Faculty of Biological Sciences

Ladybirds on a twig surrounded by leaves. Photo by Christopher Stites on Unsplash

We've seen reports of more ladybird spottings this week 🐞

Professor @ejduncan.bsky.social explains how climate change might be affecting insect behaviour.

Great to see the School of Biology's expert insights on the BBC! bit.ly/42x8AfS

#Biodiversity #Ladybirds

📷 Christopher Stites, Unsplash

Cheney graphic with chevron icon with cell illustration on the left and photo of microscopy image in blue and yellow on right

Entrance to the Cheney Biomedical Accelerator

Donors Susan and Peter Cheney officially open the new facility

Professor Michelle Peckham, Director of the Cheney PhD programme, PhD students Tom Mitchell and Kate Adamson, Susan and Peter Cheney, PhD students Monika Olejnik and Jake Browne

📣 Introducing the Cheney Biomedical Accelerator

Last week marked the opening of a new research facility here at Leeds.

But it's not just a physical space. The Accelerator brings discovery and clinical scientists together to drive bold health & bioscience discoveries.

Find out more: bit.ly/4pSoA65

More than tiredness - what's really behind post-stroke fatigue? Over half of stroke victims live with a debilitating and often misunderstood condition called post-stroke fatigue.

Researchers at Leeds and @ucl.ac.uk have been exploring what’s happening in the brain when stroke survivors experience long-term fatigue.

Dr Anna Kuppuswamy sheds light on post-stroke fatigue, and how sensory overload and attention filtering may be key to understanding it.

🔗 shorturl.at/Lz98Z

The former Leeds Social Sciences Institute has entered a new chapter...

The new Leeds Institute for Societal Futures will include challenge-led research, alongside postgraduate education and professional learning innovation.

Find out more below 👇

Great thread here summarising Professor Pippa Chapman and Dr Ruth Wade's latest paper on the challenges associated with regenerative agriculture research...

Promo graphic for the Yorkshire Post Health & Life Sciences Business Breakfast, main text says 'We're exhibiting'

We'll be at the Yorkshire Post Health & Life Sciences Business Breakfast this Wednesday!

Going too? Stop by for a chat about our world-leading facilities, as well as training and consultancy services, commercialisation and research collaborations.

#HealthInnovation #LifeSciences #YHLS2025

Professor Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso

🔬 What are plasmodesmata, and why are they important?

In this new case study, discover how the Faculty's Professor Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso's research into microscopic plant pores could help tackle climate change and global food insecurity.

bit.ly/4pocNvX

@researchleeds.bsky.social

University of Leeds farm to test climate-smart agriculture The farm is one of 10 across Europe taking part in a project to reduce agricultural emissions.

"A fantastic resource to lead research, knowledge exchange and teaching activities in future-proofing farming systems."
Dr Ruth Wade, School of Biology

The University farm is one of 10 in Europe to become a hub for climate research.
bit.ly/3VeXnfR
@globalfoodleeds.bsky.social @envleeds.bsky.social

Person in the shower

Ever wondered why a warm shower can hurt when you're sunburnt?

Research from an international team led by the School of Biomedical Science's Professor Nikita Gamper suggests the clue may be in our sensory neurons, and a protein called Copine-6.

Find out more: bit.ly/45MEpmS

Researchers uncover social clues to bird 'divorce' Wild great tits exhibit clear behaviours signalling ‘divorce’ long before the breeding season, according to a study by researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Leeds.

Whoever heard of birds splitting up?

A new study from @biology.ox.ac.uk and Leeds researcher Dr Josh Firth reveals wild great tits show signs of 'divorce' months before breeding season.

🔎 Vital clues to social relationships in not just birds, but other species too.

bit.ly/4fLH3Nb @ox.ac.uk

New professor brings professional sport expertise to Leeds A world-renowned sports rehabilitation expert has joined the University of Leeds Sports and Exercise Medicine programmes to inspire future sports scientists.

🏀 We're excited to welcome Professor Enda King, a sports rehabilitation expert who's worked with some of the world's top athletes.

Enda joins our Sports and Exercise Medicine programmes as Visiting Professor of Rehabilitation, inspiring the next generation of sports scientists.

bit.ly/478rpJs

New discovery links circular DNA by-products to childhood leukaemia relapse Previously overlooked DNA may help explain leukaemia relapse in children.

And a huge congratulations to all the team! biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/biological-s...

Excised DNA circles from V(D)J recombination promote relapsed leukaemia Nature - Excised signal circles are circular DNA by-products of V(D)J recombination that form a complex with the V(D)J recombinase, and when increased in abundance, result in increased mutagenesis,...

Research that could change lives: A new paper led by Leeds researchers shows DNA by-products may be 'early warning system' for relapse in childhood leukaemia.

Read it in Nature: bit.ly/41zW927

@cclguk.bsky.social @littleprincesses.bsky.social
@bloodcanceruk.bsky.social @ljrusselllab.bsky.social

Evaluating the Supplementary Role of Photogrammetry in Insect Taxonomy: Applications and Limitations of 3D Scanning Technology Our study presents a cost-effective 3D scanning approach to enhance taxonomic identification, particularly for archival and educational applications. By allowing the scanning of pinned specimens with...

