Ali Twelvetrees
@dozenoaks.bsky.social
Sir Henry Dale Fellow | Sheffield | cell & molecular neurobiology | kinesin, dynein, slow transport and neurodegeneration | preferably one molecule at a time | my opinions | she/her
Pinned
Ali Twelvetrees
@dozenoaks.bsky.social
· Dec 21
a red air dancer with a face and the word dhl on it
Alt: a red air dancer with a face
media.tenor.com
Still have energy for science in the dark end of the year? Our new preprint is up. The tl;dr - we took a deep dive on kinesin-1 conformational dynamics and came up with a model that is basically “it’s really floppy”. Evie who led the work compared it to the air dancer gifs, and now I can’t unsee it.
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
Zihan Chen, Yongping Chai, Guangshuo Ou & Hui Wang target mutant KIF1A motor function with allele-specific intragenic suppressors & show that even modest reactivation can restore neuronal transport, offering a potential framework for therapies in KAND.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
October 23, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Zihan Chen, Yongping Chai, Guangshuo Ou & Hui Wang target mutant KIF1A motor function with allele-specific intragenic suppressors & show that even modest reactivation can restore neuronal transport, offering a potential framework for therapies in KAND.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
Success rates for Europe’s leading research grants are declining as a surge in applications far outweighs the funds available
go.nature.com/479Sni6
go.nature.com/479Sni6
Is academic research becoming too competitive? Nature examines the data
Applications for European research grants increased in 2025. Scientists say they’re feeling the competition.
go.nature.com
October 17, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Success rates for Europe’s leading research grants are declining as a surge in applications far outweighs the funds available
go.nature.com/479Sni6
go.nature.com/479Sni6
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
Do all #NTFs regulate #MotorNeuron axonal transport in vivo?
Our new preprint shows they do not.
#BDNF enhances (shorturl.at/siwFi), #CNTF slows, and #HGF, #NRTN & #proBDNF show no effect.
#AxonalTransport regulation is selective, not universal.
@jamessleigh.bsky.social @uclqsion.bsky.social
Our new preprint shows they do not.
#BDNF enhances (shorturl.at/siwFi), #CNTF slows, and #HGF, #NRTN & #proBDNF show no effect.
#AxonalTransport regulation is selective, not universal.
@jamessleigh.bsky.social @uclqsion.bsky.social
October 15, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Do all #NTFs regulate #MotorNeuron axonal transport in vivo?
Our new preprint shows they do not.
#BDNF enhances (shorturl.at/siwFi), #CNTF slows, and #HGF, #NRTN & #proBDNF show no effect.
#AxonalTransport regulation is selective, not universal.
@jamessleigh.bsky.social @uclqsion.bsky.social
Our new preprint shows they do not.
#BDNF enhances (shorturl.at/siwFi), #CNTF slows, and #HGF, #NRTN & #proBDNF show no effect.
#AxonalTransport regulation is selective, not universal.
@jamessleigh.bsky.social @uclqsion.bsky.social
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
open.substack.com/pub/christin...
open.substack.com/pub/christin...
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
My newly launched report on how we can safeguard the independence of our important scientific and evidence-generating institutions - not least so they can hold government to account
open.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
open.substack.com/pub/christin...
open.substack.com/pub/christin...
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
Need a reason to join next year's #NeuroBioUK? Here it is :)
Thanks Sally for the amazing review
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/10/06/n...
Thanks Sally for the amazing review
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/10/06/n...
NeuroBio UK 2025: Insights, Innovation, and Inspiration in Neuroscience - FocalPlane
NeuroBio UK 2025: Insights, Innovation, and Inspiration in Neuroscience -
focalplane.biologists.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Need a reason to join next year's #NeuroBioUK? Here it is :)
Thanks Sally for the amazing review
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/10/06/n...
Thanks Sally for the amazing review
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/10/06/n...
Doggo was making her feelings known about Sunday morning grant writing… I put the laptop down to wrestle her off and the cat has now taken up the defence. Sigh.
September 21, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Doggo was making her feelings known about Sunday morning grant writing… I put the laptop down to wrestle her off and the cat has now taken up the defence. Sigh.
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
We're kicking off the third #NeuroBioUK - an exciting day full of neuronal cell biology ahead!
Massive thank for @bscb-official.bsky.social support and a shout out to our industry sponsors!
Massive thank for @bscb-official.bsky.social support and a shout out to our industry sponsors!
