 during Endothelial Development.

Marks-Bluth J. et al, (2015), Mol Cell Biol, 35, 2165 - 2172

Tissue-resident macrophages originate from yolk-sac-derived erythro-myeloid progenitors.

Gomez Perdiguero E. et al, (2015), Nature, 518, 547 - 551

FULLY VALIDATED BLOOD STEM/PROGENITOR CELL REGULATORY NETWORK REVEALS MECHANISMS OF CELL STATE STABILISATION

Schutte J. et al, (2015), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 43, S47 - S47

FULLY VALIDATED BLOOD STEM/PROGENITOR CELL REGULATORY NETWORK REVEALS MECHANISMS OF CELL STATE STABILISATION

Schutte J. et al, (2015), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 43, S47 - S47

TISSUE-RESIDENT MACROPHAGES ORIGINATE FROM YOLK SAC-DERIVED ERYTHRO-MYELOID PROGENITORS

Perdiguero EG. et al, (2015), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 43, S64 - S64

EXPLORING THE ROLE OF KIT LIGAND AT THE ONSET OF HEMATOPOIESIS

Azzoni E. et al, (2015), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 43, S51 - S51

Mouse regulatory DNA landscapes reveal global principles of cis-regulatory evolution.

Vierstra J. et al, (2014), Science, 346, 1007 - 1012

comparative encyclopedia of DNA elements in the mouse genome.

Yue F. et al, (2014), Nature, 515, 355 - 364

The hemangioblast revisited.

de Bruijn M., (2014), Blood, 124, 2472 - 2473

Single-cell analyses of regulatory network perturbations using enhancer-targeting TALEs suggest novel roles for PU.1 during haematopoietic specification.

Wilkinson AC. et al, (2014), Development, 141, 4018 - 4030

Runx1 is required for progression of CD41+ embryonic precursors into HSCs but not prior to this.

Liakhovitskaia A. et al, (2014), Development, 141, 3319 - 3323

Using RUNX1 enhancer-reporter transgenic mouse models to dissect discrete stages of developmental hematopoiesis

Rode C. et al, (2014), TRANSGENIC RESEARCH, 23, 865 - 865

short history of hemogenic endothelium.

Swiers G. et al, (2013), Blood Cells Mol Dis, 51, 206 - 212

Lymphomyeloid contribution of an immune-restricted progenitor emerging prior to definitive hematopoietic stem cells.

Böiers C. et al, (2013), Cell Stem Cell, 13, 535 - 548

Characterization of transcriptional networks in blood stem and progenitor cells using high-throughput single-cell gene expression analysis.

Moignard V. et al, (2013), Nat Cell Biol, 15

Characterization of transcriptional networks in blood stem and progenitor cells using high-throughput single-cell gene expression analysis.

Moignard V. et al, (2013), Nat Cell Biol, 15, 363 - 372

Dlk1 is a negative regulator of emerging hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

Mirshekar-Syahkal B. et al, (2013), Haematologica, 98, 163 - 171

RUNX1 is a key target in t(4;11) leukemias that contributes to gene activation through an AF4-MLL complex interaction.

Wilkinson AC. et al, (2013), Cell Rep, 3, 116 - 127

Early dynamic fate changes in haemogenic endothelium characterized at the single-cell level.

Swiers G. et al, (2013), Nat Commun, 4

ESTABLISHMENT OF LYMPHO-MYELOID RESTRICTED PROGENITORS PRIOR TO THE EMERGENCE OF DEFINITIVE HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS

Boiers C. et al, (2013), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 41, S13 - S13

The earliest thymic T cell progenitors sustain B cell and myeloid lineage potential.

Luc S. et al, (2012), Nat Immunol, 13, 412 - 419

DISTINCT RUNX1 ENHANCERS DIRECT TRANSCRIPTION TO DISCRETE STAGES OF DEVELOPMENTAL HEMATOPOIESIS

O'Rourke J. et al, (2012), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 40, S62 - S63

EMERGENCE OF AN IMMUNE-RESTRICTED PROGENITOR PRIOR TO DEFINITIVE HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS

Boiers C. et al, (2012), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 40, S58 - S58

TOWARDS A MECHANISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENDOTHELIAL-TO-HEMATOPOIETIC TRANSITION

Swiers G. et al, (2012), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 40, S18 - S19

Runx1-Smad6 rheostat controls Runx1 activity during embryonic hematopoiesis.

