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Dr. Deborah Goberdhan is an Associate Professor at the University of Oxford , affiliated with the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (DPAG) . She leads an independent research group investigating amino acid sensing , mTORC1 signaling , and exosome-mediated communication in cancer progression using both human cancer cells and Drosophila models . She serves on the Cancer Research UK Oxford Centre Research Committee , teaches Medical and Biomedical Sciences undergraduates , and acts as Academic Public Engagement Lead for her department. Her research focuses on cell growth regulation through Proton-assisted Amino acid Transporters (PATs) , which function as 'transceptors' modulating mTORC1 activity . This work has expanded to examine exosome heterogeneity and therapeutic delivery mechanisms with support from BBSRC and Cancer Research UK . She co-founded Oxosome , the Oxford extracellular vesicle interest group , to foster interdisciplinary collaboration. Key research areas include Cancer cell communication via exosomes Amino acid signaling in tumor progression Drosophila as cancer model system Clinical collaborations with Prof Adrian L Harris , Prof Freddie C Hamdy , and Prof Clare Verrill Recent publications highlight her group's contributions to exosome biogenesis (2023), brain-targeted siRNA delivery (2021), and nutrient stress responses in cancer (2020). She actively promotes scientific communication through ISEV social media initiatives.

• Cancer Biology
• Cell Growth Regulation
• mTORC1 Signaling
• +5 more

Dr. Marta Zlatic is a Principal Research Associate at the Department of Zoology , part of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Cambridge. She leads the Zlatic Lab, focusing on the structural and functional relationships within neural circuits. Her research explores how nervous systems integrate sensory information and prior experiences to enable decision-making, emphasizing learning and memory , sensorimotor transformations , and connectomics . Using Drosophila melanogaster larvae as a model organism, her work combines optogenetics , electron microscopy , and functional imaging to decode circuit principles. Recent publications highlight trends in connectome analysis and behavioural neuroscience , with subfields spanning synaptic architecture , neural network modeling , and genetic manipulation techniques . She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and maintains active research partnerships at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Group members include Bernd Breuer, Nicolo Ceffa, Michael Clayton, and other researchers advancing understanding of Drosophila neurobiology. The lab contributes to Cambridge's Athena Swan Bronze Award initiatives for equality and inclusion in research environments.

• Systems neuroscience
• Circuit mechanisms of behaviour
• Learning and memory
• +2 more

Professor Ezio Rosato is a Professor of Biology at the University of Leicester's School of Biological Sciences. His research focuses on molecular genetics of circadian rhythms, examining biological clocks across diverse organisms from insects to crustaceans. Research investigates genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying circadian timekeeping, seasonal adaptations, and light-responsive behaviors. Current projects explore cryptochrome-mediated magnetosensitivity, circadian neuronal plasticity, and environmental influences on biological timing. Recent publications analyze ultrastructural changes in clock neurons, genetic regulation of seasonal phenotypes, and evolutionary dynamics of circadian systems. His work employs molecular genetics, behavioral analysis, and comparative genomics across model organisms. Professor Rosato collaborates internationally on chronobiological research and contributes to teaching programs in genetics and molecular biology.

• Circadian Rhythms
• Molecular Genetics
• Neurobiology
• +1 more

Professor Cahir O'Kane is a faculty member at the Department of Genetics , University of Cambridge. He studied Genetics as an undergraduate in Cambridge, earned a PhD in bacterial genetics at Trinity College Dublin, and conducted postdoctoral work at the University of Basel, where he developed enhancer trapping in Drosophila . His research focuses on subcellular neuronal function and dysfunction using Drosophila as a model organism, particularly the role of axonal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). He actively contributes to undergraduate teaching in cell biology and genetics and serves as a Director of Studies at Churchill College. His work leverages Drosophila to explore ER-shaping proteins implicated in HSP, such as those causing axonal ER continuity gaps. Current projects involve screening tools for ER formation genes, light/electron microscopy analyses, and physiological impacts of ER disruption. He collaborates with the Virtual Fly Brain consortium for integrating Drosophila brain data. He advocates for sustainable funding of scientific resources like FlyBase and has supported efforts to relocate FlyBase operations to Cambridge amid NIH funding cuts. His team has received Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Horizon 2020 awards for research on ER dynamics (Dr. Lu Zhao, Dr. JJ Perez Moreno).

