Wyn Firth
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firthwyn.bsky.social
Wyn Firth
@firthwyn.bsky.social
120 followers 120 following 9 posts
Astrocyte aficionado, immunometabolically inquisitive, energy homeostasis enthusiast. Probably hungry.

Currently studying astrocyte-neuron interactions in neurodegeneration | Postdoc @ Cardiff | Exeter alumnus x2 | Shotokan karateka

Views my own.
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Reposted by Wyn Firth
dementiaresearcher.bsky.social
Four year PhD in Edinburgh to develop an iPSC organoid model with integrated glial cells supervised by Bowles, McColl and Williams exploring neuronal health. Closing date: 15th December

www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/job/phd-nove...
PhD: Novel neuroimmune iPSC-organoid models
Four year PhD in Edinburgh to develop an iPSC organoid model with integrated glial cells supervised by Bowles, McColl and Williams exploring neuronal health.
www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
November 21, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
macauleylab.bsky.social
Our new review is out today!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝘇𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻: 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀

We argue that Alzheimer’s disease is not just a problem of brain hypometabolism, but a disorder of metabolic inflexibility.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
The Energetic Collapse of the Alzheimer's Brain: Metabolic Inflexibility Across Cells and Networks
Metabolic inflexibility in Alzheimer's disease. Schematic illustrating the biphasic trajectory of metabolic activity relative to canonical Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers. In the presymptomatic p...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
My SWBio PhD DTP project with Lukasz Chrobok (@chroboklab.bsky.social) and Kate Elliott (@neuroendo.bsky.social) is now advertised:

Run, sleep, repeat: Regular exercise for good health and longevity.

bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristo...
bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
neuroendo.bsky.social
Congratulations to @sarahibex.bsky.social and Team at the University of Exeter Medical school (@hls.exeter.ac.uk) on the breakthrough study on #diabetes pathology

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Small things matter: Lack of extraislet β cells in type 1 diabetes
Early loss of small extraislet β cells in children with type 1 diabetes could explain age-related differences in disease.
www.science.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
natmetabolism.nature.com
Oligodendrocyte precursor cell-specific blocking of low-glucose-induced activation of AMPK ensures myelination and remyelination
Nature Metabolism, Published online: 22 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s42255-025-01386-8Inhibition of AMPK activation under low glucose conditions in oligodendrocyte precursor cells is shown to be important for myelination during development and remyelination in neuronal disorders.
bit.ly
October 29, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
florianmerkle.bsky.social
We're seeking a motivated postdoc to help us and NovoNordisk generate cutting-edge human cellular models of metabolic disease. For details & to apply (by 6th Oct), see: cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc.... If you think someone in your network might be interested, please share. Thank you!
September 26, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
danieljdrucker.bsky.social
Studies in rats reveals that insulin–dependent release of endozepines from NTS-astrocytes is fundamental to control blood glucose levels www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Insulin evokes release of endozepines from astrocytes of the NTS to modulate glucose metabolism in male rats
The central nervous system (CNS) plays a key role in regulating metabolic functions, but conditions like obesity and diabetes can disrupt this balance…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 21, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
sjblakemore.bsky.social
Funded PhD studentship at Exeter University!

Unravelling Moral Injury in Eating Disorders in Young Adults.
MRC GW4 BioMed DTP PhD studentship for 2026/27 Entry

www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
PhD:GW4 BioMed2 MRC DTP Studentship | University of Exeter
  The GW4 BioMed2 MRC DTP is offering up to 17 funded studentships across a range of biomedical disciplines, with a start date of October 2026.
www.exeter.ac.uk
September 12, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
labsakamoto.bsky.social
Latest publication from the lab spearheaded by @shoreseashell.bsky.social & in collaboration with @zeqiraj.bsky.social is out. Using structural, biochemical & computational tools, this work sheds light on the mechanism of action of BAY-3827 in inhibiting #AMPK 1/3
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Mechanism and cellular actions of the potent AMPK inhibitor BAY-3827
The mechanism and unique molecular/cellular features of the potent and selective AMPK inhibitor BAY-3827 are unraveled.
www.science.org
September 9, 2025 at 3:17 PM
firthwyn.bsky.social
A bit late to the #MicroscopyMonday and #FluorescenceFriday parties - on the microscope at the time!
Fruits of a (very hard) side project: #iPSC derived #astrocytes

Looking forward to some functional testing next!

