Lo Celso lab

Bone Marrow Dynamics Satellite Laboratory

We aim to understand the the role of the bone marrow microenvironment in regulating healthy and malignant haematopoietic stem cells using a combination of advanced microscopy techniques, computational and statistical analyses, and traditional haematopoietic assays. 

Adult stem cells (also known as somatic stem cells) are critical for the survival of any multicellular living organism, from the nematode worm to humans, because they maintain tissue renewal throughout life.

The fine balance between their self-renewal and the rate at which the cells they produce turn into specific tissue cells is at the core of an organism’s health and is affected during disease and ageing.

Understanding and harnessing the mechanisms that regulate the function of these stem cells has invaluable potential to be used in preventing and treating a vast number of diseases.

Our research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular processes that regulate somatic stem cell function and in particular how extrinsic systemic and local signals guide stem cell fate. We use the blood production (haematopoietic) system as our experimental model because a lot is known about how haematopoietic stem cells differentiate into the many different types of blood cells.

My group combines multiple, complementary expertise: advanced intravital and ex vivo microscopy, computational analysis, molecular profiling, in vivo assays and mathematical modelling. We aim to apply what we learn to developing interventions that will regulate the haematopoietic system and thus improve current treatments and prevent haematological and infectious disease.

In particular we work with multiple collaborators at the Crick to investigate the interactions between healthy and diseased haematopoiesis within the bone marrow microenvironment, the effect of infections on haematopoietic stem cells, and the local and systemic factors regulating haematopoietic stem cell function.