Newcastle University

Introduction

main research interests:

1. understanding the role of signalling pathways and transcription factors in the maintenance of pluripotency in human ESC and human iPSC
2. differentiation of human ESC and human iPSC  to haematopoietic and retinal lineages

3. limbal stem cell characterisation and transplantation
5. cell cyle regulation and DNA damage response in human ESC and iPSC

Roles and Responsibilities

Since my employement at Newcastle University I have set up my own research group which is composed of five PhD students, five Postdoctoral researchers and one technician.

Qualifications

PhD in Human Genetics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, 1998

MSc in Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, UK 1993

BSc (Hon) Degree in Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Tirana, Albania, 1992

Previous Positions

02.2003 - 10/2004 Lecturer in STem Cell Sciences, University of Newcastle
09/1998 - 01/2003 Senior Research Associate, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Durham

03/1994 – 09/1998 Junior Research Associate, Department of Human Genetics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

Memberships

Society for Developmental Biology
International Society of Stem Cells

Research Roles

Group Leader

Postgraduate Supervision

supervising 5 PhD students

Esteem Indicators

1.serve as associate editor of Regenerative Medicine journal (2005 to date)
2. serve as panel member for CGD TRUST (2005- to date)
3. been invited to give lectures to Gordon Conference (2004) and several Universities in UK and abroad
4. served as external referee for MRC, BBSRC, Wellcome Trust, A star, Inserm
5. served as scientific director for the British Council Workshop "Stem Cells: from benchside to therapy", January 2007
5. served as external referee for Stem Cells, Journal of Molecular Endocrinology and Journal of Clinical Medicien

