
Stem Cell Ageing and Cancer
Dr Kristina Kirschner
- Senior Lecturer (Paul O'Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre)
Biography
Kristina received her Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh characterising one of the first premature ageing mouse models. Her interest in ageing and cancer continued throughout her postdoc at the CRUK Cambridge Institute and at the Department of Haematology at the University of Cambridge, where she worked on the functional genomics of p53 in senescence and on haematopoietic stem cell ageing using single cell approaches. Kristina recently moved to the Institute of Cancer Sciences at the University of Glasgow, continuing her work in age-related haematopoietic stem cell heterogeneity and clonal hameopoiesis as a junior group leader. Another focus in the lab continues to be senescence heterogeneity. Kristina also runs the single cell advanced technologies for the Institute of Cancer Sciences.
LEUKA John Goldman Fellow 2019-2021
EHA-ASH TRTH Training Fellowship 2018
Research interests
Kristina is interested in the interplay between stem cell ageing and cancer, using a variety of model systems.
Current research themes are:
- Elucidating heterogeneity in the ageing haematopoietic stem cell compartment
We combine single cell omics and metabolomics approaches to interrogate properties of aged haematopoietic stem cells in vitro and in vivo in normal haemopoiesis and myeloproliferative disease context.
- Exploring secondary senescence pathways in vitro and in vivo
By using co-culture in vitro approaches and advanced mouse models of secondary senescence, we aim to define functional differences between primary and secondary senescence.
Grants
Grants and Awards listed are those received whilst working with the University of Glasgow.
- Mechanobiology-based medicine
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
2021 - 2022
- How do senescent stromal cells subvert the treatment response in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
Medical Research Council
2021 - 2024
- Dissecting innate immune determinants of severity and resolution in a longitudinal study of COVID-19
UK Research and Innovation
2020 - 2022
- Identifying metabolic vulnerabilities in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Endowment Funds
2020 - 2021
- Single cell transcriptome and protein BM niche profiling with CITE-seq in CML disease progression
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Endowment Funds
2020 - 2021
- What is the role of secondary senescence in disease? Elucidating the role of notch signalling in secondary senescence
Academy of Medical Sciences
2020 - 2022
- Early detection of pre-leukaemic clones in the aged haematopoietic compartment using single cell approaches
Leuka
2019 - 2021
- Elucidating metabolomics changes in myeloproliferative neoplasms
Tenovus Scotland
2019 - 2020
- heterotypic intercellular ERBB signalling in early progression of KRAS LuAd
Cancer Research UK
2019 - 2022
- Defining Epigenetic age as a novel tool for cancer grading
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
2019 - 2019
- Eradication of the Leukaemic Clone in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
University of Manchester
2018 - 2022
- Support for Epigenetics research
Medical Research Council
2017 - 2017
- Fellowship Award:Elucidating the response of the aged transcriptome and genome to oncogenic stress in haematopoietic stem cells using single cell approaches
Wellcome Trust
2016 - 2018
Supervision
Kristina currently supervises Ph.D. students and M.Sc. students in the lab.
Teaching
Kristina currently teaches on the M.Sc. Cancer Research & Precision Oncology programme.