Dr Maarten Hoogenkamp

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Our research focuses on the dynamic interplay between transcription factor complexes and the chromatin, how this regulates cellular identity during differentiation, and how these interactions change during cancerogenesis. This is in particular studied within the context of the haematopoietic system. In addition to this, we have a drug discovery project, were we are developing inhibitors to an amino acid transporter that is essential for the proliferation of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia cells.

Research Groups

Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Supportive, inclusive, outcome-orientated.

Provision of Training

Training will be provided by myself and experienced lab members, where we always perform techniques together for the first time, leading to independence at the pace you feel comfortable with.

Progression Monitoring and Management

We will have weekly meetings to stay up to date. I am normally present at any time for guidance and trouble shooting. Through regular communication, we align our expectations of progression, as experiments can go slower or faster than originally planned and can provide unanticipated results.

Communication

Generally, we keep a high level of communication within my research group. My door is always open for any chats about the project or other issues that may pop up. I advocate a healthy work/life balance and think that providing a positive working atmosphere supports increased efficiency.

Meetings

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per week. These meetings will be face-to-face. I am usually contactable for an instant response on every working day.

Work Patterns

Work in my lab requires being present on site (be it in a laboratory or at a field site) during the core hours of 10am - 3pm Monday to Friday (or a subset if working part time). This enables communication and working together within the team, particularly within the first year. If necessary and communicated, there can be a lot of flexibility in this.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 1 week's notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5,000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

Decoding the Role of PHF6 in Early Blood Cell Development

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Decoding the Role of PHF6 in Early Blood Cell Development

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Vesna Stanulovic

University of Registration: University of Birmingham

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Systems Biology)

Project Outline

We study the early haematopoietic development with a special interest in LMO2, a transcriptional regulator that is a crucial component of DNA binding complexes (PMID 28973433, 26108219). We identified PHF6 as a new interacting partner of the LMO2 complex (PMID 40637766). The function of PHF6 is currently unclear, as several studies indicate different roles in different systems. Using in vitro mouse ES cell differentiation, we established that PHF6 knockout cells cannot differentiate into the mesoderm and haematopoietic lineage, and that the cells exhibit chromosomal instability. This project will investigate the role of PHF6-LMO2 interaction during early haematopoietic differentiation and more specifically:

1. What causes the developmental block seen in PHF6 knock out cells?

2. What causes the observed genomic instability?

3. How is this linked to the LMO2 complex?

To address the above questions, we will use two systems of ES cell differentiation and several already engineered ES cell lines, including the knockouts, PHF6-GFP and LMO2-TdTomato tracker and Degron-tagged lines. We will utilise gastruloid cultures, a recent advance in developmental research (PMID 33340359), which offers culturing cells in a more natural context, as neighbouring cells with different cell fates can send signals to each other. This will enable us to identify which cell types or stages are affected by the absence of PHF6 and LMO2, using immunofluorescent staining and confocal microscopy, live-cell microscopy, as well as single cell assays of isolated cell populations, such as karyotyping to investigate the genome. For mechanistic studies, haemangioblasts, which give rise to blood cells, will be purified and further differentiated to generate sufficient numbers for genome wide studies, such as RNAseq, chromatin accessibility and ChIPseq.

The results we obtain will greatly increase our understanding of how PHF6 is involved in haematopoietic development, genome stability and epigenetics.

APPLY HERE