Bob Johnston
@bobbyjeyeguy.bsky.social
Studies human retinal organoids and fly eyes to understand how neuronal diversity is generated.
https://www.johnstonlabjhu.com/
https://www.johnstonlabjhu.com/
Pinned
Bob Johnston
@bobbyjeyeguy.bsky.social
· Mar 24
DIO3 coordinates photoreceptor development timing and fate stability in human retinal organoids https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.03.20.644422v1
Check out this tour de force work from @christ3na.bsky.social in my lab!
Her studies reveal how developmental timing in the retina is controlled like an hourglass. The progenitor:neuron ratio shifts to control signaling levels and trigger photoreceptor development over time. Check it out!!
Her studies reveal how developmental timing in the retina is controlled like an hourglass. The progenitor:neuron ratio shifts to control signaling levels and trigger photoreceptor development over time. Check it out!!
Reposted by Bob Johnston
My department at Dartmouth Medical School is hiring a tenure-track Assistant Professor. We are looking broadly for a biochemist or cell biologist. Please share this add! apply.interfolio.com/171438
@dartmouthbcb.bsky.social @futurepislack.bsky.social
@dartmouthbcb.bsky.social @futurepislack.bsky.social
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:50 PM
My department at Dartmouth Medical School is hiring a tenure-track Assistant Professor. We are looking broadly for a biochemist or cell biologist. Please share this add! apply.interfolio.com/171438
@dartmouthbcb.bsky.social @futurepislack.bsky.social
@dartmouthbcb.bsky.social @futurepislack.bsky.social
Reposted by Bob Johnston
Now out in Cell! Congratulations to all involved, especially
@chiarafornetto.bsky.social
For a breakdown, see the bluetorial from when we posted the preprint: bsky.app/profile/neur...
Funding: @erc.europa.eu @wellcometrust.bsky.social @ukri.org @leverhulme.ac.uk @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social
@chiarafornetto.bsky.social
For a breakdown, see the bluetorial from when we posted the preprint: bsky.app/profile/neur...
Funding: @erc.europa.eu @wellcometrust.bsky.social @ukri.org @leverhulme.ac.uk @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social
Now online! Zebrafish use spectral information to suppress the visual background
Zebrafish use spectral information to suppress the visual background
Vertebrate eyes first evolved in water, where spectral content rapidly fades with distance. Zebrafish exploit this loss by antagonizing cone signals to suppress the background, pointing to distance estimation—rather than color—as an ancestral cone function.
dlvr.it
November 4, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Now out in Cell! Congratulations to all involved, especially
@chiarafornetto.bsky.social
For a breakdown, see the bluetorial from when we posted the preprint: bsky.app/profile/neur...
Funding: @erc.europa.eu @wellcometrust.bsky.social @ukri.org @leverhulme.ac.uk @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social
@chiarafornetto.bsky.social
For a breakdown, see the bluetorial from when we posted the preprint: bsky.app/profile/neur...
Funding: @erc.europa.eu @wellcometrust.bsky.social @ukri.org @leverhulme.ac.uk @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social
Reposted by Bob Johnston
Today’s speaker in our DRN external seminar series is Dr Ryan MacDonald @macdonaldlab.bsky.social (University College London)
Sponsored by the Physiological Society
@physoc.bsky.social
Host: Emily Noël
@noelresearchlab.bsky.social
All welcome!
Sponsored by the Physiological Society
@physoc.bsky.social
Host: Emily Noël
@noelresearchlab.bsky.social
All welcome!
October 29, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Today’s speaker in our DRN external seminar series is Dr Ryan MacDonald @macdonaldlab.bsky.social (University College London)
Sponsored by the Physiological Society
@physoc.bsky.social
Host: Emily Noël
@noelresearchlab.bsky.social
All welcome!
Sponsored by the Physiological Society
@physoc.bsky.social
Host: Emily Noël
@noelresearchlab.bsky.social
All welcome!
