Together with my other wonderful 2025 PI fellows @biologists.bsky.social @dev-journal.bsky.social, I offer a perspective about the future of my respective field. Have a read - spoiler alert: its about brain evolution and neural lineages (I know - SHOCKER).

journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

In need of a positive outlook on the future (of developmental biology)? Read our perspectives by my fellow @dev-journal.bsky.social PI fellows and myself. I'm hoping my future will contain much more TE biology and mammalian genome regulation!

journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

With perspectives from my esteemed colleagues @ethanewe.bsky.social @maxfarnworth.bsky.social @anzymiller.bsky.social @marliesoomen.bsky.social @giuliapaci.bsky.social @sonyawiden.bsky.social and Toshimichi Yamada 🧪RNAs of all kinds, junk, jumping, and fluctuating genes, cells&tissues with opinions!

If you want to know why we should care about protein expression dynamics have a read of the perspective piece I wrote for @dev-journal.bsky.social. While you're there check out my fellow Pathway to Independence fellows' interesting pieces!
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

ICYMI, the recordings of our #DevPres webinar on gene regulation are now available.
Check out the talks from @dev-journal.bsky.social PI fellows Anzy Miller @anzymiller.bsky.social and Marlies Oomen @marliesoomen.bsky.social.
thenode.biologists.com/catch-up-on-...
#devbio 🎥

Interested in how cells read biological time? Next week I'm talking about my recently published work on how protein expression oscillations are read by cells and their impact on the timing of cell differentiation. Link below to register!

My interview as part of @dev-journal.bsky.social Development's Pathway to Independence is live! I had a great time chatting to Saanjbati Adhikari - thank you.
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

Big thanks to all authors and the funders! @veronicabiga.bsky.social @papalopululab.bsky.social @wellcometrust.bsky.social @erc.europa.eu @ukri.org

4. The fold-change of the oscillations are read through an incoherent feed-forward (IFFL) gene regulatory motif. NGN3 oscillations allow for stochasticity in fold-change over time, resulting in the spreading out of differentiation over time.

3. NGN3 oscillatory dynamics are decoded via the fold-change not expression level
The timing of cell differentiation correlates with the time of the maximum fold-change of the protein expression oscillations, not the absolute level of expression of the protein.

2. Non-oscillatory NGN3 results in earlier differentiation
By creating a more stable version of NGN3 protein (a phosphomutant (PM)) we were able to manipulate the oscillations. Loss of repeated pulses in expression resulted in earlier activation of direct target genes and earlier differentiation.

1. NGN3 protein expression is oscillatory in human pancreatic endocrine progenitors
NGN3, an important transcription factor for pancreatic endocrine differentiation, oscillates in its expression with a 13hr periodicity in human iPSC-derived pancreatic endocrine progenitors, irrespective of fate.

I’m really pleased to share that our paper is out in Developmental Cell! NGN3 oscillates in the developing pancreas and controls the timing of cell differentiation via an incoherent feed-forward motif. For more details check out the comments below and DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2025.06.004

Looking foward to the Northern(ish) Developmental Biology Meeting 2025 next week @sheffielduni.bsky.social! Thanks to the organisers @shaneherbert.bsky.social Raman Das @tsakiridis.bsky.social @kyracampbelllab.bsky.social

Excited to share that my latest preprint! We use dual reporters and computation to explore the bistable HES1-HES5 motif and find that oscillations enable a hybrid state characterised by synchrony of HES1 and HES5 resolving into single HES during the development of mouse embryonic spinal cord.

Really looking forward to the scheme!

Introducing the 2025 PI Fellows of our Pathway to Independence Programme

Over the next year, we will be supporting this talented group of eight postdocs, providing training, mentorship and networking opportunities as they apply for independent positions.
journals.biologists.com/dev/pages/pi...

In Paris this week enjoying #EMBODevTiming! Great talks so far!