News — Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (DPAG)

On the left is an example of data collected using a line-scan confocal microscope. A single line through the cell is scanned within repeatedly (ca. 500 times per second), and calcium indicator fluorescence is recorded. Time goes from top to bottom and the location along the cell length is left-to-right. When single sparks recruit further sparks, this can lead to the emergence of propagating calcium wave, as shown starting near the middle of the cell and propagating to the left. The right panel shows how SparkMaster 2 detects calcium sparks, miniwaves, and waves. For each of the recorded events, the software records numerous event properties, such as location, size, amplitude, dynamics of rise and fall of fluorescence to a spreadsheet, for further analyses.

Pioneering new software to analyse intracellular calcium signals

1 September 2023

A collaborative team of UC Davis and University of Oxford researchers have developed an innovative new software tool – SparkMaster 2 – which will enable automatic analysis of calcium sparks which are known to cause cardiac arrythmias in a variety of disease settings. First and co-corresponding author Dr Jakub Tomek, who is a Sir Henry Wellcome Fellow based in DPAG's Zaccolo group, conducted this research as part of his fellowship year spent at UC Davis.

DPAG and Biochemistry inspire local children with second Science in the Park event

27 July 2023

On Tuesday 25 July, more than 140 children together with around 60 parents and caregivers were treated to a thrilling variety of hands-on science activities in University Parks. ‘Science in the Park’ was run by DPAG’s Outreach and Public Engagement Working Group (OPEWG), in collaboration with the Department of Biochemistry, with 30 volunteers comprising research scientists, graduate students and professional services staff.

BHF Fellowship for Ian McCracken could pave the way to promoting blood vessel growth in heart attack patients

27 July 2023

Congratulations are in order for Dr Ian McCracken, a postdoctoral research scientist in the Smart Group, who has been awarded an Immediate Postdoctoral Basic Science Research Fellowship by the British Heart Foundation (BHF). His fellowship project aims to improve understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the formation of the coronary vessels and reveal novel targets for future therapeutic strategies to drive neovascularisation.

Thamali Ayagama wins Physiology 2023 Poster Prize

18 July 2023

Congratulations are in order to Dr Thamali Ayagama who has been awarded the Physiological Reports Poster Prize at Physiology 2023, The Physiological Society's premier Annual Conference.

Researcher Spotlight for South Asian Heritage Month: Dr Kalina Naidoo

18 July 2023

South Asian Heritage Month, running from 18 July - 17 August each year, aims to commemorate, and celebrate, South Asian cultures, histories and communities, helping to spread awareness of the diverse heritage and cultures that continue to link the UK with South Asia. Here at DPAG, we are celebrating the stories that make up our diverse and vibrant community. Meet Dr Kalina Naidoo, a Postdoctoral Neuronal Cell Biologist working in the Wade-Martins Group based in the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery (Kavli INsD).

Winners of the DPAG Image Competition 2023 announced

7 July 2023

A department-wide image competition has yielded a wide variety of beautiful images showcasing the diversity and breadth of DPAG's science. Two prize winners and a further three commended pictures are announced.

Two side by side tissue samples from a human colon. On the left shows a sample from a normal colon (more alkaline) and on the right shows colorectal cancer tissue, characterised by higher acidity.

Researchers discover how cancer cells adapt under acidity

27 June 2023

New research led by Dr Johanna Michl and Professor Pawel Swietach has solved the longstanding mystery of how cancer cells are able to maintain a relatively alkaline intracellular pH, despite being surrounded by an acidic environment. A raised intracellular pH is required for cancer progression because it allows cancer cells to efficiently proliferate and metastasise. However, until now the exact molecular mechanism underlying this adaptation was unknown.

Fellowship to Jose Prius Mengual paves the way to new genetic therapy for epilepsy

22 May 2023

Congratulations are in order to Dr Jose Prius Mengual who has been awarded an Emerging Leader Fellowship Award from Epilepsy Research UK and the Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator (NATA). With this award, Dr Mengual will develop a new genetic therapy to rebalance protein levels in the neurons affected by epilepsy to prevent seizures.