Reposted by Bob Johnston
Chd4 remodels chromatin to control retinal cell type specification and lineage termination
Read this #LifelongDevSI #OA Research Article by Sujay Shah, Pierre Mattar and colleagues
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
Read this #LifelongDevSI #OA Research Article by Sujay Shah, Pierre Mattar and colleagues
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
October 28, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Chd4 remodels chromatin to control retinal cell type specification and lineage termination
Read this #LifelongDevSI #OA Research Article by Sujay Shah, Pierre Mattar and colleagues
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
Read this #LifelongDevSI #OA Research Article by Sujay Shah, Pierre Mattar and colleagues
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
Reposted by Bob Johnston
Fantastic new paper from @pierre-mattar.bsky.social lab!
Chd4 remodels chromatin to control retinal cell type specification and lineage termination
Read this #LifelongDevSI #OA Research Article by Sujay Shah, Pierre Mattar and colleagues
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
Read this #LifelongDevSI #OA Research Article by Sujay Shah, Pierre Mattar and colleagues
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
October 28, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Fantastic new paper from @pierre-mattar.bsky.social lab!
Reposted by Bob Johnston
TT faculty job opening in #Neuroscience!
We are looking for a colleague to join us in our fantastic Biology Department and Neuroscience Program at Brandeis. We are a group of *very* collaborative, supportive, and productive scientists (& humans!) so please apply
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30961
We are looking for a colleague to join us in our fantastic Biology Department and Neuroscience Program at Brandeis. We are a group of *very* collaborative, supportive, and productive scientists (& humans!) so please apply
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30961
Brandeis University, Biology Department
Job #AJO30961, Assistant Professor in Biology and Neuroscience Program, Biology Department, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, US
academicjobsonline.org
October 22, 2025 at 11:28 PM
TT faculty job opening in #Neuroscience!
We are looking for a colleague to join us in our fantastic Biology Department and Neuroscience Program at Brandeis. We are a group of *very* collaborative, supportive, and productive scientists (& humans!) so please apply
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30961
We are looking for a colleague to join us in our fantastic Biology Department and Neuroscience Program at Brandeis. We are a group of *very* collaborative, supportive, and productive scientists (& humans!) so please apply
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30961
Reposted by Bob Johnston
In the 2nd preprint from @mlodziklab.bsky.social, Weber et al. show that LRP5/6/arrow, the Wnt/bcatenin signaling specific co-receptor, is also required for Wnt/planar cell polarity establishment, a challenge and eye-opener for the Wnt field.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
The Wnt co-receptor Arrow-LRP5/6 is required for Planar Cell Polarity establishment in Drosophila
Wnt-signaling, via β-catenin or the planar cell polarity (PCP) branch, is crucial for development, tissue homeostasis, and linked to many diseases. LRP5/6, arrow ( arr ) in Drosophila , is the obligat...
www.biorxiv.org
October 21, 2025 at 2:49 PM
In the 2nd preprint from @mlodziklab.bsky.social, Weber et al. show that LRP5/6/arrow, the Wnt/bcatenin signaling specific co-receptor, is also required for Wnt/planar cell polarity establishment, a challenge and eye-opener for the Wnt field.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Bob Johnston
A new article on our National Eye Institute (NEI) - funded project on the mechanisms underlying color vision!
@umassboston.bsky.social
🪰👀🧪
www.umb.edu/news/recent-...
@umassboston.bsky.social
🪰👀🧪
www.umb.edu/news/recent-...
In Fruit Fly Eyes, UMass Boston Researcher Sees Potential Medical Discoveries
Jens Rister, an associate professor in UMass Boston’s biology department, has just been awarded more than $1,700,000 in funding from the National Eye Institute of the NIH to research a protein that gu...
www.umb.edu
October 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
A new article on our National Eye Institute (NEI) - funded project on the mechanisms underlying color vision!
@umassboston.bsky.social
🪰👀🧪
www.umb.edu/news/recent-...
