Professor Tristan McKay

My profile

Biography

External examiner roles

External Advisor: Alicia Roig-Merino Thesis Advisory Committee, DKFZ Cancer Institute, Heidelberg, Germany.

Advisor to William Harvey iPSC Centre.

Grant Reviewer: Wellcome, BBSRC, MRC, Action Medical Research.

Genetic Modification advisor to Cellular Therapeutics.

Manuscript Reviewer for multiple journals including Stem Cells.

Other distinctions

Honorary Senior Lecturer, Queen Mary University of London.

Teaching

How I’ll teach you

Stem cell biology

Research outputs

The McKay group have established expertise in generating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from mouse and human somatic cells. We use this platform technology to study both reprogramming to pluripotency and neural differentiation at the molecular level.

Induced Pluripotency - We apply lentiviral technology to stably introduce synthetic transcription factor activated reporter gene cassettes into somatic cells in order to evaluate their activity during iPSC reprogramming in living cells. This has led us to new insights into the way a cell switches the manner in which it produces energy during iPSC reprogramming.

Neural Differentiation - We apply state of the art technologies to interrogate the cell signaling underlying neural differentiation during normal development and in neuronopathic disease.

Collaborators

Prof. Simon Waddington (UCL) - In vivo disease modeling.

Dr. Ahad Rahim (UCL) - In vivo models of neurodegeneration. Prof. Michael Duchen (UCL) - Mitochondrial Biology

Prof. Sara Mole (UCL) - In vitro models of neurodegeneration.

  • Chapters in books

    Delhove, J.M.K.M., Karda, R., Hawkins, K.E., FitzPatrick, L.M., Waddington, S.N., McKay, T.R. (2017) 'Bioluminescence monitoring of promoter activity in vitro and in vivo.' In Gould, D. (ed.) Mammalian Synthetic Promoters. Humana Press (Springer Imprint), pp. 49-64.

    McKay, T.R., Delhove, J.M., Rahim, A.A., Waddington, S.N., Buckley, S.M. (2012) 'Choice of surrogate and physiological markers for prenatal gene therapy.' Methods in Molecular Biology.

  • Journal articles

    Mandolfo, O., Parker, H., Usman, A., Learmonth, Y.I., Holley, R.J., MacDonald, A., McKay, T., Bigger, B. (2024) 'Generation of a novel immunodeficient mouse model of Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA to test human stem cell-based therapies.' Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 143(1-2)

    Wetzel, A., Lei, S.H., Liu, T., Hughes, M.P., Peng, Y., McKay, T., Waddington, S.N., Grannò, S., Rahim, A.A., Harvey, K. (2024) 'Dysregulated Wnt and NFAT signaling in a Parkinson’s disease LRRK2 G2019S knock-in model.' Scientific Reports, 14(1)

    Lopez-Fabuel, I., Garcia-Macia, M., Buondelmonte, C., Burmistrova, O., Bonora, N., Alonso-Batan, P., Morant-Ferrando, B., Vicente-Gutierrez, C., Jimenez-Blasco, D., Quintana-Cabrera, R., Fernandez, E., Llop, J., Ramos-Cabrer, P., Sharaireh, A., Guevara-Ferrer, M., Fitzpatrick, L., Thompton, C.D., McKay, T.R., Storch, S., Medina, D.L., Mole, S.E., Fedichev, P.O., Almeida, A., Bolaños, J.P. (2022) 'Aberrant upregulation of the glycolytic enzyme PFKFB3 in CLN7 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.' Nature Communications, 13(1) pp. 536-536.

    Roig-Merino, A., Urban, M., Bozza, M., Peterson, J.D., Bullen, L., Büchler-Schäff, M., Stäble, S., van der Hoeven, F., Müller-Decker, K., McKay, T.R., Milsom, M.D., Harbottle, R.P. (2022) 'An episomal DNA vector platform for the persistent genetic modification of pluripotent stem cells and their differentiated progeny.' Stem Cell Reports, 17(1) pp. 143-158.

