Jacqui Marshall PhD CSci 🧪🧫🧬🧑‍🔬🧑‍💻📊🌳🏞️🧗🥎🇪🇺

This is accurate.

There's a valley of death between 'good academic research' and 'ready for investment'.

Every project at that stage is risky, and because there's not much money instututions cherry pick and become risk averse.

If you wanna win the lottery, buy more tickets.

1946: The Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Sciences is transferred to the Company. In 1966, QJMS is renamed Journal of Cell Science @jcellsci.bsky.social. Read JCS’s 100-anniversary article collection: bit.ly/46RvL5N

A vibrant welcome slide for the “5th Crick International Cancer Conference,” held 5–7 October 2025. The background features a colourful microscopic image with cellular structures in red, green, and blue hues.

As with last evening’s panel write-up, all views here are my interpretation of the discussion - any errors are mine, not the panellists!

What a great day of research and networking! #CrickCancerConf

– Interview prep is vital: research statement, job talk, chalk talk

– Think beyond science: connection to colleagues and institute culture matters

– Industry is a valid route; there too interviews are rigorous and science-driven

#CrickCancerConf #ResearchCareers #AcademicPathways

– When pitching proposals: pair a grounded project with a bold long-term vision

– Diversify from your supervisor; open dialogue beats competition

Practical Advice:

– Build a strong network; peers matter as much as PIs

– Explore & develop skills in teaching, editorial, and community building

Key Takeaways:
– No fixed ideal postdoc length: passion, networks, and adaptability matter most

– Productivity per time unit counts, even if papers aren’t high-impact

– While a postdoc focus on lab goals not your niche: communication with mentors is critical at the transition

#PostdocToPI

A panel titled “Navigating the post-doc to PI transition” is underway. Three panellists — Anna Obenauf, Stefani Spranger, and Guillaume Jacquemet - are seated on stage. Our panel host stands in the middle addressing the audience. The screen behind them displays the session title and panellist names.

🗣️ Day 2 ended with another discussion panel, this time on the postdoc to PI career transition.

Our panellists:
– Anna Obenauf
– Stefani Spranger
– Guillaume Jacquemet

They shared candid insights on navigating the leap from postdoc to independence.

#CrickCancerConf #ResearchCareers #TeamScience

Clinical fellows Opportunities for clinicians to develop their research careers at the Crick.

🩺 Clinician–scientist career pathways at the Crick:
1. PhDs for qualified clinicians
🔗 crick.ac.uk/careers-and-study/clinical-fellows
2. PhDs for early-career clinicians
🔗 colcc.ac.uk/clinical-research-training-fellowships-crtf
3. Postdoc fellowships for clinicians. Will open March 2026

A slide titled “Opportunities for clinicians at the Crick” lists three fellowship schemes: Crick doctoral fellowships for clinicians (apply by 14 Nov 2025), CRUK City of London Centre clinical research training fellowships (apply by 5 Nov 2025), and Crick postdoctoral fellowships for clinicians (open March 2026). Each includes a brief description and relevant URLs.

Well I was too busy talking and listening today to post during the event so catching up this evening.

This informational slide may help clinicians looking for a research opportunity!

(Links in next post)

#CrickCancerConf #ClinicianScientist #PhDForClinicians #PostdocFellowship #ResearchCareers

Congratulations! Immunology is certainly the topic of today - I’m seeing this news whilst in an immunology session at #CrickCancerConf!

Congratulations to our 2025 Development Fund awardees! 🎉

From new detection tools to targeted nanotech therapies, these seed funded projects explore bold ideas to improve cancer diagnosis & treatment.
👉 bit.ly/4gV38tf

@icr.ac.uk @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social @imperialsandc.bsky.social

Heading in for day 2 of #CrickCancerConf

Session themes today are, “Inflammation and cancer” this morning, and “Therapy resistance” this afternoon. A top lineup of speakers again, and I’m so looking forward to exploring more posters too.

Reach out if attending and a conversation might help you!

🧵 All views shared here are my interpretation of the discussion. If I’ve misrepresented anything, the fault’s mine - not the panellists’.

Overall, a thought-provoking day at #CrickCancerConf - grateful for the openness, ambition, and global perspective.

Prevention vs cure? Both essential - and prevention of recurrence is underexplored

Can cancer learn from CVD? Maybe - but cancer’s complexity is a different beast

#FutureOfScience
#CancerResearch #CrickCancerConf #CancerPrevention

🔍 Final panel themes:

#OpenScience: enthusiasm for sharing, but metadata is key - raw data alone isn’t enough

Are we missing the bigger picture? Precision medicine has narrowed focus, but toxicity and recurrence remain major challenges

#CrickCancerConf

Discovery science still matters - and needs space for creativity

Future labs may be 50:50 wet/dry scientists

All wet-lab researchers should learn robust data analysis (e.g. R)

Clinicians + data scientists are key to future teams

#CrickCancerConf #TeamScience #DataScience

🧪 The panel tackled big questions on research careers and data science:

PhD timelines vs team science: 3–4 years rarely yields a full high-impact paper

Solutions? Value smaller papers, fund longer-term projects, invest in permanent technical specialists

#TeamScience #PhDTraining #ResearchCareers

Four panellists sit on stage under the title “The Future of Cancer Research.” A projected slide lists six suggested questions for discussion: 1. What area excites you most? 2. What technologies do we need? 3. Prevention or Cure? Where should we focus? 4. What is the role of AI? What are the risks? 5. What is the ideal lab unit? Ratio of students, post-docs, clinicians, & tech specialists? 6. How should we minimise inequalities in outcomes? The slide is part of a structured panel session moderated by Erik Sahai, with panellists Sarah-Maria Fendt, Jose Adrover, and Momo Bentires-Alj. The image captures the reflective and forward-looking tone of the discussion.

