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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Come join us at CCRB! The Tucker lab is looking for a research technician to work on a project funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC). More details and apply: www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/143786-... @ccrb27.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @kingsdentistry.bsky.social #academicjobs

kcl.ac.uk

Research Assistant | King's College London

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Congratulations to Cynthia Andoniadou @pituitarylab.bsky.social for the 2026 BSDB Cheryll Tickle Medal! This is a very well deserved prize in recognition for her research career in pituitary gland development and stem cell biology. Congratulations, Cynthia! @kingsdentistry.bsky.social

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

This work has been published at the Journal of Anatomy. Congratulations to all authors! #Craniofacial #Embryogenesis #Cartilage #Pterygoid (5/5)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Through the use of mutants, they showed that the secondary cartilage has a role in guiding the tensor veli palatini and facilitating suckling. This provides new insight into how coordinated tissue interactions underpin the function of the mammalian feeding apparatus. (4/5)

Muscle defects after loss of the cartilage components of the medial pterygoid plate.

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

They show that the pterygoid plate is formed from two distinct developmental processes (membranous and endochondral ossification) and that it is composed entirely of neural crest. This study broadens our understanding of the embryonic development of a significant part of mammal evolution. (3/5)

Lineage tracing of the medial pterygoid plate.

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

In this paper Luke Barlow, Emi Nomura and Abigail Tucker examined the embryonic development of the medial pterygoid plate, a structure that supports the soft palate and helps stiffen it. This is key in producing a posterior seal in the oral cavity to allow suckling behaviours in mammals. (2/5)

Development of the murine medial pterygoid plate.

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Congratulations to Dr Marta Perera from the Tucker lab, who won Best Postdoctoral Researcher Presentation at the 38th Head Group Meeting hosted @ucl.ac.uk She discussed her work which uses spatial transcriptomics to explore the development of the embryonic salivary gland. Congratulations Marta!

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

This work could provide framework for understanding the mechanisms underlying microtia, a birth defect affecting pinna morphology and often associated with hearing loss in individuals with congenital disorders. Congratulations to all authors! (4/4)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

This interaction is mediated through FGFs secreted by the muscle, which signal to the developing cartilage, where they upregulate BMP4 expression. BMP4, in turn, induces the expression of Sox9, a master transcription factor for cartilage differentiation. (3/4)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

In this paper that the authors show the role of the auricular muscle in regulating pinna development. The muscle (mesoderm-derived) instructs differentiation of the cartilage (derived from neural crest). (2/4)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

New paper from the Tucker lab at @ccrb27.bsky.social published in @dev-journal.bsky.social ! Analysis of Eya1 and Tbx1 mutants highlights interactions between the muscle and developing cartilage during external ear formation. Link: doi.org/10.1242/dev.... (1/4)

Immunofluorescence image of the forming mouse pinna at E14.5. 12-101 (muscle marker) is in red, Sox9 (cartilage and Schwann cell precursor marker) is in green and DAPI nuclear stain is in blue. Note the close proximity of the muscle and pinna cartilage cells.

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Using this approach, the authors predict and experimentally validate a novel driver of placode development, the transcription factor FOXK2. Congratulations to all authors! (4/4)

Chick embryo injected unilaterally with a Foxk2 morpholino and stained for Six1

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Integrating this new data with previously published scRNA-seq from the lab, the paper explores dynamics of chromatin accessibility across emerging cell types and infers a gene regulatory network controlling the specification of cranial placodes. (3/4)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

This work led by Eva Hamrud presents a single cell ATAC-seq atlas of the developing chick ectoderm across stages that coincides with the emergence of major cell lineages from the neural plate border. (2/4)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

This paper, published at the Journal of Anatomy, is the third publication this year for PhD Student Ticha, which is a tremendous achievement! @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @kingsdentistry.bsky.social #TMJ #TemporomandibularJoint #Fibrocartilage (3/3)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

In the paper authors show that the fibrocartilage of the murine glenoid fossa and condyle of the TMJ are shown to form at distinct times with distinct molecular identities. Changes in the condyle during disease lead to remodelling of the fossa to maintain joint alignment. (2/3)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

New paper from the Tucker lab at @ccrb27.bsky.social ! Authors Ticha Tuwatnawanit, @nanthwal.bsky.social and collagues analysed the formation and molecular identity of the glenoid fossa of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Link: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... (1/3)

Graphical abstract summarising the key findings of the paper.

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

First author Dr. Julie Yue Yuan showed MMP9 inhibition acted on inflammatory cells to promote a more effective migratory response of muscle stem cells, resulting in improved muscle repair in telomerase mutants. (2/3)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

New paper from @ccrb27.bsky.social out in Aging Cell! Work from Robert Knight’s group showed an exciting effect for a metalloprotease inhibitor in enhancing muscle regeneration in a zebrafish model of accelerated ageing. @kingsdentistry.bsky.social #Regeneration #Zebrafish #MuscleRepair (1/3)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

It's Halloween in CCRB! Today we held our traditional Pumpkin Carving Competition, and it was a very competitive one! Congratulations to @karenjliu.bsky.social 's lab for the win! Can you guess which was the winner?

Photos of carved pumpkins with different designs

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

This review highlights emerging research that has located progenitor cells in and around the superficial layers of the condyle of the TMJ that can contribute to growth and homeostasis, providing potential targets for regenerative therapies. #TMJ #RegenerativeMedicine #JournalDentalResearch (3/3)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a crucial part of our daily lives, playing a role in mastication and communication. Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are highly prevalent ( 34%-38% of world population), but therapies are challenging due to the limited self-repair capability of the TMJ. (2/3)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

New review from our centre published in the Journal of Dental Research! Activating Endogenous Condylar Stem Cells to Enhance TMJ Repair doi.org/10.1177/0022... Congratulations Ticha Tuwatnawanit, @nanthwal.bsky.social and Abigail for this publication! @kingsdentistry.bsky.social (1/3)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

This study was led by Maricci Basa and recently published at @journalofanatomy.bsky.social It is a collaboration between Abigail Tucker and @nanthwal.bsky.social at @ccrb27.bsky.social and @rnf.bsky.social at @ucl-c4ia.bsky.social Congratulations to all authors! (3/3)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

CCRB paper alert! Most snakes can open their mouths so wide they can consume food that is much larger than their own head. This is partly due to their ‘free’ mandibular symphysis, found to be both bone and cartilage-free. So, how ‘free’ is that symphyseal gap? (1/3)

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

As the sun sets over beautiful bustling Liverpool we reflect back on the great week we've had at the #biologists100 and how we were in truly great company with @biologists.bsky.social #liverpool #scouse #development #experimentalbiology #cellbiology

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Day 2 of #biologists100 starts with two fantastic climate change talks from Hans-Otto Portner and Jane Francis. Both with the message that we need to act now! @biologists.bsky.social @ipcc.bsky.social @bas.ac.uk

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Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology (CCRB) @ccrb27.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

To celebrate International Women's Day we recorded a special podcast series, interviewing 6 different women with different roles in our department. Check it out on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7GoTzSh...

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