The transcriptional regulation of lymphocyte and dendritic cell development [ 2007 - 2009 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Stephen Nutt (Principal investigator) ,  Prof Li Wu

Brief description The distinct cell types of the blood, such as red and white blood cells, are produced in the bone marrow from a rare stem cell. An important characteristic of the stem cell is its ability to balance the need to proliferate and produce the distinct cell types (termed differentiation) and the need to maintain an adequate number of stem cells in their primitive state (termed self-renewal). The outcome of this balance is the production, throughout life, of an astounding number of cells that are required to replace those lost each day. This feat is controlled by a handful of important master-regulatory genes that act in a hierarchy to promote the differentiation process. This tightly controlled and multi-step regulation is essential, as failure to coordinate blood cell production is the underlying cause of many blood cell cancers such as leukaemia as well as immune deficiency and anaemia. This research aims to understand how these master-regulators function in isolation and together in producing the white blood cells that are required for our immune response to microbes, vaccination and to prevent cancer.

Funding Amount $AUD 596,051.76

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant