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Colin M. Hammond

@needfuzz.bsky.social
1.3K followers 821 following 131 posts

Biochemist of histone and chromatin biology. Group Leader. University of Liverpool.

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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Svetlana Dodonova @dodonova-sveta.bsky.social · 19h
New preprint from Dodonova lab 🔔! Capturing multiple states by cryo-EM❄️, we show for the first time how archaeal RNA Polymerase engages a nucleosome and forms direct contacts with histones! 🧬 Great work by Gabriele & a fantastic collaboration with Dina Grohmann! 🧵 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 12h
Well done Vale and Boyang! Sounds like a great project 🎉
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Molecular & Clinical Cancer Medicine (MCCM) @livunicancer.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Congrats to @ainhoamielgo.bsky.social & @mcschmid.bsky.social for receiving the Excellence in Research Award from North West Cancer Research! A fantastic recognition for the brilliant Liverpool Tumour Microenvironment Team @liverpooluni.bsky.social
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Molecular & Clinical Cancer Medicine (MCCM) @livunicancer.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
A special mention to PhD student Jayden Gittens, who was shortlisted for the Rising Star in Research Award from North West Cancer Research ⭐️ We are excited to see what the future holds for Jayden & how he will undoubtedly contribute to cancer medicine & research in the upcoming years!
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Hiten Madhani @hitenmadhani.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Reading and discussing (good) papers is one of the best ways to learn how to do good science. The struggle trains the mind. AI is not particularly good at judgement or critical thinking. Especially when the flaws are not obvious.
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Shiori Iida @shiori-iida.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Happy to share that this paper is now published in Nature Genetics! Grateful to everyone who supported this work throughout this long journey. I’m proud to see it out! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Cohesin prevents local mixing of condensed euchromatic domains in living human cells - Nature Genetics
Single-nucleosome imaging/tracking and super-resolution three-dimensional structured illumination microscopy within euchromatic regions show that cohesin-mediated loops constrain condensed euchromatic...
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Teif lab @teiflab.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
AlBawardi et al, 2026. Irregular nucleosome positioning governs a crystalline to liquid-like phase transition and tunes chromatin accessibility www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... ▶️heterochromatin-like sequences produce compact fibres ▶️positional irregularity (>2-3 bp) triggers a state transition
Abstract: Chromatin must fold tightly enough to protect the genome while being sufficiently accessible for DNA dependent processes such as transcription. The physical rules that balance these competing roles remain unclear, as DNA sequence encodes both biochemical information such as transcription factor binding sites, and biophysical cues that shape chromatin structure. Here, using synthetic chromatin fibres assembled from physiologically relevant DNA sequences, we show that nucleosome positioning dictates the material state of chromatin. Heterochromatin-like sequences produce compact fibres stabilised by nucleosome stacking, whereas euchromatin-like sequences generate irregular nucleosome positioning that yields disrupted, heterogeneous, and mechanically deformable fibres. Quantitative polymer modelling reveals that these irregular arrays are highly dynamic, continually sampling a broad ensemble of conformations as nucleosome stacking breaks down. We identify two previously unrecognised thresholds encoded by nucleosome positioning: minimal positional irregularity (2–3 bp) triggers a transition from an ordered paracrystalline state to a liquid-like phase, whereas an order of magnitude greater irregularity (∼18 bp) is required to generate accessibility and mechanical fragility permissive for transcription factor binding. Euchromatin-like arrays reside at this accessibility threshold. These findings indicate that nucleosome positioning tunes chromatin toward or away from critical structural states that couple genome protection, chromatin dynamics, and transcriptional potential—providing a physical mechanism that helps connect DNA sequence to gene expression.
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Stacey Ogden 🦔 @labogden.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Reading the old* literature from your field is ALWAYS a good idea 🧪 *Papers from before you started your research project. *Papers you haven't read since they came out ~years~ ago. *Papers from pioneers in your field.
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Super cool!
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
The Groth lab @grothlab.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
‼️🚨Out now in Molecular Cell - Our latest study 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐮𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟑𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: tinyurl.com/2xctvx38. It was a pleasure to lead this collaborative effort alongside @nilskrietenstein.bsky.social More in🧵below 🪡
tinyurl.com
Maintenance of nucleosome organization through replication and transcription counteracts aberrant coalescence of active chromatin
Nucleosomes with their associated modifications organize and regulate the genome. It is unclear how this is integrated with the requirement of replica…
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Julian Sale @juliansalelab.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Working with a hugely engaged group of editors (all of whom are practising scientists), authors and reviewers, and a great publisher, is a hugely rewarding way to contribute to the community. Your chance to get involved!