Knezevic K. et al, (2011), Mol Cell Biol, 31, 2817 - 2826

DLK1 IS A NEGATIVE REGULATOR OF EMERGING HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS

Ottersbach K. et al, (2011), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 39, S24 - S24

The Earliest Thymic T Cell Progenitors Sustain B Cell and Myeloid Lineage Potentials

Luc S. et al, (2011), BLOOD, 118, 1011 - 1011

Combinatorial transcriptional control in blood stem/progenitor cells: genome-wide analysis of ten major transcriptional regulators.

Wilson NK. et al, (2010), Cell Stem Cell, 7, 532 - 544

Nonredundant roles for Runx1 alternative promoters reflect their activity at discrete stages of developmental hematopoiesis.

Bee T. et al, (2010), Blood, 115, 3042 - 3050

Visualizing blood cell emergence from aortic endothelium.

Swiers G. et al, (2010), Cell Stem Cell, 6, 289 - 290

Hematopoietic stem cell emergence in the conceptus and the role of Runx1.

Swiers G. et al, (2010), Int J Dev Biol, 54, 1151 - 1163

COMMITMENT OF ENDOTHELIAL CELLS TO A HEMATOPOIETIC FATE IN THE AGM OCCURS BEFORE E10.5

Swiers GL. et al, (2010), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 38, S41 - S42

RUNX1-SMAD6 RHEOSTAT CONTROLS RUNX1 LEVELS AND REGULATES HEMATOPOIESIS IN THE DEVELOPING EMBRYO

Pimanda J. et al, (2010), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 38, S17 - S18

Hemogenic Endothelium.

Speck NA. et al, (2010), BLOOD, 116, 1765 - 1765

Ventral embryonic tissues and Hedgehog proteins induce early AGM hematopoietic stem cell development.

Peeters M. et al, (2009), Development, 136, 2613 - 2621

Balancing work and life: a conversation with Marella de Bruijn. Interviewed by Majlinda Lako and Susan Daher.

de Bruijn M., (2009), Stem Cells, 27, 1471 - 1472

The mouse Runx1 +23 hematopoietic stem cell enhancer confers hematopoietic specificity to both Runx1 promoters.

Bee T. et al, (2009), Blood, 113, 5121 - 5124

lternative Runx1 promoter usage in mouse developmental hematopoiesis.

Bee T. et al, (2009), Blood Cells Mol Dis, 43, 35 - 42

THE RUNX1+23 ENHANCER IS ACTIVE IN CELLS WITH BOTH ENDOTHELIAL AND HEMATOPOIETIC CHARACTERISTICS DURING MOUSE DEVELOPMENTAL HEMATOPOIESIS

Swiers G. et al, (2009), EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY, 37, S77 - S77

Runx genes are direct targets of Scl/Tal1 in the yolk sac and fetal liver.

Landry J-R. et al, (2008), Blood, 111, 3005 - 3014

Runx1-mediated hematopoietic stem-cell emergence is controlled by a Gata/Ets/SCL-regulated enhancer.

Nottingham WT. et al, (2007), Blood, 110, 4188 - 4197

The SCL transcriptional network and BMP signaling pathway interact to regulate RUNX1 activity.

Pimanda JE. et al, (2007), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 104, 840 - 845

n intronic Runx1 enhancer directs transcription to the emerging hematopoietic system of the mouse embryo

Nottingham W. et al, (2007), BLOOD CELLS MOLECULES AND DISEASES, 38, 163 - 164

Genome-wide computational screen for bloon stem cell enhancers integrates RUNX1 and the BMP signaling pathway into the SCL transcriptional network

Pimanda JE. et al, (2007), BLOOD CELLS MOLECULES AND DISEASES, 38, 172 - 173

From hemangioblast to hematopoietic stem cell: an endothelial connection?

Jaffredo T. et al, (2005), Exp Hematol, 33, 1029 - 1040

Core-binding factors in hematopoiesis and immune function.

de Bruijn MFTR. and Speck NA., (2004), Oncogene, 23, 4238 - 4248

Erratum: (Journal of Experimental Medicine (March 15, 2004) 99, 6 (785-795))

Schmidt U. et al, (2004), Journal of Experimental Medicine, 199

Btk is required for an efficient response to erythropoietin and for SCF-controlled protection against TRAIL in erythroid progenitors.