    Thornton, C.D., Fielding, S., Karbowniczek, K., Roig-Merino, A., Burrows, A.E., Fitzpatrick, L.M., Sharaireh, A., Tite, J.P., Mole, S.E., Harbottle, R.P., Caproni, L.J., McKay, T.R. (2021) 'Safe and stable generation of induced pluripotent stem cells using doggybone DNA vectors.' Molecular Therapy: Methods and Clinical Development, 23pp. 348-358.

    Soldati, C., Lopez-Fabuel, I., Wanderlingh, L.G., Garcia-Macia, M., Monfregola, J., Esposito, A., Napolitano, G., Guevara-Ferrer, M., Scotto Rosato, A., Krogsaeter, E.K., Paquet, D., Grimm, C.M., Montefusco, S., Braulke, T., Storch, S., Mole, S.E., De Matteis, M.A., Ballabio, A., Sampaio, J.L., McKay, T., Johannes, L., Bolaños, J.P., Medina, D.L. (2021) 'Repurposing of tamoxifen ameliorates CLN3 and CLN7 disease phenotype.' EMBO Molecular Medicine, 13(10) pp. e13742-e13742.

    Lorvellec, M., Pellegata, A.F., Maestri, A., Turchetta, C., Alvarez Mediavilla, E., Shibuya, S., Jones, B., Scottoni, F., Perocheau, D.P., Cozmescu, A.C., Delhove, J.M., Kysh, D., Gjinovci, A., Counsell, J.R., Heywood, W.E., Mills, K., McKay, T.R., De Coppi, P., Gissen, P. (2020) 'An In Vitro Whole-Organ Liver Engineering for Testing of Genetic Therapies.' iScience, 23(12)

    Sharaireh, A.M., Fitzpatrick, L.M., Ward, C.M., McKay, T.R., Unwin, R.D. (2020) 'Epithelial cadherin regulates transition between the naïve and primed pluripotent states in mouse embryonic stem cells.' Stem Cells, 38(10) pp. 1292-1306.

    Karda, R., Rahim, A.A., Wong, A.M.S., Suff, N., Diaz, J.A., Perocheau, D.P., Tijani, M., Ng, J., Baruteau, J., Martin, N.P., Hughes, M., Delhove, J.M.K.M., Counsell, J.R., Cooper, J.D., Henckaerts, E., Mckay, T.R., Buckley, S.M.K., Waddington, S.N. (2020) 'Generation of light-producing somatic-transgenic mice using adeno-associated virus vectors.' Scientific Reports, 10(1)

    Delhove, J.M., Karda, R., FitzPatrick, L.M., Buckley, S.M.K., Waddington, S.N., McKay, T.R. (2020) 'Non-invasive somatotransgenic bioimaging in living animals.' F1000Research, 9

    Diaz, J.A., Geard, A., FitzPatrick, L.M., Delhove, J.M.K.M., Buckley, S.M.K., Waddington, S.N., McKay, T.R., Karda, R. (2020) 'Continual conscious bioluminescent imaging in freely moving mice.' 2081pp. 161-175.

    Minnis, C.J., Thornton, C.D., FitzPatrick, L.M., McKay, T.R. (2019) 'Cellular models of Batten disease.' Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease, 1866(9) pp. 165559-165559.

    Smith, S.A., Sessions, R.B., Shoemark, D.K., Williams, C., Ebrahimighaei, R., McNeill, M.C., Crump, M.P., McKay, T.R., Harris, G., Newby, A.C., Bond, M. (2019) 'Antiproliferative and Antimigratory Effects of a Novel YAP-TEAD Interaction Inhibitor Identified Using in Silico Molecular Docking.' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 62(3) pp. 1291-1305.

    Mole, S.E., Anderson, G., Band, H.A., Berkovic, S.F., Cooper, J.D., Kleine Holthaus, S.M., McKay, T.R., Medina, D.L., Rahim, A.A., Schulz, A., Smith, A.J. (2019) 'Clinical challenges and future therapeutic approaches for neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.' The Lancet Neurology, 18(1) pp. 107-116.

