I run a small research group in close association with Professor Austin Smith and his group. My main interest is in how pluripotency is established in the early mammalian embryo and how pluripotenti cells can be harnessed in vitro for the establishment of embryonic stem celli lines. We have recently established a culture system utilising specific inhibitors with which we are investigating the pluripotent state.
Recent publications
Nichols, J. and Ying, Q-L. (2006). Derivation and Propagation of Embryonic Stem Cellsi in Serum and Feeder-Free Culture. Methods in Molecular Biology, Embryonic Stem Cell Protocols Volume 1: Isolation and Characterisation, 91-98.
Kaji, K., Caballero, I. M., MacLeod, R., Nichols, J., Wilson, V. and Hendrich, B. (2006). The NuRD component Mbd3 is required for pluripotency of embryonic stem cells. Nature Cell Biology 8, 285-292.
Kaji, K., Nichols, J. and Hendrich, B. (2007).
Mbd3, a component of the NuRD co-repressor complex, is required for development of pluripotent cells
Development; 134, 1123-1132.
Chambers, I., Silva, J., Colby, D., Nichols, J., Nijmeijer, B., Robertson, M., Vrana, J., Jones, K., Grotewold., L. and Smith, A. (2007).
Nanog safeguards pluripotency and mediates germline development
Nature, 450, 1230-1234.
Ying, Q-L., Wray, J., Nichols, J., Batlle-Morera, L., Doble, B., Woodgett, J., Cohen, P. and Smith, A. (2008). The ground state of embryonic stem cell self-renewal Nature, 453, 519-523.
Batlle-Morera, L., Smith, A. G. and Nichols, J. (2008). Parameters influencing derivation of embryonic stem cells from murine embryos. Genesis, in press