Lesley Forrester

Position:

Professor of Stem Cell Differentiation; Postgraduate Director CRM

Telephone:

0131 651 9500

Display email:

l.forrester@ed.ac.uk

Biography:

Professor of Stem Cell Differentiation, MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine (2012-present)
Reader, Centre for Inflammation Research (2007-2012
LRF Senior Lecturer, John Hughes Bennett Laboratory, University of Edinburgh (1998-2007)
MRC Senior Fellowship, Centre for Genome Research, University of Edinburgh (1993-1998)
EMBO Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Toronto, Canada (1989-1993)
ICRF Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh (1986-89)
PhD: University of Edinburgh (1986)

Additional publications:

Jackson, J., Axton, R.A., Taylor, H., Wilson, J.A., Gordon-Keylock, S.A.M., Kokkaliaris, K., Brickman, J., Schulz , H., Hummel, O., Hubner, N. & Forrester, L.M. (2012) HOXB4 can Enhance the Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells by Modulating the Haematopoietic Niche. Stem Cells, 30: 150-160.
Forrester, L & Jackson, M (2012). Mechanism of action of HOXB4 on the haematopoietic differentiation of embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells
Huang, C. Jackson, M., Samuel, K., Taylor, A.H., Lowell, S. & Forrester, L.M. (2013). Haematopoietic differentiation is inhibited when NOTCH activity is enhanced in FLK1+ mesoderm progenitors. Stem Cell Research 11: 1273-87.
Fraser, L., Taylor, A.H & Forrester, L.M. (2013) SCF/KIT inhibition has a cumulative, but reversible effect on the self-renewal of embryonic stem cells and on the survival of differentiating cells. Cellular Reprogramming. 15: 259-268.
Zhang, L., Pound, J.D., Willems, J., Forrester, L.M. & Gregory, C.D. (2012). Optimized production of pure populations of murine macrophages in vitro and application to studies of chemotaxis and apoptotic cell clearance. J. Immunol. 385:1-14.

Publications

2019

Genetic programming of macrophages generates an in vitro model for the human erythroid island niche. Lopez-Yrigoyen, Martha, Yang Cheng-Tao, Fidanza Antonella, Cassetta Luca, A Taylor Helen, McCahill Angela, Sellink Erica, Von Lindern Marieke, van den Akker Emile, Mountford Joanne C., et al. , Nat Commun, 2019 02 20, Volume 10, Issue 1, p.881, (2019)

Human Tumor-Associated Macrophage and Monocyte Transcriptional Landscapes Reveal Cancer-Specific Reprogramming, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Targets. Cassetta, Luca, Fragkogianni Stamatina, Sims Andrew H., Swierczak Agnieszka, Forrester Lesley M., Zhang Hui, Soong Daniel Y. H., Cotechini Tiziana, Anur Pavana, Lin Elaine Y., et al. , Cancer Cell, 2019 Mar 12, (2019)

2018

A human iPSC line capable of differentiating into functional macrophages expressing ZsGreen: a tool for the study and tracking of therapeutic cells. Lopez-Yrigoyen, Martha, Fidanza Antonella, Cassetta Luca, Axton Richard A., A Taylor Helen, Meseguer-Ripolles Jose, Tsakiridis Anestis, Wilson Valerie, Hay David C., Pollard Jeffrey W., et al. , Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 2018 Jul 05, Volume 373, Issue 1750, (2018)

2017

Injection of embryonic stem cell derived macrophages ameliorates fibrosis in a murine model of liver injury. Haideri, Sharmin S., McKinnon Alison C., A Taylor Helen, Kirkwood Phoebe, Lewis Philip J. Starkey, O'Duibhir Eoghan, Vernay Bertrand, Forbes Stuart J., and Forrester Lesley M. , NPJ Regen Med, 2017, Volume 2, p.14, (2017)

An all-in-one UniSam vector system for efficient gene activation. Fidanza, Antonella, Lopez-Yrigoyen Martha, Romanò Nicola, Jones Rhiannon, A Taylor Helen, and Forrester Lesley M. , Sci Rep, 2017 Jul 25, Volume 7, Issue 1, p.6394, (2017)

Injection of embryonic stem cell derived macrophages ameliorates fibrosis in a murine model of liver injury Haideri, Sharmin S., McKinnon Alison C., A. Taylor Helen, Kirkwood Phoebe, Lewis Philip J. Starkey, O'Duibhir Eoghan, Vernay Bertrand, Forbes Stuart J., and Forrester Lesley M. , npj Regenerative Medicine, Jan-12-2017, Volume 2201345340533010911011514617385458833621119117633130, Issue 1, (2017)

