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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

It will be great to meet with the whole LA neuroscience community in Santiago! See you there tomorrow!

Reposted by Flavio Zolessi

International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

🇨🇱 See you tomorrow at #FALAN2026! Visit the IBRO booth, try to win a special gift, join IBRO-supported sessions, and unwind at #IBROConnect 🔗 See what's in store: ibro.org/meet-ibro-at-iv-falan-cong… #IBROinLatAm Flavio Zolessi Shubha Tole

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Instituto Clemente Estable @iibceuy.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

El Instituto Clemente Estable fue sede del primer IBRO Day de Uruguay. Referentes de la Organización Internacional de Investigación Cerebral (IBRO) compartieron sus experiencias y reflexiones junto a investigadores y estudiantes sobre los desafíos de la investigación en neurociencias.

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

A big thanks to the @iser.bsky.social 2026 meeting organizers for letting Jen Hocking and me chair this session, which we enjoyed so much. And a special thank you to the invited speakers, Michael Housset, @beccapfeiffer.bsky.social, @macdonaldlab.bsky.social. Go ISER! Another great meeting!

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ISER @iser.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

It’s Rebecca Pfeiffer @beccapfeiffer.bsky.social talking about her work with Müller Glial Connectivity in Inner Retinal Networks at #ISER2026 with a shoutout to @webvision.bsky.social !

Becca Pfeiffer presenting her work at the lectern with retinal imagery on the screen.

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ISER @iser.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

It’s Ryan B. MacDonald @macdonaldlab.bsky.social speaking at #ISER2026 on his work with Disruption to Müller Glia - Synapse Contacts in Development Leads to Precocious Neurodegeneration in the Mature Retina

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ISER @iser.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

It’s Jennifer Hocking talking about her work in Interactions between Müller Glia and the Retinal Pigment Epithelium Across the Subretinal Space at #ISER2026

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ISER @iser.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

It’s Michael Housset presenting his work on Light Instructs Planar Cell Polarity in Cone Photoreceptors at #ISER2026

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ISER @iser.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

It’s Flavio Zolessi speaking about his work in Polarized Adhesive Signals in Retinal Lamination at #ISER2026.

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International Society of Developmental Biology @isdb.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

‼️One week left to register to our 2027 EMBO Developmental Biology course in Quintay: biodesarrollo.unab.cl/how-to-apply We showed you 🪰, we showed you 🐥, now we'll show you some🥚 taken by 1 of our 2026 attendees. We also have 🐟, 🐸, and maybe even 🦑. I guess you'll have to go to find out! 😜

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

There will be another opportunity today Friday, from 13:45. I will be walking around, this time looking at other posters, but happy to go to mine if you are interested!

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

At @ezsociety.bsky.social meeting? Come talk to me at poster P05.07.A, "Slit1a in retinogenesis...", right now, until 5 pm! #EZM2026 #zebrafish

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International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

What is the program committee looking for in #IBRO2027 symposium proposals? ✍️ Explore the scientific themes & develop your proposal to help us shape the scientific program! Discover the call & submit your proposal by 31 Jul: ow.ly/GvrS50Zfx9W Southern African Neuroscience Society

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

@gaparicio.bsky.social doctoral thesis was possible thanks to the Uruguayan Program for the Development of Basic Sciences (PEDECIBA), with fellowships by ANII and CSIC, Universidad de la República, Uruguay. Lab funding was provided by ANII (National Agency for Research and Innovation, Uruguay).

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

The different positions of the photoreceptors in these conditions, respect to other retinal cells, could be due to the adhesive role of the Crumbs complex. The similarity of this phenotype to that of the cdh2 MO highlight the importance of differential cell adhesion in retinal layering.

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Interestingly, when these organoids are generated from pals1a MO embryos, this organization is reversed, with photoreceptors at or near the surface, and even exposing their apical borders towards the outside, while RGCs localize to the center

Retinal organoid generated from pals1a MO embryos. crx:GFP photoreceptors now tend to localize around the periphery, extending processes outwards at the surface. F-actin is labeled with TRITC-phalloidin, seen here in magenta.

Normalized positions of crx-positive cells inside retinal organoids. There is a significantly more superficial localization in organoids obtained from pals1a MO embryos.

