Hematopoietic Stem Cell Development Laboratory

Our Research

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are rare cells in the body that possess the ability to generate vast numbers of a multitude of specialised blood cell types required for our survival. HSCs are first generated in the early embryo and undergo a series of maturation processes that ultimately give rise to their key adult features of self-renewal, blood cell generation, and transplant capability. Our laboratory uses embryonic-like stem cells, termed induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, as the starting material in our culture systems to generate de novo hematopoietic cells, including immune cells with anti-tumor function.  

Research areas include: 

• Understanding the development process of induced pluripotent stem cell derived natural killer immune cells 
• Engineering of induced pluripotent stem cell derived natural killer cells for enhanced targeting and killing of tumor cells 
  • via introduction of novel genetic sequences into the cells, such as Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs) and TRUCKS 
• Metabolic regulation in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell development
• The molecular processes in endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition
• Mitigation of cellular stress in blood cell development culture systems

Aims

• To understand the molecular processes involved in hematopoietic cell development (including hematopoietic stem cells) from pluripotent stem cells and recapitulate these processes in cell culture systems. 
• To use this understanding towards development of a novel anti-cancer therapy based on engineered induced pluripotent stem cell derived Natural Killer cells. 

Impact

List of Team Woods' publications

Induced pluripotent stem cell derived hematopoietic/immune cells have the potential to be used in the treatment of many life-threatening hematological diseases and malignancies. We have begun laboratory testing of engineered induced pluripotent stem cell derived natural killer cells towards development of novel treatments for the following malignancies; non-TKI responsive myeloid leukemias, refractory lymphomas, Glioblastomas, and pancreatic adenocarcinomas, and are working closely with our European collaborators, clinicians and an industrial partner to translate our work towards the clinic. 

Team

(name linked to profile in Lund University research portal)

Niels-Bjarne Woods

Principal Investigator, Niels-Bjarne [dot] Woods [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (Niels-Bjarne[dot]Woods[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Roger Rönn

Researcher, Roger [dot] Ronn [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (Roger[dot]Ronn[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Xiaojie Xian

Staff Scientist, Xiaojie [dot] Xian [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (Xiaojie[dot]Xian[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Shuh Wen Aung

Postdoc, shuh_wen [dot] aung [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (shuh_wen[dot]aung[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)