Cathy Abbott
@cathyabbott.bsky.social
Professor, eEF1A2/neurological disorders. Mostly talks about research, EDI (tries hard to be a good ally) but sometimes veers off into crafts and photos of Scotland. She/her, views own.
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
popEVE is out in Nature Genetics! 🎉
We built a proteome-wide model that combines cross-species and human population variation to rank missense variants by disease severity and help diagnose rare genetic disorders.
rdcu.be/eRu7K
We built a proteome-wide model that combines cross-species and human population variation to rank missense variants by disease severity and help diagnose rare genetic disorders.
rdcu.be/eRu7K
Proteome-wide model for human disease genetics
Nature Genetics - popEVE is a proteome-wide deep generative model to identify and predict pathogenicity of missense mutations causing genetic disorders.
rdcu.be
November 24, 2025 at 1:35 PM
popEVE is out in Nature Genetics! 🎉
We built a proteome-wide model that combines cross-species and human population variation to rank missense variants by disease severity and help diagnose rare genetic disorders.
rdcu.be/eRu7K
We built a proteome-wide model that combines cross-species and human population variation to rank missense variants by disease severity and help diagnose rare genetic disorders.
rdcu.be/eRu7K
I have been on this earth for a very long time but this is the first time I have seen an unfinished pylon. I guess it should be obvious they have to be constructed by someone but I am quite awestruck nevertheless
November 24, 2025 at 1:32 PM
I have been on this earth for a very long time but this is the first time I have seen an unfinished pylon. I guess it should be obvious they have to be constructed by someone but I am quite awestruck nevertheless
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
😵💫 soon the journals will require physical proof of the blot/gel/etc. Thinking about it, we might as well go back to mailing a physical copy of the typed manuscript and photos/negatives.
Finally the scary example. The image of a western blot with a time course experiment, staining a protein of interest, showing the increase of protein over time and a second staining with a control antibody that does not change over time
November 21, 2025 at 1:42 PM
😵💫 soon the journals will require physical proof of the blot/gel/etc. Thinking about it, we might as well go back to mailing a physical copy of the typed manuscript and photos/negatives.
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
👉🏼👉🏾👉🏻👉🏿👉🏽An opportunity for a PhD studentship in my lab to investigate the mechanisms that mediate the specialization astrocyte endfeet (subcellular compartments enwrapping the vasculature) in collaboration with the magnificent Lorena Arancibia.
See below:
See below:
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 PM
👉🏼👉🏾👉🏻👉🏿👉🏽An opportunity for a PhD studentship in my lab to investigate the mechanisms that mediate the specialization astrocyte endfeet (subcellular compartments enwrapping the vasculature) in collaboration with the magnificent Lorena Arancibia.
See below:
See below:
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
Should you find yourself - for whatever reason - looking for a new set of authoritative, accessible summaries of the risks and benefits of vaccines to share with people, the NHS website is still doing a good job at this www.nhs.uk/vaccinations...
November 20, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Should you find yourself - for whatever reason - looking for a new set of authoritative, accessible summaries of the risks and benefits of vaccines to share with people, the NHS website is still doing a good job at this www.nhs.uk/vaccinations...
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
Superstar @sorayam.bsky.social 👏👏👏👏👏
🚨Meet the latest early career researchers awarded Race Against Dementia Fellowships🚨
These rising stars are challenging old ideas and driving bold new approaches to speed up progress @RichardTaylor @sorayam.bsky.social @HelenRowland
These rising stars are challenging old ideas and driving bold new approaches to speed up progress @RichardTaylor @sorayam.bsky.social @HelenRowland
November 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Superstar @sorayam.bsky.social 👏👏👏👏👏
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
New paper with @statsepi.bsky.social and @deevybee.bsky.social in which we show there's really no evidence for a link between the gut microbiome and autism www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Conceptual and methodological flaws undermine claims of a link between the gut microbiome and autism
Claims that the gut microbiome causally contributes to autism regularly appear in
the scientific literature and popular press. Mitchell et al. critically examine influential
studies underpinning these...
www.cell.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:10 PM
New paper with @statsepi.bsky.social and @deevybee.bsky.social in which we show there's really no evidence for a link between the gut microbiome and autism www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
The NC3Rs has a strong track record in investing in in vitro models of human disease that replace the use of animals. We have recently partnered with the MRC, Wellcome and Innovate UK on a £15.9M funding call to develop human in vitro models of complex disease.
nc3rs.org.uk/news/nc3rs-g...
nc3rs.org.uk/news/nc3rs-g...
