CF Gene Therapy
@cfgtedinburgh.bsky.social
PI of Pulmonary Gene Therapy Group, IGC, University of Edinburgh. UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium. Personal opinions. https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/christopher-boyd
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
🚨 We’re recruiting a fully funded PhD student (from outside the UK) to join the lab with @tessamdekker.bsky.social 🌍👁️🧠 The PhD is part of IndiBrain.eu and will use cutting‑edge fMRI+qMRI+psychophysics to study information flow between eye and brain in ocular gene therapy. Apply by 27 Feb! t.ly/gahGB
Characterizing individual brain differences to advance personalized diagnosis, treatment, and sustainable healthcare
IndiBrain.eu
February 6, 2026 at 1:09 PM
🚨 We’re recruiting a fully funded PhD student (from outside the UK) to join the lab with @tessamdekker.bsky.social 🌍👁️🧠 The PhD is part of IndiBrain.eu and will use cutting‑edge fMRI+qMRI+psychophysics to study information flow between eye and brain in ocular gene therapy. Apply by 27 Feb! t.ly/gahGB
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
The resident Water of Leith/Victoria Bridge Swan is niw reclaiming her nest. Let's hope for another successful breading season in '26. It's a spring/summer joy to see her and her mate raise cygnets.
February 10, 2026 at 4:20 PM
The resident Water of Leith/Victoria Bridge Swan is niw reclaiming her nest. Let's hope for another successful breading season in '26. It's a spring/summer joy to see her and her mate raise cygnets.
Screenshot taken last week from an article on the feral cows of Amsterdam Island at www.futura-sciences.com. Resorting to LLM slop to illustrate a factual item when real images are available is not a good look. Kudos for transparency, though.
February 10, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Screenshot taken last week from an article on the feral cows of Amsterdam Island at www.futura-sciences.com. Resorting to LLM slop to illustrate a factual item when real images are available is not a good look. Kudos for transparency, though.
A phlebotomist's checklist called Maslow's Hierarchy of Bleeds
A repository of legal documents called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Deeds
A map of a West Yorkshire city called Maslow's Hierarchy of Leeds.
February 9, 2026 at 1:38 PM
A phlebotomist's checklist called Maslow's Hierarchy of Bleeds
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
I'm convinced AI is our generation's radium - a discovery with genuinely useful applications in specific, controlled circumstances that we stupidly put in everything from kid's toys to toothpaste until we realised the harm far too late where future generations will ask if we were out of our minds.
February 8, 2026 at 10:23 PM
I'm convinced AI is our generation's radium - a discovery with genuinely useful applications in specific, controlled circumstances that we stupidly put in everything from kid's toys to toothpaste until we realised the harm far too late where future generations will ask if we were out of our minds.
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
This is Earth and the Moon, photographed by a spacecraft in Mars orbit.
February 8, 2026 at 2:21 AM
This is Earth and the Moon, photographed by a spacecraft in Mars orbit.
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:09 AM
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Cat flab
"No I'm fine, you just make sure you get your fucking video first"
February 6, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Cat flab
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
So now we have it- not only the reduction from 12-13 to 3 grants from each board recommended for funding but the budget for applicant-led research to be reduced from £200 million to £113 million per year. This is appalling, Especially given all that is happening with medical research in the US.
Medical Research Council ‘will fund fewer applicant-led grants’.
Confirmation from deputy leader comes as council restructures investments, with calls on hold until summer.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Confirmation from deputy leader comes as council restructures investments, with calls on hold until summer.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Medical Research Council ‘will fund fewer applicant-led grants’ - Research Professional News
Confirmation from deputy leader comes as council restructures investments, with calls on hold until summer
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:04 AM
So now we have it- not only the reduction from 12-13 to 3 grants from each board recommended for funding but the budget for applicant-led research to be reduced from £200 million to £113 million per year. This is appalling, Especially given all that is happening with medical research in the US.
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
This is a very cool study and, as far as I can tell from a quick read, robust.
Statins probably don't cause most of the side-effects that people think they do.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Statins probably don't cause most of the side-effects that people think they do.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Assessment of adverse effects attributed to statin therapy in product labels: a meta-analysis of double-blind randomised controlled trials
Adverse event data from blinded randomised trials do not support causal relationships
between statin therapy and most of the conditions (including cognitive impairment,
depression, sleep disturbance, ...
www.thelancet.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:00 AM
This is a very cool study and, as far as I can tell from a quick read, robust.
Statins probably don't cause most of the side-effects that people think they do.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Statins probably don't cause most of the side-effects that people think they do.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Thought this was @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social's work at first.
