PSAILA LAB
MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford
PSAILA LAB
Normal and Malignant Megakaryocyte Biology
Using bone marrow organoids to model normal and malignant haematopoiesis
Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Platelets in early detection and molecular profiling of solid tumours
RESEARCH THEMES
Learn more about our main research themes and applications below.
HOW MEGAKARYOCYTEÂ CELLS DEVELOP FROM HAEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS
Studying how megakaryocytes develop and function in healthy people, and how this goes wrong in a certain type of blood cancer called ‘myeloproliferative neoplasms’ or ‘MPNs’.
HUMAN BONE MARROW ORGANOIDS
Development and validation of iPSC-derived bone marrow organoids that faithfully recapitulate the cellular, molecular and architectural features of native bone marrow for disease modelling, target discovery and validation
UNDERSTANDING DISEASE MECHANISMS AND DISCOVERING NEW TREATMENTS AND BIOMARKERS OF RISKÂ FOR PATIENTS WITH MYELOID BLOOD CANCERS
Application of state-of-the-art approaches to discover new ways to detect and treat myeloid blood cancers
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDIATORS OF BONE MARROW INFLAMMATION AND FIBROSIS
Understanding the triggers of bone marrow fibrosis (scarring) and inflammation, how this causes cancers to progress from early to advanced stage, and developing clinically-relevant systems to model this using primary human cells
PLATELETS ANDÂ CANCER
Studying the utility of platelet analysis for the detection and molecular profiling of cancers.
MRC WEATHERALL INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE
https://www.imm.ox.ac.uk/research/units-and-centres/mrc-molecular-haematology-unit
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The MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (MRC WIMM) at the University of Oxford was founded in 1989 by Sir David Weatherall to foster research in molecular and cell biology, with the aim of improving human health. It houses around 400 scientists and world-class core facilities. The Molecular Haematology Unity in the MRC WIMM is focused on understanding normal and diseased blood cell production over time
LIFE IN OXFORD
Oxford is home to a world leading academic institution. It is a beautiful and vibrant city surrounded by incredible countryside and within easy reach from London.
GET IN TOUCH
We are always keen to hear from people who are interested in joining the group. Email: bethan.psaila@new.ox.ac.uk
Lab Life
The Psaila lab works closely with the Mead Lab and has strong collaborations with other groups within the Molecular Haematology Unit, Oxford and internationally.
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Our philosophy is to create a dynamic and synergistic environment that fosters and leverages the strengths of individual researchers, helping them achieve their goals while maximising our impact as a collective. We believe that this commitment to collaborative research and advocating for individuals accelerates our productivity and progress.
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We enjoy regular social events, a yearly lab retreat and members of the team are all encouraged to attend relevant national/international meetings and to develop a strong research network. Group members are well supported in writing applications for independent funding and personal fellowships, and there are good opportunities for collaborations with industry.
HUGELY GRATEFUL TO OUR FUNDERS
Please get in touch for more information about our work or if you are interested in joining us: bethan.psaila@ndcls.ox.ac.uk
KEY PUBLICATIONS
2023
HUMAN BONE MARROW ORGANOIDS FOR DISEASE MODELLING, DISCOVERY AND VALIDATION OF THERAPEUTIC TARGETS IN HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES
Khan AO, Colombo, M, Reyat JS, Wang G, Rodriguez-Romera R, Wen WX, Murphy L, Grygielska B, Mahoney C, Stone A, Croft A, Bassett D, Poologasundarampillai G,  Roy A, Gooding S, Rayes K, Machlus KM, Psaila B. Cancer Discovery 2023
2022
IN UTERO ORIGIN OF MYELOFIBROSIS PRESENTING IN ADULT MONOZYGOTIC TWINS AFTER A PROLONGED DISEASE LATENCY.
Sousos N, Leathlobhair MN, Simoglou Kaaral C, Louka E, Bienz N, Royston D, Clark SA, Hamblin A, Howard K, Matthews V, George B, Roy A, Psaila B, Edge DC, Mead AJ. Nature Medicine (in press)
2022
DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE- AND SITE-SPECIFIC TRANSITIONS IN LINEAGE SPECIFICATION AND GENE REGULATORY NETWORKS IN HUMAN HEMATOPOIETIC STEM AND PROGENITOR CELLS
Roy, A, Wang, G, Iskander, D, O’Byrne, S, Elliott, N, O’Sullivan, J, Buck, G, Heuston, E.F, Wen, W.X, Rodriguez Meira, A., Hua, P, Karadimitris, A, Mead A.J, Bodine, D, Roberts, I, Psaila, B* & Thongjuea, S*. * - joint senior authorship with equal contribution. Cell Reports 2021
KEY PUBLICATIONS - 2021
2021
THE IMMUNE LANDSCAPE IN BCR-ABL NEGATIVE MYELOPROLIFERATIVE NEOPLASMS: INFLAMMATION, INFECTION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY
Strickland, M., Queck L., Psaila, B*. British Journal of Haematology in press 2021
2021
IMPAIRED ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO COVID-19 VACCINATION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC MYELOID BLOOD CANCERS.
Chowdhury O, Bruguier H, Mallett G, Sousos N, Crozier K, Allman C, Eyre D, Lumley S, Strickland M, Simoglou Karali C, Murphy L, Sternberg A, Jeffery K, Mead AJ, Peniket A, Psaila B*. British Journal of Haematology 2021 Jun 16.
2021
RAPID EMERGENCE OF CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA DURING JAK2 INHIBITOR THERAPY IN A PATIENT WITH MYELOFIBROSIS
Sousos N, Buch G, Rodriguez-Meira A, Norfo R, Hamblin A, Pezzella F, Davies J, Hublitz P, Psaila B, Mead AJ.
Hemasphere 2020 May 27;4(3)
2020
SINGLE-CELL ANALYSES REVEAL ABERRANT PATHWAYS FOR MEGAKARYOCYTE-BIASED HEMATOPOIESIS IN MYELOFIBROSIS AND IDENTIFY MUTANT CLONE-SPECIFIC TARGETS
Psaila B*, Wang G*, Rodriguez Meira A, Li R, O’Sullivan J, Heuston E, Anderson S, Senis Y, Voegtle T, Weinberg O, Calicchio M, Milojkovic D, Roberts I, Bodine D, Thongjuea, S*, Mead AJ*.  Molecular Cell 2020 May 7th; 78:477-492
2016
SINGLE-CELL PROFILING OF HUMAN MEGAKARYOCYTE-ERYTHROID PROGENITORS IDENTIFIES DISTINCT MEGAKARYOCYTE AND ERYTHROID DIFFERENTIATION PATHWAY.
Psaila B, Barkas, N, Iskander D, Roy, A, Anderson S, Ashley, N, Caputo, V.S, Lichtenberg, J, Loaiza, S, Bodine, D, Karadimitris A, Mead A.J., Roberts I. Genome Biology Single-cell Omics Special Edition 2016 May 3; 17:83.
2012
IN VIVO EFFECTS OF ELTROMBOPAG ON PLATELET FUNCTION IN IMMUNE THROMBOCYTOPENIA: NO EVIDENCE OF PLATELET ACTIVATION.
Psaila B, Bussel JB, Linden MD, Babula B, Li Y, Barnard MR, Tate C, Mathur K, Frelinger AL, Michelson AD. Blood. 2012 Apr 26;119(17):4066-72.