Alex Whitworth lab

Rare Disease Day is TOMORROW!

This year, we're shining a light on mitochondrial disease — a rare genetic condition that affects the body’s ability to produce energy. Mitochondrial disease is just one of around 7,000 rare diseases recognised worldwide.

#RareDiseaseDay2026

Another recent paper in Fly on Drosophila in neuropathological research:
2/2 A new tool for accurately quantifying the extent of vacuolation in brain tissue in neurodegeneration models, from Kate Jordan, Flaviano Giorgini and colleagues
doi.org/10.1080/1933...

Three Group Leaders Professors Parkkinen, Magill and Houlden

Thrilled to announce three new UK DRI Group Leaders, joining the recently established Parkinson's Research Centre in partnership with @parkinsons.org.uk 🎉

👏 Prof Laura Parkkinen (Oxford)
👏 Prof Peter Magill (Oxford)
👏 Prof Henry Houlden (UCL)

Read more 👉 www.ukdri.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

Dear UK #Drosophila @FlyBase Cambridge is now able to accept PO orders for support. So please get in touch with
https://wiki.flybase.org/wiki/FlyBase:Contribute_to_FlyBase

Interesting initiative from Company of Biologists. Pay reviewers for a properly fast turnaround 👏

journals.biologists.com/bio/pages/fa...

Let’s see how it goes 👍

Scientists no Longer Find Twitter Professionally Useful, and have Switched to Bluesky Synopsis. Social media has become widely used by the scientific community for a variety of professional uses, including networking and public outreach. For

Bluesky is the new science Twitter, new study by @whysharksmatter.bsky.social and Julia Wester concludes!

"Results show that for every reported professional benefit that scientists once gained from Twitter, scientists can now gain that benefit more effectively on Bluesky than on Twitter."

Really happy to have joined the research committee and looking forward to helping @cureparkinsons.org.uk to improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s

I watched much of Ian Chapman's (Head of @ukri.org) appearance this morning at @ukparliament.parliament.uk Science, Innovation and Technology Committee..

A few points and new information that bioscientists may find interesting...

A 🧵

This is wonderful news and a reflection of the work of so many ppl to make the institute a fair and inclusive place to work, particularly Prof Hélène Plun-Favreau, Deputy Director for EDI, EDI project manager Dimitrios Zachos and Athena SWAN leads Prof Gabriele Lignani and Laura Allum.

Hey, it’s me! Very happy to chat about how to use flies to address biomedical questions.

Cute. Nice to know they have time for this while torching university based research.

@biochemsoc.bsky.social

Thanks, Cahir

Hey, science community (whoever is here). Can you please help me amplify this message? Postdoc position available in Düsseldorf!

@mrc-mbu.bsky.social

Drosophila models have been highly useful in dissecting the physiological roles of PINK1 and Parkin in #mitophagy

Led by 3 talented PhD students, we wrote a review summarising recent exciting discoveries and discussed these in context of current in vitro studies

portlandpress.com/biochemj/art...

LRRK2 integrates Rab and GABARAP interactions to sense and respond to distinct lysosomal stresses Increased activity of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is an important risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. LRRK2 localizes to lysosomal membranes, and changes in lysosome physiology are emerging ...

New research led by Devin Clegg that defines how lysosome swelling and lysosome deacidification evoke distinct routes for LRRK2 activation: doi.org/10.1101/2025...

This is a great paper. Congrats to Derek and the whole team.

Looks like mitochondrial depolarisation is a bone fide PINK1-activating mechanism after all.

Next question: when does this occur at scale in neurobiology?

New paper - MAPL strikes again! Interested in mitochondrial signalling, inflammation, lysosome biology, pyroptosis, and Parkinson's disease? Have a look, there's something for everyone! Feeling grateful! @mitocollier.bsky.social Funded by #CIHR, @asapresearch.parkinsonsroadmap.org.
rdcu.be/eKKz1 🇨🇦

Having fun enthusing young and old, expert and novice, about our mitochondria research at Cambridge’s Big Biology Day #PublicEngagement #Outreach @mrc-mbu.bsky.social

Amazing work @frisophagy.bsky.social and all the Chinnery lab team.

Oh, this is sad. A great scientist and great (and modest) human being. I’m very proud that he once told me he liked my talk at the end. High praise indeed.

A montage of images of sixth form students in a Cambridge research lab

Applications now open for our work experience programme for year 12 students, run with @mrc-mbu.bsky.social & @stcatharines.bsky.social We give students a valuable insight into life as a research scientist and student in Cambridge. Details & application link here: www.cimr.cam.ac.uk/inspiring-sc...

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Neurodegeneration An exciting opportunity to join the Snow Vision Accelerator Location: Loreto Group, Axon degeneration Lab, School of Medical Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Full time,...

🌟 We’re hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow! 🌟

Join my lab @sydney.edu.au and help drive cutting-edge research in axon degeneration as part of the Snow Vision Accelerator.
@snowmedical.bsky.social

usyd.wd105.myworkdayjobs.com/en-GB/USYD_E...

Do you need help with mitochondrial image analysis? 🔬

Check out mitographica.com created by
Dane M Wolf

Find out more from his interview on MitoWorld
mitoworld.org/mitochondria...

Proud that this being pioneered in the UK 💪

Clu1/Clu form mitochondria-associated granules upon metabolic transitions and regulate mitochondrial protein translation via ribosome interactions Author summary Mitochondria are essential cellular organelles that perform many important roles in regulating metabolism. They are dynamic in form, function and composition which is crucial to maintai...

Delighted to share our latest work looking at the role of the RNA-binding proteins Clu1 (yeast)/Clu (flies) in regulating the translation of #mitochondria proteins. Really interesting regulator of mito biology.

Huge, long-running effort by PDRA Leonor Miller-Fleming 👏
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...

Ha. This is so accurate to how I’m spending my days.

We were shocked and disappointed to learn of the allegations made about Raynor and Moth Winn by The Observer. The article has taken everyone by surprise and has made people affected by CBD & PSP feel angry, let down and eager for clarity. Full statement: www.pspassociation.org.uk/news/pspas-r...

This is quite shocking and saddening if true.