Green: GFAP, magenta: S100b, blue: DAPI

#neuroskyence #glia #astrocytes
🔬🧫✨🧪
Immunofluorescence image of iPSC-derived astrocytes. Green: GFAP, magenta: S100b, blue: nuclei (DAPI)
September 9, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
ciavenasc.bsky.social
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
PhD:GW4 BioMed2 MRC DTP Studentship | University of Exeter
  The GW4 BioMed2 MRC DTP is offering up to 17 funded studentships across a range of biomedical disciplines, with a start date of October 2026.
www.exeter.ac.uk
September 8, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
murphyroyallab.org
www.thetransmitter.org/astrocytes/a...
Astrocyte networks span large swaths of brain
The networks are plastic, connect brain regions that aren’t connected by neurons and may enable long-distance communication between astrocytes, a new preprint shows.
www.thetransmitter.org
September 3, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
thetransmitter.bsky.social
Astrocyte networks are much larger than previously thought, which “flips the way we think about astrocytes and what their networks may mean,” says @liddelowsa.bsky.social.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/astrocytes/a...
September 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
melcooperphd.bsky.social
Now on bioRxiv! Astrocytes in one brain region (cyan) communicate in expansive networks (magenta). Through tool development, tissue clearing, and many hours on our @zeiss-microscopy.bsky.social Z1, we now know these networks are repeatable across mice, plastic, and specific.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
July 22, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
agonru.bsky.social
🚨Funded PhD studentship co-supervised by me and @matthewwself.bsky.social. Using neuropixels, behaviour, viral tracing and optogenetics you’ll study how visual areas enhance target representations vs background to support goal-oriented actions.

eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
Converting percepts into actions in the visual cortex and superior colliculus. at University of Glasgow on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Converting percepts into actions in the visual cortex and superior colliculus. at University of Glasgow, listed on FindAPhD.com
eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
July 3, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
kamarameenali.bsky.social
The research funding process in #academia is highly subjective, decisions are vulnerable to bias, and the process may be actively encouraging bad practice.

In this @dementiaresearcher.bsky.social blog, I explain why it needs reforming. ⬇️

www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-does-th...
Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali - Blog – Does the research funding process need reforming?
Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali questions the fairness of funding processes and explores alternatives that could better support innovation and equity in research.
www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
June 19, 2025 at 1:59 PM
firthwyn.bsky.social
Beyond chuffed to have received “Best Image” at #F4SECR2025 today, for this image. This is one of our batches of patient-derived retinal ganglion cells. A great #ECR #neuroscience day, with amazing advice for #PPI to broaden the horizons of our research - and apply it to the people it benefits! 🔬🧫👨‍🔬
Image of human stem cell derived retinal ganglion cells in culture. Green = beta-3-tubulin, neural marker Magenta = gamma synuclein Blue = nuclei
June 13, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
resprofnews.bsky.social
🚨BREAKING🚨

Science minister outlines plans for 10-year R&D funding.

Long-term budgets will “provide certainty” and “unlock vital business investment”, says Patrick Vallance.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Science minister outlines plans for 10-year R&D funding - Research Professional News
Long-term budgets will “provide certainty” and “unlock vital business investment”, says Patrick Vallance
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
May 19, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
yhcarolyang.bsky.social
Interested in understanding how neural-pancreas interplay contributes to blood sugar control? We have an exciting PhD project to study galanin regulation of pancreatic #islet hormone secretion in live #zebrafish

www.exeter.ac.uk/research/ins...
May 14, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
drwp.bsky.social
Want to know more about how American Football impacts your brain health? I've got a study going and looking to recruit participants!

4 hours of your time and a little bit of blood, ideally in Exeter, but could also do Bristol, UK

Any questions? Please contact me by DM or email

#BrainHealth #TBI
May 9, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
bsneuroendo.bsky.social
Are you a postdoc or student working on a neuroendocrine research project?

Get up to £8,000 support for consumables/other research costs to enable you to carry out the best possible neuroendocrine research project.

Deadline 2 June 2025

Apply: www.neuroendo.org.uk...
May 8, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
sarahibex.bsky.social
Small things really do matter in type 1 diabetes. Exciting work from the Exeter SMF Grand Challenge team provides important insights into why #T1D in children may differ from T1D in adults. Important implications for screening strategies and future treatments. Check out our new bioRxiv paper 👇
A representative spatial plot of endocrine objects in the pancreas, with the colour change reflecting the size of the endocrine objects
April 22, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
carmenfalcone.bsky.social
🚨The first #preprint of the #FalconeLab is OUT!🥹🚨

We found that varicose-projection astrocytes are not a physiological type of #astrocytes but they are rather associated with neuropathology.

Read more here, feedback is welcome!!

More details👇👇
1/
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Varicose-projection astrocytes: a reactive phenotype associated with neuropathology
Glial cells are fundamental for the pathophysiology of all neurological disorders. Astrocytes, the primary homeostatic cells of the central nervous system (CNS), exhibit species-specific characteristi...
www.biorxiv.org
March 18, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
cp-cellmetabolism.bsky.social
Online now: Seeing the world through the eyes of cultured cells
Seeing the world through the eyes of cultured cells
The metabolic environment experienced by cultured cells often differs from physiological conditions. Here, we highlight the effects that the microenvironment can have on cultured cell behavior and advocate for researchers to re-evaluate culture practices…
dlvr.it
March 12, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by Wyn Firth
gilesyeo.bsky.social
Anyone interested in working with me at Institute of Metabolic Science - Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge, on how AMGEN's new obesity drug MariTide works? I have a 3 year postdoc position available! Deadline March 31st! please share www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/50529/
Research Associate (Fixed Term) - Job Opportunities - University of Cambridge
Research Associate (Fixed Term) in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge.
www.jobs.cam.ac.uk
March 3, 2025 at 3:51 PM