The Mansell Lab investigates mitochondrial metabolism as a druggable driver of hematopoietic stem cell fate — in ageing, in cancer initiation, and in the recovery of blood after therapy.
We test the idea that mitochondrial metabolism is a druggable driver of how blood stem cells behave — and that targeting it could reduce cancer risk and improve therapy outcomes.
How does mitochondrial activity track the decline of hematopoietic stem cell function with age? We've shown that mitochondrial potentiation can ameliorate age-related heterogeneity in stem cell function.
Mitochondrial metabolism may shape the earliest steps toward malignancy. We investigate whether targeting it can alleviate age-associated cancer risk.
Chemotherapy leaves long-term defects in the blood system that mimic ageing. Our work shows that targeting mitochondria can mitigate this treatment-induced bone marrow dysfunction.
We study how mitochondrial function influences the performance of stem cells used in transplantation — with the goal of improving clinical practice.
We work across murine and human systems to understand how mitochondrial activity relates to stem cell function at steady state, under stress, and through ageing.
Discovery only matters if it travels. As part of the Erasmus MC Department of Hematology and through a continuing collaboration with Lund University, we connect fundamental biology to the clinic.
Els studied Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Bristol, where she also earned her PhD investigating the in utero origins of childhood leukaemia. She then spent five years as a postdoctoral researcher at Lund University, working with Tariq Enver and embedded in Jonas Larsson's lab at the Lund Stem Cell Center.
During that time she made key contributions to understanding how mitochondrial activity reflects the age-related performance of blood stem cells — work published in Cell Stem Cell in 2021. She founded the Mansell Lab as a tenure-track group leader at Erasmus MC in April 2023, while retaining a part-time position at Lund to foster close collaboration.
She is an elected member of the International Society for Experimental Hematology (ISEH) New Investigator Committee, and her independent research is supported by grants from the Dutch Cancer Foundation (KWF), the Swedish Research Council, the European Hematology Association, and an Erasmus MC Fellowship.
Alumni: Kassandra Rood · Agnes Verschoor
Recent papers, grants, talks, and arrivals.
Our work on targeting mitochondria to mitigate chemotherapy-induced bone marrow dysfunction is now available on bioRxiv.
We welcomed new PhD students and an intern to the team.
Els Mansell joined the Department of Hematology as a tenure-track group leader to launch the lab.
The Mansell Lab encourages people from all backgrounds and career stages to get in touch about employment or internship opportunities. If the questions we ask resonate with you, we'd like to hear from you.
For curious scientists who want to dig into stem cell biology, metabolism, and the mechanisms of blood ageing and cancer.
For researchers ready to lead ambitious projects at the intersection of mitochondrial metabolism and hematopoietic stem cell fate.
Students looking for a meaningful research project are welcome to reach out year-round, from all backgrounds and disciplines.
From all backgrounds, all career stages — get in touch.
Contact the lab →Whether you're a prospective researcher, a potential collaborator, or a partner interested in translational work in hematopoietic stem cells — we'd love to talk.