Our Research

Seedhouse Lab

The Seedhouse lab focuses on mechanisms of drug action and resistance in blood cancers, including acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), multiple myeloma and lymphoma. Projects include targeting dormant cells in blood cancers, targeting Bcl2 family members in AML and myeloma, NPM as a therapeutic target in AML, identifying mechanisms of pathogenic mutations in lymphoma and studying the response of AML and myeloma cells to novel therapeutic drugs. Research is funded by peer-reviewed grants from national and local charities and industrial support resulting in a solid publication track record in high-quality peer-reviewed journals with a number of highly cited (>100 citations) papers.

Thompson Lab

The Thompson lab has an established interest in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, and in the role of developmental genes, primarily HOX genes, and has published widely on their importance in normal and malignant blood cell formation. Most recently his group identified dependency of Mixed Lineage Leukaemia on the HOXA cluster and in addition, candidate pathways and potential targets associated with this dependency. Recently, in Nottingham, the group have been identifying drugs for repurposing in AML in both traditional 2D and hydrogel based 3D model systems and generated novel advanced models of blood cell formation from induced pluripotent stem cells in which HOXA9 expression can be modified and traced.

Current and Recent Funding

Little Princess Trust. (2024-2027). Identification and modelling therapy related childhood leukaemia. PI

Little Princess Trust. (2020-2024). Targeting refractory and dormant stem cells in childhood leukaemia. PI

Nottinghamshire Leukaemia Appeal Betty Barton Studentship. (2019 – 2023). Targeting refractory stem cells in acute leukaemia). PI

Nottinghamshire Leukaemia Appeal (2019 – 2023). Targeting dormant cells in acute myeloid leukaemia. Co-I

Kellaway Lab

The Kellaway lab is interested in studying how gene regulation goes awry in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, and whether this can be therapeutically targeted. She has shown a role for mis-expressed signalling genes in stimulating growth and potential relapse of leukaemic stem cells which can be targeted by repurposed monoclonal antibodies. Novel biochemical mechanisms for RUNX1 translocation and point mutation oncoproteins in driving AML led to the award of a Leukaemia UK John Goldman Fellowship looking into how different kinds of RUNX1 mutation drive AML. Going forward we are working towards elucidating how specific differences in gene regulation in AML resulting from driver mutations gives opportunities for precision haematology i.e. more effective and kinder treatments.

Current and Recent Funding

CCLG: The Children & Young People’s Cancer Association (2026-2027). Depleting leukaemic stem cells with repurposed immunotherapy to prevent relapse. PI.

Cancer Research UK (2026-2029). Detecting and targeting translation inhibitor sensitive RUNX1 mutations in chronic myeloid leukaemia. Co-investigator, project led by Dr Rhys Morgan.

Medical Research Council New Investigator Research Grant (2025-2028). Understanding Acute Myeloid Leukaemia stem cell growth: Prediction and prevention of relapse. PI. Collaboration with Rarity Bioscience.

Leukaemia UK John Goldman Fellowship (2024-2026). Understanding functional heterogeneity in RUNX1-mutated Acute Myeloid Leukaemia to improve treatment stratification and identify new therapeutic targets. PI.

Leukaemia and Myeloma Research UK (2024-2026). Investigating DNA damage accumulation in Leukaemic Stem Cells. PI.