Katie Pickup

Break to build: fracture as a unifying morphogenetic strategy Summary: This Review presents mechanical fracture as a unifying morphogenetic strategy and describes how developmental systems actively exploit mechanical fracture to drive morphogenesis, reproduction...

Our latest with @torres-sanchez.bsky.social journals.biologists.com/dev/article-...
Breaking isn’t always a bad thing! Think of birth, seed release...
We highlight how living tissue not only tolerates fractures but actively fracture to grow, shape, reproduce, or adapt – across species and scales.

Whole-Genome Doubling and Polyploidy: Cells, Cancer, and Evolution Discover how whole-genome doubling and polyploidy drive cellular adaptations, shape cancer progression, and fuel evolutionary innovation across species.

My UK visit kicked off with deeply stimulating science at the @biologists.bsky.social workshop on Whole Genome Doubling. Check out more in our recent post on @the-node.bsky.social. Many thanks to @mateusolisboa.bsky.social and @katiepickup.bsky.social!

thenode.biologists.com/decoding-who...

Read this article to hear from a mix of researchers about some really cool ways cell biology can be used to fight the climate crisis! Inspiration came from the fantastic @cells4planethealth.bsky.social EMBO Workshop in April last year

Do have a read of this call to action from a fantastic bunch of ECRs working in the cell biology-climate space @cells4planethealth.bsky.social
It's full of lots of important ideas to support future research and researchers who want to use cell biology to help reach a more sustainable future

I really enjoyed talking to Peggy - it was great to revisit the world of DNA methylation and stem cells as well as learn more about the blood and ageing 🩸

Work for us Working for us We’re always looking for talented and motivated people to work as part of our close-knit team. Roles range from editorial to production, marketing to event co-ordination, HR to accounts...

Journal of Cell Science @jcellsci.bsky.social is recruiting an enthusiastic and motivated Reviews Editor. An exciting opportunity for a talented scientific editor to make a contribution to an important journal in the field of #cellbiology. Deadline 2 Feb.
More at: www.biologists.com/about-us/wor...

Headshot of Saanjbati Adhikari, to the left, text to the right 100 extraordinary biologists Saanjbati Adhikari Saanjbati Adhikari is a Development Reviews Editor and previously a Cross-Title Features Editor across our journals for the Company’s 100-year anniversary. Saanjbati started as a preLighter during her PhD at Queen Mary University of London, UK, where she investigated the molecular characterisation of Astrin. #100biologists #biologists100

Last but certainly not least, our final extraordinary biologist featured is Saanjbati Adhikari, a @dev-journal.bsky.social Reviews Editor, a Cross-Title Features Editor for our 100-year anniversary and a former preLighter @prelights.bsky.social. #100biologists

The dangers of PFAS #ForeverChemicals are becoming increasingly apparent - check out @dmmjournal.bsky.social's new special focus for some great articles from experts in this area about what we know so far and how we can better understand the health risks

share.google/RKcShIEkYFjS...

The Company of Biologists 100 logo to the left and QR code to the right. Cartoon depiction of Claire Moulton, to the left, text to the right 100 extraordinary biologists Claire Moulton Claire Moulton, previously our Publisher, is the Company’s first ever Chief Executive Officer. Claire is responsible for setting the Company’s strategic plan, championing quality publishing and community support. Claire led the creation of The Forest of Biologists, now in its fourth year, as a biopositive publishing initiative. #100biologists #biologists100

We are also highlighting Claire Moulton, previously our Publisher and @biologists.bsky.social's first ever CEO, who led the creation of The Forest of Biologists, as an extraordinary biologist this week. #100biologists

Pathway to Independence Support postdocs on the job market Line drawing of a person at a bench transitioning to working at a desk Development

Apply for our Pathway to Independence (PI) programme, supporting postdocs in #devbio and #stemcell research during the transition to their first group leader position: www.biologists.com/grants/devel...

Application deadline: 2 February 2026.

It was lovely speaking to @harmitmalik.bsky.social for @dmmjournal.bsky.social Infectious Disease Special Issue. We chatted about his work on host-viral evolution, the importance of blue-skies research and his approach to creating a supportive lab environment
journals.biologists.com/dmm/article/...

We are highlighting Jane Francis, Director of the British Antarctic Survey, UK, who also delivered a plenary lecture at the Biologists @ 100 conference, as an extraordinary biologist. #100biologists @bas.ac.uk

Modeling metastasis – leveraging novel tools to streamline discovery in advanced cancer Summary: We comprehensively review current cancer metastasis models, highlight advances and gaps, and advocate open data sharing to enhance model selection, experimental rigor and clinical relevance.

Great panel discussion @helloeacr.bsky.social on the future of #CancerNeuroscience and the importance of balancing multiple disease models. This recent @dmmjournal.bsky.social Perspective from Eva Hernando provides a great exploration of pros and cons of metastasis models
tinyurl.com/dmm-metastas...

Poster of the 100-year history of The Company of Biologists.

1925: On this date, 100 years ago, The Company of Biologists is founded by George Parker Bidder III. Throughout today, we will be posting some of our key milestones. Read more about the past 100 years at bit.ly/3WnTVA1.

Photo of the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao in golden morning light with red autumn trees in the background.

Photo of red autumn trees in front of a building reflected in the river.

