James Hearn, Taryn Green, Colin Hisey, Nicholas Knowlton, Raewyn Poulsen, Stefan Bohlander and Maggie Kalev-Zylinska published a paper entitled ‘Deletion of Grin1 in mouse megakaryocytes reveals NMDA receptor role in platelet function and proplatelet formation’. The paper describes a novel mechanism regulating platelet production and function, targeting which may interfere with thrombotic disorders and platelet precursor cancers.
James Hearn is a recently graduated PhD student from the Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology. Maggie Kalev-Zylinska, an academic haematologist, led the research team. The work was performed in collaboration with Markus Bender and Julianne Baumann from the University of Würzburg (Germany), and Emma Josefsson from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne (Australia). The research used a unique transgenic mouse model generated in the Vernon Jansen Unit; a number of other core facilities also contributed, including BIRU, Flow cytometry, Histology, and Genomics, as well as staff from the Haematology Laboratory of Auckland City Hospital.
BLOOD is the top haematology journal in the world (Impact Factor 23.629). The work was also highlighted on the journal cover, so the team has done extremely well!