Bethan Psaila

Our research focuses on two broad areas – (1) the cell biology and nuclear dynamics of megakaryocytes and platelets, and (2) identifying targetable mechanisms of progression for patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

Megakaryocytes are one of the largest and rarest cells in the human body – with a giant cell size and massive, polyploid nucleus. This confers impressive synthetic capacity – and a handful of megakaryocytes release billions of tiny platelets into our bloodstream every day. Platelets, in contrast to their parent megs, have no nucleus at all. One current research project in this area focuses on how physiological megakaryocytes tolerate successive rounds of whole genome duplication, and the implications of this for their genome stability. Another is exploring our recent discovery that despite lacking a nucleus, platelets contain a repertoire of DNA fragments, acquired during circulation by ‘hoovering up’ cell free DNA shed by nucleated cells – including cancer cell-derived and free fetal DNA

Megakaryocytes, along with related cells, are major contributors to the disease features and progression of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) – chronic blood cancers occurring in around 4000 people in the UK each year. We focus on how megakaryocytes interact with MPN stem cells and the bone marrow stroma to drive progression to advanced-stage MPN, in particular myelofibrosis. We have developed and implement novel human complex tissue systems, iPSC models and in vivo models to explore this, and are interested in utilising these to understand how the tumour microenvironment fuels progression and may limit the efficacy of targeted therapies – in particular immunotherapies.

In the clinic, I care for patients with MPNs, leading a small portfolio of clinical trials with a focus on immunotherapies. I am Deputy Chair/Chair Elect of the Blood Cancer UK Research Network MPN Subgroup and actively contribute to local and national treatment guidelines, patient forums and priority setting workshops. 

I trained at Clare College, Cambridge, Imperial College London/The Hammersmith Hospital, Cornell, New York, and the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda USA.

I am also a Senior Fellow of New College, Oxford, recruiting and overseeing admissions and clinical training of ~20 medical students per year (years 4-6).