Prof Sant-Rayn Pasricha, Lab Head | WEHI Researcher Profile

Q: Dissecting iron homeostasis in health and disease

Iron is essential for life. Tight control of bodily iron levels is critical since too much (iron overload) and too little (iron deficiency) both have untoward consequences. We are defining how iron levels are controlled under normal conditions as well as manipulating key players in iron regulation to further understand their role. This knowledge helps us determine how iron homeostasis is altered in diseases where iron regulation is perturbed (e.g. blood cancer, infectious diseases) and during distinct life stages (e.g. infancy, pregnancy).

Q: Studies in red blood cell production

We study erythropoiesis (red blood cell production) using a range of experimental techniques including genomic and epigenetic studies, live cell imaging, genome engineering and proteomics. Using these techniques we hope to find ways to improve red cell health and hence prevent and treat anaemia.

Q: Disorders of blood cell production and function

Through collaboration with Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre we utilise samples from patients with a range of blood disorders, and apply state-of-the-art genomic, transcriptomic, and imaging technologies to define cellular and systemic changes caused by these conditions. Diseases studied include myeloproliferative neoplasms (e.g. Polycythaemia Vera, Essential Thrombocythaemia and Myelofibrosis).

Q: Placental signatures: unveiling the key to maternal and infant health

The placenta acts as a mediator for communication between the mother and fetus, facilitating the transfer of maternal nutrients, metabolites, immunoglobulins, and oxygen to the developing fetus. It also plays a crucial role in producing hormones that support fetal growth, eliminates fetal waste and carbon dioxide, and, importantly, enables the maternal immune system to tolerate the presence of fetal tissues. As a fetal organ, the delivered placenta represents a unique window into fetal development and metabolism.We are currently using established histopathology characterisation techniques together with advanced state-of-the-art spatial transcriptomic and imaging approaches to answer questions related to placental development, placental iron biology and transport, placental response to infection (such as Malaria) and inflammation and to evaluate the contribution of placental dysfunction to maternal, fetal and infant outcomes in our trial cohorts.

Q: Improving women's and children's health

Anaemia and undernutrition is very common in low- and middle-income countries, especially in pregnancy and in young children. We are undertaking a program of large randomised controlled trials in rural Bangladesh and Malawi to assess new solutions for anaemia control with the goal of improving maternal and child health, including pregnancy outcomes, maternal wellbeing, infection risk and child growth and development.

Q: Epigenetic regulation of iron homeostasis

Iron is critical for red blood cell development as well as every other tissue in the body. Absorption and distribution of iron is regulated by the liver-derived hormone, hepcidin. We have found that hepcidin expression is affected by gene-locus specific chromatin state and regulated by HDAC3.This project will use cutting edge genetic tools and epigenetic assays to establish the role of epigenetic regulation in systemic iron homeostasis, potentially opening new opportunities for treatments of patients with iron disorders.

Q: Improving menstrual health in low and middle-income countries

Menstrual health remains an understudied topic, with limited knowledge existing on the impacts and contributing factors of menstrual health issues, especially in low and middle-income countries. Women and girls in low and middle-income countries encounter multiple barriers in managing their menstrual health – and there is an urgent need to further define the issue and identify potential solutions. One consequence of poor menstrual health is menstrual-related absenteeism from school, work or social activities, hindering women's education, workforce participation and gender equity. Those women and girls who experience heavy menstrual bleeding may be particularly impacted. We are conducting research to understand contributing factors to menstrual-related absenteeism and evaluate new approaches to manage heavy menstrual bleeding with the aim to improve the health and wellbeing of women and girls in low and middle-income countries.

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In the laboratory, we study how the master controller of systemic iron homoestasis, hepcidin, is regulated. Hepcidin is responsible for controlling iron absorption from the intestine and iron recycling from degraded red cells by the macrophage.

We are using novel epigenetic approaches to characterise new pathways which may regulate hepcidin gene expression. In addition, we are studying mechanisms by which erythropoiesis and anaemia may affect hepcidin expression.

In the field, we are undertaking large randomised controlled trials of iron interventions in rural Bangladesh (infants) and Malawi (pregnant women). These trials will provide much needed evidence to inform global health anaemia control policies. Samples from these trials will be available for analysis using cutting edge platforms including 16S rRNA gene sequencing for microbiota, CyTOF and flow cytometry, and molecular characterization, for example using high throughput RNA sequencing.

Finally, we assist and advise international and national organisations with research and policy development.