@umassboston.bsky.social
🪰👀🧪
www.umb.edu/news/recent-...
Check out our paper from @christ3na.bsky.social in G+D. DIO3, which degrades thyroid hormone/TH, is expressed in progenitors and turns off in neurons. As the progenitor:neuron ratio decreases, DIO3 decreases and TH increases, triggering photoreceptor generation.
genesdev.cshlp.org/content/earl...
genesdev.cshlp.org/content/earl...
DIO3 coordinates photoreceptor development timing and fate stability in human retinal organoids
A biweekly scientific journal publishing high-quality research in molecular biology and genetics, cancer biology, biochemistry, and related fields
genesdev.cshlp.org
October 21, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Check out our paper from @christ3na.bsky.social in G+D. DIO3, which degrades thyroid hormone/TH, is expressed in progenitors and turns off in neurons. As the progenitor:neuron ratio decreases, DIO3 decreases and TH increases, triggering photoreceptor generation.
genesdev.cshlp.org/content/earl...
genesdev.cshlp.org/content/earl...
Reposted by Bob Johnston
Our faculty job market series continues today on the topic of zoom interviews! Come hear Tyler, Heather, and Duc share their thoughts/advice today at 3pm ET / 12p PT. There will also be time for Q&A.
Registration link in flyer - hope to see you there!
Registration link in flyer - hope to see you there!
October 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Our faculty job market series continues today on the topic of zoom interviews! Come hear Tyler, Heather, and Duc share their thoughts/advice today at 3pm ET / 12p PT. There will also be time for Q&A.
Registration link in flyer - hope to see you there!
Registration link in flyer - hope to see you there!
Reposted by Bob Johnston
Come join us!
Applications to the GCDB Biology Doctoral program at IU are due December 1st.
@iubiology.bsky.social
@alizeemalnoe.bsky.social @rhcalderon.bsky.social @lesleynweaver.bsky.social @hoosierflyman.bsky.social @tennessenlab.bsky.social @flyeyelab.bsky.social @briancalvi.bsky.social
Applications to the GCDB Biology Doctoral program at IU are due December 1st.
@iubiology.bsky.social
@alizeemalnoe.bsky.social @rhcalderon.bsky.social @lesleynweaver.bsky.social @hoosierflyman.bsky.social @tennessenlab.bsky.social @flyeyelab.bsky.social @briancalvi.bsky.social
October 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Come join us!
Applications to the GCDB Biology Doctoral program at IU are due December 1st.
@iubiology.bsky.social
@alizeemalnoe.bsky.social @rhcalderon.bsky.social @lesleynweaver.bsky.social @hoosierflyman.bsky.social @tennessenlab.bsky.social @flyeyelab.bsky.social @briancalvi.bsky.social
Applications to the GCDB Biology Doctoral program at IU are due December 1st.
@iubiology.bsky.social
@alizeemalnoe.bsky.social @rhcalderon.bsky.social @lesleynweaver.bsky.social @hoosierflyman.bsky.social @tennessenlab.bsky.social @flyeyelab.bsky.social @briancalvi.bsky.social
Reposted by Bob Johnston
See this? This = implanting mouse embryo. Usually this happens inside its mother and is invisible to us, but we can actually watch implantation ex vivo with the hope of understanding why implantation goes awry in embryos of older women. A 🧵...
October 1, 2025 at 6:21 PM
See this? This = implanting mouse embryo. Usually this happens inside its mother and is invisible to us, but we can actually watch implantation ex vivo with the hope of understanding why implantation goes awry in embryos of older women. A 🧵...
Check this paper from @simonomisz.bsky.social in our lab!
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Human retinas/organoids go through 2 apoptotic waves. Organoids also have a necrotic wave. Blocking apoptosis promotes RGC survival to day 200 (usually die!). Apoptosis promotes normal neurogenesis/maturation.