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Alex Radzisheuskaya @a-radzisheuskaya.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Transcription and Chromatin UK is back! Join us in York 18–20 November for three days of exciting science and networking. We look forward to seeing you there. www.eventsforce.net/biochemsoc/f...
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Here's a short article about our recent Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine away day. It was great to present some of the things we are working on and gain positive feedback from colleagues. Thanks to Jacqueline, Michael and Mark for organising! www.liverpool.ac.uk/systems-mole...
liverpool.ac.uk
Cancer Research Away Day 2026 | Stories | Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology | University of Liverpool
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Peter Ly @peterlylab.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Excited to share our latest paper! We found that large pieces of the human genome can transfer between cells upon direct contact, endowing recipient cells with heritable phenotypic changes. @cp-cell.bsky.social (1/7) www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
A friend of mine got a major starting grant today, I am so happy for them in achieving this success. Needed and deserved! I really hope for similar successes for my fellow early career group leaders. Good luck!🤞
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Lorna Young @drlornayoung.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Happy to share! My first official PhD position is open for applicants 😃(self-funded!) This is an interdisciplinary, multi-supervised project, bringing together experts from UoL's Cancer Department, Population Health (Ffion Curtis) & the Centre for Innovation in Education (Ben McGrae)
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Karolin Luger @nucleosomepolice.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
Paper alert from @codyz.bsky.social y.social and Yang Liu. New mechanism for chromatin remodeling by ATRX. Super cool story. Congrats to #lugerlab alumni. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Dr Christopher Switzer from the University of Leicester gave a great chemical biology perspective on Reactive Sulphur Species involvement in the hypoxia response today in Liverpool. Very impressed.
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
The Groth lab @grothlab.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
DNA replication globally disrupts the epigenome. But does this create a chromatin-access opportunity for TF binding to facilitate cell identity change? Now 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢-𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐂-𝐬𝐞𝐪 shows 𝘥𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘰 chromatin opening & TF binding occurs specifically post-replication, in cellular differentiation & reprogramming!
cell.com
Post-replicative chromatin accessibility predicts cell fate change
Knudsen and colleagues use repli-ATAC-seq to compare replicated and unreplicated chromatin in two models of cell identity change. They find that lineage-specific elements are accessible earlier in rep...
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Proteostasis UK @proteostasisuk.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
📢 Next Proteostasis Consortium Seminar – Tomorrow, Wednesday 4 February 2026 at 4:00 pm GMT (10:00 am CT) Speaker: David Glass (Regeneron Pharmaceuticals) Title: Proteostatic Mechanisms Involved in Age‑Associated Disease 👉Link & Updates here: www.proteostasisconsortium.com/seminars/
proteostasisconsortium.com
Proteostasis Consortium Seminars | Proteostasis Consortium
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Brain Tumour Research @braintumourrsch.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Less Survivable Cancers receive just 19% of research funding despite causing 40% of all cancer deaths. This glaring inequality is why we're calling for government to #CloseTheResearchGap. @lesssurvivable.bsky.social 👉 bit.ly/3Ngg6qF
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Check out our recent update from the J domain protein community! Thanks to Janine Kirstein, Rina Rosenzweig, Paolo De Los Rios, Pierre Genevaux, Jaroslaw Marszalek and Harm H. Kampinga for leading this effort www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
J-domain proteins: from molecular mechanisms to diseases
J-domain proteins (JDPs) are known to drive the functional specificity of Hsp70 chaperone machines. Here we report on the latest findings presented at…
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Mathieu M.J.E. Rebeaud @chercheurjuteux.com · 19/12/2025
J-domain proteins: from molecular mechanisms to diseases We wrote a paper on the conference about JDPs in Gdansk and I have several of my latest research explained and presented in it. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
J-domain proteins: from molecular mechanisms to diseases
J-domain proteins (JDPs) are known to drive the functional specificity of Hsp70 chaperone machines. Here we report on the latest findings presented at…
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Anja Groth @groth-anja.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
A few days left to apply for exciting PhD and Postdoc opportunities in wonderful Copenhagen and join our efforts in understanding Epigenetic Cell Memory.