February 4, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Thought this was @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social's work at first.
Worrying news. Hope this outbreak can rapidly be contained.
February 3, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Worrying news. Hope this outbreak can rapidly be contained.
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Remember the medieval remedy we reconstructed years ago? We've now dissected the various ways it attacks and kills bacteria! Preprinted & submitted, led by @tosinorababa.bsky.social & Jess Furner-Pardoe w/ many collaborators #MicroSky #Ancientbiotics www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
February 3, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Remember the medieval remedy we reconstructed years ago? We've now dissected the various ways it attacks and kills bacteria! Preprinted & submitted, led by @tosinorababa.bsky.social & Jess Furner-Pardoe w/ many collaborators #MicroSky #Ancientbiotics www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
At a time when the UK should be capitalising on its global reputation as a great place to do science, this is an enormous own goal. I am so sorry for all those who jobs are going to be impacted.
Both MRC and BBSRC responsive modes now withdrawn until further notice. Existing applications unlikely to succeed (late 2025 round expecting 1-5% success rate).
Listen, I get that UKRI wants to pivot. But killing both at once is devastating.
Let's hope at least one opens by summer... #AcademicSky
Listen, I get that UKRI wants to pivot. But killing both at once is devastating.
Let's hope at least one opens by summer... #AcademicSky
MRC instructs grant review boards to slash funding rates - Research Professional News
Boards asked to recommend just three applications for funding, as BBSRC also suspends calls
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:07 PM
At a time when the UK should be capitalising on its global reputation as a great place to do science, this is an enormous own goal. I am so sorry for all those who jobs are going to be impacted.
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Lots of news in my latest next generation Covid vax update:
- Self-amplifying mRNA vax Kostaive approved in the UK
- New trial for mucosal vax starting in Finland
- Results from AstraZeneca phase 1 trial for mRNA vax ...
absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/01/31/a...
1/2
#Vaccines #Covid #Covid19
- Self-amplifying mRNA vax Kostaive approved in the UK
- New trial for mucosal vax starting in Finland
- Results from AstraZeneca phase 1 trial for mRNA vax ...
absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/01/31/a...
1/2
#Vaccines #Covid #Covid19
Another Approval and More NextGen Covid Vax News (Update No 37) - Absolutely Maybe
This month, Arcturus’ self-amplifying mRNA vaccine was approved for use in the UK. There were also new clinical trial results for another…
absolutelymaybe.plos.org
January 31, 2026 at 5:24 AM
Lots of news in my latest next generation Covid vax update:
- Self-amplifying mRNA vax Kostaive approved in the UK
- New trial for mucosal vax starting in Finland
- Results from AstraZeneca phase 1 trial for mRNA vax ...
absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/01/31/a...
1/2
#Vaccines #Covid #Covid19
- Self-amplifying mRNA vax Kostaive approved in the UK
- New trial for mucosal vax starting in Finland
- Results from AstraZeneca phase 1 trial for mRNA vax ...
absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/01/31/a...
1/2
#Vaccines #Covid #Covid19
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Does the noncoding genome actually carry more genetic information than coding seqs? Motivated by this question we mutated every bp in the 10kb MYC locus. Results are even more exciting: Decoding the MYC locus reveals a druggable ultraconserved RNA element www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org
January 31, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Does the noncoding genome actually carry more genetic information than coding seqs? Motivated by this question we mutated every bp in the 10kb MYC locus. Results are even more exciting: Decoding the MYC locus reveals a druggable ultraconserved RNA element www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
"Our study highlights the presence of widespread neuroinflammation in the brain and increased levels of inflammatory cytokines in the plasma of individuals with post–COVID-19 active temporal lobe epilepsy.".
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Neuroimmune activation in temporal lobe epilepsy patients with worsening seizure following the COVID-19 pandemic: A [18F]DPA-714 PET/MR study
TSPO PET and inflammatory markers reveal spread neuroinflammation in temporal lobe epilepsy with seizure worsening after COVID-19.
www.science.org
January 30, 2026 at 7:39 PM
"Our study highlights the presence of widespread neuroinflammation in the brain and increased levels of inflammatory cytokines in the plasma of individuals with post–COVID-19 active temporal lobe epilepsy.".
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
"Only 10 human cases of Guinea worm were reported worldwide in 2025, the lowest number ever recorded, bringing the ancient disease closer than ever to eradication."
We are so close to eradication.
What a legacy for President Carter who was so instrumental here.
www.cartercenter.org/news/guinea-...
We are so close to eradication.
What a legacy for President Carter who was so instrumental here.
www.cartercenter.org/news/guinea-...