Excited to be in beautiful Bilbao for @helloeacr.bsky.social Cancer Neuroscience this week on behalf of @dmmjournal.bsky.social. Looking forward to learning more about interactions between tumours and the nervous system #EACR

Lab’s 1st preprint!

Menstruation is understudied due to societal taboos + a biological challenge: mice (a key system for research + drug discovery) don’t menstruate.

@cagricevrim.bsky.social made menstruating mice + used them to discover early events in menstruation.

He is on the job market!

Picture of Azim Surani in a dark blue jumper and light blue collared shirt sitting by a microscope.

An Interview with Azim Surani

Ashley Moffett and @geraldinejowett.bsky.social spoke to Azim, recipient of both the 2025 Kyoto Prize and 2026 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, about his non-traditional and inspirational route into academia:

journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

It was lovely talking to you. Your chicken story is a fun fact that's going to be pretty hard to beat!

Thanks to Katie Pickup (@katiepickup.bsky.social) for chatting with me about my scientific journey and what’s next in the future! If you’re curious about what I do, where I’m heading, and why I used to sleep with a chicken, check out my interview with Development (@dev-journal.bsky.social) below! 🧬

FocalPlane features... meets preLights Thursday 4 September 2025, 14:00 BST (UTC+1) FocalPlane logo Picture of Carmen Rodilla-Ramírez T cell protrusions enable fast, localised initiation of CAR signalling Carmen Rodilla-Ramírez (Freie Universität Berlin) Picture of Eva Mejia-Ramirez Targeting RhoA activity rejuvenates aged hematopoietic stem cells Eva Mejia-Ramirez (The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research) preLights logo Hosted by preLighters Felipe Del Valle Batalla and Vibha Singh @focalplane.bsky.social @prelights.bsky.social #FocalPlaneFeatures #preprints

#FocalPlaneFeatures meets @prelights.bsky.social

@fadelvalle.bsky.social & Vibha Singh have picked 2 fantastic #cellbio preprints & will be presenting their preLights alongside research talks from @probablycarmen.bsky.social & Eva Mejia-Ramirez.

Register: focalplane.biologists.com/2025/08/20/f...

It was lovely chatting to you - I'm excited to see where your research takes you!

Pathway to Independence – an interview with Marlies Oomen Marlies Oomen is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Helmholtz Munich, Germany, in the laboratory of Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla. She is interested in how transposable elements are involved in gene regulation acr...

And if you're interested in my academic path, scientific interests and plans for the future; I had a great conversation with @katiepickup.bsky.social @dev-journal.bsky.social as part of the Pathway to Independence program: doi.org/10.1242/dev....

Interested in transposable elements in mammalian preimplantation development? It's not too late to register for the 'Development presents' webinar next Wednesday. Together with Anzy @anzymiller.bsky.social who will talk about her postdoc work as well!

Special Issue In Vitro Models of Human Disease to Inform Mechanism and Drug Discovery Edited by Vivian Li, Austin Smith and Joseph Wu Submission deadline: 6 October 2025

📢Call for papers

Submit your latest research to our upcoming special issue on #InVitroModels of #HumanDisease.

Submission deadline: 6 October 2025

Editors: @vivianlilab.bsky.social, @ausmith.bsky.social & Joseph Wu

journals.biologists.com/dmm/pages/in...

#CallforPapers

The Company of Biologists 100 logo to the left and QR code to the right. Portrait of Helen Zenner to the left, text to the right 100 extraordinary biologists Helen Zenner Helen Zenner, Community Manager of FocalPlane and JCS Online Editor, combines her passion for microscopy, cell biology and science communication with her background in working in interdisciplinary research teams to support and connect the microscopy community. #100biologists #biologists100

This week, we are highlighting Helen Zenner, Community Manager of @focalplane.bsky.social and @jcellsci.bsky.social Online Editor, as an extraordinary biologist. #100biologists
@helenzsci.bsky.social

YouTube video by The Company of Biologists spotLights Ep 16: preLights in conversation with Katelyn Cooper

New #Spotlight episode!

@ryanharrison13.bsky.social, Stefan and @reinierprosee.bsky.social talk with Katelyn Cooper, first author of a groundbreaking preprint—the first in-depth analysis of the LGBTQ+ climate in the biological sciences.

#LGBTinSTEM #preprint 🏳️‍🌈🔬

LGBTQ+ realities in the biological sciences - preLights Who “belongs” in biology? Researchers conduct the first comprehensive analysis of the LGBTQ+ climate in biological sciences.

Who “belongs” in biology?

The first comprehensive analysis of the LGBTQ+ climate in the biological sciences! #LGBTinSTEM #preprint 🏳️‍🌈

#preLight prepared by @ryanharrison13.bsky.social, Stefan & @reinierprosee.bsky.social ⬇️👀
prelights.biologists.com/highlights/l...

*Paid internship opportunity*

@biologists.bsky.social is looking for a 3-month intern this summer to work across the Node, @prelights.bsky.social and
@focalplane.bsky.social

If you're interested in #SciCommm & #publishing, and have the right to work in the UK, apply by 5 June 👇

Would you like to be @the-node.bsky.social's new Community Manager?

Find out here what this exciting role involves and how you can apply to join the team.

thenode.biologists.com/would-you-li...

Application deadline 19 May

#SciComm #DevBio #StemCell