Haematology: University of Cambridge

The University Department has four professors (AR Green, RJ Read, JP Allain and A Warren) and has an annual research spend of £3-4 million. There are strong links between the Addenbrooke's Department of Haematology and the University of Cambridge Department of Haematology with Professor Green acting as chairman of the former and head of the latter.

There are three research divisions all with particular strengths in molecular aspects of haematology:

• Stem cells/leukaemia:

  This division is based in the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. The division is focusing on the molecular regulation of haempoietic stem cells (Prof Green, Dr Göttgens and Dr Ottersbach) together with the molecular pathogenesis of malignancies and other disorders that arise from blood stem cells. These include the myeloproliferative disorders (Prof Green), acute leukaemia (Prof Warren, Dr Huntly) and bone marrow failure syndromes (Prof Warren). One of the strengths of the division is the way it is integrating diverse approaches including molecular approaches, cell biology, bioinformatics, transgenic technology and structural biology.

• Structural medicine/thrombosis:

  This is housed in the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research and focuses on structural approaches to inhibitors of thrombosis (Dr Huntington) and bacterial toxins (Professor Read).

• Transfusion medicine:

  This is based in the National Blood Service building on the Addenbrooke's Site. The research interests include blood borne viruses in the UK and sub-Saharan Africa (Prof Allain), diagnostics development for resource-limited settings (Dr Lee), platelet immunobiology and genetics (Dr Ouwehand), antibody engineering (Dr Ouwehand and Dr Williamson) and a Clinical Studies Unit (Dr Williamson)

Key research areas

• Haematopoietic stem cells (Prof AR Green, Dr B Göttgens, Dr K Ottersbach). Leukaemia and other haematological malignancies (Prof AR Green, Prof A Warren, Dr B Huntly). Bone marrow failure syndromes (Prof A Warren)
• Crystallographic structure and function of the serpin family of protease inhibitors (Dr J Huntington)
• Structural biology of medically relevant proteins and developments of crystallographic methods (Prof RJ Read)
• Pathogenesis and therapy of thrombosis (Dr T Baglin)
• Platelet genomics immunobiology and genetics, antibody structure and function (Dr W Ouwehand)
• Molecular and epidemiological virology (Prof JP Allain)
• Development of rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of infectious agents in resource-limited settings (Dr H Lee)
• Development of blood components, clinical studies and trials in transfusion medicine (Dr L Williamson)

Research collaborations

• Clinical departments in Addenbrooke's
• The Wellcome Trust/CR UK Gurdon Institute of Cancer and Developmental Biology, the Department of Biochemistry, the Department of Anatomy and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
• MRC Clinical Trials Unit