Adam MacLean

 
 

I am a BBSRC funded PhD student supervised by Professor Michael Stumpf and Dr Cristina Lo Celso. In 2009 I graduated with a first class BSc degree from the University of Edinburgh in Mathematical Physics. In 2010 I completed the MSc degree in Bioinformatics and Theoretical Systems Biology at Imperial College London, graduating with distinction.

 
 

My work is centred around the biology of stem cells and their niche (microenvironment). I undertake this investigation using statistical and computational methodology. By image processing and analysis I aim to automate the identification and interpretation of stems cells within their niche in response to the different signals they receive, particularly from osteoblasts.

Spatio-temporal dynamical models enable the elucidation of aspects of stem cell behaviour, such as control over cell fate choices and competition within the stem cell niche. New statistical methods are required in order to deal with high dimensional parameter spaces and characterise model behaviours globally in solution space.

Biologically, I am especially interested in the competition between healthy haematopoietic stem cells and those which have mutated into cancer stem cells with the potential to develop into leukaemia. By developing models of this system, I aim to discover new ways to combat the disease.

Publications

Population dynamics of normal and leukaemia stem cells in the haematopoietic stem cell niche show distinct regimes where leukaemia will be controlled
MacLean AL, Lo Celso C, Stumpf, MPH
J R Soc Interface, 2013. 10: 20120968. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2012.0968

Oral Communications

  • “Population dynamics of normal and leukaemia stem cells in the haematopoietic stem cell niche”
    MASAMB (Mathematical and Statistical Aspects of Molecular Biology)
    Berlin, Germany, April 2012.

Poster presentations

  • “Dynamics of haematopoiesis: strategies for eradicating leukaemia from the niche”
    International Congress on Stem Cells and Tissue Formation
    Dresden, Germany, July 2012.
  • “Population dynamics of healthy and leukaemia stem cells in the haematopoietic stem cell niche”
    JST/BBSRC Molecular Imaging and Systems Biology
    Tokyo, Japan, January 2012.
  • “Modelling the haematopoietic stem cell niche with simple dynamical models of competition”
    ENFIN Enabling Systems Biology
    UCL, London, UK, April 2011.