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Staff Profile

Dr Rachel Crossland

Research Associate

  • Email: rachel.crossland@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: 0191 282 0451
  • Address: Haematological Sciences
    Translational & Clinical Research Institute
    Leech Building
    Medical School
    Framlington Place
    Newcastle University
    NE2 4HH
Background

Qualifications

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

PhD Molecular Biology of Cancer, Newcastle University

BSc Biomedical Sciences, Newcastle University (First class)


Roles & Responsibilities

COST Action CA17138 EUROGRAFT Management Committee

COST Action CA17138 EUROGRAFT Science Communication Manager

Board Member (Science Communication): UK Society for Extracellular Vesicles (UKEV)

EDI Committee: Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University


Editorial Positions

Review Editor: Frontiers in Immunology, Alloimmunity and Transplantation.

Editorial Board: International Journal of Immunology.

Guest Associate Editor: Frontiers Research Topic - New biomarkers in haematological disease


Awards

Wellcome Trust Translational Partnership – Translational Explorer Training Programme.

COST Association Scholarship - Cross-Cutting Activity in Science Communication,

Pathological Society Meeting Bursary – ISEV Annual Meeting, Barcelona. May 2018.

NanoString - RNA:Protein Panel International competition awardee.

Affymetrix - Tumour Profiling International competition awardee.

British Council Researcher Links Scholarship

Life Technologies - Ion Torrent™ Transcriptome Profiling International competition awardee

NanoString - PanCancer Panel Cancer Pathways International competition awardee.

Wellcome Trust - Advanced Course on Next Generation Sequencing Training Scholarship

First Poster Prize, EuroSciCon Meeting – Biomarker Discovery: Driving Technologies.

Newcastle University Graduate School Award – organization of NE Postgraduate Conference.


Websites

Google Scholar

ORCID

Loop

@RECrossland


Research

Current Research

My research interests lie in the multi-disciplinary role of extracellular vesicles (EV) and their molecular cargo in disease pathology, as novel biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, and as potential therapeutic targets, particularly in relation to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) and rare disease. I have a current focus on acute & chronic graft versus host disease (GvHD) as a model system, where I aim to:

     • Identify EV biomarkers of GvHD/IMID

     • Investigate the pathophysiological role of EVs in GvHD and immunotherapy

     • Investigate the action of MSC-EVs as a GvHD therapeutic


Extracellular Vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have attracted excitement in the scientific community due to their novel role in intercellular communication. These cell-derived nanoparticles mediate local and systemic cellular communication by transferring their genetic and proteomic cargo to recipient cells, thus, reprogramming target cells and regulating normal physiological processes and pathological conditions. EVs are present in biofluids, where they deliver systemic communication, demonstrating enticing promise for ‘Liquid Biopsies’ in cancer, autoimmune and cardiovascular disease. EVs are released by immune cells and can act as antigen-presenting vesicles, stimulate antitumoral immune responses or induce tolerogenic effects to suppress inflammation. The role of EVs in the pathophysiology of immunological disorders is an exciting field for research, and these potent genetic information agents offer translatable and cross-disciplinary importance as potential therapeutic targets, informative biological agents, predictive biomarkers, & potential indicators of immunotherapeutic response. More information about EV research in the UK can be found by visiting the UK Society for Extracellular Vesicles: https://www.ukev.org.uk/


Active Projects

Mechanisms of action of ECP therapy for GvHD, focusing on the role of EV-derived microRNAs.

The aim of this project is to investigate the circulatory EV microRNA profiles post-HSCT in GvHD patients receiving ECP-therapy. As ECP is safe to administer with few significant adverse effects, it has the potential for earlier use in the post-HSCT treatment of GvHD. Thus, further understanding the molecular mechanisms of ECP action, including EV microRNAs, may justify more timely use in clinical practice, as well as identify biomarkers for using ECP as first line or pre-emptive GvHD therapy.


EV-derived microRNAs as biomarkers for GvHD onset, response to therapy and clinical outcome.

