NEW PAPER AND JOB!
INVITED REVIEW: DESIALYLATION BY NEURAMINIDASES IN PLATELETS, KISS OF DEATH OR BITTERSWEET? OUT NOW
The invited review on the role of sialic acid (sugar or glycan) removing enzyme, neuraminidase, in platelets, is finally published in Current Opinion in Hematology! I wrote this together with my clinical colleague Dr. Nora Butta. Very proud of the end result with great cartoons also. Apart from clearance, loss of surface sialic acid from the platelet surface affects signaling including ligand binding and platelets procoagulant function. Platelets are also desialylated in bacterial or viral infections, during senescence, various mutations, platelet auto antibodies, hemostasis and shear stress. See here.
NEW RESEARCH ROLE!
I have just started a new role as researcher at the ANZAC Research Institute, where I return to my other passion: fundamental platelet science with a clinical link. I'll be working with A/Prof. Vivien Chen, and co-supervising a PhD student. I'll be working on a project studying the role of platelets in Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). MPN are cancers that start in the bone marrow, where all blood cells are made. MPN patients are prone to thrombosis (blood clots).
TEACHING AT UTS
March 2024
I have just started to teach Haematology-1 (part-time) at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Very excited to teach all the basics of the various blood cells, their morphology and blood disorders to the young blood!
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE
February 11, 2024
It is February 11 and International Day of Women and Girls in science. Sometimes I feel that only females in science care about women in science. There is still so much room for improvement and ALL should be involved. Some challenges are discussed in this paper also. Much bias against females (with and without children) exists and the general perception of their performance, also in research, as shown by the "leaky pipeline". Female researchers including myself have had less opportunities and are prone to bias, (sexual) haressment and/or academic bullying at work and/or congresses. Often it is hard to change the "old boys clubs". Diversity is crucial and luckily there is progress and international society boards and scientific journals are striving for more female members, editors, reviewers, and senior authors. The future is bright(er), do you participate? See more statistics in this paper.
VISITING PHD STUDENT!
February 5, 2024
PhD student Olga An from Carsten Deppermann's group, based at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, just finished her visit this week. After my lab visit to Mainz last year (see pic for Mainz goodies), I was very excited to host her in Sydney, teaching her all about platelet components for transfusion along with flow cytometry methods to measure platelet extracellular vesicles (EV). I look forward in collaborating with her and Carsten. For new and exciting results on EV and glycans (sugars), please stay tuned.
ARTICLES & AWARDS
DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ON COAGULATION (DIC)/BLEEDING—THE HEMOSTATIC BALANCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
Oct 18, 2023
Our Social media editorial is finally online here. We describe the social media journey of the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (JTH), starting with formerly known as Twitter, now X (@JTHJournal). The future of social media holds great potential for advancing scientific understanding and awareness, now also on LinkedIn. Follow us on both platforms and engage!
DEAN'S MERIT LIST FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Aug, 2023
My former Honours student Rita Solaka, has been awarded with the Dean's Merit List for Academic Excellence in Science from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). This price is designed to recognise the outstanding academic performance of science students from our undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
She worked on the project "the effect of NSAIDs on platelet function during storage". NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), e.g. aspirin or Ibuprofen, are inhibiting platelet function.
Together with her other supervisor, A/Prof. Valery Combes, we are really proud!
TRAVEL AWARD FOR PHD STUDENT
Aug, 2023
My PhD student Thomas Hueneburg has been awarded with a travel award from ANZSBT for the national congress #Blood2023. Very exciting to share our preliminary data on the interaction of cancer cells and transfused platelets.
MICROPARTICLES IN MAINZ
July, 2023
As part of a THANZ grant I received last year, I'll be visiting the lab of Carsten Deppermann in Mainz, Germany in the next few weeks! I'll be setting up protocols to measure platelet-derived microparticles (PMP) and study clearance markers.
Normally, platelets circulate in a non-activated state; however,
upon activation and during storage, (procoagulant) PMP are released into the circulation. PMP are crucial for coagulation and their clearance is
important to prevent vessel occlusion in healthy individuals. Enhanced PMP clearance
might be leading to reduced clinical effectiveness of platelet transfusions, while high numbers of procoagulant PMP might lead to thrombotic complications in patients.
NEWS ABOUT ISTH 2023!
PLATELET PHYSIOLOGY SSC UPDATE
April, 2023
The platelet surface contains many carbohydrates (glycans) which can be measured by glycan-binding lectins and flow cytometry.
As Co-chair of the Platelet Physiology SSC, I'll present an update on the new project, together with Herve Falet (USA) and Alexandre Kauskot (France).
Consensus protocol for quantification/detection of surface platelet glycans by using lectins
GLYCOMICS IN STORED PLATELETS
June, 2023
I'll be presenting my latest work on N-linked glycomics in stored platelets at the ISTH 2023 congress in Montreal. We found 118 unique N-glycans and now have very detailed structural information (e.g. linkage and relative quantitation) of a total of 15 donations. Moreover, we have extensively characterised platelet quality markers, response post-agonist and lectin binding.
This work was in collaboration with MSc student Jessica Halliday and A/Prof Daniel Kolarich (Griffith Institute, Sunshine Coast, QLD).
INVITED SPEAKER AT 2 CONGRESSES!
4TH AUSTRALASIAN GLYCOSCIENCE SYMPOSIUM & 9TH WARREN WORKSHOP FOR GLYCOANALYTICS
Oct, 2022
Am excited to be invited to speak at this glycomics congress. I'll be talking about how platelet attached sugars (glycans) affect their function and clearance in general and bleeding disorder ITP. I'll also summarise how glycans might affect the quality of the platelet components and implications in bleeding patients receiving platelets. See more information here. Cartoon by Claire Linnane.