September 12, 2025 at 10:13 AM
We're kicking off the third #NeuroBioUK - an exciting day full of neuronal cell biology ahead!
Massive thank for @bscb-official.bsky.social support and a shout out to our industry sponsors!
Massive thank for @bscb-official.bsky.social support and a shout out to our industry sponsors!
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
Who's visiting #NeuroBioUk25 today?!?
Go check out our stand and say hi to your account manager &
discover the technologies you require for your research discoveries!
Plus want to win a @giantmicrobes.bsky.social ?
Which one would you choose
#neuroscience #STEMreasearch #neuroyork #neurobiouk
Go check out our stand and say hi to your account manager &
discover the technologies you require for your research discoveries!
Plus want to win a @giantmicrobes.bsky.social ?
Which one would you choose
#neuroscience #STEMreasearch #neuroyork #neurobiouk
September 12, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Who's visiting #NeuroBioUk25 today?!?
Go check out our stand and say hi to your account manager &
discover the technologies you require for your research discoveries!
Plus want to win a @giantmicrobes.bsky.social ?
Which one would you choose
#neuroscience #STEMreasearch #neuroyork #neurobiouk
Go check out our stand and say hi to your account manager &
discover the technologies you require for your research discoveries!
Plus want to win a @giantmicrobes.bsky.social ?
Which one would you choose
#neuroscience #STEMreasearch #neuroyork #neurobiouk
Poster boards are ready and waiting for #NeuroBioUK - let’s get this science party started 🥳
September 12, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Poster boards are ready and waiting for #NeuroBioUK - let’s get this science party started 🥳
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
I'm excited to present our work on glia-to-interneuron conversion for the treatment of MTLE at the NeuroBioUK meeting next month in York! It looks like a great, affordable one-day meeting with plenty of talks from EC researchers. Looking forward!
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk
NeuroBioUK
Dear Colleagues,
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk
August 28, 2025 at 11:32 AM
I'm excited to present our work on glia-to-interneuron conversion for the treatment of MTLE at the NeuroBioUK meeting next month in York! It looks like a great, affordable one-day meeting with plenty of talks from EC researchers. Looking forward!
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk
The programme is up for #NeuroBioUK25 - take a look! And don’t forget to register by the 3rd of September…. neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/programme
NeuroBioUK - Programme
9 AM Arrival, registration & coffee
Session 1: Organelle and synaptic signalling
Session Chair:
9:45 AM Introduction
9:50 AM Sally Horton, The Francis Crick Institute, "CDKL5 in synaptic formation,...
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk
August 28, 2025 at 9:11 AM
The programme is up for #NeuroBioUK25 - take a look! And don’t forget to register by the 3rd of September…. neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/programme
Thanks to everyone who submitted abstracts so far - it's going to be a great meeting!
Don't forget to register by Sept 3rd to present a poster or simply catch some fantastic neurobiology. Hot topics are currently single molecule approaches, synaptic signalling and molecular mechanisms of disease 🔬
Don't forget to register by Sept 3rd to present a poster or simply catch some fantastic neurobiology. Hot topics are currently single molecule approaches, synaptic signalling and molecular mechanisms of disease 🔬
Registration is now open for NeuroBioUK 2025!
This year we're looking forward to hearing from our plenary speaker @cathyabbott.bsky.social. As ever, all other talks chosen from submitted abstracts so get submitting - we can't wait to see you there!
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
This year we're looking forward to hearing from our plenary speaker @cathyabbott.bsky.social. As ever, all other talks chosen from submitted abstracts so get submitting - we can't wait to see you there!
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
August 18, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Thanks to everyone who submitted abstracts so far - it's going to be a great meeting!
Don't forget to register by Sept 3rd to present a poster or simply catch some fantastic neurobiology. Hot topics are currently single molecule approaches, synaptic signalling and molecular mechanisms of disease 🔬
Don't forget to register by Sept 3rd to present a poster or simply catch some fantastic neurobiology. Hot topics are currently single molecule approaches, synaptic signalling and molecular mechanisms of disease 🔬
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
All the opto-vimentin plasmids are now available on Addgene: www.addgene.org/Anna_Akhmano...
August 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM
All the opto-vimentin plasmids are now available on Addgene: www.addgene.org/Anna_Akhmano...