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Selected publications from Prof Sant-Rayn Pasricha

Mzembe G, Nkhono W, Moya E, Harding R, Kaunda J, Thawani A, Mwambinga M, Mtambo O, Truwah Z, Vokhiwa M, Mhango G, Demir AY, Verhoef H, Ataíde R, Braat S, Pasricha S-R, Phiri KS, Mwangi MN. Prenatal Intravenous Iron and Child Growth. JAMA Network Open. 2025;8(10):10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.38392

Atkinson SH, Suchdev PS, Bode M, Carducci B, Cerami C, Mwangi MN, Namaste S, Winichagoon P, Leung S, Mutua AM, Abuga KM, Angeles-Agdeppa I, Blythe R, Carvalho N, Cepeda-Lopez A, Cross JH, de Pee S, Di Ruggiero E, Fanzo J, Gentilini U, Gichohi-Wainaina WN, Glover-Wright C, Gomes F, Hess S, Holloway-Brown J, Joof F, Karakochuk C, Kassebaum NJ, Larson L, Mettananda S, Muriuki JM, Mwangome M, Ohuma EO, Oliver V, Perumal N, Phiri K, Samuel F, Sinharoy S, Tizifa T, Valleriani G, van Zutphen-Küffer KG, Vasta F, Verhoef H, Wang Y, Yadav K, Yang Z, Young M, Zimmermann MB, Pasricha S-R. Getting back on track to meet global anaemia reduction targets: a Lancet Haematology Commission. The Lancet Haematology. 2025;12(9):10.1016/s2352-3026(25)00146-2

Blythe R, Carvalho N, Holloway-Brown J, Leung S, Oliver VL, Wang Y, Glover-Wright C, Pasricha S-R, Bode M. Cost-effective targets for anaemia reduction in 191 countries: a modelling study. The Lancet Haematology. 2025;12(9):10.1016/s2352-3026(25)00168-1

Oliver VL, Wang Y, Leung S, Blythe R, Glover-Wright C, Holloway-Brown J, Bode M, Pasricha S-R, Carvalho N. Estimated unit costs of anaemia interventions for women of reproductive age in 193 UN member states: a costing study. The Lancet Haematology. 2025;12(9):10.1016/s2352-3026(25)00171-1

Bode M, Carvalho N, Leung S, Pasricha S-R. Progress towards global nutrition targets and future directions. The Lancet. 2025;406(10505):10.1016/s0140-6736(25)01460-6

Nwokeocha S, Haysom HE, Wellard C, Roberts T, Kachapila M, Chee M, Petrie D, McQuilten ZK, Waters N, Greenway A, Mason K, Nelson A, Kaplan Z, Ho PJ, Wood EM, Irving A, Pasricha S, Crighton G, Finlayson J, Vadolas J, Cole‐Sinclair M, Greely C, Teo J, Brennan Y, Carter TL, Kidson‐Gerber G, Ho LL, Yui M, Pal M, Dowsing C, Barbaro PM, Chamerlain J. Economic burden of sickle cell disease in Australia. Internal Medicine Journal. 2025;55(8):10.1111/imj.70092

Prang K-H, Rahman AMQ, Verbunt E, Sabanovic H, Ahmed S, Hasan MI, Davidson EM, McLean ARD, Braat S, Glover-Wright C, Carvalho N, Pasricha S-R, Hamadani JD, Sarker BK. Feasibility and Acceptability of Intravenous Iron for Anaemia in Pregnancy in Bangladesh: A Demonstration Project Protocol. Global Implementation Research and Applications. 2025;:10.1007/s43477-025-00176-4

Larson LM, Mwangi M, Harding R, Moya E, Ataíde R, Mzembe G, Thurber A, Young SL, Braat S, Phiri K, Pasricha S-R. Effects of Ferric Carboxymaltose on Pica among Pregnant Women in Malawi: A Substudy to a Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Nutrition. 2025;155(7):10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.05.010

Verbunt E, Hasan MI, Davidson EM, Ahmed S, McLean ARD, Rahman AMQ, Bhuiyan MSA, Tipu SMMU, Sarker BK, Hamadani JD, Pasricha S-R, Vaughan C, Bohren MA, Prang K-H. Testing and treating anaemia in pregnant women in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey. BMJ Public Health. 2025;3(2):10.1136/bmjph-2024-002167

Fielding KL, Bennett C, Pettikiriarachchi A, Jones N, Harding R, McLean ARD, Randall L, Schaeper U, Martinez A, Ataíde R, Pasricha S-R. Maternal Tmprss6 is required for hepcidin suppression and fetal health. Blood. 2025;145(25):10.1182/blood.2024027563

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Lab research projects

Dissecting iron homeostasis in health and disease

Studies in red blood cell production

Disorders of blood cell production and function

Placental signatures: unveiling the key to maternal and infant health

Improving women’s and children’s health

Epigenetic regulation of iron homeostasis

Improving menstrual health in low and middle-income countries

Prof Sant-Rayn Pasricha

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