MRC Molecular Haematology Unit

A chessboard with a single pawn left standing.

DNA-damaging formaldehyde accelerates blood ageing by extinction of stem cells

Researchers from the University of Oxford, the German Cancer Research Center, and Hospital Saint-Louis have uncovered a surprising new way that blood stem cells are lost over time, offering fresh insight into ageing and diseases that affect blood production.

Close-up shot of microscope with metal lens.

Oxford University spinout Dark Blue Therapeutics acquired to advance leukaemia treatment

Oxford University spinout Dark Blue Therapeutics has been acquired by global biotechnology company Amgen in a deal worth up to US$840 million, marking a major milestone for Oxford-led cancer research and innovation. The deal reflects years of collaborative, multidisciplinary work across the University and its partners to translate fundamental research into promising new medicines.

Paresh Vyas receives CRUK Discovery Programme Award

Congratulations to Professor Paresh Vyas, who has been awarded a Discovery Research grant from Cancer Research UK to investigate cancer immunotherapies.

New bone marrow model offers scalable platform for next-generation drug discovery

Researchers at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine have developed the first combined human bone and bone marrow organoid platform capable of modelling long-term blood and immune cell production in a fully human 3D system.

2025 RDM Graduate Prize winner

Congratulations to Lauren Murphy, who has been awarded the 2025 Graduate Prize from the Radcliffe Department of Medicine.

Sarah Gooding named NIHR Oxford Senior Research Fellow

Congratulations to Dr Sarah Gooding, who is one of eight mid-career researchers appointed as the next cohort of NIHR Oxford BRC Senior Research Fellows.

At the MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, we aim to understand how stem cells produce mature blood cells in a healthy context, and how this process is perturbed in common blood disorders.

MRC MHU includes 14 research teams with over 140 scientists who share a common goal, to improve the prognosis of patients with inherited and acquired blood diseases.

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FULL MRC MHU SEMINAR LIST

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Public Engagement

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This is an exciting time for the field of haematology. The -omics revolution is enabling scientists to unravel the complex molecular processes governing biology at unprecedented speed. At the MRC MHU our teams are committed to applying such cutting-edge techniques to better understand the molecular basis of blood diseases, and to develop treatments to improve the lives of patients. - Professor KJ Patel

MRC Molecular Haematology Unit

DNA-damaging formaldehyde accelerates blood ageing by extinction of stem cells

Oxford University spinout Dark Blue Therapeutics acquired to advance leukaemia treatment

Paresh Vyas receives CRUK Discovery Programme Award

New bone marrow model offers scalable platform for next-generation drug discovery

2025 RDM Graduate Prize winner

Sarah Gooding named NIHR Oxford Senior Research Fellow

About the MRC MHU

MRC MHU Research Groups

MRC MHU People

FULL MRC MHU SEMINAR LIST

Public Engagement

MRC MHU Director- Professor KJ Patel

Latest publications

Basophils drive the resolution and promote wound healing in adult and aged mice

Protecting lactoferrin for iron delivery: Effects of matrix composition and iron loading on gastric stability

Characterization of ferroportin disease and SLC40A1-related hemochromatosis - Results from the EASL non-HFE registry.

Metabolite-induced DNA damage drives stochastic stem cell loss and clonal hematopoiesis.

International testing and refinement of AI algorithms predicting acute leukemia subtypes from routine laboratory data.

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MRC Molecular Haematology Unit

DNA-damaging formaldehyde accelerates blood ageing by extinction of stem cells

About the MRC MHU

MRC MHU Research Groups

MRC MHU People

FULL MRC MHU SEMINAR LIST

Public Engagement

MRC MHU Director- Professor KJ Patel

Latest publications

Basophils drive the resolution and promote wound healing in adult and aged mice

Protecting lactoferrin for iron delivery: Effects of matrix composition and iron loading on gastric stability

Characterization of ferroportin disease and SLC40A1-related hemochromatosis - Results from the EASL non-HFE registry.

Metabolite-induced DNA damage drives stochastic stem cell loss and clonal hematopoiesis.

International testing and refinement of AI algorithms predicting acute leukemia subtypes from routine laboratory data.