Schmidt U. et al, (2004), J Exp Med, 199, 785 - 795

Runx1 is expressed in adult mouse hematopoietic stem cells and differentiating myeloid and lymphoid cells, but not in maturing erythroid cells.

North TE. et al, (2004), Stem Cells, 22, 158 - 168

Interleukin-3Ralpha+ myeloid dendritic cells and mast cells develop simultaneously from different bone marrow precursors in cultures with interleukin-3.

Baumeister T. et al, (2003), J Invest Dermatol, 121, 280 - 288

Developmental stages of myeloid dendritic cells in mouse bone marrow.

Nikolic T. et al, (2003), Int Immunol, 15, 515 - 524

Developmental origins of hematopoietic stem cells.

Robin C. et al, (2003), Oncol Res, 13, 315 - 321

Hematopoietic stem cells localize to the endothelial cell layer in the midgestation mouse aorta.

de Bruijn MFTR. et al, (2002), Immunity, 16, 673 - 683

Runx1 expression marks long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells in the midgestation mouse embryo.

North TE. et al, (2002), Immunity, 16, 661 - 672

Stromal cell lines from mouse aorta-gonads-mesonephros subregions are potent supporters of hematopoietic stem cell activity.

Oostendorp RAJ. et al, (2002), Blood, 99, 1183 - 1189

Expression of the Ly-6A (Sca-1) lacZ transgene in mouse haematopoietic stem cells and embryos.

Ma X. et al, (2002), Br J Haematol, 116, 401 - 408

Isolation and analysis of hematopoietic stem cells from mouse embryos.

Dzierzak E. and de Bruijn M., (2002), 63, 1 - 14

CFU-S(11) activity does not localize solely with the aorta in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros region.

de Bruijn MF. et al, (2000), Blood, 96, 2902 - 2904

Haploinsufficiency of AML1 affects the temporal and spatial generation of hematopoietic stem cells in the mouse embryo.

Cai Z. et al, (2000), Immunity, 13, 423 - 431

n intrinsic but cell-nonautonomous defect in GATA-1-overexpressing mouse erythroid cells.

Whyatt D. et al, (2000), Nature, 406, 519 - 524

Definitive hematopoietic stem cells first develop within the major arterial regions of the mouse embryo.

de Bruijn MF. et al, (2000), EMBO J, 19, 2465 - 2474

Bone marrow cellular composition in Listeria monocytogenes infected mice detected using ER-MP12 and ER-MP20 antibodies: a flow cytometric alternative to differential counting.

de Bruijn MF. et al, (1998), J Immunol Methods, 217, 27 - 39

Qualitative and quantitative aspects of haematopoietic cell development in the mammalian embryo.

Dzierzak E. et al, (1998), Immunol Today, 19, 228 - 236

Dietary n-3 fatty acids increase spleen size and postendotoxin circulating TNF in mice; role of macrophages, macrophage precursors, and colony-stimulating factor-1.

Blok WL. et al, (1996), J Immunol, 157, 5569 - 5573

High-level expression of the ER-MP58 antigen on mouse bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells marks commitment to the myeloid lineage.

de Bruijn MF. et al, (1996), Eur J Immunol, 26, 2850 - 2858

Inactivation of Btk by insertion of lacZ reveals defects in B cell development only past the pre-B cell stage.

Hendriks RW. et al, (1996), EMBO J, 15, 4862 - 4872

Distinct mouse bone marrow macrophage precursors identified by differential expression of ER-MP12 and ER-MP20 antigens.

de Bruijn MF. et al, (1994), Eur J Immunol, 24, 2279 - 2284

Markers of mouse macrophage development detected by monoclonal antibodies.

Leenen PJ. et al, (1994), J Immunol Methods, 174, 5 - 19

ER-MP12 antigen, a new cell surface marker on mouse bone marrow cells with thymus-repopulating ability: II. Thymus-homing ability and phenotypic characterization of ER-MP12-positive bone marrow cells.

Slieker WA. et al, (1993), Int Immunol, 5, 1099 - 1107

ER-MP12 antigen, a new cell surface marker on mouse bone marrow cells with thymus-repopulating ability: I. Intrathymic repopulating ability of ER-MP12-positive bone marrow cells.

Slieker WA. et al, (1993), Int Immunol, 5, 1093 - 1098