    Abd Al Samid, M., McPhee, J.S., Saini, J., McKay, T.R., Fitzpatrick, L.M., Mamchaoui, K., Bigot, A., Mouly, V., Butler-Browne, G., Al-Shanti, N. (2018) 'A functional human motor unit platform engineered from human embryonic stem cells and immortalized skeletal myoblasts..' Stem Cells and Cloning : Advances and Applications, 11pp. 85-93.

    Foxler, D.E., Bridge, K.S., Foster, J.G., Grevitt, P., Curry, S., Shah, K.M., Davidson, K.M., Nagano, A., Gadaleta, E., Rhys, H.I., Kennedy, P.T., Hermida, M.A., Chang, T.Y., Shaw, P.E., Reynolds, L.E., McKay, T.R., Wang, H.W., Ribeiro, P.S., Plevin, M.J., Lagos, D., Lemoine, N.R., Rajan, P., Graham, T.A., Chelala, C., Hodivala-Dilke, K.M., Spendlove, I., Sharp, T.V. (2018) 'A HIF-LIMD1 negative feedback mechanism mitigates the pro-tumorigenic effects of hypoxia.' EMBO molecular medicine, 10(8) pp. 1-18.

    FitzPatrick, L.M., Hawkins, K.E., Delhove, J.M.K.M., Fernandez, E., Soldati, C., Bullen, L.F., Nohturfft, A., Waddington, S.N., Medina, D.L., Bolaños, J.P., McKay, T.R. (2018) 'NF-κB Activity Initiates Human ESC-Derived Neural Progenitor Cell Differentiation by Inducing a Metabolic Maturation Program..' Stem Cell Reports, 10

    Miller, D.C., Harmer, S.C., Poliandri, A., Nobles, M., Edwards, E.C., Ware, J.S., Sharp, T.V., McKay, T.R., Dunkel, L., Lambiase, P.D., Tinker, A. (2017) 'Ajmaline blocks INa and IKr without eliciting differences between Brugada syndrome patient and control human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac clusters.' Stem Cell Research, 25pp. 233-244.

    Karda, R., Perocheau, D.P., Suff, N., Ng, J., Delhove, J.M.K.M., Buckley, S.M.K., Richards, S., Counsell, J.R., Hagberg, H., Johnson, M.R., McKay, T.R., Waddington, S.N. (2017) 'Continual conscious bioluminescent imaging in freely moving somatotransgenic mice.' Scientific Reports, 7(1)

    Vink, C.A., Counsell, J.R., Perocheau, D.P., Karda, R., Buckley, S.M.K., Brugman, M.H., Galla, M., Schambach, A., McKay, T.R., Waddington, S.N., Howe, S.J. (2017) 'Eliminating HIV-1 Packaging Sequences from Lentiviral Vector Proviruses Enhances Safety and Expedites Gene Transfer for Gene Therapy.' Molecular Therapy, 25(8) pp. 1790-1804.

    Poliandri, A., Miller, D., Howard, S., Nobles, M., Ruiz-Babot, G., Harmer, S., Tinker, A., McKay, T., Guasti, L., Dunkel, L. (2017) 'Generation of kisspeptin-responsive GnRH neurons from human pluripotent stem cells.' Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 447pp. 12-22.

    Delhove, J.M.K.M., Buckley, S.M.K., Perocheau, D.P., Karda, R., Arbuthnot, P., Henderson, N.C., Waddington, S.N., McKay, T.R. (2017) 'Longitudinal in vivo bioimaging of hepatocyte transcription factor activity following cholestatic liver injury in mice.' Scientific Reports, 7

    Munye, M.M., Shoemark, A., Hirst, R.A., Delhove, J.M., Sharp, T.V., McKay, T.R., O Callaghan, C., Baines, D.L., Howe, S.J., Hart, S.L. (2017) 'BMI-1 extends proliferative potential of human bronchial epithelial cells while retaining their mucociliary differentiation capacity.' American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, 312(2) pp. 258-267.

