This week @dr-ahlamq.bsky.social has been preparing DNA for long-read sequencing. Historically, DNA is broken into 'chunks' to read the code. Long-read sequencing is newer technology for deciphering much longer stretches of DNA, providing in-depth information about leukaemia genetics.​

Proud supervisor moment for @drnickbrittain.bsky.social & @letimarchetti.bsky.social attending the MRes Poster session and supporting Lucy and Kunwoo, amazing intercalating medics who worked with @ljrusselllab.bsky.social over the last 5 months on their research project. Best luck and AD MAIORA!

Today we had the pleasure to host @stefanschoenfelder.bsky.social at @newcastleuni.bsky.social who gave a brilliant and insightful talk about non canonical enhancers and reset in induced pluripotent stem cells. Thank you to everyone who joined the seminar and for the great discussion at the end!

Great conference this week, filled with inspiring talks and poster presentations from @nucancer.bsky.social researchers. Congratulations to our PhDs, @phoebejsnow.bsky.social & @alsayadi.bsky.social, recipients of PGR Outstanding Contribution Awards in recognition of their hard work and dedication.

Congratulations to our PhD students Ahmed Alsayadi, Phoebe Snow and Emma Barlow on receiving FMS Postgraduate Outstanding Contribution Awards, recognising their outstanding contributions to the NUCancer PGR community. A brilliant achievement and very well deserved 👏

@letimarchetti.bsky.social represented the LEGEND group ​ at the 'Young Researchers Chromatin Club' seminar series by @activemotifusa.bsky.social Leti presented exciting research progress, using multiple chromatin profiling methods to understand genetic regulation in leukaemia.

🧬 Fighting Paediatric Leukaemia with Epigenetics: 4-Year PhD Opportunity!​ ​ Looking to push the boundaries of cancer research using cutting-edge epigenomic technology?​ ​ We are seeking a dedicated PhD student to join the LEGEND group.​ Full details in the link below:​ bit.ly/LEGEND_PhD

Last week was an exciting one for the LEGEND Group! We attended NUBI Live, where Lisa and Phoebe gave talks, and Ahmed and Leti presented posters. Nick also presented in the @nucancer.bsky.social PMGI Symposium. Excellent science with plenty of engaging discussions!

Very proud that LEGEND Group technician, Camille Drai, won two prestigious Techncian Awards. Well done @camilledrai.bsky.social 👏

Newcastle University Centre for Cancer@nucancer.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Two awards, one incredible achievement! Huge congratulations to NU Cancer’s Camille Drai on winning Outstanding Technician of the Year and Early Career Achievement at the Newcastle University Technician Awards 👏 #NUCancer #NewcastleUniversity #TechnicianAwards

Research looks like... Dr Jasmeen Oberoi: "Collaboration from researchers, healthcare professionals and people with lived experience." Dr Lisa Russell: "Teamwork between researchers and clinicians, turning lab discoveries into real treatments for people who need them."

Today is #WorldCancerDay. We honour everyone affected by cancer - patients, families, and loved ones ❤️ Today is a reminder of why we do what we do, to make a difference through research.

Molly’s story is a powerful reminder of why we are committed to fighting leukaemia. Every donation supports better treatment development. bloodcancer.org.uk/get-involved... Not only does research continue to grow, but our @bloodcanceruk.bsky.social project plant grows alongside it, a symbol of hope.

Shout out this #InternationalMensDay to Ahmed Alsayadi (@alsayadi.bsky.social) and Nick Brittain — brilliant cancer researchers and all-round great humans. Your skill, drive, and good vibes make the LEGEND team what it is 💙

We’re excited to welcome a talented new postdoctoral researcher, Monika Gonka, to the LEGEND group! She’ll be leading data-driven projects and supporting the team as a bioinformatics research assistant. Welcome aboard, Monika!

I was welcomed to the lab meeting yesterday by this spooky bunch 🤪. Always up for a giggle and certainly made my day 😆

Viruses effectively deliver gene-editing proteins into leukaemia cells. Envelope proteins ‘coat’ the virus, and the best envelope choice can vary between different leukaemias. We use fluorescent dyes to decide which envelope will allow the best delivery of the gene-editing proteins to the cells.

