Dr Mary Clarke PhD

Dr Mary Clarke

Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences
Teaching Fellow in Stem Cell Biology

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 414 6812
Email
m.l.clarke@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences
College of Dental and Medical Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT

Mary Clarke is a stem cell researcher with a primary interest in haematopoietic stem cell regulation, and more recently in stem cells of the skin. She co-authored a major textbook on stem cell biology that was published in 2020 that has led to a keen interest in integrating more stem cell biology into the curriculum here at the University of Birmingham. In addition to stem cell biology, Mary has a keen interest in education enhancement and is now a Teaching Fellow in the School of Biomedical Sciences.

Qualifications

  • Teaching Fellow in Stem Cell Biology
  • PhD in Stem Cell Biology, University of Birmingham, 2009
  • BSc (Hons) in Animal Biology, University of Birmingham, 2003

Biography

Stem cells are the most important cell type in our body. They are responsible for the production of most cells in our tissues. Mary Clarke’s research has centred around these important cells, in particular focusing on the haematopoietic stem cell (HSC). Her work involves the isolation of the rarest sub-population called the apex long-term HSC, and subsequently deducing what maintains these rare cells in our bone marrow. Through the genetic manipulation of regulator proteins, she has determined an important role for immune regulatory proteins in the maintenance of apex LT-HSC. 

Through her research on HSC, Mary identified that similar regulator proteins play an important role in the maintenance of the stem cell populations resident in the skin and has since undertaken preliminary research in this exciting new field.

Her interest in stem cells does not stop with these two tissues. Over the course of 7 years, Mary co-authored a text book on stem cell biology. This book not only addresses stem cells in the biomedical field, but also focuses on the less well-known aspects of stem cell biology such as in natural regeneration in the animal kingdom, through to stem cell function in plants. During the writing of this stem cell text book, it became clear to her that there was a significant gap in the curriculum with regards to stem cell biology, and thus set out to fill this with the establishment of a new stem cell module for Year 3 Biomedical Science undergraduate students. Her ultimate aim is to integrate stem cell biology further within the University, with the establishment of a MSc course in stem cell biology and the development of CPD opportunities to elicit interest in those who want to know a little more about this fascinating and critical cell type.

Teaching

In addition, she teaches on numerous other modules of the Biomedical Science programme and provides research projects within our stem cell laboratory.

Postgraduate supervision

Mary is responsible for the supervision of multiple PhD students.

Research

Research interests

Haematopoietic stem cells and skin stem cell regulation by the transcription factor MYB.

Other activities

Mary is an active member of the nationwide STEM Ambassador programme, with a particular passion for inspiring science in Key Stage 1-3 in schools across the country.

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Volpe, G, Cauchy, P, Walton, DS, Ward, C, Blakemore, D, Bayley, R, Clarke, ML, Schmidt, L, Nerlov, C, Garcia, P, Dumon, S, Grebien, F & Frampton, J 2019, 'Dependence on Myb expression is attenuated in myeloid leukaemia with N-terminal CEBPA mutations', Life Science Alliance, vol. 2, no. 2, e201800207. https://doi.org/10.26508/lsa.201800207

Clarke, M, Volpe, G, Sheriff, L, Walton, D, Ward, C, Wei, W, Dumon, S, Garcia, P & Frampton, J 2016, 'Transcriptional regulation of SPROUTY 2 by MYB influences myeloid cell proliferation and stem cell properties by enhancing responsiveness to IL-3', Leukemia. https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2016.289

Volpe, G, Clarke, M, Garcìa, P, Walton, DS, Vegiopoulos, A, Del Pozzo, W, O’neill, LP, Frampton, J & Dumon, S 2015, 'Regulation of the Flt3 gene in haematopoietic stem and early progenitor cells', PLoS ONE, vol. 10, no. 9, e0138257. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0138257

Ross, EA, Flores-langarica, A, Bobat, S, Coughlan, RE, Marshall, J, Hitchcock, JR, Cook, CN, Carvalho Gaspar, M, Mitchell, AM, Clarke, M, Garcia, P, Cobbold, M, Mitchell, TJ, Henderson, IR, Jones, ND, Anderson, G, Buckley, CD & Cunningham, AF 2014, 'Resolving Salmonella infection reveals dynamic and persisting changes in murine bone marrow progenitor cell phenotype and function', European Journal of Immunology, vol. 44, no. 8, pp. 2318-2330. https://doi.org/10.1002/eji.201344350

Garcia, P, Clarke, M, Vegiopoulos, A, Berlanga, O, Camelo, A, Lorvellec, M & Frampton, J 2009, 'Reduced c-Myb activity compromises HSCs and leads to a myeloproliferation with a novel stem cell basis.', The EMBO journal, vol. 28, no. 10, pp. 1492-504. https://doi.org/10.1038/emboj.2009.97

View all publications in research portal