Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · 7d

All are welcome to attend this really exciting talk (online and in person). A great chance to learn about something unexpected – taste receptors in Cardiovascular diseases! And if you're lucky you might get to see some of my research too! 🧪🫀🍬

Havi Chichger @drhavichichger.bsky.social · Sep 8

Interested in understanding how taste sensing could regulate cardiovascular disease? Come along to my inaugural Professor talk - Sweet signals, bitter truths: taste sensing and cardiovascular disease - on Wed 15th Oct. You can join in person or online using this booking link (shorturl.at/hZ012)

Sweet signals, bitter truths: taste sensing and cardiovascular disease

IN-PERSON EVENT Join Professor Havovi Chichger for her Inaugural Lecture exploring how taste sensing could treat cardiovascular disease

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · 10d

Today is #WorldHeartDay and as a Cardiovascular Researcher, I can't stress enough how important research into the Cardiovascular system is whether it's the heart itself or the small vessels of individual organs!

Here is a powerful video message from @thebhf.bsky.social that I found impactful! 🫀🧪

It takes 3 minutes to… Brush your teeth 🪥 Make a cup of tea ☕ Take out the bins 🗑️ In the same three minutes, someone in the UK dies from cardiovascular disease. Today is World Heart Day, and we are m...

TikTok video by British Heart Foundation

www.tiktok.com

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · 25d

Day 3 at #IUPS2025 in #Frankfurt was packed with fascinating talks that kept me scribbling notes all day. The highlight for me was hearing Nobel Laureate @stefanhelllabs.bsky.social speak on molecule-scale resolution and dynamics in fluorescence microscopy 🧪🔬✨

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · 26d

Day 2 at #IUPS2025 in #Frankfurt: So many great talks today. Honoured to listen to Nobel Laureate Peter Ratcliffe on hypoxia but I can't lie, my favourite was a super insightful and interesting lecture (totally outside my field) from @jfcryan.bsky.social on the brain-gut axis! 🧠🦠🧪

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · 26d

After a stressful journey to #Frankfurt for #IUPS2025 (airport lost my poster and I forgot my plug adapter for my phone charger!), the first day (yesterday) turned out to be amazing. The airport found my poster just in time! So great to present alongside my supervisor. 🧪🙌 #BiomedicalScience

Me and my amazing PhD supervisor Havi Chichger stood next to our poster titled "Novel GPCR in the lung endothelium regulates VEGF-mediated angiogenic processes."

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Jul 28

🌳 Just achieved carbon neutrality for 2025, all thanks to Treeapp! Plant a FREE tree daily in under 60 seconds. 365 trees/year. Helping you actively offset your footprint while restoring ecosystems worldwide. Join the movement! 🌍✨
#ClimateAction #Treeapp

thetreeapp.org/referral?cod...

Screenshot showing a carbon tracking summary. At the top, icons indicate the year 2025, 238 trees planted which ranks me (joint) 123rd worldwide. The heading reads "Carbon Emissions Absorbed" below, it displays "100%" in large text. A green progress bar with tree icons indicates full offset. Text at the bottom says, "You're carbon negative this year! Yay!"

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Jul 21

A new study highlighted by my PhD supervisor @drhavichichger.bsky.social in The Conversation 🧪 suggests erythritol – a popular "natural" sweetener may damage brain barrier cells, affect blood flow, and block clot-busting defences 🧠🛡 "Sugar-free" might not mean risk-free 🍬

New research reveals how widely used sugar alternative erythritol damages brain protection systems.

theconversation.com

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Jul 5

Yuck! I need to know more!

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Jul 5

This closed-loop VNS study is genuinely exciting. Combining it with rehab for strength and hand function is a smart approach. Big implications for neurorehabilitation research and patient outcomes.

Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Jul 5

This bill's implications for higher education, particularly graduate student loans and research funding, are concerning. Limiting access could severely impact the training of future biomedical scientists and ultimately stifle innovation and risks long-term scientific progress.

