iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

📖 45 of 2025 (10/10): Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler. What a sequel! The story takes an unexpected turn mid-way through. I found it very disturbing that although first published in 1998, its storyline is not a far stretch from what is happening in the USA at the moment. #Booksky

Book cover of Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler showing a red bird

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Privileged to attend the @ukri.org MRC Biomedicine Science Conference at the QEII Conference Centre in London today where I presented our research on Acrodysostosis Type 2, heard about exciting science and discussed public partnerships!

Academic poster on our research on Acrodystosis Type 2

View from window: Big Ben and the Eye in London

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

📖 44 of 2025 (10/10): Parable of the Sower by Octavia E Butler. A dystopian novel that is not too far from current world events. Beautifully written with an array of characters that display the best and worse of what humanity has to offer. Can’t wait to read the sequel! #Booksky

Book cover of Parable of the Sower by Octavia E Butler showing a black woman in a red dress.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

📖 43 of 2025 (10/10): Patriot by Alexei Navalny. More than a memoir: a powerful account of an individual that fought for a free, peaceful, happy and non-corrupt country. Knowing he dies makes it a difficult. Knowing that corruptions openly persists worldwide makes it even more difficult… #Booksky

Book cover of Patriot by Alexei Navalny showing his face.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

📖 42 of 2025 (5/20): The Children of Men by P.D. James. The concept behind the book is interesting but the plot was slow and I did not like the protagonist. #Booksky

Book cover of The Children of Men by P.D. James showing dark skies, trees and red berries.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

📖 41 of 2025 (10/10): Normal People by Sally Rooney. This book left me with a ball of mixed intense emotions in the pit of my stomach. And I had to sit with them for a while because I was not ready to say goodbye to Marianne & Connell just yet… #Booksky

Book cover of Normal People by Sally Rooney showing two people cuddling in a can of sardines.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

📖 40 of 2025 (8/10): This is Big by Marisa Meltzer. Part biography of the founder of Weight Watchers, part reflection on the author’s relationship with her body weight, it forces you to reflect on a society that too often associates how you look to your worth. #Bluesky

Book cover of This is Big by Marisa Meltzer showing a picture of the founder of Weight Watchers.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

My son had England ice hockey trials at Lee Valley ice rink in London so I took the opportunity to walk along the canals and wild nature reserves. Very windy but no rain!

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

This weekend I had the honour of attending the SMA UK's Big Weekend: Forty & Forward to update families on current pre-clinical research priorities in SMA. Clinical trials, exercise, newborn screening, access to education, sex & relationships were also discussed, showing there is still a lot to do!

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

📖 39 of 2025 (8/10): Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan. A raw and honest account of a very difficult childhood and how our societal structures and behaviours make it difficult for kids that are born randomly in such circumstances don’t get afforded the same opportunities as others. #Booksky

Book cover of Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan showing a young female child climbing up a wall.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

A huge congratulations to Katie, who has successfully passed her MPhil! Her research was aimed at understanding the role of authophagy in SMA and its potential as a therapeutic target. It was a real joy having her join our lab and we already miss her!

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

And here goes the start of another ice hockey season in the UK. Well done to my son’s team who started the season with a win! He played an excellent game and was awarded player of the match!

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

📖38 of 2025 (5/10): The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner. Easy to read but not really a nail-biting page turner… #Booksky

Book cover of The Other Mothers by Kettering Faulkner showing silhouettes of two women through a window.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

📖 37 of 2025 (10/10): Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. Absolutely delightful read! Every woman in this book is different yet fully developed and the whole thing is brought together in the most heartwarming way. #Booksky

Book cover of Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo showing pictures of black women

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

Excited to be presenting our research on the potential of muscle-specific extracellular vesicles as SMA biomarkers. In collaboration with Stephanie Duguez @florage.bsky.social & funded by @afm-telethon.bsky.social !

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

One of my favourite things about the Ottawa NMD meeting is reconnecting with friends and colleagues. Great to come back to where my research career started and hang out with my Ph.D. supervisor @kotharylab.bsky.social !

