Mhairi Copland is Professor of Translational Haematology and Director of the Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre, within the School of Cancer Sciences at the University of Glasgow. The Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre is co-located with the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre on the Gartnavel Hospital Campus in Glasgow, enabling truly translational research. Mhairi’s research interests are in the fields of clinical trials for leukaemia and laboratory studies of targeting stem cells in both acute and chronic myeloid leukaemias. In addition to her research, Mhairi is an honorary consultant at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, supporting the Myeloid and Teenage and Young Adults with Cancer services as well as the Clinical Research Unit. She is also enthusiastic about supporting and mentoring early career researchers with an interest in laboratory research and clinical trials, public and patient involvement and engagement in clinical trials and research, aa well as improving clinical trial design and delivery.
Mhairi has led/co-led a number of pivotal clinical trials for myeloid leukaemias. Recent trials completed include the MATCHPOINT clinical trial combining ponatinib with conventional chemotherapy in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), the DESTINY clinical trial, assessing reducing therapy in CML prior to stopping treatment completely and the LI-1 clinical trial, evaluating novel therapies in elderly patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Mhairi is currently working with UK-wide clinical trials teams to deliver other new and innovative studies for both CML and AML patients.
The hypothesis which Mhairi’s lab is focussed on is that leukaemia stem cells utilise multiple molecular pathways within the cell, together with microenvironmental and immune cell interactions to evade current therapies. Therefore, the identification of clinically relevant targets on leukaemia stem cells is likely to lead to improved therapies for patients with myeloid leukaemias in the future. Current research programmes aim to investigate: (1) mechanisms of resistance in leukaemic stem cells, including in blast phase CML; (2) the role of the Hedgehog pathway, cell cycle, intrinsic apoptotic pathways and novel therapies in myeloid leukaemias; (3) biomarkers of successful treatment cessation in CML; and (4) using novel in vitro models to study the bone marrow niche and develop new diagnostic tools for leukaemia.
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Over many years, Mhairi has seen the huge impact the close relationship between the Howat Foundation and the Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre has had in delivering state-of-the art leukaemia research and enabling the University of Glasgow to be a world-leader in leukaemia research, with frequent invited presentations at international conferences and publications in well-respected science journals. Everyone at the Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre is very grateful for the ongoing support from the Howat Foundation. This has allowed us to realise the purchase of innovative technologies such as the FACSAria Cell sorter and Fluidigm Biomark, capable of single cell molecular profiling, support of staff salaries, start-up funds for our recently appointed senior clinical research fellow, and a range of genomic projects covering several types of leukaemia, including CML, AML, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The Howat Foundation also co-funds the Professor Tessa Holyoake Endowment Fund Travel Awards and Small Project Awards which support early career researchers to attend conferences or training course and develop their own research ideas. In conclusion, the generous funding from the Howat Foundation to the Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre has provided vital support, enabling us to flourish as world-leading cancer researchers and also develop the leukaemia research leaders of the future.