    Teasdale, J.E., Hazell, G.G.J., Peachey, A.M.G., Sala-Newby, G.B., Hindmarch, C.C.T., McKay, T., Bond, M., Newby, A.C., White, S.J. (2017) 'Cigarette smoke extract profoundly suppresses TNFα-mediated proinflammatory gene expression through upregulation of ATF3 in human coronary artery endothelial cells.' Scientific Reports, 7

    Teasdale, J.E., Hazell, G.G.J., Peachey, A.M.G., Sala-Newby, G.B., Hindmarch, C.C.T., McKay, T., Bond, M., Newby, A.C., White, S.J. (2017) 'Cigarette smoke extract profoundly suppresses TNFα-mediated proinflammatory gene expression through upregulation of ATF3 in human coronary artery endothelial cells.' Scientific Reports,

    Hawkins, K.E., Joy, S., Delhove, J.M., Kotiadis, V.N., Fernandez, E., Fitzpatrick, L.M., Whiteford, J.R., King, P.J., Bolanos, J.P., Duchen, M.R., Waddington, S.N., McKay, T.R. (2016) 'NRF2 Orchestrates the Metabolic Shift during Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Reprogramming..' Cell Reports, 14

    Buckley, S.M.K., Delhove, J.M.K.M., Perocheau, D.P., Karda, R., Rahim, A.A., Howe, S.J., Ward, N.J., Birrell, M.A., Belvisi, M.G., Arbuthnot, P., Johnson, M.R., Waddington, S.N., McKay, T.R. (2015) 'In vivo bioimaging with tissue-specific transcription factor activated luciferase reporters.' Scientific Reports, 5

    FitzPatrick, L.M., McKay, T.R. (2015) 'Genome Editing in Stem Cells.' Current Stem Cell Reports, 1(1) pp. 31-38.

    Nivsarkar, M.S., Buckley, S.M.K., Parker, A.L., Perocheau, D., McKay, T.R., Rahim, A.A., Howe, S.J., Waddington, S.N. (2015) 'Evidence for Contribution of CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells in Maintaining Immune Tolerance to Human Factor IX following Perinatal Adenovirus Vector Delivery.' Journal of Immunology Research, 2015

    Hawkins, K. (2014) 'Cell signalling pathways underlying induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming.' World Journal of Stem Cells, 6

    McKay, T.R., De Rossi, G., Evans, A.R., Kay, E., Woodfin, A., Nourshargh, S., Whiteford, J.R. (2014) 'Shed syndecan-2 inhibits angiogenesis.' Journal of Cell Science, 127

    McKay, T.R., Hawkins, K.E., Sharp, T.V. (2013) 'The role of hypoxia in stem cell potency and differentiation.' Regenerative Medicine, 8(6) pp. 771-782.

    Guasti, L., Candy Sze, W.C., McKay, T., Grose, R., King, P.J. (2013) 'FGF signalling through Fgfr2 isoform IIIb regulates adrenal cortex development.' Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 371

    Trivellin, G., Butz, H., Delhove, J., Igreja, S., Chahal, H.S., Zivkovic, V., McKay, T., Patócs, A., Grossman, A.B., Korbonits, M. (2012) 'MicroRNA miR-107 is overexpressed in pituitary adenomas and inhibits the expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein in vitro..' Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 303(6) pp. E708-E719.

    McKay, T.R., Camarasa, M.V., Iskender, B., Ye, J., Bates, N., Miller, D., Fitzsimmons, J.C., Foxler, D., Mee, M., Sharp, T.V., Aplin, J., Brison, D.R., Kimber, S.J. (2011) 'Human feeder cell line for derivation and culture of hESc/hiPSc..' Stem Cell Res, 7(2) pp. 154-162.

    McKay, T.R., Rahim, A.A., Buckley, S.M.K., Ward, N.J., Chan, J.K.Y., Howe, S.J., Waddington, S.N. (2011) 'Perinatal gene transfer to the liver..' Curr Pharm Des, 17(24) pp. 2528-2541.

    McKay, T.R., Waddington, S.N., Crossley, R., Sheard, V., Howe, S.J., Buckley, S.M., Coughlan, L., Gilham, D.E., Hawkins, R.E. (2010) 'Gene delivery of a mutant TGFbeta3 reduces markers of scar tissue formation after cutaneous wounding.' Molecular Therapy, 18(12) pp. 2104-2111.