• Neganova I, Vilella F, Atkinson SP, Lloret M, Passos JF, von Zglinicki T, O'Connor JE, Burks D, Jones R, Armstrong L, Lako M. An Important Role for CDK2 in G1 to S Checkpoint Activation and DNA Damage Response in Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cells 2011, 29(4), 651-659.
• Collin J, Lako M. Concise Review: Putting a Finger on Stem Cell Biology: Zinc Finger Nuclease-Driven Targeted Genetic Editing in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cells 2011, 29(7), 1021-1033.
• Tilgner K, Atkinson SP, Yung S, Golebiewska A, Stojkovic M, Moreno R, Lako M, Armstrong L. Expression of GFP Under the Control of the RNA Helicase VASA Permits Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting Isolation of Human Primordial Germ Cells. Stem Cells 2010, 28(1), 84-92.
• Armstrong L, Tilgner K, Saretzki G, Atkinson SP, Stojkovic M, Moreno R, Przyborski S, Lako M. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines Show Stress Defense Mechanisms and Mitochondrial Regulation Similar to Those of Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cells 2010, 28(4), 661-673.
• Lako M, Armstrong L, Stojkovic M. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells : It Looks Simple but Can Looks Deceive?. Stem Cells 2010, 28(5), 845-850.
• Yang CB, Atkinson SP, Vilella F, Lloret M, Armstrong L, Mann DA, Lako M. Opposing Putative Roles for Canonical and Noncanonical NF kappa B Signaling on the Survival, Proliferation, and Differentiation Potential of Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cells 2010, 28(11), 1970-1980.
• Zhang X, Neganova I, Przyborski S, Yang CB, Cooke M, Atkinson SP, Anyfantis G, Fenyk S, Keith WN, Hoare SF, Hughes O, Strachan T, Stojkovic M, Hinds PW, Armstrong L, Lako M. A role for NANOG in G1 to S transition in human embryonic stem cells through direct binding of CDK6 and CDC25A. Journal of Cell Biology 2009, 184(1), 67-82.
• Lako M, Daher S. Balancing Work and Life: Finding Our Inspirations. Stem Cells 2009. Durham, NC: Alphamed Press, 27(4), 761-761.
• Golebiewska A, Atkinson SP, Lako M, Armstrong L. Epigenetic Landscaping During hESC Differentiation to Neural Cells. Stem Cells 2009, 27(6), 1298-1308.
• Neganova I, Zhang X, Atkinson S, Lako M. Expression and functional analysis of G1 to S regulatory components reveals an important role for CDK2 in cell cycle regulation in human embryonic stem cells. Oncogene 2009, 28(1), 20-30.
• Lako M, Neganova I, Armstrong L. G(1) to S transition and pluripotency Two sides of the same coin?. Cell Cycle 2009. Austin, Texas, USA:Landes Bioscience,8 8 1108-1109.
• Yang C, Przyborski S, Cooke MJ, Zhang X, Stewart R, Anyfantis G, Atkinson SP, Saretzki GC, Armstrong L, Lako M. A key role for telomerase reverse transcriptase unit in modulating human embryonic stem cell proliferation, cell cycle dynamics, and in vitro differentiation. Stem Cells 2008, 26(4), 850-863.
• Ahmad S, Kolli S, Li DQ, de Paiva CS, Pryzborski S, Dimmick I, Armstrong L, Figueiredo FC, Lako M. A putative role for RHAMM/HMMR as a negative marker of stem cell-containing population of human limbal epithelial cells. Stem Cells 2008, 26(6), 1609-1619.
• Maimets T, Neganova I, Armstrong L, Lako M. Activation of p53 by nutlin leads to rapid differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. Oncogene 2008, 27(40), 5277-5287.
• Saretzki G, Walter T, Atkinson S, Passos JF, Bareth B, Keith WN, Stewart R, Hoare S, Stojkovic M, Armstrong L, Von Zglinicki T, Lako M. Downregulation of multiple stress defense mechanisms during differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells 2008, 26(2), 455-464.
• Ledran MH, Krassowska A, Armstrong L, Dimmick I, Renstrom J, Lang R, Yung S, Santibanez-Coref M, Dzierzak E, Stojkovic M, Oostendorp RAJ, Forrester L, Lako M. Efficient hematopoietic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells on stromal cells derived from hematopoietic niches. Cell Stem Cell 2008, 3(1), 85-98.
• Atkinson SP, Koch CM, Clelland GK, Willcox S, Fowler JC, Stewart R, Lako M, Dunham I, Armstrong L. Epigenetic marking prepares the human HOXA cluster for the activation during differentiation of pluripotent cells. Stem Cells 2008, 26(5), 1174-1185.
• Neganova I, Lako M. G1 to S phase cell cycle transition in somatic and embryonic stem cells. Journal of Anatomy 2008. , 213(1), 30-44.
• Tilgner K, Atkinson SP, Golebiewska A, Stojkovic M, Lako M, Armstrong L. Isolation of Primordial Germ Cells from Differentiating Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cells 2008, 26(12), 3075-3085.
• Kolli S, Lako M, Figueiredo FC, Mudhar H, Ahmad S. Loss of corneal epithelial stem cell properties in outgrowths from human limbal explants cultured on intact amniotic membrane. Regenerative Medicine 2008, 3(3), 329-342.
