From stem cells to the immune system

My research program is focused on identifying cellular and molecular pathways during early stages of natural killer (NK) cell development. We are delineating the cellular pathway from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to mature NK cells, to establish a “road map” of NK cell development. We are also studying the role of cytokine regulation of NK cell development, in particular, during the early developmental stages and in relation to B and T cells.

The following cytokine receptors: FLT3, C-KIT, IL-15 and IL-7 have been shown to play key role in lymphocyte development including NK cells, however their role and cellular targets during NK cell development are not well understood. We are investigating what signals dictate NK cell commitment and how cytokines regulate NK development and differentiation.

•  Read more about NK cells 

The other line of research that we are pursuing focuses on the role of the FLT3 receptor in normal and malignant blood cell development, and in particular the role of activating FLT3 mutations in paediatric leukaemia. We are also investigating the mechanisms regulating the recovery of the immune system following bone marrow transplantation.

Understanding the steps during normal development of cells building up the immune system and how these stages are regulated will help to better understand the immune deficiencies as well as leukemic transformation.