Acute Leukaemia

Research Leader: Associate Professor Richard D'Andrea

The major focus of the Acute Leukaemia group is to understand the mechanisms underlying normal blood cell growth and differentiation, and the changes associated with initiation and progression of leukaemia.

The group is using novel systems to dissect signalling pathways that control cytokine-induced cell survival, proliferation, differentiation and self-renewal. Aberrant cytokine receptor signalling occurs frequently in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and identification of key downstream events will allow development of targeted therapies with reduced toxicity. The group is also utilising molecular and proteomic approaches to identify factors that contribute to the therapeutic response and relapsed disease.

Myeloproliferative disease (MPD) occurs as a result of changes acquired in the haemopoietic stem cell compartment that induce aberrant growth factor responses and over-production of mature myeloid and erythroid cells. Through molecular and genetic cohort studies of patients with MPD we aim to understand the nature of the changes that are associated with disease initiation and long-term maintenance of disease in these patients.

The group is also collaborating with Associate Professor Simon Barry to investigate the mechanisms controlling the regulatory T cell lineage and with Associate Professor Andrew Zannetino to study molecular mechanisms that contribute to bone differentiation.

Research Priorities:

• Increase understanding of the changes that contribute to aberrant blood cell production and disease.
• Develop new approaches to diagnosis and therapy of blood diseases