Very excited to share our latest work! We identify Gαi2 as a key regulator that promotes microtubule-driven neurofilament incorporation into nascent axons, helping convert transient protrusions into stable axons in vivo. link.springer.com/article/10.1... @mcf-uom.bsky.social @emboreports.org

Gαi2 promotes microtubule-driven incorporation of neurofilaments to stabilise nascent axons in vivo - EMBO Reports

Axon initiation is a critical step in the establishment of neuronal morphology. However, the mechanisms regulating stable axon initiation during embryonic development remain poorly understood. Here, u...

link.springer.com

Dan Bergstralh, @lovegrovelab.bsky.social et al develop a computational model exploring contributions of astral microtubule pushing & cortical pulling forces to spindle positioning & dynamics across diverse mitotic geometries - with validation in fly & fish cells link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Microtubule pushing and cortical pulling cooperate to orient and position the mitotic spindle - The EMBO Journal

While regulation of spindle positioning and orientation is known to be mediated by cortical pulling forces generated by dynein on astral microtubules, the contribution of microtubule-based pushing for...

link.springer.com

We're hiring! We're looking for a creative and collaborative scientist to uncover how mechanics and metabolism work together to shape mammary epithelial tissues, using tunable hydrogels, fluidics, live imaging and single-cell analysis. MRC funded | Apply: www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

Our International Developmental Mechanics Zoom Seminar Series returns this fall! Interested in sharing your research with an international community? Sign up to speak at an upcoming session: sites.google.com/view/devmech... #DevBio #Mechanobiology #Morphogenesis

I am very excited to announce that I will be starting my own group at @manchester.ac.uk in January 2027 thanks to a Wellcome Career Development Award 🥳

Really grateful to my team for nominating me for the @fbmh-uom.bsky.social Supervisor of the Year award - and very honoured to have received it.🎉 It’s a pleasure to support them and be part of their development as scientists.

We’re pleased to share the latest round of our Springboard programme 👏 This year we're supporting 55 early career researchers across the UK whose bold ideas have the potential to save lives, by investing £6.7M in discovery-driven health research 💡 ➡️ bit.ly/4syNGa8

I illustrated my way through the @bsdb.bsky.social Spring Meeting a couple weeks ago - here's my illustrated summary of the conference! I sketched (almost) all the speakers and glimpses of the science that made it such a great few days.

Just out! Fantastic work from @papalopululab.bsky.social showing bi-directional effects in HES1 and cell-cycle.

Papalopulu Lab@papalopululab.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Dynamics, dynamics, dynamics! We asked how ER+ breast cancer cells transition from dormancy to reactivation. Inspired by developmental biology, we show that HES1 protein oscillations change during this shift — and that disrupting these dynamics prevents reactivation. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

@mcf-uom.bsky.social @manchester.ac.uk

Looking for a PhD? Don't miss this opportunity to work with @anzymiller.bsky.social @lovegrovelab.bsky.social Karel Dorey and @veronicabiga.bsky.social. The deadline is Nov 8th! www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

(MRC DTP) The impact of cell division on the decoding of oscillatory protein expression during spinal cord development and regeneration at The University of Manchester on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - (MRC DTP) The impact of cell division on the decoding of oscillatory protein expression during spinal cord development and regeneration at The University of Manchester, listed on FindAPh...

findaphd.com

📢 2 very exciting PhD opportunities, please share! We use a range of technologies+systems to study #collagen, #ECMatrix, and #fibrosis 👇 1) MRC CASE DTP - #3D #biomaterials, #immune cells alter, #drugscreens lnkd.in/e6eMqs8M 2) Bicentenary - #macrophages, #circadian, #omics. lnkd.in/ekZfJfsd

Interested in cell migration and developmental biology-check out this PhD opportunity! www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Are you enthusiastic about stem cell biology and developmental biology and looking to start a PhD in 2026? Funded opportunites now available. Contact for more infomation. Links below! @lovegrovelab.bsky.social @veronicabiga.bsky.social @manchester.ac.uk @ukri.org

Often take a moment to stop at look at this photo in the reception of the building where I work. It was taken in 1968 by Shirley Baker from the spot the building was later built. @manchester.ac.uk

What an excellent thing! Thank you @biologists.bsky.social And as someone who grew up in the Lake District extra great for this protected tree to be by Winderemere.

My interview as part of @dev-journal.bsky.social Development's Pathway to Independence is live! I had a great time chatting to Saanjbati Adhikari - thank you. journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

Pathway to Independence – an interview with Anzy Miller

Anzy Miller, former Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow supported by Nancy Papalopulu (The University of Manchester, UK), is interested in the mechanisms involved in the generation of human pancrea...

journals.biologists.com

Lots of butterflies out today. Must remember to take part in the Big Butterfly Count next week! bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org. #butterflies #bigbutterflycount

Is there a Womble stuck in this wall?

Very happy to see the @newscientist.com news article in real life print though!

Shane Herbert@shaneherbert.bsky.social · last yr.

It's great to have media attention on our recent paper, but, some of these 'news' articles are completely wacky! 🤣

Scientists discover that our cells can divide in a completely unexpected way, which could improve our understanding of cancer.

Our cells can divide in a completely unexpected way

A different kind of human cell division could improve our understanding of cancer and help us grow specific tissues

newscientist.com

Great that we finally get to share this work! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/.... @fbmh-uom.bsky.social @uniofmanchester.bsky.social @uom-bhfcre.bsky.social

Interphase cell morphology defines the mode, symmetry, and outcome of mitosis

During tissue formation, dynamic cell shape changes drive morphogenesis while asymmetric divisions create cellular diversity. We found that the shifts in cell morphology that shape tissues could conco...

science.org

Manchester Uni looking lovely in the spring sunshine @fbmh-uom.bsky.social @uniofmanchester.bsky.social

So proud of my dear friend Pleasantine Mill @cilialab.bsky.social, winner of the 2025 @bsdb.bsky.social Wolpert medal She gives an impassioned speech on the importance of community & connection, particularly during these precarious times If you can't read her slide, do see alt text #biologists100

One wall, two great model organisms!

Save the date: 10th July 2025 An exciting Developmental Biology meeting @sheffielduni.bsky.social, co-organised by DRN members @tsakiridis.bsky.social and @kyracampbelllab.bsky.social www.sheffield.ac.uk/science/news... Thanks to @bsdb.bsky.social and @biologists.bsky.social for sponsorship

I wish we were sent a hard copy of everything we write!

One of the great things about Manchester is weekend walks in the Peak District. Bradford Dale was beautiful today