• Stewart R, Yang C, Anyfantis G, Przyborski S, Hole N, Strachan T, Stojkovic M, Keith WN, Armstrong L, Lako M. Silencing of the expression of pluripotent driven-reporter genes stably transfected into human pluripotent cells. Regenerative Medicine 2008, 3(4), 505-522.
• Gautrey H, McConnell J, Lako M, Hall J, Hesketh J. Staufen1 is expressed in preimplantation mouse embryos and is required for embryonic stem cell differentiation. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Molecular Cell Research 2008, 1783(10), 1935-1942.
• Adewumi O, Aflatoonian B, Ahrlund-Richter L, Amit M, Andrews PW, Beighton G, Bello PA, Benvenisty N, Berry LS, Bevan S, Blum B, Brooking J, Chen KG, Choo ABH, Churchill GA, Corbel M, Damjanov I, Draper JS, Dvorak P, Emanuelsson K, Fleck RA, Ford A, Gertow K, Gertsenstein M, Gokhale PJ, Hamilton RS, Hampl A, Healy LE, Hovatta O, Hyllner J, Imreh MP, Itskovitz-Eldor J, Jackson J, Johnson JL, Jones M, Kee K, King BL, Knowles BB, Lako M, Lebrin F, Mallon BS, Manning D, Mayshar Y, McKay RDG, Michalska AE, Mikkola M, Mileikovsky M, Minger SL, Moore HD, Mummery CL, Nagy A, Nakatsuji N, O'Brien CM, Oh SKW, Olsson C, Otonkoski T, Park K-Y, Passier R, Patel H, Patel M, Pedersen R, Pera MF, Piekarczyk MS, Pera RAR, Reubinoff BE, Robins AJ, Rossant J, Rugg-Gunn P, Schulz TC, Semb H, Sherrer ES, Siemen H, Stacey GN, Stojkovic M, Suemori H, Szatkiewicz J, Turetsky T, Tuuri T, Van Den Brink S, Vintersten K, Vuoristo S, Ward D, Weaver TA, Young LA, Zhang W. Characterization of human embryonic stem cell lines by the International Stem Cell Initiative. Nature Biotechnology 2007, 25(7), 803-816.
• Ahmad S, Stewart R, Yung S, Kolli S, Armstrong L, Stojkovic M, Figueiredo F, Lako M. Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into corneal epithelial-like cells by in vitro replication of the corneal epithelial stem cell niche. Stem Cells 2007, 25(5), 1145-1155.
• Choudhary M, Zhang X, Stojkovic P, Hyslop L, Anyfantis G, Herbert M, Murdoch AP, Stojkovic M, Lako M. Putative role of hyaluronan and its related genes, HAS2 and RHAMM, in human early preimplantation embryogenesis and embryonic stem cell characterization. Stem Cells 2007, 25(12), 3045-3057.
• Zhang X, Stojkovic P, Przyborski S, Cooke M, Armstrong L, Lako M, Stojkovic M. Derivation of human embryonic stem cells from developing and arrested embryos. Stem Cells 2006, 24(12), 2669-2676.
• Armstrong L, Lako M, Dean W, Stojkovic M. Epigenetic modification is central to genome reprogramming in somatic cell nuclear transfer. Stem Cells 2006. , 24(4), 805-814.
• Stewart R, Stojkovic M, Lako M. Mechanisms of self-renewal in human embryonic stem cells. European Journal of Cancer 2006, 42(9), 1257-1272.
• Armstrong L, Lako M. The future of human nuclear transfer?. Stem Cell Reviews 2006. , 2(4), 351-358.
• Armstrong L, Hughes O, Yung S, Hyslop L, Stewart R, Wappler I, Peters H, Walter T, Stojkovic P, Evans J, Stojkovic M, Lako M. The role of PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK and NFκβ signalling in the maintenance of human embryonic stem cell pluripotency and viability highlighted by transcriptional profiling and functional analysis. Human Molecular Genetics 2006, 15(11), 1894-1913.
• Stojkovic P, Lako M, Stewart R, Przyborski S, Armstrong L, Evans J, Herbert M, Hyslop L, Ahmad S, Murdoch A, Strachan T, Stojkovic M. An Autogeneic Feeder Cell System That Efficiently Supports Growth of Undifferentiated Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cells 2005,23 3 306-314.
• Stojkovic P, Lako M, Stewart R, Przyborski S, Armstrong L, Evans J, Murdoch A, Strachan T, Stojkovic M. An autogeneic feeder cell system that efficiently supports growth of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells 2005, 23(3), 306-314.
• Armstrong L, Saretzki G, Peters H, Wappler I, Evans J, Hole N, von Zglinicki T, Lako M. “Overexpression of Tert results in enhanced proliferation of murine ES cells, protection from oxidative stress and commitment to haematopoietic lineages”. Stem Cells 2005, 23(4), 516-529.
• Stojkovic M, Stojkovic P, Leary C, Hall VJ, Armstrong L, Herbert M, Nesbitt M, Lako M, Murdoch A. Derivation of a human blastocyst after heterologous nuclear transfer to donated oocytes. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2005, 11(2), 226-231.
• Hyslop L, Stojkovic M, Armstrong L, Walter T, Stojkovic P, Przyborski S, Herbert M, Murdoch A, Strachan T, Lako M. Downregulation of NANOG induces differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to extraembryonic lineages. Stem Cells 2005, 23(8), 1035-1043.
• Hyslop LA, Armstrong L, Stojkovic M, Lako M. Human embryonic stem cells: Biology and clinical implications. Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine 2005. ,7 19 1-21.
• Stojkovic P, Lako M, Przyborski S, Stewart R, Armstrong L, Evans J, Zhang X, Stojkovic M. Human-serum matrix supports undifferentiated growth of human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells 2005, 23(7), 895-902.