Happy to see this paper out which started as a Masters project for first author Cameron Peacock - exploring the potential and the limitations of 3D scanning tech for supporting insect taxonomy
dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3... 🧪🌍🪳🐝 @bioscienceleeds.bsky.social @katatrepsis.bsky.social

New guidelines endorse exercise as key therapy for asthma An international task force, led by Dr Oliver Price, has issued recommendations urging healthcare providers to prescribe personalised exercise alongside conventional therapies to optimise asthma care.

🏃‍♀️Exercise isn't just safe for people with asthma - it’s key to managing it, argues international taskforce.

Chaired by the Faculty's Dr Oliver Price, the taskforce makes the case for physical activity as a safe and effective therapeutic strategy. bit.ly/44YewyC

#exercisecsience #asthmaresearch

Regenerative agriculture trials at the University of Leeds farm.

Dr Ruth Wade has contributed to a UK Parliament POSTnote on regenerative agriculture.

Ruth was invited to contribute to a UK Parliament POST (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology) expert session informing the latest POSTnote on regenerative agriculture.

👇

Strengthening biotech research links in India A recent visit to India has helped the University build new global partnerships in biological sciences, including an important collaboration with the country’s Regional Centre for Biotechnology.

🌏The @universityofleeds.bsky.social has signed a new agreement to deepen ties with India's Regional Centre for Biotechnology, boosting our global biotech research and enabling exciting collaborations between the two countries.

Read about the agreement: bit.ly/407C0jw

The Betta burdigala project – saving a species Bettas of Bangka Island are small fishes who can breathe atmospheric oxygen and construct nests out of air bubbles and saliva to protect their eggs and young.

“What if I told you there are fish in the forest, beneath the leaves?” @josiesouth.bsky.social, Lecturer in Aquatic Ecology

🎞️ Have you watched the impactful film yet? Find out how research is helping to protect a critically endangered fish species bit.ly/4kktTYa

Four people standing and conversing in front of two scientific posters at an academic event.

How can magnetism help us understand biology and tackle global health challenges?

Join the MagInBio Summer Conference - a free 2-day hybrid event at Nexus Leeds exploring magnetic biomaterials, imaging and biomedical devices.

Register here: www.eventbrite.com/cc/maginbio-summer-conference-4171753

Two weights, an exercise block and towel lie on a pink exercise mat.

It’s never too late to start lifting weights! 💪

Strength training helps retain muscle mass, manage cholesterol levels, and burn calories for 30–60 minutes after you’ve stopped exercising, according to Prof. Karen Birch, Executive Dean:

inews.co.uk/inews-lifest...

Excited to report our latest research on new “molecular glues” that specifically lock the BRCC36 isopeptidase complex (BRISC) in an autoinhibited state and reduce interferon signalling. This first-of-its-kind approach could reshape how we target large deubiquitylase (DUB) complexes.

rdcu.be/edRwF

YouTube video by Phospho Biomedical Animation Molecular Glues: drugging the undruggable

But what are molecular glues and how they do work?

Discover more 👇

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuFV...

2 individual BRISC complexes stick together.

Some health conditions are difficult to treat—but molecular glues could change that.

A new molecular glue from @universityofleeds.bsky.social, @wistar.org & @pennmedicine.bsky.social could help reduce inflammation in Scleroderma patients.

biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/biological-s...

Spent a really interesting morning with Ruth Wade and our @bioscienceleeds.bsky.social MSc students examing differences between soil farmed conventionally and using #RegenAg. Some really obvious changes after 2y under herbal ley.

🕺Feeling sooo Excited🕺
Huge thanks to @josiesouth.bsky.social from @universityofleeds.bsky.social for the crayfish 🦞traps thru the @horizonsinstitute.bsky.social Horizons Seed Funding. These will be instrumental in our #crayfishhunt mission in Southern Africa.

The international collaboration, backed by @who.int, will help make polio vaccines universally accessible, ensuring that all children are protected, no matter where they live.

biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/biological-s...

@biology.ox.ac.uk @johninnescentre.bsky.social @pirbrightinst.bsky.social

TEM virus_Multiple white circles on a grey background

A safer, more affordable polio vaccine is on the horizon! 🚨

Scientists are using virus-like particles (VLPs)—particles which mimic the outer protein shell of poliovirus, but are empty inside. This reduces the risk of infection:

biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/biological-s...

Fears of ‘devastating' environmental damage after ships collide in North Sea | The National English coastline near incident is home to many protected wildlife species

"Oil pollution can increase cancer rates in wildlife and lead to a decline in the long-term health of marine life exposed to the oil spill."

Dr Ciara Baines provides environmental insights in @thenationalnews.com after ships collide in North Sea:

www.thenationalnews.com/news/uk/2025...

Did you know parasites play crucial roles in evolution and ecosystems?

These organisms help environments stay resilient during droughts, and even aid in transferring nutrients 💧🔄

Read more from scientists in the School of Biology & @zslofficial.bsky.social @uk.theconversation.com

#parasites

A square block of ice rests on a finger.

Scientists in the School of Biomedical Sciences have developed a new way to find molecules that sense cold ❄️

The technique is now being used as part of a new project which is aimed at developing alternative treatments for treating chronic pain.

biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/biological-s...