    Rothwell, D.G., Crossley, R., Bridgeman, J.S., Sheard, V., Zhang, Y., Sharp, T.V., Hawkins, R.E., Gilham, D.E., McKay, T.R. (2010) 'Functional expression of secreted proteins from a bicistronic retroviral cassette based on foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A can be position dependent.' Human Gene Therapy, 21(11) pp. 1631-1637.

    Camarasa, M.V., Kerr, R.W., Sneddon, S.F., Bates, N., Shaw, L., Oldershaw, R.A., Small, F., Baxter, M.A., McKay, T.R., Brison, D.R., Kimber, S.J. (2010) 'Derivation of Man-1 and Man-2 research grade human embryonic stem cell lines.' In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology - Animal, 46(3-4) pp. 386-394.

    Tew, S.R., Peffers, M.J., McKay, T.R., Lowe, E.T., Khan, W.S., Hardingham, T.E., Clegg, P.D. (2009) 'Hyperosmolarity regulates SOX9 mRNA posttranscriptionally in human articular chondrocytes..' Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, 297(4) pp. C898-C906.

    Zhang, L., Button, B., Gabriel, S.E., Burkett, S., Yan, Y., Skiadopoulos, M.H., Dang, Y.L., Vogel, L.N., McKay, T., Mengos, A., Boucher, R.C., Collins, P.L., Pickles, R.J., Philipson, L. (2009) 'CFTR Delivery to 25% of Surface Epithelial Cells Restores Normal Rates of Mucus Transport to Human Cystic Fibrosis Airway Epithelium.' PLoS Biology, 7

    Buckley, S.M.K., Howe, S.J., Rahim, A.A., Buning, H., McIntosh, J., Wong, S.P., Baker, A.H., Nathwani, A., Thrasher, A.J., Coutelle, C., McKay, T.R., Waddington, S.N. (2008) 'Luciferin detection after intranasal vector delivery is improved by intranasal rather than intraperitoneal luciferin administration..' Hum Gene Ther, 19(10) pp. 1050-1056.

    Buckley, S.M.K., Howe, S.J., Sheard, V., Ward, N.J., Coutelle, C., Thrasher, A.J., Waddington, S.N., McKay, T.R. (2008) 'Lentiviral transduction of the murine lung provides efficient pseudotype and developmental stage-dependent cell-specific transgene expression..' Gene Ther, 15(16) pp. 1167-1175.

    Oldershaw, R.A., Tew, S.R., Russell, A.M., Meade, K., Hawkins, R., McKay, T.R., Brennan, K.R., Hardingham, T.E. (2008) 'Notch signaling through Jagged-1 is necessary to initiate chondrogenesis in human bone marrow stromal cells but must be switched off to complete chondrogenesis..' Stem Cells, 26(3) pp. 666-674.

    McKay, T., Patel, M., Pickles, R.J., Johnson, L.G., Olsen, J.C. (2006) 'Influenza M2 envelope protein augments avian influenza hemagglutinin pseudotyping of lentiviral vectors..' Gene Ther, 13(8) pp. 715-724.

    Duxbury, R., Gilham, D.E., Russell, A., Woods, E., Ferguson, M.W.J., McKay, T.R., Hawkins, R.E. (2005) 'A gene Therapeutic Approach to scar Reduction at the site of Cutaneous Wounding.' European Cells and Materials, 10(SUPPL.2)

    Lunj, S., Duxbury, R., Russell, A.M., Li, Y., Tew, S.R., Hardingham, T.E., McKay, T.R., Hawkins, R.E. (2005) 'Co-expression of SOX 9 and SOX 6 enhances collagen 2 gene expression.' European Cells and Materials, 10(SUPPL.2)

    McNeish, I.A., Lopes, R., Bell, S.J., McKay, T.R., Fernandez, M., Lockley, M., Wheatley, S.P., Lemoine, N.R. (2005) 'Survivin interacts with Smac/DIABLO in ovarian carcinoma cells but is redundant in Smac-mediated apoptosis.' Experimental Cell Research, 302(1) pp. 69-82.