Fellowship to Hugo Fernandes paves the way to improved treatment options for dementia

4 May 2023

Congratulations are in order to Dr Hugo Fernandes who has been awarded a sought after Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Research Leader Fellowship. With this award, Dr Fernandes will reveal the role of dysfunctional lipid metabolism in dementia using innovative self-designed tools and models to identify new therapeutic targets.

Researchers discover why multisensory learning is beneficial for memory

26 April 2023

New research published in Nature, led by researchers Dr Zeynep Okray, Dr Pedro Jacob and Professor Scott Waddell at the Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, has discovered a detailed neural circuit mechanism that explains how multisensory learning improves memory performance.

Annie Park to advance our understanding of how the brain encodes reward with new Wellcome Trust Award

13 March 2023

Congratulations are in order for Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Annie Park who has been awarded a prestigious Wellcome Early-Career Award.

Unlocking the Secrets of cAMP Signalling in the Heart: A Pathway to Targeted Therapeutics

9 March 2023

A new Zaccolo group study has revealed key new insights into the role of cAMP signalling in both healthy and disease settings within the heart. They have identified new cAMP nanodomains in cardiac muscle cells that have far reaching implications for the treatment of heart disease.

Physiological Society award to support prestigious CAJAL course for Raffaele Sarnataro

2 March 2023

Congratulations are in order for Dr Raffaele Sarnataro who has been awarded a Professional Development Award by The Physiological Society. The award will support Dr Sarnataro’s selected participation on the Experimental Neuroscience Bootcamp 2023 delivered by the CAJAL Advanced Neuroscience Training Programme.

Inaugural winners of the DPAG Prize for Public Engagement with Research announced

11 January 2023

Congratulations are in order for the winners Katherine Brimblecombe and Anna Kordala, and also to Jéssica Luiz and Andia Redpath who were highly commended for their outreach and public engagement work.

Strong performance for DPAG cardiac research at the Oxford BHF CRE Annual Symposium

30 November 2022

Congratulations are in order for Kaitlyn Dennis, Dr Ni Li and Dr KC Park on their awards at this year's major showcase for Oxford's British Heart Foundation funded researchers.

Key cause of type 2 diabetes uncovered

14 November 2022

Research led by Dr Elizabeth Haythorne and Professor Frances Ashcroft reveals high blood glucose reprograms the metabolism of pancreatic beta-cells in diabetes. They have discovered that glucose metabolites, rather than glucose itself, are key to the progression of type 2 diabetes. Glucose metabolites damage pancreatic beta-cell function, so they are unable to release enough of the hormone insulin. Reducing the rate at which glucose is metabolised, and these glucose metabolites build up, can prevent the effects of hyperglycaemia.

DPAG Myth Busters and Shaping Destiny teams engage the public at IF Oxford 2022

12 October 2022

Two DPAG-led teams of volunteers engaged hundreds of visitors at Wesley Memorial Church on Saturday 8 October 2022 as part of The Oxford Science and Ideas Festival’s Explorazone. The Myth Busters team assembled by DPAG’s Outreach and Public Engagement Working Group sought to discuss and debunk myths and misconceptions of biology. The Shaping Destiny team run by members of the Srinivas Group, IDRM, in collaboration with Prof Wes Williams at TORCH explored with the public what is human and how body forms have been historically perceived with a unique virtual reality experience.

Becky Carlyle funded by leading dementia research charity to reveal new targets for Alzheimer's

21 September 2022

Senior Postdoctoral Research Scientist Dr Becky Carlyle has been awarded a £420K funding boost from Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Rita Alonaizan introduces sixth form students to basic science with In2ScienceUK

23 August 2022

Postdoctoral Research Scientist Dr Rita Alonaizan hosted two students via the In2ScienceUK programme, and provided a hands-on work experience in Associate Professor Mathilda Mommersteeg’s Lab from Monday 1 – Friday 5 August during the school summer holidays.

DPAG hosts successful first Science in the Park event

3 August 2022

More than 100 children, along with around 50 parents, grandparents and caregivers enjoyed an exciting variety of activities on the theme of ‘How the Body Works’ in University Parks on Tuesday 26 July. This ‘Science in the Park’ event was run by DPAG’s Outreach and Public Engagement Working Group (OPEWG) and volunteers comprising research scientists, clinical anatomy teaching staff, and graduate and undergraduate students.

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