• Drosophila neuronal cell biology
• Neurodegenerative diseases
• Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP)
• +2 more

Dr. Andrew Lin is a Senior Lecturer and School Director of One University at the University of Sheffield's School of Biosciences. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and a BA in Biology from Harvard University. His career includes roles as a Lecturer (2019-2022), Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow (2015-2019), and Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford (2009-2015). Research focuses on how the brain encodes sensory information for memory formation, using Drosophila's olfactory system as a model. Key areas include sparse coding in Kenyon cells, synaptic inhibition/excitation balance, and neural circuit dysfunction links to epilepsy. Teaching includes modules like BMS11004 Introduction to Neuroscience and BMS248 Neural Circuits, Behaviour and Memory. He has secured grants from the European Research Council, BBSRC, and Wellcome Trust. Professional memberships include the FENS-Kavli Network and BBSRC Pool of Experts. Lab research employs techniques like in vivo two-photon imaging, electrophysiology, and genetic manipulation. PhD opportunities are available in neural circuitry and sensory processing.

• Neuroscience
• Olfactory System
• Neural Circuit Function
• +3 more

Korneel Hens is a Senior Research Fellow at Oxford Brookes University's School of Biological and Medical Sciences, specializing in Drosophila genetics and gene regulatory networks. His work bridges molecular biology, genomics, and evolutionary studies. Current project: TFTag (2022-2027, £1.14M BBSRC-funded) to create a Drosophila transcription factor library. Key collaborations: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council, interdisciplinary teams in neuroscience and genomics. Research focuses on: Transcriptional control mechanisms in Drosophila insulin-producing cells Apoptotic pathway evolution in aphids Functional characterization of gene regulatory networks Comparative studies between insect and human angiotensin-converting enzymes Chromatin dynamics during development Evolutionary conservation of molecular pathways His publications span top journals like Molecular Ecology , PLoS Genetics , and Cell Reports , with over 15 recent articles demonstrating sustained research productivity. Awards include significant BBSRC grant funding for large-scale Drosophila studies. Advising activities and student supervision details are not explicitly mentioned. He contributes to technical innovations like yeast one-hybrid screening methods and primer databases for qPCR.

• Drosophila Genetics
• Transcription Factors
• Gene Regulatory Networks
• +3 more

Caleb Webber is a Researcher at the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford. He is actively engaged in collaborative research through the Genetics of Cognitive Dysfunction (Gencodys) Consortium and the IMI StemBANCC consortium, where he leads the Data Interpretation package. Education: PhD in 2003 from the European Bioinformatics Institute and the Department of Genetics, Cambridge University His research focuses on understanding the genetic basis of diseases, particularly the role of copy number variations (CNVs) in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders such as autism and Parkinson's disease. Using computational biology and genomics approaches, he investigates gene clustering, functional interactions, and therapeutic targets related to these conditions. The recent publications highlight his work in genetics, neuroscience, and computational biology, with a focus on CNVs in autism, iPSC-derived neuronal models for Parkinson's disease, and the application of omics studies to understand disease mechanisms. He is affiliated with the Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre and contributes to large-scale international research initiatives.