SplitAx: A novel method to assess the function of engineered nucleases. Axton, Richard A., Haideri Sharmin S., Lopez-Yrigoyen Martha, Taylor Helen A., and Forrester Lesley M. , PLoS One, 2017, Volume 12, Issue 2, p.e0171698, (2017)

2016

Enforced Expression of HOXB4 in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Enhances the Production of Hematopoietic Progenitors but Has No Effect on the Maturation of Red Blood Cells. Jackson, Melany, Ma Rui, A Taylor Helen, Axton Richard A., Easterbrook Jennifer, Kydonaki Maria, Olivier Emmanuel, Marenah Lamin, Stanley Edouard G., Elefanty Andrew G., et al. , Stem Cells Transl Med, 2016 Aug, Volume 5, Issue 8, p.981-90, (2016)

Activation of KLF1 Enhances the Differentiation and Maturation of Red Blood Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Yang, Cheng-Tao, Ma Rui, Axton Richard A., Jackson Melany, A Taylor Helen, Fidanza Antonella, Marenah Lamin, Frayne Jan, Mountford Joanne C., and Forrester Lesley M. , Stem Cells, 2017 Jan 19, (2016)

Concise review: programming human pluripotent stem cells into blood. Easterbrook, Jennifer, Fidanza Antonella, and Forrester Lesley M. , Br J Haematol, 2016 Mar 21, (2016)

Concise review: programming human pluripotent stem cells into blood Easterbrook, Jennifer, Fidanza Antonella, and Forrester Lesley M. , British Journal of Haematology, Jan-03-2016, p.n/a - n/a, (2016)

The European Hematology Association Roadmap for European Hematology Research. A Consensus Document. Engert, Andreas, Balduini Carlo, Brand Anneke, Coiffier Bertrand, Cordonnier Catherine, Döhner Hartmut, de Wit Thom Duyvene', Eichinger Sabine, Fibbe Willem, Green Tony, et al. , Haematologica, 2016 Jan 27, (2016)

2015

Conditional-ready mouse embryonic stem cell derived macrophages enable the study of essential genes in macrophage function Yeung, A. T. Y., Hale C., Xia J., Tate P. H., Goulding D., Keane J. A., Mukhopadhyay S., Forrester Lesley M., Billker O., Skarnes W. C., et al. , Scientific Reports, Oct-03-2015, Volume 5, p.8908, (2015)

Transcribed enhancers lead waves of coordinated transcription in transitioning mammalian cells Arner, E., Daub C. O., Vitting-Seerup K., Andersson R., Lilje B., Drablos F., Lennartsson A., Ronnerblad M., Hrydziuszko O., Vitezic M., et al. , Science, Mar-02-2017, Volume 347, Issue 6225, p.1010 - 1014, (2015)

A role for mospd1 in mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Kara, Madina, Axton Richard A., Jackson Melany, Ghaffari Sahar, Buerger Katrin, Watt Alistair J., A Taylor Helen, Orr Brigid, Hardy Winters R., Péault Bruno, et al. , Stem Cells, 2015 Jul 14, (2015)

2013

SCF/KIT inhibition has a cumulative but reversible effect on the self-renewal of embryonic stem cells and on the survival of differentiating cells. Fraser, Lindsay, A Taylor Helen, and Forrester Lesley M. , Cell Reprogram, 2013 Aug, Volume 15, Issue 4, p.259-68, (2013)

Haematopoietic differentiation is inhibited when Notch activity is enhanced in FLK1(+) mesoderm progenitors. Huang, Caoxin, Jackson Melany, Samuel Kay, A Taylor Helen, Lowell Sally, and Forrester Lesley M. , Stem Cell Res, 2013 Nov, Volume 11, Issue 3, p.1273-87, (2013)

Glucocorticoid receptor is required for foetal heart maturation. Rog-Zielinska, Eva A., Thomson Adrian, Kenyon Christopher J., Brownstein David G., Moran Carmel M., Szumska Dorota, Michailidou Zoi, Richardson Jennifer, Owen Elizabeth, Watt Alistair, et al. , Hum Mol Genet, 2013 Aug 15, Volume 22, Issue 16, p.3269-82, (2013)

2012

Pure populations of murine macrophages from cultured embryonic stem cells. Application to studies of chemotaxis and apoptotic cell clearance. Zhuang, Lihui, Pound John D., Willems Jorine J. L. P., A Taylor Helen, Forrester Lesley M., and Gregory Christopher D. , J Immunol Methods, 2012 Nov 30, Volume 385, Issue 1-2, p.1-14, (2012)

