Oliver Harschnitz
@harschnitz.bsky.social
Stem cell biologist passionate about developmental biology, regenerative medicine, and virology | Group leader at Human Technopole in Milan
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
The abstract deadline has been extended to February 15th! Don’t miss out!
Explore #immunology, #virology, #microbiology and more at EMBO Workshop "Pathogen Immunity and Signalling" in Leiden, NL, 8–11 June 2026.
Abstract submission/Registration deadline: 1 February/15 March
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-pathogen-immunity
#EMBOpathogenSignalling #EMBOevents 🧪
Abstract submission/Registration deadline: 1 February/15 March
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-pathogen-immunity
#EMBOpathogenSignalling #EMBOevents 🧪
February 3, 2026 at 5:23 PM
The IGNITION PhD Programme is now open! We’re offering 13 fully funded PhD positions across 10 institutions in 8 EU countries to study immune mediated neurodegeneration.
If you're passionate about research, innovation & international collaboration, this is for you.
ignition-consortium.eu/home/
If you're passionate about research, innovation & international collaboration, this is for you.
ignition-consortium.eu/home/
February 2, 2026 at 9:31 AM
The IGNITION PhD Programme is now open! We’re offering 13 fully funded PhD positions across 10 institutions in 8 EU countries to study immune mediated neurodegeneration.
If you're passionate about research, innovation & international collaboration, this is for you.
ignition-consortium.eu/home/
If you're passionate about research, innovation & international collaboration, this is for you.
ignition-consortium.eu/home/
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
🚀 Introducing the "HT Seminars: Connecting Discoveries"! A new series bringing leading international researchers to Milan to explore what’s next in life sciences. Across disciplines, perspectives and technologies.
Calendar & Registrations 👉 humantechnopole.it/en/training/... #HTseminars
Calendar & Registrations 👉 humantechnopole.it/en/training/... #HTseminars
January 19, 2026 at 4:36 PM
🚀 Introducing the "HT Seminars: Connecting Discoveries"! A new series bringing leading international researchers to Milan to explore what’s next in life sciences. Across disciplines, perspectives and technologies.
Calendar & Registrations 👉 humantechnopole.it/en/training/... #HTseminars
Calendar & Registrations 👉 humantechnopole.it/en/training/... #HTseminars
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
We are thrilled that our study on the evolution of gene regulation in mammalian cerebellum development – led by @ioansarr.bsky.social, @marisepp.bsky.social and @tyamadat.bsky.social, in collaboration with @steinaerts.bsky.social – is now out in @ScienceMagazine! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
January 29, 2026 at 7:23 PM
We are thrilled that our study on the evolution of gene regulation in mammalian cerebellum development – led by @ioansarr.bsky.social, @marisepp.bsky.social and @tyamadat.bsky.social, in collaboration with @steinaerts.bsky.social – is now out in @ScienceMagazine! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
Now out in Nature! We visualize infection of the RNA virus RSV in real-time with single-vRNP resolution to understand how RSV establishes viral factories, biomolecular condensates that act as sites of viral replication. A huge collaborative effort led by Dhanushika Ratnayake!
rdcu.be/e1bBW
rdcu.be/e1bBW
Pre-assembly of biomolecular condensate seeds drives RSV replication
Nature - Viral ribonucleoprotein–viral protein networks form pre-replication centres that nucleate viral factories and drive respiratory syncytial virus replication.
rdcu.be
January 28, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Now out in Nature! We visualize infection of the RNA virus RSV in real-time with single-vRNP resolution to understand how RSV establishes viral factories, biomolecular condensates that act as sites of viral replication. A huge collaborative effort led by Dhanushika Ratnayake!
rdcu.be/e1bBW
rdcu.be/e1bBW
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
1/ Our new study, led by Jingwen Ding, examines the role of transcription factors during human neurogenesis to identify gene regulatory networks influencing cell fate, maturation, and subtype specification
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Dissecting gene regulatory networks governing human cortical cell fate - Nature
Systematic screening of transcription factors reveals conserved mechanisms governing cortical radial glia lineage progression across primates and provides a framework for functional dissecti...
www.nature.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:16 AM
1/ Our new study, led by Jingwen Ding, examines the role of transcription factors during human neurogenesis to identify gene regulatory networks influencing cell fate, maturation, and subtype specification
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
Paper alert: Our study led by @evapillai.bsky.social and @sudimukherjee.bsky.social showing that mechanical properties of the #brain actively shape the molecular landscape during development and #axonpathfinding is finally out! www.nature.com/articles/s41... @pdncambridge.bsky.social @fau.de @MPZPM
Long-range chemical signalling in vivo is regulated by mechanical signals - Nature Materials
Tissue stiffness mediated by Piezo1 is shown to regulate the expression of diffusive guidance cues in the developing Xenopus laevis brain, revealing a crosstalk between mechanical signals and long-ran...