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Following an established method, we generated retinal aggregates from 24 hpf retinal neuroepithelium in which retinal cells differentiate and segregate into layers. In these organoids, photoreceptors normally localize to the inside, polarizing with apical border inwards, and RGCs around the surface.

Retinal organoid obtained from the aggregation and 48 h culture of initially dissociated 24 hpf retinal cells. crx:GFP-positive photoreceptors accumulate around the central area of the organoid.

Retinal organoid obtained from the aggregation and 48 h culture of initially dissociated 24 hpf retinal cells. zn-8-immunoreactive retinal ganglion cells accumulate around the surface of the organoid.

High magnification image from the central region of a control organoid, in which crx:GFP-positive photoreceptors join into a rosette-like structure. The apical protein aPKC is highly enriched at the center of these rosettes, indicating photoreceptor polarity.

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

We then performed in vivo confocal microscopy to follow crx:GFP-positive cells in pals1a MO embryos, from 36 hpf, observing random migration of isolated progenitors to eventually join a rosette (very similar to what we previously saw in cdh2 MO)

Single photograms from a confocal time lapse movie of a pals1a MO retina, highlighting one photoreceptor progenitor (green dot) that divides at the apical surface, and then the two daughter cells separate, one remaining apical (cyan triangle) and the other one migrating inside the retina (orange asterisk). This cell will eventually join other photoreceptors accumulated in what appears to be a forming rosette.

Aligned tracking paths of six different photoreceptor progenitors, inside the retina of a pals1a MO embryo. The dot marks the starting point, and the 0 in both axes, their final position at a rosette.

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Also at 72 hpf, Müller glia are neatly organized in the control embryos (left), but show signs of disorganization in the pals1a MO (center and right). In spite of this, they have "apical" processes joining together at the center of photoreceptor rosettes, forming ONL-like structures (arrowheads)

Retina from a control crx:mApple/gfap:GFP double transgenic 72 hpf embryo. GFP-positive Müller glial cells have their cell bodies in the inner nuclear layer, and project two processes, one apical ending in the outer limiting membrane (OLM, above), where they establish adhesion contacts with photoreceoptors, and another one basal, which contacts the basal lamina (below).

Retina from a pals1a MO crx:mApple/gfap:GFP double transgenic 72 hpf embryo. Müller glial cells now appear more disorganized, forming more than one layer, but they still have one process associated to photoreceptors, ending at the center of the rosettes. The other process is either directed basally, or apically in the altered retina.

Retina from a pals1a MO embryo at 72 hpf in which only the gfap:GFP channel is visible. Müller glial cells now appear more disorganized, forming more than one layer, but they still have one process associated to photoreceptors, ending at the center of the rosettes. Here, these processes form mesh-like structures, like they would do at the OLM (arrowheads).

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Interestingly, this photoreceptor cells phenotype at 72 hpf (image on the right) appears to progress from a more dispersed organization at 48 hpf (image on the left), something that reminded us the phenotype of cdh2 (Cadherin2, N-cadherin) phenotype we reported before in doi.org/10.1387/ijdb...

High magnification image from the central portion of a retina from a pals1a MO 48 hpf embryo, transgenic crx:GFP. Photoreceptor progenitors apear relatively disperse, although some accumulate around the central region and appear to be adhered.

High magnification image from the central portion of a retina from a pals1a MO 72 hpf embryo, transgenic crx:GFP. Photoreceptors accumulate around the central region forming rosettes.

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

At a low pals1a MO dose, we obtained a milder phenotype, in which retinal layers are again altered, but photoreceptors localize to the central retina where they polarize into rosette-like structures. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) form a second layer on the apical side, as previously described

Retina from a control embryo, double transgenic for crx:GFP (photoreceptors) and atoh7:RFP (retinal ganglion cells, but also to a lesser extent photoreceptors, amacrine and horizontal cells). Both cell populations form well segregated layers, one on the outer surface and the other one on the inner surface.

Retina from a pals1a MO embryo (low dose), double transgenic crx:GFP /atoh7:RFP. Although the two cell populations still appear well segregated, now photoreceptors accumulate around the central region forming rosettes, and RGCs form two layers, a "normal" one on the inside and an "ectopic" one on the outer surface.