HOXB4 can enhance the differentiation of embryonic stem cells by modulating the hematopoietic niche. Jackson, Melany, Axton Richard A., A Taylor Helen, Wilson Julie A., Gordon-Keylock Sabrina, Kokkaliaris Konstantinos D., Brickman Joshua M., Schulz Herbert, Hummel Oliver, Hübner Norbert, et al. , Stem Cells, 2012 Feb, Volume 30, Issue 2, p.150-60, (2012)

Mechanism of action of HOXB4 on the hematopoietic differentiation of embryonic stem cells. Forrester, Lesley M., and Jackson Melany , Stem Cells, 2012 Mar, Volume 30, Issue 3, p.379-85, (2012)

Formation of embryoid bodies using dielectrophoresis. Agarwal, Sneha, Sebastian Anil, Forrester Lesley M., and Markx Gerard H. , Biomicrofluidics, 2012 Jun, Volume 6, Issue 2, p.24101-2410111, (2012)

2010

Induction of hematopoietic differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells by an AGM-derived stromal cell line is not further enhanced by overexpression of HOXB4. Gordon-Keylock, Sabrina, Jackson Melany, Huang Caoxin, Samuel Kay, Axton Richard A., Oostendorp Robert A. J., A Taylor Helen, Wilson Julie, and Forrester Lesley M. , Stem Cells Dev, 2010 Nov, Volume 19, Issue 11, p.1687-98, (2010)

The culture of mouse embryonic stem cells and formation of embryoid bodies. Jackson, Melany, A Taylor Helen, Jones Elizabeth A., and Forrester Lesley M. , Methods Mol Biol, 2010, Volume 633, p.1-18, (2010)

2009

The FunGenES database: a genomics resource for mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation. Schulz, Herbert, Kolde Raivo, Adler Priit, Aksoy Irène, Anastassiadis Konstantinos, Bader Michael, Billon Nathalie, Boeuf Hélène, Bourillot Pierre-Yves, Buchholz Frank, et al. , PLoS One, 2009, Volume 4, Issue 9, p.e6804, (2009)

Expression-independent gene trap vectors for random and targeted mutagenesis in embryonic stem cells. Tsakiridis, Anestis, Tzouanacou Elena, Rahman Afifah, Colby Douglas, Axton Richard A., Chambers Ian, Wilson Valerie, Forrester Lesley M., and Brickman Joshua M. , Nucleic Acids Res, 2009 Oct, Volume 37, Issue 19, p.e129, (2009)

2008

Efficient hematopoietic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells on stromal cells derived from hematopoietic niches. Ledran, Maria H., Krassowska Anna, Armstrong Lyle, Dimmick Ian, Renström Jonas, Lang Roland, Yung Sun, Santibanez-Coref Mauro, Dzierzak Elaine, Stojkovic Miodrag, et al. , Cell Stem Cell, 2008 Jul 3, Volume 3, Issue 1, p.85-98, (2008)

Aminopeptidase O contains a functional nucleolar localization signal and is implicated in vascular biology. Axton, Richard A., Wallis Julie A., A Taylor Helen, Hanks Mark, and Forrester Lesley M. , J Cell Biochem, 2008 Mar 1, Volume 103, Issue 4, p.1171-82, (2008)

2007

A novel triple fusion reporter system for use in gene trap mutagenesis. Tsakiridis, Anestis, Tzouanacou Elena, Larralde Osmany, Watts Tim M., Wilson Valerie, Forrester Lesley M., and Brickman Joshua M. , Genesis, 2007 Jun, Volume 45, Issue 6, p.353-60, (2007)

2006

The survival of differentiating embryonic stem cells is dependent on the SCF-KIT pathway. Bashamboo, Anu, A Taylor Helen, Samuel Kay, Panthier Jean-Jacque, Whetton Anthony D., and Forrester Lesley M. , J Cell Sci, 2006 Aug 1, Volume 119, Issue Pt 15, p.3039-46, (2006)

Promotion of haematopoietic activity in embryonic stem cells by the aorta-gonad-mesonephros microenvironment. Krassowska, Anna, Gordon-Keylock Sabrina, Samuel Kay, Gilchrist Derek, Dzierzak Elaine, Oostendorp Robert, Forrester Lesley M., and Ansell John D. , Exp Cell Res, 2006 Nov 1, Volume 312, Issue 18, p.3595-603, (2006)