This project aims to assess circulatory microRNA expression profiles in patients with GvHD at sequential time points, in order to identify EV-microRNA signature biomarkers for prospective diagnosis, prognosis, and disease stratification to drive personalised medicine strategies.


Mechanism of action of EVs as a therapeutic for GvHD.

The aim of this project is to elucidate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanistic action of EVs in GvHD target organs. We are investigating the molecular mechanisms of action of NK-EVs and their active microRNA content in the context of GvHD. In collaboration with Prof. M. Inngjerdingen (Oslo University), will can use a validated GvHD rat model to perform digital spatial profiling of global immune response and T-cell activation in GvHD target tissues, in combination with full profiling of the EV molecular cargo, in response to EV therapy.


Current Collaborations

1. Acute exercise extracellular vesicle release and content (Dr S. Orange, Newcastle University).

2. Molecular profiling of autologous serum treatment for ocular GvHD (Dr. I. Bojanic, University Hospital Zagreb).

3. Germline genetic biomarkers of chronic GvHD (Prof. J. Partanen, Finnish Blood Transfusion Service).

4. MicroRNA profiling of gastric aGvHD (Prof. E. Holler, Regensburg University).

5. MicroRNA profiling of innate lymphoid cells in aGvHD (Prof. M. Inngjerdingen, Oslo University).

6. ECP in the treatment of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (Profs. A Fisher & A Gennery, Newcastle University).

7. Serum microRNA biomarkers for chronic GvHD (Prof. K Bogunia-Kubik, Warsaw University).

8. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis EV microRNA profiling (Dr. A Pratt, Newcastle University).

9. The effect of osteoarthritis MSC-EV on chondrogenesis (Dr X. Wang, Newcastle University).


Active funding

1. Wellcome Trust Translational Partnership

    Funder: Wellcome Trust. PI: Dr R. Crossland

2. ECP in the treatment of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (E-CLAD UK)

    Funder: The Bubble Foundation. PI: Dr A. Gennery. COI: Dr R. Crossland

3. EV Molecular Profiles in relation to ECP Response in patients with cGvHD

    Funder: Newcastle Hospitals NHS Charity. PI: Prof. M. Collin. COI: Dr R. Crossland

4. Investigating EV Molecular Profiles in relation to ECP response in GvHD patients

    Funder: Mallinckrodt. PI: Dr R. Crossland. COI: Prof. M Collin.

5. Serum EV microRNA profiles in relation to molecular pathology and ECP response in GvHD

    Funder: The Pathological Society of Great Britain. PI: Dr R Crossland. COI: Prof. M Collin.

6. Engineering Exosomes as NanoVehicles for Cancer Therapy

    Funder: Research Council Norway. PI: Prof. Marit Inngjerdingen. COI: Dr R Crossland


Collaborative links with Industry

Wellcome Trust Translational Explorer Programme, in partnership with Alcyomics Ltd.


Memberships

The UK Society for Extracellular Vesicles (UKEV)

The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV)

The Pathological Society of Great Britain

UK Photopheresis Society

Teaching

PhD

Mr Steven Bolton (current)

Thesis: Extracorporeal Photopheresis in the treatment of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (E-CLAD)

Mrs Kimberly Schell (current)

Thesis: Extracellular Vesicle MicroRNA Profiles in relation to ECP-Response in Patients with GvHD

Mrs Kay Carruthers (current)

Thesis: Pancreatic islet cell isolation & characterisation for clinical use and identifying novel potency assays

Dr Sadaf Atarod (alumnus)

Dr Rihab Gam (alumnus)


MRes

Annual MRes students


BSc

Annual undergraduate students from BSc Biomedical Sciences


Other Teaching

COST Action 17138 chronic GvHD Short Term Scientific Mission Coordinator and Supervisor (Current)

Versus Arthritis Tissue Engineering Centre Training and Development Programme Coordinator (Previous)

Publications