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
In contrast to tonight's sky I don't want to be dramatic, but there's only two more days left to submit an abstract to be considered for a talk at #NeuroBioUK
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
July 30, 2025 at 7:14 PM
In contrast to tonight's sky I don't want to be dramatic, but there's only two more days left to submit an abstract to be considered for a talk at #NeuroBioUK
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
I’m thinking today about all the women doing DEI work in universities, and how all of our canceled grants and shuttered initiatives means that not only are we losing the time we’ve already put in, we’re now even more behind our male peers who stayed focused on their research.
July 24, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I’m thinking today about all the women doing DEI work in universities, and how all of our canceled grants and shuttered initiatives means that not only are we losing the time we’ve already put in, we’re now even more behind our male peers who stayed focused on their research.
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
Attention conference hosts
Tucked away in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' is the requirement that all visitors to the US must pay $250 just to enter the country starting 1 October! For a family of 5 that's $1250! I doubt this will help America's crashing tourism business which is down 10% already since January
July 18, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Attention conference hosts
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
Two fantastic talks from the #nucleicAcids world at today's @biochemsoc.bsky.social SM@SH seminar! Great to welcome Askash Basu from Durham to hear about bendability in #DNA sequences and beautiful cryoEM from Anamika Kumari Lahiri Lab in the ECR talk slot! 🧬🧬🧬👏@sheffielduni.bsky.social
July 17, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Two fantastic talks from the #nucleicAcids world at today's @biochemsoc.bsky.social SM@SH seminar! Great to welcome Askash Basu from Durham to hear about bendability in #DNA sequences and beautiful cryoEM from Anamika Kumari Lahiri Lab in the ECR talk slot! 🧬🧬🧬👏@sheffielduni.bsky.social
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
🚨The deadline for a talk submission is approaching soon - don't miss your spot!! We can't wait to see you in York 😊
For details check out our website:
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
For details check out our website:
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
July 14, 2025 at 5:06 PM
🚨The deadline for a talk submission is approaching soon - don't miss your spot!! We can't wait to see you in York 😊
For details check out our website:
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
For details check out our website:
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
Cooling off after a hot day, Sheffield style. Here’s to the weekend! Don’t forget to get those abstracts in for #neurobiouk25 :)
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
July 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Cooling off after a hot day, Sheffield style. Here’s to the weekend! Don’t forget to get those abstracts in for #neurobiouk25 :)
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
Neurobiologists 🧠!! If you want to give a talk at NeurobioUK this year, the deadline is the 1st August. Don't miss your chance to be part of an absolutely awesome meeting.
Registration is now open for NeuroBioUK 2025!
This year we're looking forward to hearing from our plenary speaker @cathyabbott.bsky.social. As ever, all other talks chosen from submitted abstracts so get submitting - we can't wait to see you there!
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
This year we're looking forward to hearing from our plenary speaker @cathyabbott.bsky.social. As ever, all other talks chosen from submitted abstracts so get submitting - we can't wait to see you there!
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
July 8, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Neurobiologists 🧠!! If you want to give a talk at NeurobioUK this year, the deadline is the 1st August. Don't miss your chance to be part of an absolutely awesome meeting.
Reposted by Ali Twelvetrees
Really, really amazing conference. We went last year and the scientific programme and atmosphere were incredible! I 100% recommend attending + submitting an abstract for a talk - spread the word! 🧠
Registration is now open for NeuroBioUK 2025!
This year we're looking forward to hearing from our plenary speaker @cathyabbott.bsky.social. As ever, all other talks chosen from submitted abstracts so get submitting - we can't wait to see you there!
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
This year we're looking forward to hearing from our plenary speaker @cathyabbott.bsky.social. As ever, all other talks chosen from submitted abstracts so get submitting - we can't wait to see you there!
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
July 8, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Really, really amazing conference. We went last year and the scientific programme and atmosphere were incredible! I 100% recommend attending + submitting an abstract for a talk - spread the word! 🧠
Abstract deadline is fast approaching - 1st of August if you want to be considered for a talk. ECRs don’t miss your chance!
Registration is now open for NeuroBioUK 2025!
This year we're looking forward to hearing from our plenary speaker @cathyabbott.bsky.social. As ever, all other talks chosen from submitted abstracts so get submitting - we can't wait to see you there!
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
This year we're looking forward to hearing from our plenary speaker @cathyabbott.bsky.social. As ever, all other talks chosen from submitted abstracts so get submitting - we can't wait to see you there!
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
July 7, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Abstract deadline is fast approaching - 1st of August if you want to be considered for a talk. ECRs don’t miss your chance!