Dr Darren Newton

Profile

I originally graduated with a BSc in Molecular Biology from the University of Liverpool in 1993. Specialising in Immunology led to a PhD investigating T cell signalling, in particular expression of the signalling molecule CD3-zeta.

I moved to Leeds in 2002 to take up a postdoctoral position in the laboratory of Professor Simon Carding, focusing on the role of gamma delta T cells in infection.

I subsequently joined the Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service (HMDS) and to the Section of Experimental Haematology in 2007 as a Research Fellow, then a Senior Tenure-Track Research Fellow and, now, Lecturer - primarily focusing on chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.

Research interests

I currently lead the Clonal Evolution group. Our work currently focuses on:

• Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria (PNH) - development of an in vitro bone marrow culture system, assessment of clonality by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), complement inhibition and association of biomarkers with patient outcomes. My group is also home to the PNH Research Tissue Bank.
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) - interest in rare mutation detection (NGS) and the emergence and evolution of treatment resistance to both standard chemotherapy (TP53) and to kinase inhibition (Btk). Our work involves both in vitro cell line work and primary tissue from clinical trials.
• Immune repertoire sequencing - we are interested in using NGS to define the immunological repertoire of  T cells in PNH, of IgH as a surrogate biomarker of immunological fitness in Myeloma and clonal IgH as a measure of minimal residual disease (MRD) in CLL.

Additionally I continue my interest in gamma delta T cells, through a collaboration with LIRMM, investigating their role in entheseal inflammation.  

Qualifications

• PhD Immunology (University of Liverpool)
• BSc Molecular Biology (University of Liverpool)

Professional memberships

• British Society for Immunology

Student education

I contribute to teaching of undergraguate medical students; first year through RESS (Research Evaluation and Special Studies) and second year through EMS (Essential Medical Science). I lecture primarily on subjects related to immunology on postgraduate MSc modules within the School of Medicine. 

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's
• Experimental Haematology

Current postgraduate researchers

• Bethany Kuszlewicz