We’re proud to share the inspiring story of Dr. Dan Mattison — diagnosed with leukaemia at age 14, and now a Foundation Year 2 doctor. Dan and his family are welcoming a £4.1 million investment from @cancerresearchuk.org. Read more here: www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articl...

Alumnus who survived teenage cancer welcomes multi-million funding

A Newcastle University graduate who survived cancer as a teen and was inspired to become a doctor by those who cared for him, is welcoming a multi-million pound investment from Cancer Research UK.

ncl.ac.uk

Last week on #WorldCancerResearchDay the whole lab and other colleagues from @nucancer.bsky.social turned into bakers to help fundraising for @cancerresearchuk.org, a charity close to us for their commitment to fund groundbreaking projects in cancer research. Lovely seeing the public engaged!

September is #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth. Our team joined the @childcancernth.bsky.social campaign #PaintTheToonGold to show support for children with cancer and their families. Together, we can raise awareness and keep pushing research forward.

We were excited to share our recent research findings and projects at #CLRUK25 in York. Dr. Brittain and Dr. Alqahtani were thrilled to present their projects, supported by @cancerresearchuk.org and @bloodcanceruk.bsky.social. Dr. Marchetti brought great energy while chairing the first session.

Morning coffee and train for the whole lab today, direction #CLRUK25 in York! Looking forward to seeing everyone from the CLR-UK network! #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth #BloodCancerAwarenessMonth

Research is not a solo effort. ​ It takes teamwork. It takes belief. It takes collaboration. We know what it takes to beat blood cancer and so does @dr-ahlamq.bsky.social whose work is funded by @bloodcanceruk.bsky.social grant co-led by Lisa & @letimarchetti.bsky.social​ #BloodCancerAwarenessMonth​

We recently welcomed Dr Nicholas Brittain to the LEGEND group, who has joined as a Research Associate to investigate mechanisms driving super-enhancers in paediatric leukaemia as part of a research project funded by @cancerresearchuk.org

Recent nice weather called for a social outing of the LEGEND group, filled with fun, sport and a MUST stop for ice cream by the coast 🍦. We also had our first lab retreat at Cockle Park, featuring good scientific discussion 🧬 and a visit by our @ukri.org MRC collaborators from Edinburgh ✨

Thrilled to have contributed to ground-breaking research led by Dr Joan Boyes (@universityofleeds.bsky.social‬), just out in Nature (‪@nature.com‬)! 🧬 We show that tiny DNA fragments, naturally cut from the genome, can linger—causing more damage & helping leukaemia progress.

Our lab was delighted to host a visit from @cancerresearchuk.org fundraisers, campaigners, and patient advocates Sue Duncombe and Patrick McGuire. It was a pleasure to share our research, to give an insight into our daily work and highlight how CRUK support helps us move science forward.

🌟 Nominate Children’s Cancer North for a chance to win £5,000! The Benefact Movement for Good Health & Wellbeing Special Draw is open until May 4. By nominating us, Children’s Cancer North could win £5,000 to help make life better for children and young people affected by cancer 👉 loom.ly/dFhKtac

Nominate a charity - Movement for Good

Nominate a charity for a Movement for Good award now.

loom.ly

We are hiring! Great opportunity for a RA with bioinformatic skills We are looking for talented researcher to work on a project to detect gene fusions and driver mutations in a large cohort of children with ALL treated across multiple different trials to determine their clinical relevance.

Having a great day with the whole @ljrusselllab.bsky.social group, attending the @nucancer.bsky.social 2025 conference, showcasing excellent research from across the faculty, including some of our own from the #WolfsonCentre in the Herschel building, Alistair Poll and Melvin Joy. More to come later!

@ljrusselllab.bsky.social has crafted beautiful items for Children's Cancer North! If you want to help this amazing charity, have a look at the shop : Lunch Bag: shorturl.at/jvdLm Phone Holder: shorturl.at/QbFXN Pouch: shorturl.at/ryX6x

CCN Lunch Bag - Children's Cancer North

With this CCN lunch bag, you’re not only getting a beautifully hand-crafted accessory but also helping fund vital research and support children with cancer

childrenscancernorth.org.uk