NC3Rs grant holders receive funding in MRC call
£15.9M awarded to develop human in vitro models of complex disease.
nc3rs.org.uk
November 12, 2025 at 10:37 AM
The NC3Rs has a strong track record in investing in in vitro models of human disease that replace the use of animals. We have recently partnered with the MRC, Wellcome and Innovate UK on a £15.9M funding call to develop human in vitro models of complex disease.
nc3rs.org.uk/news/nc3rs-g...
nc3rs.org.uk/news/nc3rs-g...
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
November 9, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
"The UK cannot become a science superpower unless it exploits the full range of talent that we have" - @nramnani.bsky.social
We are now welcoming applications to our BNA Scholars Programme.
🔗 Find out more and apply: www.bna.org.uk/policy-advoc...
#BNAScholars #DiversityInSTEM #Mentorship
We are now welcoming applications to our BNA Scholars Programme.
🔗 Find out more and apply: www.bna.org.uk/policy-advoc...
#BNAScholars #DiversityInSTEM #Mentorship
November 7, 2025 at 9:09 AM
"The UK cannot become a science superpower unless it exploits the full range of talent that we have" - @nramnani.bsky.social
We are now welcoming applications to our BNA Scholars Programme.
🔗 Find out more and apply: www.bna.org.uk/policy-advoc...
#BNAScholars #DiversityInSTEM #Mentorship
We are now welcoming applications to our BNA Scholars Programme.
🔗 Find out more and apply: www.bna.org.uk/policy-advoc...
#BNAScholars #DiversityInSTEM #Mentorship
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
Join us for our annual lecture! We have a fantastic line-up this year: a consultant neurosurgeon and two discovery scientists will discuss how they are redefining biomedical methods - using living human brain tissue - bringing us closer to curing major neurological diseases.
Book: edin.ac/4oYHTtk
Book: edin.ac/4oYHTtk
Edinburgh Neuroscience Public Christmas Lecture 2025
A brain surgeon and two discovery scientists unwrap the story of their unique collaboration using living human brain slices.
edin.ac
November 7, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Join us for our annual lecture! We have a fantastic line-up this year: a consultant neurosurgeon and two discovery scientists will discuss how they are redefining biomedical methods - using living human brain tissue - bringing us closer to curing major neurological diseases.
Book: edin.ac/4oYHTtk
Book: edin.ac/4oYHTtk
*So* looking forward to Celebrity Traitors tonight.
This quote from the Guardian has been making me laugh for hours now “David Olusoga’s … so consistently misguided that you actually began to retrospectively doubt the veracity of his highly regarded documentaries” 😁😁😁
This quote from the Guardian has been making me laugh for hours now “David Olusoga’s … so consistently misguided that you actually began to retrospectively doubt the veracity of his highly regarded documentaries” 😁😁😁
November 6, 2025 at 9:02 AM
*So* looking forward to Celebrity Traitors tonight.
This quote from the Guardian has been making me laugh for hours now “David Olusoga’s … so consistently misguided that you actually began to retrospectively doubt the veracity of his highly regarded documentaries” 😁😁😁
This quote from the Guardian has been making me laugh for hours now “David Olusoga’s … so consistently misguided that you actually began to retrospectively doubt the veracity of his highly regarded documentaries” 😁😁😁
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
Please repost - Multiple PhDs available
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
November 5, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Please repost - Multiple PhDs available
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
Following a recent article about the different layers of conceptualisation in a science project, this is about a pet peeve of mine. I would love to hear your views.
network.febs.org/posts/thinki...
network.febs.org/posts/thinki...