• Genetics
• Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• +5 more

Dr. Sarah Mizielinska is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience at King's College London, affiliated with the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). Her research focuses on nucleocytoplasmic transport dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases such as Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), particularly investigating the role of C9orf72 gene mutations and TDP-43 protein aggregates. She employs advanced microscopy techniques, including super-resolution methodologies, to study single-molecule transport and nuclear pore dynamics. Education: PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Dundee (2010), BSc in Pharmacology and Neuroscience from the University of Bristol (2003). Professional Experience: Postdoctoral Research Associate at UCL (2010–2016), UK DRI Programme Leader, and co-leader of an online MSc module. Research Interests: Her work bridges molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration with translational research, emphasizing RNA biology, protein aggregation, and therapeutic strategies. Key topics include C9orf72 repeat expansions, dipeptide repeat proteins, and nucleocytoplasmic transport defects. Collaborations: Active partnerships with institutions like UCL, University College London, and the MNDA Motor Neurone Disease Association. Grants & Projects: Leads or co-investigates grants funded by UK DRI, Alzheimer's Research UK, and others, focusing on topics like RNA-trans-splicing therapies and Annexin A11 signaling in ALS. Labs/Teams: Directs her own research group within the UK DRI, contributing to interdisciplinary teams studying neurodegenerative disease mechanisms.

• Neurodegeneration
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
• +5 more

Nicholas Glossop is a Lecturer in the Division of Neuroscience, specializing in circadian rhythm biology and transcriptional regulation. His work explores molecular clock mechanisms in Drosophila melanogaster and mammals. Primary affiliations: Division of Neuroscience Academic rank: Lecturer Research Interests Dr. Glossop investigates circadian clock gene networks, focusing on transcription factors like CLOCK and BMAL1. His studies examine: Regulation of circadian period through protein degradation Developmental specification of pacemaker neurons Evolutionary conservation of clock mechanisms Light and temperature entrainment pathways Ubiquitin ligase roles in clock function Transcriptional feedback loop architecture Publication Trends His 13 publications (2003–2014) demonstrate sustained focus on Drosophila models and mammalian circadian systems, with increasing emphasis on ubiquitin-mediated regulation and clock neuron development in later works.

• Circadian Rhythm
• Transcription Factors
• Neuroscience
• +3 more

Claire Russell serves as Associate Professor in Developmental and Translational Neurobiology within the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). Her research leverages zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) models to investigate neurodegenerative mechanisms in Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (NCLs/Batten disease), epilepsy, and ataxia, with emphasis on microglial function, autophagy, and mitochondrial dysfunction. She earned her BSc from Imperial College London (1991) and DPhil from the University of Sussex (1995), conducting postdoctoral work at Imperial College, King's College London, and University College London. Her lab operates under core values of Equity, Respect, Commitment, Curiosity, and Integrity, fostering an inclusive research environment through structured recruitment and daily practices. Russell's research program exploits zebrafish advantages—rapid development, optical transparency, and genetic tractability—for high-throughput drug discovery and mechanistic studies. Recent publications reveal strong trends in mitochondrial pathology (ATPase inhibitory factor 1 dysfunction), autophagy defects in NCLs, and cross-species modeling of lysosomal storage disorders. Her group develops zebrafish models for CLN2/CLN3 diseases and collaborates on drug repurposing studies targeting seizure reduction and neuroprotection. Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Associate of the Royal College of Science She has mentored over 50 PhD/Master's students and secured major funding including MRC (£1m for CLN3 personalized medicine), EU H2020 BATCure (€6m), and Batten Disease Family Association grants. Current projects focus on lysosomal storage disorder mechanisms, blood-brain barrier therapeutics, and microglia-neuron interactions. Russell leads the Brain Health and Behaviour research group, teaches developmental biology courses, coordinates placement years, and conducts extensive school outreach including CRB-checked classroom visits and work experience programs.

• Developmental Neurobiology
• Translational Neurobiology
• Zebrafish Models
• +6 more