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Human retinas/organoids go through 2 apoptotic waves. Organoids also have a necrotic wave. Blocking apoptosis promotes RGC survival to day 200 (usually die!). Apoptosis promotes normal neurogenesis/maturation.
Blocking apoptosis promotes survival and alters developmental dynamics of human retinal ganglion cells in retinal organoids
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the projection neurons that transmit visual information from the retina to the brain. In many species, a substantial proportion of RGCs are eliminated by programmed c...
www.biorxiv.org
September 29, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Check this paper from @simonomisz.bsky.social in our lab!
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Human retinas/organoids go through 2 apoptotic waves. Organoids also have a necrotic wave. Blocking apoptosis promotes RGC survival to day 200 (usually die!). Apoptosis promotes normal neurogenesis/maturation.
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Human retinas/organoids go through 2 apoptotic waves. Organoids also have a necrotic wave. Blocking apoptosis promotes RGC survival to day 200 (usually die!). Apoptosis promotes normal neurogenesis/maturation.
Reposted by Bob Johnston
Kinetic organization of the genome revealed by ultraresolution multiscale live imaging www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Kinetic organization of the genome revealed by ultraresolution multiscale live imaging
Genome function requires regulated genome motion. However, tools to directly observe this motion in vivo have been limited in coverage and resolution. Here we introduce an approach to tile mammalian c...
www.science.org
September 19, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Kinetic organization of the genome revealed by ultraresolution multiscale live imaging www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Bob Johnston
#FluorescenceFriday: a weekly reminder that behind the data, there are moments of pure wonder. This is why we do what we do. And the #retina is so uniquely beautiful!
September 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
#FluorescenceFriday: a weekly reminder that behind the data, there are moments of pure wonder. This is why we do what we do. And the #retina is so uniquely beautiful!
Reposted by Bob Johnston
Reposted by Bob Johnston
A big thanks to the NEI for supporting my new R01 and MCW for highlighting the research focus. We’ve already made some interesting discoveries and I’m excited to see how the research progresses for years to come. www.mcw.edu/mcwknowledge...
Preventing Blindness by Untangling the Genetic Network of Vision Neurons
Dr. Joel Miesfeld’s lab studies the mechanisms behind retinal ganglion cells to better understand vision development.
www.mcw.edu
September 16, 2025 at 2:05 PM
A big thanks to the NEI for supporting my new R01 and MCW for highlighting the research focus. We’ve already made some interesting discoveries and I’m excited to see how the research progresses for years to come. www.mcw.edu/mcwknowledge...
Reposted by Bob Johnston
We’re excited to share that, after receiving many requests each year from the research community for Oligopaint DNA & RNA FISH probes, we’re piloting a service to design & prepare probes for labs.
Please share with colleagues who may benefit!
ericjoycelab.com/oligopaint-f...
Please share with colleagues who may benefit!
ericjoycelab.com/oligopaint-f...
Oligopaint Probe Requests
In an effort to make Oligopaint FISH probes more broadly available to the research community, we offer DNA and RNA FISH probe design, synthesis, and generation. By dedicating a full-time staff memb…
ericjoycelab.com
September 16, 2025 at 5:44 PM
We’re excited to share that, after receiving many requests each year from the research community for Oligopaint DNA & RNA FISH probes, we’re piloting a service to design & prepare probes for labs.
Please share with colleagues who may benefit!
ericjoycelab.com/oligopaint-f...
Please share with colleagues who may benefit!
ericjoycelab.com/oligopaint-f...
Reposted by Bob Johnston
Damaged retinal ganglion cells can lead to blindness. MCW’s Dr. Joel Miesfeld is conducting #research into the development of these cells to better identify ways to help them regenerate after damage. Learn more: www.mcw.edu/mcwknowledge...