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

PALS1 is a component of the Crumbs adhesion complex, essential for epithelial polarity. Its long-known zebrafish mutant shows a loss of retinal layers. Photoreceptors switch from an ordered outer nuclear layer (ONL, left) to a dispersed localization (like seen in the right, high-dose morpholino, MO)

Confocal section of a retina from a control (wild-type) 72 hpf embryo, transgenic for crx:GFP (labeling photoreceptors, and to a lesser extent, bipolar cells). Photoreceptor cell bodies form a very organized layer at the retinal outer surface, de outer nuclear layer (ONL).

Confocal section of a retina from a crx:GFP transgenic embryo, injected with a high dose of pals1a MO. Photoreceptors appear disperse across the retinal width.

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Reposted by Flavio Zolessi

International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Stay up to date with all things #IBRO2027! Our new newsletter brings you the latest congress news, including open calls, registration updates, key deadlines & more. 📄 Read the latest edition: ow.ly/nShW50Z8EVU 📩 Sign up for future issues: ow.ly/pnQN50Z8EVT

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International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

DEADLINE ALERT ⏰ Only 2 weeks left for IBRO Scientific Society or Federation Members to apply for Equitable Meeting Awards Support your DEI-focused initiatives and/or activities for early-career researchers at your 2027 conference! 🗓 Apply by 30 Jun: ibro.org/grant/equitable-meeting-aw…

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International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

📅 Save or share this post - your IBRO #grants calendar for June is here! This month features three opportunities across different career stages and regions 🌍 Discover the eligibility criteria & which opportunities best fit your career stage and goals. 🔗 ibro.org/grants/?tab=open-calls

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International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

IBRO Scientific Member Societies & Federations: we hope you've started your applications for the 2027 Equitable Meeting Awards! Discover past IBRO-supported conferences to discover what we can help make possible 📸 🗓 Submit by 30 Jun: ow.ly/JQPe50Z46Q3

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DORA @dorassessment.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Rethinking assessment isn’t easy, especially in contexts shaped by global inequalities. In Uruguay, a growing movement is challenging metric‑driven systems and opening space for more inclusive and socially relevant research assessment. New blogpost by Natalia Gras & Judith Sutz 👉 bit.ly/RRA-Uruguay

Graphic announcing a new guest blog post on research evaluation reform in Uruguay, highlighting how metric-driven systems have shaped academic life and how collective efforts are creating change.

Quote highlighting that, for the first time in Uruguay, universities, research institutes, and national organizations are collaborating to rethink research evaluation; guest blog post by Natalia Gras and Judith Sutz.

Call-to-action graphic inviting readers to explore the full story and rethink what is valued in research, with link to the Uruguay research assessment blog post.

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International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Finance should not be a barrier to knowledge exchange 🌍 IBRO Travel #Grants support neuroscientists to attend conferences, present their research & build connections Discover grants open this May👇 ibro.org/grant/travel-grants BraYn Association Society for Neuroscience

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Cells & Development @cellsdev.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Neurulation is mechanically expensive where shape and positional changes of the cell sheet take place. Using a vertex model, @fzolessi.bsky.social shows that it is the relative difference in surface tension between apical-basal vs lateral side that controls this process. doi.org/10.1016/j.cd...

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Justin Kumar @flyeyelab.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

The 2026 Visual System Development GRC and GRS are fast approaching. Jeremy Kay, Kristen Kwan, Robert Johnston, and I have built an exciting program that we hope you will enjoy. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the meeting this summer in beautiful Maine. Register and RT!

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Dr. Brittany J. Carr @drbjcarr.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

I made this to demonstrate that for data visualization it's not only the color scheme, but the colors chosen for each channel, that matter. Here is the same image of rods and cones represented in RGB and simulated color blindness, showing how small changes can make a huge difference in what you see.

An image of a frog retina with photoreceptor labeling. The same image is shown 6 times in different colors. In the far left image, the small cones are difficult to detect in both the RGB and the color-blind simulated version. The middle image is the best representation of the data for fully sighted and color blind people, since the cones are easy to detect for both. The image on the right is better than the image on the far left to see the cones in RGB, but is still not color blind friendly.