ASH 2022
Oct, 2022
Am more than excited to speak at ASH 2022!!! I'll present the various platelet clearance mechanisms currently described in humans and in animal models. Also, I'll discuss the role of GPIb and platelet-attached carbohydrates in physiological clearance and (bleeding) disorders e.g. ITP. My latest findings on the effect of various donor attributes on the quality of platelet components and implications for platelet clearance and hemostatic efficiency post-transfusion will be shared also. (Cartoon by Claire Linnane).
BUSY WEEKS!
JTH IF INCREASED!!
July, 2022
At the recent ISTH 2022 congress, which I was able to attend FTF, we (EIC and all AE) celebrated the new Impact Factor of the journal of Thrombosis & Haemostasis: 16.04!!! I also presented the latest very positive statistics of JTH on Twitter and want to thank all our followers as well for their engagement! We gained ~5000 followers (~7500 in total) and had ~4 million impressions (3000/day), >1700 engagements/clicks per month.
RESEARCH GRANT THANZ
June, 2022
Platelets deteriorate progressively during storage, have a short shelf-life and release of platelet microparticles (PMP). PMP are crucial for coagulation and their clearance is important to prevent vessel occlusion in healthy individuals. I showed that the PMP surface contains many sugars as well which might affect platelet clearance. Enhanced PMP clearance might be leading to reduced clinical effectiveness of platelet transfusions, while high numbers of procoagulant PMP might lead to thrombotic complications in patients. With help of the THANZ S&E Trust Research funds, I will gain more knowledge about the clearance of PMP. This is in collaboration with Assoc/Prof. Carsten Deppermann, based in Mainz, Germany
RESEARCH GRANT ANZSBT
June, 2022
When platelets for transfusion are stored, they secrete immunomodulatory cytokines and mediators. Platelets can interact with cancer cells. Platelet transfusions are administered for treatment of bleeding in haematology/oncology patients. It is known that platelets can interact with cancer cells, affecting thrombosis and metastasis. This project will investigate these interactions. The funding I received from ANZSBT will be used as a one-year scholarship for PhD candidate Thomas Hueneburg. He has already started with his PhD in March 2021 and is currently enrolled part-time at the University of Sydney. With help from this fund and collaborator Prof. Chris Ward (Kolling Institute), Thomas is now able to continue working on this exciting project. (Cartoon by Claire Linnane).
BLOG WORKING ABROAD
July, 2022
I also wrote this blog about some lessons I learned (the good, bad and the ugly) about working abroad for the ISTH 2022 Congress Daily Highlights. Check out other great articles here also!
NEW HONOURS STUDENT!
Feb 21, 2022
A new Honours student (from UTS) has started with us! Her name is Rita Solaka and she will work on the project: the effect of NSAIDs and paracetamol on platelets during storage. We are very excited to continue with this project, started years ago by summer student Ben Driver.
OTHER NEWS
CO-CHAIR PLATELET PHYSIOLOGY ISTH SSC
Am recently appointed as co-chair for the ISTH SSC on Platelet physiology. I'm excited to be involved in projects around Transfusion Medicine. The subcommittee is focused on all aspects of the biology and function of platelets and their role in thrombosis, haemostasis and normal physiology. The SSC incorporates haematologists, cardiologists, laboratory scientists, health professionals and academics.
11 YEARS POST PHD! (BLOG)
Nov 26, 2010, is forever engrained in my memory. Wow, 11 years has passed so quickly! Thinking back with very fond memories of that day I “married science” (side note: it truly was like a marriage: reception, diner and party with all my family and friends!). I can also vividly remember writing a card to myself with my 1-, 5- and 10-years goals in one of the career workshops: some of these came to fruition, some did not. 11 years, the good, bad and the ugly. During my 21 years of working in science (in and outside the lab) I think I’ve experienced it all.
The good: from collaborative inspiring research environment and colleagues at the UMC Utrecht, applying for a patent for a new diagnostic tool for a bleeding disorder, teaching young academics, networking with old and new international colleagues, being part of the great ISTH family with my social media role for the JTH journal, having fruitful discussions at congresses, the high of publishing papers and receiving fellowships and awards.
The bad: not obtaining grant funding time and time again, leaving me unemployed for a while, and ‘forced’ me to work outside of research for 3+ years. Not being able to work as much due to my chronic digestive illness. More current: the lab shutdowns and not able to network FTF or seeing overseas family for a long time due to COVID19.
The ugly: ‘fighting’ with editors to get our work published, authorship disputes, the loneliness of working in a foreign country with different cultures and the bullying.
In conclusion, I’m forever grateful to the path my PhD gave me and the lessons it’s taught me. Am looking forward to what’s next in store, exciting times ahead!
THANZ CONFERENCE GRANT FOR #BLOOD2021
Sept, 2021
Am honoured to have received a conference grant from THANZ to attend #Blood2021 See the program here. The work I'm presenting is on the effect of lipaemic plasma (abnormally high concentrations of emulsified fat in the blood) on platelets during storage. Platelets stored in severely lipaemic plasma have lower expression of platelet adhesion receptors, mitochondrial dysfunction and respond less to agonists.
ISTH 2021 AMBASSADOR!
July, 2021
#ISTH2021 meeting will be virtual this year. Follow us on Twitter for all updates in the thrombosis and haemostasis field!
NEW PHD STUDENT
March, 2021
Very excited that my 1st PhD student, Thomas Hueneburg, has started. Together we'll embark on a very interesting new project which might have important implications for platelet recipients, e.g. cancer patients.