• Stewart R, Lako M, Horrocks GM, Przyborski SA. Neural development by transplanted human embryonal carcinoma stem cells expressing green fluorescent protein. Cell Transplantation 2005, 14(6), 339-351.
• Armstrong L, Saretzki G, Peters H, Wappler I, Evans J, Hole N, Von Zglinicki T, Lako M. Overexpression of telomerase confers growth advantage, stress resistance, and enhanced differentiation of ESCs toward the hematopoietic lineage. Stem Cells 2005,23 4 516-529.
• Ahmad S, Armstrong L, Stojkovic M, Dimmick I, Hyslop LA, Stojkovic P, Strachan T, Figueiredo FC, Lako M. The identification and characterisation of human corneal epithelial progenitors on the basis of high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. Stem Cells 2005. In Press.
• Armstrong L, Lako M, van Herpe I, Evans J, Saretzki G, Hole N. A role for nucleoprotein Zap3 in the reduction of telomerase activity during embryonic stem cell differentiation. Mechanisms of Development 2004,121 12 1509-1522.
• Stojkovic M, Lako M, Stojkovic P, Stewart R, Przyborski S, Armstrong L, Evans J, Herbert M, Hyslop L, Ahmad S, Murdoch A, Strachan T. Derivation of human embryonic stem cells from day-8 blastocysts recovered after three-step in vitro culture. Stem Cells 2004, 22(5), 790-797.
• Stojkovic M, Lako M, Strachan T, Murdoch A. Derivation, growth and applications of human embryonic stem cells. Reproduction 2004. ,128 3 259-267.
• Stewart R, Coyne L, Lako M, Halliwell RF, Przyborski SA. Human embryonal carcinoma stem cells expressing green fluorescent protein form functioning neurons in vitro: A research tool for co-culture studies. Stem Cells and Development 2004, 13(6), 646-657.
• Armstrong L, Stojkovic M, Dimmick I, Ahmad S, Stojkovic P, Hole N, Lako M. Phenotypic characterization of murine primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells isolated on basis of aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. Stem Cells 2004,22 7 1142-1151.
• Saretzki G, Armstrong L, Leake A, Lako M, Von Zglinicki T. Stress defense in murine embryonic stem cells is superior to that of various differentiated murine cells. Stem Cells 2004,22 6 962-971.
• Lako M, Armstrong L, Cairns PM, Harris S, Hole N, Jahoda C. Hair follicle dermal cells repopulate the mouse haematopoietic system. Journal of Cell Science 2002, 115(20), 3967-3974.
• Lako M, Lindsay S, Lincoln J, Cairns PM, Armstrong L, Hole N. Characterisation of Wnt gene expression during the differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells in vitro: Role of Wnt3 in enhancing haematopoietic differentiation. Mechanisms of Development 2001, 103(1-2), 49-59.
• Armstrong L, Lako M, Lincoln J, Cairns PM, Hole N. mTert expression correlates with telomerase activity during the differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells. Mechanics of Development 2000, 97(1-2), 109-116.
• Lako M, Hole N. Searching the unknown with gene trapping. Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine 2000.
• Lako M, Ramsden S, Campbell RD, Strachan T. Mutation screening in British 21-hydroxylase deficiency families and development of novel microsatellite based approaches to prenatal diagnosis.. J. Medical Genetics 1999, 36(2), 119-124.
• Rankin J, Strachan T, Lako M, Lindsay S. Partial cloning and assignment of WNT6 to human chromosome band 2q35 by in situ hybridization.. 1999, 84(1-2), 50-52.
• Bashir R, Britton S, Strachan T, Keers S, Vafiadaki E, Lako M, Richard I, Marchand S, Bourg N, Argov Z, Sadeh M, Mahjneh I, Marconi G, Passos-Bueno MR, Moreira Ede S, Zatz M, Beckmann JS, Bushby K. A gene related to Caenorhabditis elegans spermatogenesis factor fer-1 is mutated in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B.. Nature Genetics 1998, 20(1), 37-42.
• Lako M, Lindsay S, Bullen P, Wilson DI, Robson SC, Strachan T. A novel mammalian wnt gene, WNT8B, shows brain-restricted expression in early development, with sharply delimited expression boundaries in the developing forebrain.. Human Molecular Genetics 1998, 7(5), 813-822.
• Lako M, Strachan T, Bullen P, Wilson DI, Robson SC, Lindsay S. Isolation, characterisation and embryonic expression of WNT11, a gene which maps to 11q13.5 and has possible roles in the development of skeleton, kidney and lung.. Gene 1998, 219(1-2), 101-110.
• Bui TD, Lako M, Lejeune S, Curtis AR, Strachan T, Lindsay S, Harris AL. Isolation of a full-length human WNT7A gene implicated in limb development and cell transformation, and mapping to chromosome 3p25.. Gene 1997, 189, 25-29.
• Lako M, Strachan T, Curtis AR, Lindsay S. Isolation and characterization of WNT8B, a novel human Wnt gene that maps to 10q24.. Genomics 1996, 35(2), 386-388.
• Tassabehji M, Strachan T, Anderson M, Campbell RD, Collier S, Lako M. Identification of a novel family of human endogenous retroviruses and characterization of one family member, HERV-K(C4), located in the complement C4 gene cluster.. Nucleic Acids Research 1994, 22(24), 5211-5217.