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Group Leader @mrc_hgu investigating gene regulation in development & human disease

Really pleased to share the *final* version of @katiegelder.bsky.social's super work, profiling the functional roles of #IDRs in CBP. Published today 🎉 🔗https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2026.117109 #IDRs #condensates #transcription #CBP #generegulation #enhancers (1/7)

We are looking for two exceptional Research Assistants! 1) Experimental, to drive forward quantitative studies of transcription factor function in development 2) computational, to develop and apply cutting-edge deep learning models of gene regulation. Links below

SS18::SSX activates Polycomb target genes without BAF ❌ Instead, transcription relies on EP300 via the SS18 QPGY domain www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... ➡️ Coactivator targeting emerges as a new therapeutic strategy in synovial sarcoma 🎯 Team work from @banitolab.bsky.social and @uoe-igc.bsky.social

#WIMMReads 🧪 From Jim Hughes, Douglas Higgs and Mira Kassouf: actively transcribed genes can define chromatin boundaries, linking gene activity directly to 3D genome organisation. Read more 👇 #GenomeBiology #Chromatin #WIMM @rdm.ox.ac.uk @medsci.ox.ac.uk #AkademicSky

Following several years (!) of discussion and rumination, our team of excellent colleagues - Martin Pera, @nicolasrivron.bsky.social, @amartinezarias.bsky.social, Karen Sermon and Nienke de Graeff - have published a new ethical perspective on SCBEM #embryomodels rdcu.be/fcklG [1/5]

This was a fantastic collaborative effort - many congratulations to first authors Ewa and Kasia! @ewaoz.bsky.social @km-milto.bsky.social And a big thank you to everyone who provided support, input and inspiration along the way.

📣 I'm excited to share our latest preprint! We adapt and characterise a neurosphere-based CNCC differentiation protocol, and demonstrate utility for quantitative phenotyping and craniofacial disease modelling! 🧫 Read about Array-CNCC here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... @uoe-igc.bsky.social

🎉 Many congratulations to Kasia Milto who successfully defended her thesis last week! It was so wonderful to have Kasia as the first PhD student in the lab, and to co-supervise with Jenny Nichols. So proud! @km-milto.bsky.social @uoe-igc.bsky.social

Array-CNCC: precise aggregation and arrayed plating facilitate quantitative phenotyping of human cranial neural crest cells and craniofacial disease modelling https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.18.696654v1

📣 Preprint alert! I am happy to share that our neural crest manuscript is now available on BioRxiv! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Facial development is highly sensitive to genetic and environmental perturbation, with craniofacial malformation associated with over one-third of congenital birth defects. The face arises during an early and largely inaccessible window of embryonic development, with a large contribution from transient and multipotent cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs). Assessment of the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving normal and disordered human facial development therefore relies greatly on the use of in vitro cellular models. Here, we adapted a neurosphere-based CNCC differentiation protocol to facilitate robust quantification of early specification and migration events. Introduction of single-cell aggregation with arrayed plating enabled standardisation of neurosphere size, growth and patterning. Inclusion of fibronectin coating enhanced the efficiency of neurosphere attachment and synchronicity of CNCC migration timing. To demonstrate application of the Array-CNCC method, we developed a strategy for mosaic co-culture, which can facilitate differentiation of wildtype untreated cells directly alongside cells exposed to distinct drug treatments or genetic alterations. Finally, we present a screening approach which we use to test the impact of distinct extracellular matrix components on neurosphere morphology, CNCC migration and gene expression. Together, the Array-CNCC method is highly amenable to quantitative phenotyping and screening approaches, enabling enhanced craniofacial disease modelling with both cellular and molecular readouts. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Medical Research Council, MC\_UU\_00035/12, MC\_ST\_00035 Wellcome Trust, https://ror.org/029chgv08, 227712/Z/23/Z