The panel explored questions from the audience alongside a number of spiked questions (shown).

Interestingly, addressing cancer inequalities was asked first.

Replies: we need to understand causes, need to sample less genetically homogeneous populations, & tackle globally.

#CancerInequalities

Four panellists sit on stage with microphones under the title “The Future of Cancer Research.” Left to right: Jose Adrover, Momo Bentires-Alj, Sarah-Maria Fendt, and our chair, Erik Sahai.

🗣️ Panel: “The Future of Cancer Research”

Erik Sahai opened sharing this timeline of cancer research milestones:
🔗 www.cancer.gov/research/pro...

Our Panellists: Sarah-Maria Fendt, Jose Adrover, Momo Bentires-Alj, Erik Sahai

#CrickCancerConf #CancerResearch #FutureOfScience

Sarah-Maria Fendt stands at a podium in front of a slide showing acknowledgements and collaborators, including logos for VIB, KU Leuven, Horizon Europe, and World Cancer Research Fund. The slide marks the end of a talk on cancer metabolism.

🫘 Session theme: Cancer and Systemic Physiology

Research talks explored inherited kidney cancer, breast cancer metastasis, liver cancer, and liver mets from colorectal cancer.

With speakers from Cologne, Leuven and here at Crick. A rich mix of models and techniques.

#CrickCancerConf #Metabolism

Fatima Aziz (@cancertools.org) stands at a podium delivering a talk on CancerTools.org. The slide reads “Increase your impact” and outlines how researchers can deposit tools to drive innovation, join a global collaborative, and access unique cancer research reagents.

🔧 CancerTools.org is building a global collaborative to share cancer research reagents: antibodies, cell lines, organoids and chemicals.

No fees for researchers, and revenue goes back to the inventing host institution.

#CancerResearch #OpenScience #CancerTools #CrickCancerConf #ResearchImpact

5th Crick International Cancer Conference

🎙️ Midway through Day 1 at the 5th Crick International Cancer Conference - fantastic to be back at the Crick.

Talks packed with fresh insights (much of it unpublished, so no spoilers!), and great to see such a strong international turnout.

#CrickCancerConf

www.crick.ac.uk/whats-on/5th...

Reading Between the Lines: What Researchers Can Take from Funder Strategies Strategic documents from research funders are everywhere - roadmaps, frameworks, updates, priorities. For early-career researchers (ECRs), they can feel like both opportunity and overload.

How should researchers respond to funder strategies - and what do these documents really mean for your work?

Read my latest blog! www.linkedin.com/pulse/readin...

#ResearchStrategy #CancerResearch #FundingLandscape #ECRSupport #ScientificIntegrity #StrategicAlignment #ResearchCulture

Funding Inclusive Research: Reflections from a Funder’s Perspective This year, I’ve been reflecting more deeply on what it means to lead strategically - thanks in part to my senior leader apprenticeship, and also through the lens of inclusive research design. On 18 Se...

If you missed my teaser blog last week, it sets the scene for why inclusive design matters - and how funders can support it.

🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/fundin...

#ScientificIntegrity #CancerResearch #ResearchStrategy

It’s a 10-minute slot after Natasha Karp and Matt Leach - no pressure! Hoping to spark a ripple effect in how we think about design, rigour, and inclusion in science.

#ResearchFunding #EDIinResearch #NC3Rs

Stylised icons on a teal background represent the building blocks of inclusive science - DNA strands, data charts, and balance scales symbolise the integration of male and female samples in research. The image evokes thoughtful design, equity, and the pursuit of relevance in experimental models.

Finalising slides for next week’s NC3Rs webinar on sex-inclusive research. I’ll be sharing a funder’s perspective on the SIRF tool - and how we’re moving from policy to practice.

🔗 nc3rs.org.uk/events/tackl...

#SexInclusiveResearch #3Rs #SIRF

Teach others how to use the EDA to design rigorous in vivo experiments that use the minimum number of animals: nc3rs.org.uk/events/ukrn-...

⏳ Registration closing soon: Wednesday 17 September

🤝Delivered by @drejpearl.bsky.social and @ukrepro.bsky.social

📅 Thursday 13 November, 10.00 – 16.00 (GMT)

Gold graphic with text which reads, “Childhood Cancer Awareness Month”

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 💛

Cancer is different in children and young people, so it needs a different and dedicated approach. We partner with other charities, funders and people affected by these cancers across the UK and around the world – learn more: cruk.ink/3JEskaM

@peterstefanovic.bsky.social, @carolvorders.bsky.social and 24 other public figures have put their names to our open letter to @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social, urging him to make the upcoming National Cancer Plan for England a #TurningPointForCancer. Sign the open letter here: cruk.ink/4fHgR6c