www.nature.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Paper alert: Our study led by @evapillai.bsky.social and @sudimukherjee.bsky.social showing that mechanical properties of the #brain actively shape the molecular landscape during development and #axonpathfinding is finally out! www.nature.com/articles/s41... @pdncambridge.bsky.social @fau.de @MPZPM
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
🥂Congratulations to @nmoris.bsky.social & co for their study in our journal generating human stem cell-based trunk-like structures approximating Carnegie stage 13–14 of development. They use them to model and study the development of the thoracic and lumbar trunk.
bit.ly/3LoaXw2
bit.ly/3LoaXw2
Modelling co-development between the somites and neural tube in human trunk-like structures - Nature Cell Biology
Makwana, Tilley et al. generate human stem cell-based trunk-like structures approximating Carnegie stage 13–14 of development. They use them to model and study the development of the thoracic and lumb...
bit.ly
January 18, 2026 at 1:09 PM
🥂Congratulations to @nmoris.bsky.social & co for their study in our journal generating human stem cell-based trunk-like structures approximating Carnegie stage 13–14 of development. They use them to model and study the development of the thoracic and lumbar trunk.
bit.ly/3LoaXw2
bit.ly/3LoaXw2
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
There's still time to apply to be a 2026 @dev-journal.bsky.social Pathway to Independence fellow
For those about to apply for their first independent academic position, the programme offers
- mentoring
- leadership training
- profile rising
- networking
journals.biologists.com/dev/pages/pi...
For those about to apply for their first independent academic position, the programme offers
- mentoring
- leadership training
- profile rising
- networking
journals.biologists.com/dev/pages/pi...
Pathway to Independence programme | Development | The Company of Biologists
Pathway to Independence programme | Development | The Company of Biologists
Development's Pathway to Independence programme
Launched in 2022, Development’s Pathway Independence programm...
journals.biologists.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:29 PM
There's still time to apply to be a 2026 @dev-journal.bsky.social Pathway to Independence fellow
For those about to apply for their first independent academic position, the programme offers
- mentoring
- leadership training
- profile rising
- networking
journals.biologists.com/dev/pages/pi...
For those about to apply for their first independent academic position, the programme offers
- mentoring
- leadership training
- profile rising
- networking
journals.biologists.com/dev/pages/pi...
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
Interested in the biophysics of organoids? We just published a review in Dev Cell—take a look! dlvr.it/TPyTb8 #Organoids #Biophysics
Biophysics of organoids
In this review, Weichselberger, Moore et al. discuss how physics-based approaches
illuminate organoid development and homeostasis by integrating mechanical, chemical,
and informational processes. They...
dlvr.it
January 6, 2026 at 10:27 AM
Interested in the biophysics of organoids? We just published a review in Dev Cell—take a look! dlvr.it/TPyTb8 #Organoids #Biophysics
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
The OAS–RNase L pathway: Insights from experiments of nature | Science Immunology www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org
January 10, 2026 at 10:56 AM
The OAS–RNase L pathway: Insights from experiments of nature | Science Immunology www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Very excited that @priscaliberali.bsky.social will be our next speaker for the @humantechnopole.bsky.social External Seminar Series next Tuesday, January 13th. Big thanks to Marino Zerial for hosting!
For external people wanting to join, please see: forms.office.com/pages/respon...
For external people wanting to join, please see: forms.office.com/pages/respon...
January 9, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Very excited that @priscaliberali.bsky.social will be our next speaker for the @humantechnopole.bsky.social External Seminar Series next Tuesday, January 13th. Big thanks to Marino Zerial for hosting!
For external people wanting to join, please see: forms.office.com/pages/respon...
For external people wanting to join, please see: forms.office.com/pages/respon...
Incredibly excited to be taking part in the EMBO Workshop Pathogen Immunity & Signalling. Thanks to Annemarthe van der Veen, @kajastelab.bsky.social, @iannaconelab.bsky.social, @maurogaya.bsky.social, @manellab.bsky.social, @jnpruneda.bsky.social, Jan Rehwinkel & Mads Gyrd-Hansen for organising.
January 9, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Incredibly excited to be taking part in the EMBO Workshop Pathogen Immunity & Signalling. Thanks to Annemarthe van der Veen, @kajastelab.bsky.social, @iannaconelab.bsky.social, @maurogaya.bsky.social, @manellab.bsky.social, @jnpruneda.bsky.social, Jan Rehwinkel & Mads Gyrd-Hansen for organising.