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Jul 5

Good luck!

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Jul 5

This PLOS Biology piece on attention and its rhythmic/aperiodic underpinnings is really interesting. It dives into how we perceive things, offering some insights. Definitely one to dig into for understanding visual processing.

Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Jul 5

1 in 8 biomedical abstracts potentially AI-written by 2024? This shift is massive for scientific integrity. It sparks vital conversations about transparency and the evolving nature of research.

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Jul 5

What a purr-fectly wonderful discovery! It's amazing how much joy and health benefits pets bring into our lives.

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Jul 5

Just spent two incredible days at the 75th British Microcirculation and Vascular Biology Society (BMVBS) conference where I presented my poster on a novel lung endothelial GPCR shaping VEGF driven angiogenesis 🫁

Amazing science, inspiring people, and plenty of ideas to fuel my research 🧠🔥🧪

#BMVBS

Me (Lewis Spurrier-Best) standing next to my scientific poster at the 75th Annual Meeting of the British Microcirculation and Vascular Biology Society (BMVBS). The poster is titled "Novel GPCR in the lung endothelium regulates VEGF-mediated angiogenic processes," co-authored with Professor Havovi Chichger. The poster includes text, diagrams, graphs, and experimental results related to vascular endothelial research. Other posters and conference displays are visible in the background.

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Jun 21

🔥 Today is #ShowYourStripes Day.

These stripes represent the avg annual temp of the globe, and Cambridge UK (where I live).

Blue = cooler, red = hotter. The shocking crimson on the right? Our reality. Data doesn’t lie.
#ClimateEmergency #ClimateAction 🧪🌍

Get your stripes: showyourstripes.info

An image of the global temparture change "stripes". The data shows the global average yearly temperature from 1850-2024, the data is compared to the global average temperature from 1961-2010. Years that were hotter than this average are represented by red colours in the positive axis, the more red and the higher the bar the hotter the year, while cooler years are represented by blue and negative bars, again the deeper the blue and lower the bars the more cold that year was. The scale shows we have not had a single blue year since the 1990s and every year is getting more and more red with the past two years being extremely dark red.

An image of the temparture change "stripes" fpr Cambridge UK (where I live). The data shows the average yearly temperature in Cambridge from 1850-2024, the data is compared to the average temperature from 1961-2010. Years that were hotter than this average are represented by red colours in the positive axis, the more red and the higher the bar the hotter the year, while cooler years are represented by blue and negative bars, again the deeper the blue and lower the bars the more cold that year was. The scale shows we have not had a single blue year since the early 2000s and every year is getting more and more red with the past two years being extremely dark red.

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Jun 9

🚭 UK’s disposable vape ban began June 1st, yet TNM found 40% of shops they went to STILL sell them!

Invesgative footage shows widespread non-compliance with the new law, undermining efforts to protect kids health 🫁🧪 as well as protecting the environment 🚯Time for stricter enforcement!

TikTok - Make Your Day

vm.tiktok.com

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · May 21

Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men, but early detection saves lives!

Biden’s diagnosis with a Gleason score of 9, stage 4 (spread to bones), underscores a harsh truth: symptoms like urinary changes demand action.

Men over 50: Prioritize screenings. Talk to your doctor. 💙🧪 #MensHealth

Joe Biden has prostate cancer with bone spread – an oncologist explains what you need to know

With bone metastasis and a high Gleason score, Biden’s case is a reminder of the importance of timely screening and comprehensive care.

ow.ly

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · May 18

A bitter end to Budding Vessels?

Thrilled to have presented my first ever talk at the 19th annual ARU PGR Conference! 🎤 I explained how blocking T2R14 (a bitter taste receptor) mediates VEGF induced angiogenesis. Opening doors to novel therapies. Huge thanks for the inspiring discussions!🫀🫁🧪

Image of me presenting my research entitled "The Bitter End for Budding Vessels? A Bitter Taste Receptor's Influence on Lung Angiogenesis"

Image of me presenting my research this time on a page titled "The Effects of LW129 on Cell Viability and Proliferation" showing 2 graphs indicating LW129 significantly increases cell viability and proliferation.