Guinea Worm Disease Reaches All-Time Low: Only 10 Human Cases Reported in 2025
Only 10 human cases of Guinea worm were reported worldwide in 2025, the lowest number ever recorded, bringing the ancient disease closer than ever to eradication.
www.cartercenter.org
January 30, 2026 at 3:40 PM
"Only 10 human cases of Guinea worm were reported worldwide in 2025, the lowest number ever recorded, bringing the ancient disease closer than ever to eradication."
We are so close to eradication.
What a legacy for President Carter who was so instrumental here.
www.cartercenter.org/news/guinea-...
We are so close to eradication.
What a legacy for President Carter who was so instrumental here.
www.cartercenter.org/news/guinea-...
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
This has long struck me as unfair since half those noncoding RNA genes are actually FOR angel wings.
January 30, 2026 at 1:46 PM
This has long struck me as unfair since half those noncoding RNA genes are actually FOR angel wings.
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Blood DNA residue of Epstein-Barr virus (which causes MS & IM) correlates with various diseases. Our genetics controls this amount
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Caveat: positive results not relevant to #MEcfs due to researchers applying wrong codes, see
www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-react...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Caveat: positive results not relevant to #MEcfs due to researchers applying wrong codes, see
www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-react...
Population-scale sequencing resolves determinants of persistent EBV DNA - Nature
Population-scale WGS reveals genetic determinants of persistent EBV DNA, linking immune regulation—especially antigen processing and MHC class II variation—to EBV persistence and heterogeneous di...
www.nature.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Blood DNA residue of Epstein-Barr virus (which causes MS & IM) correlates with various diseases. Our genetics controls this amount
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Caveat: positive results not relevant to #MEcfs due to researchers applying wrong codes, see
www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-react...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Caveat: positive results not relevant to #MEcfs due to researchers applying wrong codes, see
www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-react...
After all these years, why does SourceForge still look like an explosion in an HTML tag factory while only reluctantly providing access to files at dial-up speeds?
January 28, 2026 at 11:19 AM
After all these years, why does SourceForge still look like an explosion in an HTML tag factory while only reluctantly providing access to files at dial-up speeds?
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Pathology lab PCR is not research lab PCR
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) use in the pathology lab differs from research-based PCR in two fundamental ways, namely quality and clinical expertise. These are essential to producing a clinical diagnosis supported by results from a range of tests…
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) use in the pathology lab differs from research-based PCR in two fundamental ways, namely quality and clinical expertise. These are essential to producing a clinical diagnosis supported by results from a range of tests…
Pathology lab PCR is not research lab PCR
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) use in the pathology lab differs from research-based PCR in two fundamental ways, namely quality and clinical expertise. These are essential to producing a clinical diagnosis supported by results from a range of tests performed by different branches of 'the pathology laboratory'. In a research lab, PCR results are often relied on to confirm experimental outcomes. Recognising these differences requires experience in a high-quality pathology lab setting to fully appreciate the absolute need for quality and its ubiquity. My experience The many words below are based on 32 years of experience in both research and routine labs, using PCR as a tool to answer a range of questions.
virologydownunder.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Pathology lab PCR is not research lab PCR
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) use in the pathology lab differs from research-based PCR in two fundamental ways, namely quality and clinical expertise. These are essential to producing a clinical diagnosis supported by results from a range of tests…
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) use in the pathology lab differs from research-based PCR in two fundamental ways, namely quality and clinical expertise. These are essential to producing a clinical diagnosis supported by results from a range of tests…
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Calochortus gunnisonii, our Gunnison's Mariposa Lily, blooming in Lower McCollough Gulch with pollinator fly #nativeplants
#FallBackFlowers #FallBack to July 25 🌿
#FallBackFlowers #FallBack to July 25 🌿
January 25, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Calochortus gunnisonii, our Gunnison's Mariposa Lily, blooming in Lower McCollough Gulch with pollinator fly #nativeplants
#FallBackFlowers #FallBack to July 25 🌿
#FallBackFlowers #FallBack to July 25 🌿
AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGG!
IMO sequences not presented in a monospaced typeface such as Courier should be treated with suspicion.
IMO sequences not presented in a monospaced typeface such as Courier should be treated with suspicion.
Somebody once sent me a DNA sequence in a Microsoft Word document and something about seeing nucleotides in Times New Roman font really stresses me out
January 23, 2026 at 10:42 AM
AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGG!
IMO sequences not presented in a monospaced typeface such as Courier should be treated with suspicion.
IMO sequences not presented in a monospaced typeface such as Courier should be treated with suspicion.