Picture of Ph.D. supervisor Rashmi Kothary and me.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

After the Pre-Meeting, the official @asbmr.bsky.social Annual Meeting in Seattle begins! Our poster was selected for the plenary session. Come see & discuss our results showing sex-specific effects of an Acrodysostosis Type 2 causing mutation!

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

It’s #WhiteSneaker day @asbmr.bsky.social Annual Meeting in Seattle. Ready to raise awareness about bone health & Acrodysostosis Type 2!

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Proud PI moment as we present our characterisation of bone defects in our unique Acrodysostosis Type 2 mouse model for the first time at the @asbmr.bsky.social Pre-Meeting Symposium on Rare Bone diseases!

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Very excited to be attending my very first @asbmr.bsky.social annual meeting in Seattle! #whitesneakers at the ready to raise awareness of bone health and Acrodysostosis Type 2!

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Last day of the @sma-europe.bsky.social 1st International Clinical Care Symposium on SMA: we discussed medical emergencies around bulbar issues, clinicians shared their country’s emergency practices & we had a workshop to discuss actions points to improve how SMA patients receive emergency care.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

📖36 of 2025 (9/10): The Exceptions by Kate Zernike. I highly recommend this book for anyone working in research/academia. The discrimination is obvious and frustrating. But it is also fairly recent and unfortunately still permeates in the science world. #Booksky

Book cover of The Exceptions by Kate Zernike showing women sitting at lab benches and looking through microscopes.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

First day of the @sma-europe.bsky.social 1st International Clinical Care Symposium on SMA was a success: we discussed medical emergencies around respiratory and metabolic issues. Healthcare practitioners, academics, patients and families all contributed to the discussions!

Sign reading SMA Europe 1st International Clinical Care Symposium on spinal muscular atrophy

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

In Milan attending the @sma-europe.bsky.social 1st International Clinical Care Symposium on SMA. Delayed flight and arrived in the early morning at the hotel soaking wet due to the rain storm. But this morning, the breakfast and friendly/familiar faces have made this new day much better!

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Last day of the International Conference on KLF Transcription Factors & Human Diseases in Kunming China: I presented our 7-year journey of evaluating KLF15 as a therapeutic target for spinal muscular atrophy! Had an amazing time! Miss it already!

Slide showing my title: targeting Klf15 for the treatment of SMA.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

📖 35 of 2025 (9/10): My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell. Difficult topics of abuse and impact it has on an individual’s identity and understanding of what happened. While Vanessa’s thoughts and actions might not be easy to understand, they demonstrate the reality of human response to trauma.

Book cover of My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell showing a long red-haired braid.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Day 3 of the International Conference on KLF Transcription Factors & Human Diseases in Kunming China: great talks and poster presentations, dinner where I was made to dance and watching the acclaimed Dynamic Yunnan show at the theatre.

Waiting for Dynamic Yunnan to start: man in traditional Tibetan outfit holding prayer rock and gong behind him.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Day 2 of the International Conference on KLF Transcription Factors & Human Diseases in Kunming China: great talks in the morning and visit of the UNESCO Heritage site Chengjiang Fossil Site Museum in the afternoon!

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Great start to the International Conference on KLF Transcription Factors & Human Diseases in Kunming (China)! Everyone has been so welcoming and the science exceptional!

Purple flowers on tree and Kunming city sign

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Great start to this meeting in Kunming China. Did a little sightseeing in the afternoon and had a great welcome dinner in the evening (complete with many shots of Maotai)!

Picture of table setting at the meal with napkin, white plate, chopsticks, bowl and wine glasses

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Excited and nervous as I fly (solo!) to China for the first time to attend the International Conference on KLF Transcription Factors and Human Diseases in Kunming as an invited speaker to present our work on Klf15 as a therapeutic target in SMA!