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Published in final version in @cellsdev.bsky.social: "Mechanical conditions preventing live cell extrusion during primary neurulation in amniotes" doi.org/10.1016/j.cd... Find a full description in the thread about the preprint @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social: bsky.app/profile/fzol...

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IBRO journals @ibrojournals.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

🏆🧠👇 Which image deserves to be named Neuroscience 2025 Best Cover? Vote for your favorite among the four finalists here: strawpoll.com/poy9kKq6wgJ International Brain Research Organization Elsevier Life Sciences Journals Francesca Cirulli MIND Lab

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IBRO journals @ibrojournals.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

🇺🇾 Read Reflection #8 as Dr. Flavio R. Zolessi looks back on the Uruguay’s scientific revival after dictatorship, the founding of key institutions & the pioneering contributions of José Pedro Segundo. ow.ly/cLHq50Yk6KF #Neuroscience50 #IBROjournals International Brain Research Organization

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International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

#IBROinLatAm Looking to advance your research skills or deepen your knowledge in a specific area of #neuroscience? IBRO supports several training programs for neuroscientists in Latin America to help with career development 🔗 Explore the training calendar: ow.ly/uxTY50Y0vBB Flavio Zolessi

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International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Applications are open! Early career researchers based in Latin America are invited to apply to this school focused on translational #neuroscience, bridging molecular mechanisms with clinical applications. 🗓 Deadline: 20 Feb ow.ly/L7rz50XVoKv #IBROinLatAm Flavio Zolessi

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

It's a great honor for me to take part in the scientific committee for the next IBRO World Congress in 2027, representing the Latin American community through LARC!

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International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

🎉 Great news! IBRO is pleased to introduce the Scientific Program Committee for the IBRO 2027 World Congress, led by Drs. Sheena Josselyn and Thiruma V. Arumugam 🔗 Discover the full committee & read the announcement: ow.ly/p37U50XTXqN

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International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

🌎 #IBROinLatAm: From career growth to community building, IBRO’s 2026 grants are here to support #neuroscientists across Latin America. 🔗 Discover opportunities in your region: ibro.org/grants/grants-calendar/?ke… Flavio Zolessi

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International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

3️⃣ weeks, 2️⃣ projects - this #training program provides hands-on experience in molecular, cellular & behavioral #neuroscience. 👉 Applications close on 7 Jan - apply today! ibro.org/training-opportunity/perc2… #IBROinAsiaPacific #IBROinUSCanada #IBROinAfrica #IBROinLatAm #IBROinEurope

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Find a description in the previous post about the preprint: bsky.app/profile/fzol...

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Paper alert! Mechanical conditions preventing live cell extrusion during primary neurulation in amniotes. @sabr-bio.bsky.social article published as pre-proof in @cellsdev.bsky.social! doi.org/10.1016/j.cd...

Above: transverse sections of neurulating chick embryos stained for DNA (methyl green) and F-actin (TRITC-phalloidin), without and with the addition of the phorbol ester PMA. Below: computational simulations of pseudostratified epithelia, with different apicobasal/lateral tension ratios. Either PMA treatment in embryos, or lower ratios in simulations, cause epithelial instability evidenced by extensive cell extrusion.

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

And it's a cover! bsky.app/profile/ibro...

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International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Discover what’s new in #Neuroscience Vol. 587 🧠 Explore recent research on Parkinson’s mechanisms, depression, sensory learning, neuroinflammation & more. Find it here: www.sciencedirect.com/journal/neuro… #IBROjournals #IBROauthors

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Flavio Zolessi @fzolessi.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Colegas latinoamericanos: hoy cierra esta excelente oportunidad de reunirse en nuevas redes o sociedades de neurociencias donde no existen, y además, asociarse a IBRO! Último día!

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International Brain Research Organization @ibroorg.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

⏰ Only 2 days left to complete your application for the Seeding Neuroscience #Grants! Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your emerging #neuroscience society or thematic network ibro.org/grant/seeding-neuroscience… Deadline: 15 Oct #IBROinAsiaPacific #IBROinAfrica #IBROinLatAm

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