Professor Kristian Franze is a leading researcher in neuronal mechanics with dual appointments at the University of Cambridge and Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. At Cambridge, he serves as an Affiliated Principal Investigator at the Stem Cell Institute within the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience. He concurrently directs the Institute of Medical Physics and Microtissue Engineering at FAU and leads the Neuronal Mechanics Division at the Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin in Erlangen, Germany. His research centers on the mechanobiology of the central nervous system, investigating how cellular forces, tissue compliance, and mechanosensitivity regulate brain development and pathology. Franze's lab employs interdisciplinary techniques including atomic force microscopy, traction force microscopy, and custom soft substrates to study axon guidance, brain morphogenesis, and glial scar formation. Key discoveries demonstrate that nervous tissue exhibits significant mechanical heterogeneity and that mechanical cues are fundamental to neuronal development. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on mechanical regulation in neural systems, spanning molecular mechanisms like RNA-binding protein functions in axonal development to tissue-level phenomena such as glial scar mechanics. This body of work establishes mechanosensing as critical for axon growth and brain folding, with translational implications for spinal cord injury and neurodegenerative diseases. No scientific awards were explicitly documented in the source materials. Franze mentors researchers at the Max Planck Centre and maintains active collaborations with Cambridge colleagues including Thora Karadottir and Mekayla Storer. His work receives support from major research funders though specific grants aren't detailed in the provided texts. The Neuronal Mechanics Division in Erlangen integrates physics and biology to investigate CNS mechanics, maintaining strong ties with the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. Current research explores how neurons integrate mechanical and chemical signals during development and regeneration, with potential applications for treating CNS pathologies.

• Mechanobiology
• Neuroscience
• Central Nervous System Development
• +3 more

Gregory Jefferis is a Professor and Research Leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (MRC LMB), University of Cambridge, where he heads a group investigating olfactory processing in Drosophila . His work bridges neural circuitry, behaviour, and computational neuroanatomy within the Cambridge neuroscience ecosystem. Jefferis' research focuses on how odour information transforms into behaviour through higher olfactory centres, particularly examining third-order neurons in the lateral horn that integrate specific olfactory channels. His lab employs cutting-edge techniques including genetic labelling, in vivo whole-cell patch clamp recording, and high-resolution computational neuroanatomy to decode innate and learned behavioural responses to general odours and sex pheromones. Recent work demonstrates strong trends in connectome mapping and computational analysis, with 2024 publications in Nature and Cell detailing the complete adult fly brain connectome and neurotransmitter classification via machine learning. His group actively contributes to open-source neuroanatomy tools like the natverse while exploring fundamental questions about sensory processing and memory retrieval in olfactory circuits. Jefferis leads a collaborative team including Isabella Beckett, Sebastian Cachero, Shahar Frechter, Florian Kampf, Myrto Mitletton, Markus Pleijzier, Gerald Rubin, Philipp Schlegel, Valeria Silva-Moeller, Tomke Stuerner, and Catherine Whittle, with extensive international partnerships evident in recent multi-institutional publications.

• Neuroscience
• Neurobiology
• Olfaction
• +4 more

Mariaelena Repici is a Lecturer at Aston University's School of Biosciences, within the College of Health and Life Sciences. She holds a PhD in Human Biology from the University of Torino (Italy) and an MSc in Biological Sciences. Her research focuses on neurodegenerative mechanisms, particularly Parkinson’s disease, and explores the role of DJ-1 protein in neuronal death. She is also affiliated with the Biosciences Research Group (BRG), Aston Research Centre for Health in Ageing, and the Aston Institute of Health & Neurodevelopment. Repici has held postdoctoral positions at Université Pierre et Marie Curie and Université de Lausanne before joining Aston in 2019. Her teaching responsibilities include undergraduate modules such as Cells to Systems, Metabolic Physiology, and Research Projects, as well as postgraduate projects. Repici’s work spans neurodegeneration, mitochondrial dysfunction, and therapeutic interventions, with recent studies on Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. She has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles, including work on JNK signaling pathways and aquaporin-4 trafficking. Her research highlights interdisciplinary approaches to understanding cellular mechanisms underlying neurological disorders.

• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Molecular Biology
• +5 more

Dr. Raffaele Sarnataro is a Fulford Junior Research Fellow at Somerville College, Oxford, and a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics at the University of Oxford. He works in the Miesenböck group at the Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, focusing on the molecular and neural mechanisms of sleep control. Dr. Sarnataro received his academic training at the Scuola Normale Superiore and University of Pisa, Italy, where he obtained a BSc in Biotechnologies, an MSc in Molecular and Cell Biology, and a Diploma di Licenza in Biology. He completed his doctoral studies at the University of Oxford through the Wellcome Trust-funded 4-year Doctoral Programme in Neuroscience, earning an MSc and DPhil (PhD) in Neuroscience. Dr. Sarnataro's research focuses on understanding how sleep need is encoded in the brain, investigating the molecular machinery and neural dynamics of sleep control. His work combines ultrastructural, molecular, transcriptomic, transgenic, single- and two-photon microscopy, and behavioral approaches to study sleep-control neurons and how sleep need is physically encoded in their molecular machinery and circuitry network dynamics. His recent groundbreaking work has revealed a mechanistic link between cellular energy metabolism and sleep control, showing that mitochondrial electron transport in specific neurons tracks sleep need. His research has uncovered that neurons projecting to the dorsal fan-shaped body in Drosophila track sleep need via electrons flowing through the electron transport chain of their mitochondria. Tuning this flow bidirectionally regulates the animal's sleep, mechanistically linking cellular metabolism to sleep control. His work also shows that these same neurons generate oscillations whose power depends on sleep need and is tuned by neuronal plasticity. Dr. Sarnataro has received several prestigious awards, including: Fulford Junior Research Fellowship from Somerville College Oxford (2024) Jesus College Graduate Scholarship Oxford Scholar status (2019) Awards from the Physiological Society Awards from the British Neuroscience Association Awards from the Guarantors of Brain Awards from Gordon Research Conferences Dr. Sarnataro has been actively involved in neuroscience community building as President of the Oxford University Cortex Club, the neuroscience student forum. He also serves as an associate member of the Italian Center for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies and collaborates with the Italian National Association of Natural Sciences Teachers and Amgen Biotech Experience Italy. He has contributed to science communication through the Neuroverse podcast and various publications, demonstrating strong commitment to public engagement across educational levels.

• Sleep Neuroscience
• Molecular Neurobiology
• Neural Circuits
• +4 more

Claudia Barros is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Principal Investigator at the Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth. She leads the Barros Team, focusing on neural stem cell biology and brain tumourigenesis using Drosophila and mammalian models. Education: Diploma in Biology/Genetics, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa (1998, 1st class) PhD in Neural Stem Cell Division and Cell Fate, Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge (2003) Postdoctoral Research, The Scripps Research Institute, USA (2009) Postdoctoral Research, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford (2010) Leverhulme Early Career Fellow (2010–2013) Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP, 2014) Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms governing neural stem cell quiescence, reactivation, identity, and transformation into brain tumour-initiating cells. Using Drosophila as an in vivo model, her lab investigates signaling pathways such as Hippo, Insulin Receptor, and TNF, translating findings into human brain tumour tissues and patient-derived stem cells. She is part of the Plymouth Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence sponsored by Brain Tumour Research, UK. Recent publications highlight her work on ribogenesis in tumour growth (EMBO Reports, 2024), TNF signaling in mitotic entry after CNS damage (Cell Reports, 2021), and STRIPAK regulation of neural stem cell reactivation (Cell Reports, 2019). Her research spans developmental neurobiology, cancer stem cells, and translational neuroscience, with strong emphasis on functional genetics and imaging. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship Higher Education Academy Fellow (UK) Supervised student awards: First-place poster and third-place 3MT prize at Plymouth conferences She has supervised 6 PhDs (as Director of Studies) and 2 MRes students to completion, with 6 current PhD students. She has held leadership roles including Deputy Director of the Doctoral College, Faculty of Health, and Peninsula Medical School Postgraduate Research Coordinator. She teaches neuroscience, cancer biology, and stem cell development across medical, dental, and biomedical science programs. Her lab is funded by Brain Tumour Research, BBSRC, The Leverhulme Trust, and other major bodies. She is active in peer review and professional societies including the British Society for Cell Biology and European Association for Cancer Research.

• Neuroscience
• Neural Stem Cell Biology
• Brain Tumourigenesis
• +7 more