Thinking like a Scientist: The Limits of Genome Editing and Omics
Second part of Thinking like a Scientist, reflecting on how genome editing and multi-omics, while powerful, can introduce conceptual flaws that distort our understanding of gene function and biologica...
network.febs.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Following a recent article about the different layers of conceptualisation in a science project, this is about a pet peeve of mine. I would love to hear your views.
network.febs.org/posts/thinki...
network.febs.org/posts/thinki...
However long I live here I will never get used to how utterly beautiful the views from Princes St are. This was last night 😍
November 2, 2025 at 9:59 AM
However long I live here I will never get used to how utterly beautiful the views from Princes St are. This was last night 😍
Well, this is going to be quite the conundrum for RFK et al...
COVID-19 during pregnancy linked to higher risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children | ! www.eurekalert.org/news-release...
COVID-19 during pregnancy linked to higher risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children
Children born to mothers who had COVID-19 while pregnant face an elevated risk of developmental disorders by the time they turn 3 years old, including speech delays, autism, motor disorders, and other...
www.eurekalert.org
October 31, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Well, this is going to be quite the conundrum for RFK et al...
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
7 basic science discoveries that changed the world.
Ozempic, MRI machines & flat screen televisions all emerged out of fundamental research decades earlier — the very types of study being slashed by the US government.
🧪🧠🔬💊💉🦈
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Ozempic, MRI machines & flat screen televisions all emerged out of fundamental research decades earlier — the very types of study being slashed by the US government.
🧪🧠🔬💊💉🦈
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
7 basic science discoveries that changed the world
Ozempic, MRI machines and flat screen televisions all emerged out of fundamental research decades earlier — the very types of study being slashed by the US government.
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:57 PM
7 basic science discoveries that changed the world.
Ozempic, MRI machines & flat screen televisions all emerged out of fundamental research decades earlier — the very types of study being slashed by the US government.
🧪🧠🔬💊💉🦈
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Ozempic, MRI machines & flat screen televisions all emerged out of fundamental research decades earlier — the very types of study being slashed by the US government.
🧪🧠🔬💊💉🦈
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
In the mood for something sciency and spooky? How about the Halloween special of @uclbrainstories.bsky.social - where me and @caswell.bsky.social talk to @drjlange.bsky.social on some of the gothic stories in neuroscience! 👻 🧠 🎃 💀🧟♂️
spotify.link/2lHT9pLQRXb
spotify.link/2lHT9pLQRXb
Episode 23- Jenny Lange on the gothic history of neuroscience, a Halloween special
spotify.link
October 29, 2025 at 6:56 PM
In the mood for something sciency and spooky? How about the Halloween special of @uclbrainstories.bsky.social - where me and @caswell.bsky.social talk to @drjlange.bsky.social on some of the gothic stories in neuroscience! 👻 🧠 🎃 💀🧟♂️
spotify.link/2lHT9pLQRXb
spotify.link/2lHT9pLQRXb
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
“AO3 reminds us that platforms can be built by and for communities, without extractive profit models or exclusionary hierarchies. It shows what’s possible when infrastructure is treated as a public good, and when participation is scaffolded, not gated.“
Such a great piece!
Such a great piece!
My latest article, out now in Katina Magazine: 'How Fanfiction Can Help Us Reimagine Scholarly Publishing'
Basically: what if the next big idea for open access came from @archiveofourown.org instead of Els*vi*r? 👀 There's a thought...
Read here → katinamagazine.org/content/arti...
Basically: what if the next big idea for open access came from @archiveofourown.org instead of Els*vi*r? 👀 There's a thought...
Read here → katinamagazine.org/content/arti...
October 29, 2025 at 12:06 PM
“AO3 reminds us that platforms can be built by and for communities, without extractive profit models or exclusionary hierarchies. It shows what’s possible when infrastructure is treated as a public good, and when participation is scaffolded, not gated.“
Such a great piece!
Such a great piece!