    McNeish, I.A., Bell, S., McKay, T., Tenev, T., Marani, M., Lemoine, N.R. (2003) 'Expression of Smac/DIABLO in ovarian carcinoma cells induces apoptosis via a caspase-9-mediated pathway.' Experimental Cell Research, 286(2) pp. 186-198.

    McKay, T.R., Bell, S., Tenev, T., Stoll, V., Lopes, R., Lemoine, N.R., McNeish, I.A. (2003) 'Procaspase 3 expression in ovarian carcinoma cells increases survivin transcription which can be countered with a dominant-negative mutant, survivin T34A; a combination gene therapy strategy..' Oncogene, 22(23) pp. 3539-3547.

    McKay, T., Reynolds, P., Jezzard, S., Curiel, D., Coutelle, C. (2002) 'Secretin-mediated gene delivery, a specific targeting mechanism with potential for treatment of biliary and pancreatic disease in cystic fibrosis.' Molecular Therapy, 5(4) pp. 447-454.

    McKay, T.R., MacVinish, L.J., Carpenter, B., Themis, M., Jezzard, S., Goldin, R., Pavirani, A., Hickman, M.E., Cuthbert, A.W., Coutelle, C. (2000) 'Selective in vivo transfection of murine biliary epithelia using polycation-enhanced adenovirus..' Gene Ther, 7(8) pp. 644-652.

    Harbottle, R.P., Cooper, R.G., Hart, S.L., Ladhoff, A., Mckay, T., Knight, A.M., Wagner, E., Miller, A.D., Coutelle, C. (1998) 'An RGD-oligolysine peptide: A prototype construct for integrin-mediated gene delivery.' Human Gene Therapy, 9(7) pp. 1037-1047.

    Gilbert, H.L., Buxton, J.L., Chan, C.T.J., McKay, T., Cottrell, S., Ramsden, S., Winter, R.M., Pembrey, M.E., Malcolm, S. (1997) 'Counselling dilemmas associated with the molecular characterisation of two Angelman syndrome families.' Journal of Medical Genetics, 34(8) pp. 651-655.

    Bermingham, N.A., McKay, T., Hoyle, J., Hernandez, D., Martin, J.E., Fisher, E.M.C. (1996) 'The gene encoding tripeptidyl peptidase II maps to Chromosome 1 in the mouse.' Mammalian Genome, 7(5)

    Williams, R., Mitchison, H., Mckay, T., Järvelä, I., Gardiner, R.M. (1993) 'Linkage analysis of late-infantile neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis (CLN2) using markers on chromosome 16p.' Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, 16(2) pp. 342-344.

    Mitchison, H.M., Williams, R.E., McKay, T.R., Callen, D.F., Thompson, A.D., Mulley, J.C., Stallings, R.L., Hildebrand, C.E., Moyzis, R.K., Järvelä, I., Peltonen, L., Haines, J., Sutherland, G.R., Gardiner, R.M. (1993) 'Refined genetic mapping of juvenile-onset neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis on chromosome 16.' Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, 16(2) pp. 339-341.

    Mitchison, H.M., Thompson, A.D., Mulley, J.C., Kozman, H.M., Richards, R.I., Callen, D.F., Stallings, R.L., Doggett, N.A., Attwood, J., McKay, T.R., Sutherland, G.R., Gardiner, R.M. (1993) 'Fine Genetic Mapping of the Batten Disease Locus (CLN3) by Haplotype Analysis and Demonstration of Allelic Association with Chromosome 16p Microsatellite Loci.' Genomics, 16(2) pp. 455-460.

    Williams, R., Vesa, J., Järvelä, I., McKay, T., Mitchison, H., Hellsten, E., Thompson, A., Callen, D., Sutherland, G., Luna-Battadano, D., Stallings, R., Peltonen, L., Gardiner, M. (1993) 'Genetic heterogeneity in neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL): Evidence that the late-infantile subtype (Jansky-Bielschowsky disease; CLN2) is not an allelick form of the juvenile or infantile subtypes.' American Journal of Human Genetics, 53(4) pp. 931-935.