MRC Molecular Haematology Unit

Professor KJ Patel awarded major European Research Council Advanced Grant

Professor Patel is one of fourteen researchers at the University of Oxford awarded Advanced Grants from the European Research Council (ERC), each worth up to €2.5 million over a period of five years.

Study reveals blood stem cells can ‘remember’ inflammation

Researchers have discovered that some human blood stem cells retain a lasting “memory” of inflammation, a finding that could help explain links between ageing, chronic disease, and blood cancers

Professor Adam Mead joins Oxford Cancer leadership team

Congratulations to Adam Mead, who has been appointed Director of Oxford Cancer. Professor Mead joins Professors Mark Middleton and Tim Elliott in leading Oxford’s interdisciplinary cancer research community.

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.

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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MRC MHU People

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FULL MRC MHU SEMINAR LIST

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Hands reaching into box filled with jelly pearls. The round pearls represent the different components of the blood.

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 MHU Director- Professor KJ Patel

Latest publications

Transcriptomic analysis of tissue-resident memory T cells of the fallopian tube reveals a precursor immune surveillance network for ovarian cancer prevention.

Wang L. et al, (2026), Nat Commun

The challenge and promise of studying human antigen-specific T cells.

Farrar S. et al, (2026), Nat Rev Immunol

Magrolimab Plus Azacitidine Versus Placebo Plus Azacitidine in Patients With Untreated Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes: The Phase III ENHANCE Study.

Sallman DA. et al, (2026), J Clin Oncol

Immunology of pregnancy and sepsis: shared and specific pathways guiding future precision care.

Amarasinghe HE. et al, (2026), EBioMedicine, 130

Thalassaemia.

Piel FB. et al, (2026), Nat Rev Dis Primers, 12

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MRC Molecular Haematology Unit

Professor KJ Patel awarded major European Research Council Advanced Grant

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

Transcriptomic analysis of tissue-resident memory T cells of the fallopian tube reveals a precursor immune surveillance network for ovarian cancer prevention.

The challenge and promise of studying human antigen-specific T cells.

Magrolimab Plus Azacitidine Versus Placebo Plus Azacitidine in Patients With Untreated Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes: The Phase III ENHANCE Study.

Immunology of pregnancy and sepsis: shared and specific pathways guiding future precision care.

Thalassaemia.