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

When your cat does not seem to understand that you have 3 weeks of emails to catch up on…

White and black cat sleeping on my lap beside my computer…

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Last day of annual leave. Glad I got to enjoy this peaceful sunrise from my patio in the south of France before returning back to to work and the UK…

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

📖 34 of 2025 (7/10): It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover. I am glad the author wrote a sequel. As the author stated in her prologue, Lily and Atlas deserved a lighter happily ever ending. A bit cheesy at times, but what love story isn’t? #Booksky

Book cover of It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover depicting whit flowers

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

📖 33 of 2025 (8/10): It End With Us by Colleen Hoover. I now understand its popularity and why it was made into a movie. It explores a difficult topic in a sensitive and realistic way and leaves you wanting the best for all characters, including Ryle. #Booksky

Book cover of It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover depicting damaged pink lilies.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

📖 32 of 2025 (9/10): A really enjoyable and original way to tell the story of a family. A typical family where each person is imperfect and relatable. I closed the book wanting to know what they are up to today… #Booksky

Book cover of At the Table by Claire Powell showing a girl with her face in a cake

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

📖 31 of 2025 (7/10): Wavewalker by Suzanne Heywood. A reason I might not have liked it as much as others is that I had heard an interview with the author about the book and therefore already knew the plot and ending. But nevertheless, a very remarkable and unique childhood trauma story. #Booksky

Book cover of Wavewalker by Suzanne Heywood depicting a sailboat.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

A perfect day for a lovely walk in St-Saturnin-de-Lucian! I am always amazed at how beautiful this part of the world is…

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

📖 30 of 2025 (10/10): Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Amazing, frustrating, empowering and funny! The world needs more women like Elizabeth Zott to challenge social and cultural norms that just don’t make sense!

Book cover of Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus shoeing a woman in a front of a table with food.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Where your email will find me for the next 3 weeks…

Feet with a view of trees and mountains.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

📖 29 of 2025 (8/10): At first, Subconscious Maddie was irritating me so much that I had trouble liking the book. But I guess that is a sign of a good author: that writes a character so well that they get under your skin because you just want better for them. A lovely and enjoyable story. #Booksky

Book cover of Maame by Jessica George depicting a Black woman in an orange dress.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

📖 28 of 2025 (10/10): Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. It’s amazing how a simple story about people can pull you right in. So many love stories between lovers, friends, family and land come together in this book and are all necessary for the present to be so pure, believable and relatable. #Booksky

Book cover of Tom Lake by Ann Patchett showing daisies.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

📖 27 of 20925 (7/10) The Fraud by Zadie Smith. A very original and interesting approach to historical fiction, making it a quite easy and enjoyable read. At times, was not sure about the detours taken but kept going and liked where it ended. #Booksky

Book cover of The Fraud by Zadie Smith depicting two lions in the top corners.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

📖 26 of 2025 (9/10): Dark Chapter by Winnie M Li. Although fictional, a very personal and raw account of a traumatic crime and its lasting impact on who you evolve to be. #Booksky

Book cover of Dark Chapter by Winnie M Li depicting a figure walking in a forest.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

The weather held up for our lab picnic! It was windy though, which did keep the wasps away. As one student said, it is great to take the time to sit together and chat…

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

📖 25 of 2025 (10/10): Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Beautifully written. Was hooked from page 1. Fictional but so close to the harsh reality and history behind this story that your heart breaks, aches and cares for all the characters. #Booksky

Book cover of Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver showing a red-haired child looking out a yellow bus window.

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

My favorite part of the Cure SMA Annual Research & Clinical Meeting is definitely the Family Friendly poster session. Thanks to all who stopped by to chat about diet and metabolism in SMA. ❤️

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

When you are away at a conference and your real value as a mom shines through…😂🤦‍♀️🧺

Text message from son asking me to call as I am away and dad is not good at washing..

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Was a pleasure to present our Cure SMA-funded research on defining the role of muscle in metabolic defects in SMA at the Cure SMA Annual Research & Clinical Meeting!

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Melissa Bowerman @bowermanlab.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

First day of the 2025 Cure SMA Annual SMA Research & Clinical Care Meeting was full of exciting new research and discussions with academics, clinicians & individuals living with SMA! Looking forward to day 2!

Photo of name badge and programme of research talks.

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