A murine specific expansion of the Rhox cluster involved in embryonic stem cell biology is under natural selection. Jackson, Melany, Watt Alistair J., Gautier Philippe, Gilchrist Derek, Driehaus Johanna, Graham Gerard J., Keebler Jon, Prugnolle Franck, Awadalla Philip, and Forrester Lesley M. , BMC Genomics, 2006, Volume 7, p.212, (2006)

Deriving and identifying hepatocytes from embryonic stem cells. Watt, Alistair J., and Forrester Lesley M. , Stem Cell Rev, 2006, Volume 2, Issue 1, p.19-22, (2006)

2005

Bone marrow-derived SP cells can contribute to the respiratory tract of mice in vivo. Macpherson, Heather, Keir Pamela, Webb Sheila, Samuel Kay, Boyle Shelagh, Bickmore Wendy A., Forrester Lesley M., and Dorin Julia , J Cell Sci, 2005 Jun 1, Volume 118, Issue Pt 11, p.2441-50, (2005)

2004

A novel transmembrane MSP-containing protein that plays a role in right ventricle development. Pall, Gurman S., Wallis Julie, Axton Richard A., Brownstein David G., Gautier Philippe, Buerger Katrin, Mulford Christine, Mullins J J., and Forrester Lesley M. , Genomics, 2004 Dec, Volume 84, Issue 6, p.1051-9, (2004)

Severe global DNA hypomethylation blocks differentiation and induces histone hyperacetylation in embryonic stem cells. Jackson, Melany, Krassowska Anna, Gilbert Nick, Chevassut Timothy, Forrester Lesley M., Ansell John D., and Ramsahoye Bernard , Mol Cell Biol, 2004 Oct, Volume 24, Issue 20, p.8862-71, (2004)

2003

Human cord blood-derived cells can differentiate into hepatocytes in the mouse liver with no evidence of cellular fusion. Newsome, Philip N., Johannessen Ingolfur, Boyle Shelagh, Dalakas Evangelos, McAulay Karen A., Samuel Kay, Rae Frances, Forrester Lesley M., Turner Marc L., Hayes Peter C., et al. , Gastroenterology, 2003 Jun, Volume 124, Issue 7, p.1891-900, (2003)

Expression of a novel homeobox gene Ehox in trophoblast stem cells and pharyngeal pouch endoderm. Jackson, Melany, Baird Janet W., Nichols Jennifer, Wilkie Ron, Ansell John D., Graham Gerard J., and Forrester Lesley M. , Dev Dyn, 2003 Dec, Volume 228, Issue 4, p.740-4, (2003)

2002

Cloning and characterization of Ehox, a novel homeobox gene essential for embryonic stem cell differentiation. Jackson, Melany, Baird Janet W., Cambray Noemí, Ansell John D., Forrester Lesley M., and Graham Gerard J. , J Biol Chem, 2002 Oct 11, Volume 277, Issue 41, p.38683-92, (2002)

2001

A gene trap integration provides an early in situ marker for hepatic specification of the foregut endoderm. Watt, A J., Jones E A., Ure J M., Peddie Dianna, Wilson D I., and Forrester Lesley M. , Mech Dev, 2001 Feb, Volume 100, Issue 2, p.205-15, (2001)

1998

Gene trap integrations expressed in the developing heart: insertion site affects splicing of the PT1-ATG vector. McClive, P, Pall G, Newton K, Lee M, Mullins J J., and Forrester Lesley M. , Dev Dyn, 1998 Jun, Volume 212, Issue 2, p.267-76, (1998)

1996

A novel family of repeat sequences in the mouse genome responsive to retinoic acid. Sam, M, Wurst W, Forrester Lesley M., Vauti F, Heng H, and Bernstein A , Mamm Genome, 1996 Oct, Volume 7, Issue 10, p.741-8, (1996)

An induction gene trap screen in embryonic stem cells: Identification of genes that respond to retinoic acid in vitro. Forrester, Lesley M., Nagy Andras, Sam M, Watt A, Stevenson L, Bernstein A, Joyner A L., and Wurst W , Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1996 Feb 20, Volume 93, Issue 4, p.1677-82, (1996)

1995

The vav proto-oncogene is required early in embryogenesis but not for hematopoietic development in vitro. Zmuidzinas, A, Fischer K D., Lira S A., Forrester Lesley M., Bryant S, Bernstein A, and Barbacid M , EMBO J, 1995 Jan 3, Volume 14, Issue 1, p.1-11, (1995)

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