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
Thrilled to share our new paper on reactive microglial plasticity! Using long-term fate mapping and epigenetic profiling, we uncover the remarkable plasticity of reactive microglia across the lifespan and the enhancers and associated TFs that govern state transitions.
Online now: State-specific enhancer landscapes govern microglial plasticity
State-specific enhancer landscapes govern microglial plasticity
Microglia adopt diverse states throughout life. Whether these represent fixed lineages or reversible plasticity remains unclear. Hamagami and Kapadia et al. show that reactive microglia switch states through reprogramming of histone modifications at state-specific enhancers and associated transcription factors, linking developmental, aging, and disease phenotypes within a unified dynamic framework.
dlvr.it
January 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Thrilled to share our new paper on reactive microglial plasticity! Using long-term fate mapping and epigenetic profiling, we uncover the remarkable plasticity of reactive microglia across the lifespan and the enhancers and associated TFs that govern state transitions.
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
Mitochondrial transfer from glia to neurons protects against peripheral neuropathy @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 7, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Mitochondrial transfer from glia to neurons protects against peripheral neuropathy @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
I'm super excited to announce that I will join the Human Technopole @humantechnopole.bsky.social in Milan in April 2026 as a Research Group Leader.
January 5, 2026 at 11:49 AM
I'm super excited to announce that I will join the Human Technopole @humantechnopole.bsky.social in Milan in April 2026 as a Research Group Leader.
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
Dynamic subtype- and context-specific subcellular RNA regulation in growth cones of developing neurons in the cerebral cortex. rdcu.be/eXuwg
Dynamic subtype- and context-specific subcellular RNA regulation in growth cones of developing neurons of the cerebral cortex
Nature Neuroscience - Distinct neuron subtypes compartmentalize specific functions by differentially localizing and translating specific RNAs. This work identifies dynamic subtype- and...
rdcu.be
January 4, 2026 at 9:27 AM
Dynamic subtype- and context-specific subcellular RNA regulation in growth cones of developing neurons in the cerebral cortex. rdcu.be/eXuwg
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
30 years ago today, December 31st 1995, the last ever Calvin & Hobbes comic strip was published. Even now, I still find it so poignant & moving.
December 31, 2025 at 2:32 PM
30 years ago today, December 31st 1995, the last ever Calvin & Hobbes comic strip was published. Even now, I still find it so poignant & moving.
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
Mechanisms of HSV-1 helicase-primase inhibition and replication fork complex assembly @cellcellpress.bsky.social @abrahamlabhms.bsky.social @harvardmed.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
December 29, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Mechanisms of HSV-1 helicase-primase inhibition and replication fork complex assembly @cellcellpress.bsky.social @abrahamlabhms.bsky.social @harvardmed.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
Viral infection and brain inflammation with seizures in PARK7 deficiency url: rupress.org/jhi/article/...
Viral infection and brain inflammation with seizures in PARK7 deficiency | Journal of Human Immunity | Rockefeller University Press
Here, Lønskov et al. describe a child homozygous for a deleterious variant in PARK7/DJ-1 presenting with RSV infection, brain inflammation, and seizures an
rupress.org
December 26, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Viral infection and brain inflammation with seizures in PARK7 deficiency url: rupress.org/jhi/article/...
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
Neurons undergo IFNγ-driven persistent epigenetic shifts and synaptopathy in encephalitis: Neuron www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Neurons undergo IFNγ-driven persistent epigenetic shifts and synaptopathy in encephalitis
Shammas et al. show a neuronal epigenetic remodeling during CNS encephalitis. This
program involves IFNγ-driven persistent reduction in TF-binding site accessibility,
linked to long-lasting reduction ...
www.cell.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Neurons undergo IFNγ-driven persistent epigenetic shifts and synaptopathy in encephalitis: Neuron www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Reposted by Oliver Harschnitz
1/ We’re seeking Sponsors for the 3rd International Symposium on Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI), and their phenocopies, to be held in Lofoten, Norway, in June 2027.
www.hgid.org/collaborativ...
www.hgid.org/collaborativ...
December 24, 2025 at 5:01 PM
1/ We’re seeking Sponsors for the 3rd International Symposium on Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI), and their phenocopies, to be held in Lofoten, Norway, in June 2027.
www.hgid.org/collaborativ...
www.hgid.org/collaborativ...
Happy Holidays from our lab to yours 🎄☃️🦌 It's an absolute privilege to work with this amazing group of scientists. All the best for 2026!
December 20, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Happy Holidays from our lab to yours 🎄☃️🦌 It's an absolute privilege to work with this amazing group of scientists. All the best for 2026!