#Ophthalmology #VisionHealth #MCWKnowledge
#Ophthalmology #VisionHealth #MCWKnowledge
Preventing Blindness by Untangling the Genetic Network of Vision Neurons
Dr. Joel Miesfeld’s lab studies the mechanisms behind retinal ganglion cells to better understand vision development.
www.mcw.edu
September 17, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Damaged retinal ganglion cells can lead to blindness. MCW’s Dr. Joel Miesfeld is conducting #research into the development of these cells to better identify ways to help them regenerate after damage. Learn more: www.mcw.edu/mcwknowledge...
#Ophthalmology #VisionHealth #MCWKnowledge
#Ophthalmology #VisionHealth #MCWKnowledge
Reposted by Bob Johnston
🎉 New preprints from the lab! (1) www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Novel Roles of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling in Retinal Patterning and Neurogenesis During Mammalian Eye Development
The Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is essential for the patterning, growth, and morphogenesis of many tissues. During early eye development, Shh is critical for the formation of the two optic ...
www.biorxiv.org
September 17, 2025 at 1:43 AM
🎉 New preprints from the lab! (1) www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Bob Johnston
New preprints from the lab!! (2)
Uncoupling Neocortical Neuron Fate and Migration via a Let-7-RBX2 Axis https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.11.675676v1
September 17, 2025 at 1:49 AM
New preprints from the lab!! (2)
Reposted by Bob Johnston
Very proud of former Kumar lab PhD student, Alison Ordway, for receiving a K99 award from the National Eye Institute on her work describing photoreceptor patterning in Drosophila and mosquito compound eyes. Keep your eyes out for Alison when she goes out on the job market.
September 16, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Very proud of former Kumar lab PhD student, Alison Ordway, for receiving a K99 award from the National Eye Institute on her work describing photoreceptor patterning in Drosophila and mosquito compound eyes. Keep your eyes out for Alison when she goes out on the job market.
Reposted by Bob Johnston
Very excited about our new preprint, led by @gkafetzis.bsky.social /w @mikebok.bsky.social & @denilsson.bsky.social. We suggest that the vertebrate 'duplex' retina emerged from interconnecting two ancient median-eye microcircuits. Say goodbye to the 'simplex' retina - it probably never existed!
September 12, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Very excited about our new preprint, led by @gkafetzis.bsky.social /w @mikebok.bsky.social & @denilsson.bsky.social. We suggest that the vertebrate 'duplex' retina emerged from interconnecting two ancient median-eye microcircuits. Say goodbye to the 'simplex' retina - it probably never existed!
Reposted by Bob Johnston
Our latest manuscript is out, and this one tackles the problem of cellular aging in the retina, using comparative multiomic analysis of zebrafish, mouse, and humans. What led us to work on aging after studying development and regeneration? Explainer follows./1
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Comparative single-cell multiomic analysis reveals evolutionarily conserved and species-specific cellular mechanisms mediating natural retinal aging.
Biological age is a major risk factor in the development of common degenerative retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. To systematically characterize molecular mechani...
www.biorxiv.org
September 12, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Our latest manuscript is out, and this one tackles the problem of cellular aging in the retina, using comparative multiomic analysis of zebrafish, mouse, and humans. What led us to work on aging after studying development and regeneration? Explainer follows./1
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Bob Johnston
1/7 Really happy to see my PhD work published in ✨Developmental Cell✨ today! We find human endoderm is specified by two developmental trajectories 🔀, and the choice between alternate routes is dictated by the combinatorial BMP4/Activin signalling. www.cell.com/developmenta...
Combinatorial BMP4 and activin direct the choice between alternate routes to endoderm in a stem cell model of human gastrulation
Inge et al. show that human endoderm originates from two converging developmental
routes with distinct dynamics and efficiencies yet similar developmental potential.
Combinatorial activin and BMP4 sig...
www.cell.com
September 9, 2025 at 8:01 PM
1/7 Really happy to see my PhD work published in ✨Developmental Cell✨ today! We find human endoderm is specified by two developmental trajectories 🔀, and the choice between alternate routes is dictated by the combinatorial BMP4/Activin signalling. www.cell.com/developmenta...