Really looking forward to this- we can probably accommodate a few last minute sign-ups 😊
Today I'm excited to being talking at the Edinburgh Neuroscience Afternoon about the real cost of academic publishing and big deals. Spoiler: they are expensive and not really transformative.
October 27, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Really looking forward to this- we can probably accommodate a few last minute sign-ups 😊
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
Third, the peculiar idea that somehow we don't need to read, write, or perform literature reviews anymore; popping up like a satanic mushroom in almost all so-called OK uses of LLMs.
Companies writing our papers via their chatbots is not scientific at all. See section 5: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
7/
Companies writing our papers via their chatbots is not scientific at all. See section 5: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
7/
![5 Ghostwriter in the Machine
A unique selling point of these systems is conversing and writing in a human-like way. This is imminently understandable, although wrong-headed, when one realises these are systems that
essentially function as lossy2
content-addressable memory: when
input is given, the output generated by the model is text that
stochastically matches the input text. The reason text at the output looks novel is because by design the AI product performs
an automated version of what is known as mosaic or patchwork
plagiarism (Baždarić, 2013) — due to the nature of input masking and next token prediction, the output essentially uses similar words in similar orders to what it has been exposed to. This
makes the automated flagging of plagiarism unlikely, which is
also true when students or colleagues perform this type of copypaste and then thesaurus trick, and true when so-called AI plagiarism detectors falsely claim to detect AI-produced text (Edwards, 2023a). This aspect of LLM-based AI products can be
seen as an automation of plagiarism and especially of the research paper mill (Guest, 2025; Guest, Suarez, et al., 2025; van
Rooij, 2022): the “churn[ing] out [of] fake or poor-quality journal papers” (Sanderson, 2024; Committee on Publication Ethics,](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:vsyj5jtayxcq5dw5mtja4xtb/bafkreifmac3sz5upxcmvhzbqfb3p2yt6cy7tkshv3ere7ttffsm6qmmboq@jpeg)
October 4, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Third, the peculiar idea that somehow we don't need to read, write, or perform literature reviews anymore; popping up like a satanic mushroom in almost all so-called OK uses of LLMs.
Companies writing our papers via their chatbots is not scientific at all. See section 5: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
7/
Companies writing our papers via their chatbots is not scientific at all. See section 5: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
7/
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
www.nature.com/articles/d41... look at the subtitle: which researchers welcome the effort?? Let’s just kill collaboration shall we? Let’s just make sure every paper is a battle. This is not going on the right direction
Google Scholar tool gives extra credit to first and last authors
Researchers welcome the initiative, but say it doesn’t go far enough to capture the nuance of researcher productivity and impact.
www.nature.com
October 26, 2025 at 7:57 AM
www.nature.com/articles/d41... look at the subtitle: which researchers welcome the effort?? Let’s just kill collaboration shall we? Let’s just make sure every paper is a battle. This is not going on the right direction
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
That merely being “under review” by a Nature family journal is offered as a quality proxy for a paper is a tragic illustration of the extent to which academia is addicted to brands and outsources evaluation
October 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
That merely being “under review” by a Nature family journal is offered as a quality proxy for a paper is a tragic illustration of the extent to which academia is addicted to brands and outsources evaluation
Reposted by Cathy Abbott
It doesn't matter how many grant writing workshops you put on, or how much pressure you put on academics to apply - if the money isn't there, the money simply isn't there.
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results:
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
October 23, 2025 at 12:20 PM
It doesn't matter how many grant writing workshops you put on, or how much pressure you put on academics to apply - if the money isn't there, the money simply isn't there.
Honestly- can you imagine if we had a prime minister who decided to knock down Big Ben so they could build a tacky monstrosity for entertaining?
I flew out of DCA last night and from the air I could see where the east wing had been because they had big construction lights on. Unsettling to say the least.
ABC News pulled the satellite imagery of the White House comparing Sept. 26 to today.
abcnews.go.com/Politics/new...
abcnews.go.com/Politics/new...
October 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Honestly- can you imagine if we had a prime minister who decided to knock down Big Ben so they could build a tacky monstrosity for entertaining?