The Molecular Haematology Unit was founded in 1980 and is located in the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine. It includes eight research teams with a total of about seventy scientists who share a common interest in understanding the process by which multipotential haemopoietic stem cells become committed and differentiate into the highly specialised cells found in the peripheral blood (red cells, granulocytes, lymphocytes and platelets). We are particularly interested in how the erythroid (red cell) and megakaryocytic (platelet) lineages are specified during embryonic, fetal and adult life.

Our approach is currently based on the premise that lineage commitment and differentiation during development is a reflection of the cell's transcriptional programme. Therefore, an important part of the Unit's future plan is to establish the transcriptional profiles of highly purified cells representing key stages of haemopoiesis.

In addition we are studying the genetic and epigenetic (methylation, chromatin modification, replication, nuclear position) mechanisms by which individual key genes (e.g. globin, GATA-1, GATA-2, SCL, RUNX1) are regulated during haemopoiesis.

Finally, we are studying how these processes are perturbed in inherited and acquired human genetic diseases (e.g. thalassaemia, myelodysplasia and leukaemia).

To ensure that we are competitive in this very active field we are establishing a comprehensive infrastructure to support the work. This includes all aspects of molecular and cellular haemopoiesis with considerable expertise in the in vitro differentiation of embryonic stem cells, a FACS facility, Genomics facilities with dedicated Bioinformatics backup, Transgenic and Knockout facilities; Imaging and Cytogenetics. In addition, some permanent members of the MHU are also active clinicians working in the University of Oxford Departments of Haematology and Clinical Genetics providing the Unit with access to clinical material and ensuring that our scientific developments are rapidly translated into improvedclinical care.

The aim of the MRC MHU is to understand how mature blood cells are normally made from stem cells and how this is perturbed in common blood disorders.