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · May 12

🏃I’m running the Cambridge 5k on June 29th #RaceForLife for @cancerresearchuk.org

Every step supports lifesaving cancer research. If you can, please donate – trust me as a scientist when I say everything penny helps turn strides into breakthroughs. 🧪👨‍🔬💙 #CancerResearch #Cambridge5k

Lewis's Race for Life

Why I’m Running to Beat Cancer 1 in 2 people will hear the words “you have cancer” in their lifetime. For me, this statistic isn’t just a number – it’s my Grandma and Granddad, and countless others I...

fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · May 9

🧪 Artificial sweeteners: A double-edged sword?
A new article by my PhD supervisor dives into the paradox

In the short-term they may aid weight loss but long-term linked to hunger spikes, obesity & diabetes risk. SACN urges minimizing intake (esp. for kids!) – moderation is key until we know more.

Are artificial sweeteners okay for our health? Here’s what the current evidence says

A growing body of evidence suggests artificial sweeteners may have many harms for health.

theconversation.com

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · May 1

Thrilled to have presented a poster at @thebhf.bsky.social / @cambridgecardio.bsky.social Symposium yesterday!

My poster highlighted taste receptors with potential to combat uncontolled blood vessel growth – possibly opening doors for therapies. Grateful for the feedback & brilliant discussions! 🫀🧪

Me stood in front of my poster titled "Novel GPCR in the lung endothelium regulates VEGF-mediated angiogenesis"

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Apr 2

🌳 Today marks the 365th day in a row that I have planted a tree using Tree app, this app has allowed me to be carbon negative for the past 4 years by just watching one 30 second ad per day!

I would highly recommend the app to anyone who cares about their climate impact!

www.thetreeapp.org

Screenshot showing the number of days I've planted a tree in a row (365)

Screenshot showing my offset flights (149) the land I have reforested (534 m²), the marine habitat I've helped create (118 m²), and the number of countries I've helped plant trees in (13)

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Mar 31

📉 75% of US scientists are eying a move after Trump-era cuts according to the latest Nature survey! Slashed funding, layoffs, and instability the leading causes. With 255/340 PhD students asked, considering relocation.

The US faces a growing talent exodus, with the EU/Canada as top alternatives. 🧪

Nature @nature.com · Mar 30

"This is my home - I really love my country. But a lot of my mentors have been telling me to get out, right now"

75% of US scientists who answered our poll are considering relocating. Read the full story: https://go.nature.com/3QS4TLC

A graphic entitled "so long, farewell". It reads: "Many of the 1608 respondents who answered the question below in a Nature survey said that the election of Donald Trump as president had affected their future plans."
It then shows the question: "Are you a US researcher who is considering leaving the country following disruptions to science prompted by the Trump administration?"
An orange bar shows 75.3% respondents said yes. A blue bar shows 24.7% respondents said no.

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Lewis Spurrier-Best @lewisspurrier-best.bsky.social · Mar 28

As someone currently doing their PhD at ARU funded by @camphilsoc.bsky.social I can't recommend this opportunity enough. I know it's a different field to mine but if you are interested in evolutionary biology, here's a great PhD for you! 🧪

Jacob C. Dunn @jacobcdunn.bsky.social · Mar 27

We are delighted to advertise a 3 year fully funded PhD, generously funded by @camphilsoc.bsky.social on the evolution of the mammalian larynx, hosted @angliaruskin.bsky.social

Full details here: findaphd.com/phds/project...

Please pass it on!

The comparative anatomy of the mammalian larynx at Anglia Ruskin University ARU on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - The comparative anatomy of the mammalian larynx at Anglia Ruskin University ARU, listed on FindAPhD.com

https://findaphd.com/phds/project/the-comparative-anatomy-of-the-mammalian-larynx/?p183840……

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