GRC Venoms

We're looking forward to Stefanie speaking in our "Tools and Methods in Toxinology Research" session at #GRCVenom26

And more recently, she contributed to a major breakthrough: a new nanobody-based antivenom that neutralises toxins from many African elapid snakes (cobras, mambas, rinkhals, etc), offering a more consistent, scalable & ethical alternative to conventional serum-derived antivenoms.

Earlier this year, she co-authored a review showing how “recombinant antivenoms” (built from defined antibodies rather than animal blood products) are increasingly moving from theory into practical possibility tandfonline.com/.../10.../17...

Her team uses modern lab-based methods — including antibody display technologies — to isolate and engineer monoclonal antibodies capable of neutralising snake venom toxins.

Dr Stefanie Menzies is a Lecturer in Molecular Cell Biology at
@lancasteruni.bsky.social and leads the
@menzieslab.bsky.social, which works on developing new treatments and diagnostics for snakebite and other global-health threats.

Dr. Margres' full publication list can be found here: scholar.google.com/citations?us..., and he will be speaking in our "Characterizing Coevolution and Toxin-Target Interactions" session at #GRCVenon26

Dr. Margres and colleagues recently studied island rattlesnakes in the Gulf of California and found that the number of sympatric congenerics, degree of island isolation, and island area all significantly and negatively correlated with venom complexity doi.org/10.1093/evol...

Mark's venom work has consistently been at the forefront of the field, focusing on causes and consequences of intra- and interspecific venom variation in snakes through the application of cutting-edge genomic approaches.

Dr. Margres' research group studies coevolutionary interactions between venomous predators and their prey, as well as between transmissible cancers and their Tasmanian devil hosts.

Dr. Mark J. Margres (margreslab.com) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at @usf.edu

Over the coming months, we will be highlighting some of the many exciting speakers scheduled for #GRCVenom26 in #Barcelona. Our diverse speaker line up includes exciting early-career researchers as well as distinguished, well-established leaders in the #Venom field. Stay tuned!

🔗 Learn more & apply: www.grc.org/venom-evolut...

🔗 Learn more about Dr. Christie Wilcox: christiewilcox.com/index.html

#Science #VenomResearch #Mentorship #ChristieWilcox #GordonResearchSeminar #STEMCareers

If you’re passionate about venom research and science communication, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Applications are open until April 18th 2026, but if you want to be considered for an oral presentation, submit abstracts by February 8th 2026.

This seminar is a unique forum designed to foster interdisciplinary venom research—spanning #ecology, #evolutionarybiology, #molecularmechanisms, and #translational applications. Attendees get to present their work, engage in deep discussion, and build collaborations across fields.

Christie will be leading a special session on “Building a Career in Venom Research”, offering direct mentorship to early-career researchers, PhD students and postdocs. Her insights into science communication, career pathways, and bridging research with broader audiences will be invaluable.

Exciting news 🐍🕷️🐝🐠🐜🦂!!

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Christie Wilcox (@nerdychristie.bsky.social), renowned science writer and communicator, will serve as the Keynote Mentor & Speaker at our upcoming Venom Evolution, Function, and Biomedical Applications Gordon Research Seminar (GRS)

Tian (@anti-d.bsky.social) is a PDRA in the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney, who studies functional genomics specializing in the molecular mechanisms of venom and toxins from a variety of taxa, ranging from snakes to jellyfish.

Rebecca is a PDRA from the Department of Infection Biology & Microbiomes at the University of Liverpool (@livuniresearch.bsky.social) who's research focuses on the rational design of immunogens to generate high-quality, cross-neutralizing antibodies for the treatment of snake envenomation

The corresponding 2026 GRS, Molecules, Models and Medicines: Towards Interdisciplinary Venom Research, will be co-chaired by early career researchers Dr. Rebecca Edge and Dr. Tian Du

The mantle for the 2028 Venom Evolution, Function and Biomedical Applications GRC will pass to Ronald and Elda at the end of the 2026 conference.

Our GRC co-chairs are supported by vice-chairs Dr. Ronald Jenner, a Principal Researcher from the Natural History Museum, and Dr. Elda Sanchez, Director of the National Natural Toxins Research Center and Professor at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Cassandra’s research involves characterising snakebite pathology, developing new therapeutics for snakebite envenoming, and engineering toxins for disease vector control.

Darin (@drokyta.bsky.social) is a generalist evolutionary biologist pursuing the study of adaptation across a diverse array of experimental systems for the parallel understanding of venom evolution, coevolution and prey resistance.

The 2026 GRC is being co-chaired by Dr. Darin Rokyta, a Professor from the Department of Biological Science, at Florida State University @floridastate.bsky.social
& Dr. Cassandra Modahl, a Senior Lecturer from the Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions @lstmnews.bsky.social

Applications are now welcome for the 2026 Venom Evolution, Function and Biomedical Applications GRC & GRS. Before we highlight the amazing programme of speakers we are beginning to put together, we’d like to introduce our organising committee.

Over the coming weeks and months we'll be introducing you to the team behind the conferences, and more excitingly the excellent programme of speakers we are lining up. Stay tuned!

grc.org/venom-evolut... 16th-17th May

grc.org/venom-evolut... 17th-22nd May

The GRC Venom Evolution, Function and Biomedical Applications is back for 2026! The conference and corresponding ECR seminar will be held in Barcelona in May 🐍🐜🐌🐝🦂🐡🪼🕷️🐞🇪🇸🌞