The research in my lab primarily focuses on processes involved in blood cell production (haematopoiesis). All blood cells are formed from haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are capable of either self-renewing (to make more HSCs) or differentiating into mature blood cell types – each HSC makes hundreds of thousands of blood cells. HSCs are finely regulated, and problems in the regulation of HSCs can lead to haematopoietic diseases (such as leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes) or blood cell exhaustion.
Research in my laboratory is focused on understanding how HSCs are regulated, and determining the roles of the bone marrow microenvironment (where blood cells are made) in regulating haemopoietic diseases, including leukaemia. Of major interest are the roles of the receptors for vitamin A (retinoic acid receptors, RARs) in these processes.
Our approaches include the use of different mouse knockout models, stem and progenitor cell assays, including bone marrow transplantation studies and ex vivo culture methods, imaging analyses of bone marrow microenvironment cells, gene transduction, FACS-based methods for sorting and analysis, analysis of gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR and gene profiling studies.
Key achievements
2023 International Society for Experimental Hematology Award for Leadership in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
2023 Member, Scientific Program Committee, International Society for Experimental Hematology; Member, ASH Committee for Scientific Affairs
2022 McCulloch and Till Award, International Society for Experimental Hematology
2022 Chair, ASH Scientific Committee on Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
2021 Vice Chair, ASH Scientific Committee on Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
2020-current Associate Editor, Experimental Hematology
2018-current Associate Editor, StemJournal
2017-current Member, Editorial Board, Experimental Hematology
2017-2022 Member, American Society of Hematology (ASH) Scientific Committee on Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
2016 SVI Foundation Award
2016-current Member, Editorial Board, Scientific Reports
2015-current Member, Standing Research Subcommittee, Cancer Council Victoria
2014-current Member, Editorial Board, PLoS One
2011-2015 NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship
2010-2013 Director, ISEH Society for Experimental Hematology
2008-2010 NHMRC Career Development Award, Level 2
1999-2002 Special Fellowship, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America
1993-1994 Postgraduate Bursary, The British Council
Selected publications
Purton LE. Adult murine hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors: an update on their identities, functions and assays. Exp Hematol 2022 116:1-14
Walkley CR, Olsen GH, Dworkin S, Fabb SA, Swann J, McArthur GA, Westmoreland SV, Chambon P, Scadden DT, Purton LE. A microenvironment-induced myeloproliferative syndrome caused by retinoic acid receptor g deficiency. Cell 2007, 129:1097-1110. Doi:10.1016/j.cell.2007.05.2014
Purton LE, Scadden DT. Limiting factors in murine hematopoietic stem cell assays. Cell Stem Cell 2007; 1:263-270. DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2007.08.016
Purton LE, Dworkin S, Olsen GH, Walkley CR, Fabb SA, Collins SJ, Chambon P. RARg is critical for maintaining a balance between hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. J Exp Med 2006; 203:1283-1293. DOI: 10.1084/jem.2005
Purton LE, Bernstein ID, Collins SJ. All-trans retinoic acid enhances the maintenance of long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells. Blood 2000; 95:470-477.
Purton LE, Bernstein ID, Collins SJ. All-trans retinoic acid delays the differentiation of primitive hematopoietic precursors (lin- c-kit+ Sca-1+) while enhancing the terminal maturation of committed granulocyte/monocyte progenitors. Blood 1999; 94:483-495.
ORCID profile: 0000-0001-6593-3168
Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=en&user=RXmsf-kAAAAJ