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Great opportunity!
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Natalia Sanchez-Soriano @natsansor.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Funded 4-year BBSRC NWD PhD to advance neuroscience through vCLEM techniques. 🧠 Are you passionate about EM, neurons, ageing, neurodegeneration? Come and join us! 🙏repost this project with @ianprior.bsky.social @natsansor.bsky.social @aliemliv.bsky.social www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
findaphd.com
(BBSRC NWD) Developing a vCLEM pipeline for high-resolution analysis of neurons of the Drosophila brain at University of Liverpool on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - (BBSRC NWD) Developing a vCLEM pipeline for high-resolution analysis of neurons of the Drosophila brain at University of Liverpool, listed on FindAPhD.com
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
The caterpillar, an epigenetic wonder! Recent birthday celebrations in the lab.
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
James Davies @jojdavies.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Our latest paper has just been published in Cell! doi.org/10.1016/j.ce... We developed a new method called MCC ultra, which allows 3D chromatin structure to be visualised with a 1 base pair pixel size.
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
This is very cool!
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
12 and a bit 5km runs in October, challenge complete! Thanks for all the sponsorship. £585 raised for Cancer Research, and almost £1M nationally - which is amazing! @cancerresearchuk.org fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/colins-...
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
Another great opportunity for a PhD linking hypoxia to cell matrix mechanobiology!
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Very excited to receive this Spatial Biology in Neuro-Oncology Grant to pump-prime our studies into histone supply biology in high grade glioma patient samples! Thanks to @standardbiotools.bsky.social and @eanoassociation.bsky.social for your generous support!🙂 🥳🧬🙌Exciting times ahead!! 🤸🧬🥳
Spatial biology in neuro-oncology award certificate for Michael Müther and Colin Hammond. Awarded by standard biotools and the european association of neuro-oncology.
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Great opportunities for chromatin transcription related PhDs or a postdoc, with a cool boss in Birmingham!
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
That's £10 per km. Thanks a lot for all the donations!
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
Thats me finished my 10th 5k in October! My best time yet, 26 min 40s. Sponsorship goes to @cancerresearchuk.org £355 raised so far, please sponsor it all goes to a good cause. fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/colins-...
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk/news/walton-...
thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk
Walton Centre Neurosurgeon receives prestigious award | News
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Run 9/10 5ks in October and my first night run for a long time. I am surprised it wasnt faster. I tried to pick a flatter route, but I couldn't always see my feet! One to go!! 💸💸💸 fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/colins-...
fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org
A post from Colin's Giving Page
Run 9/10 5ks in october and my first night run for a long time. I am surprised it wasnt faster. I tried to pick a flatter route, but I couldn't always see my feet! One to go!! 💸💸💸
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
Run 7. Heart rate suggests my fitness is improving. Valiant sprint finish attempt to break 28 mins but denied by a whisker: 28m08s! 7/10 5ks during october! Am I becoming a runner again? Please send @cancerresearchuk.org some money on my behalf 💸💸💸 fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/colins-...
fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org
A post from Colin's Giving Page
Run 7! Heart rate suggests fitness is improving. Valiant sprint finish attempt to break 28 mins. 7/10 5ks during october! Am I becoming a runner again?
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Latest run is in....28m15s....6/10 5ks in October! £290 raised so far for @cancerresearchuk.org. Thanks for the support 🥳 fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/colins-...
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
27m20s. 5/10 5k runs for Cancer Research UK. Please sponsor me: fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/colins-...
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Steadily improving my time. Run four complete as of yesterday morning! 10x 5k in October for Cancer Research UK fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/colins-...
fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org
A post from Colin's Giving Page
Steadily improving my time. Run four complete!
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
As of this lunch time, 3/10 5k runs in October are now complete and £200 raised for Cancer Research UK. Thanks for all of the donations, please sponsor my efforts! @livunicancer.bsky.social fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/colins-...
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
1st run complete, please donate to the cause. fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/colins-...
fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org
Colin's Giving Page
I am running this in memory of my aunty Mandy who passed away this year because of neuroendocrine cancer. Many happy memories to help me back to fitness! Thanks for visiting my fundraising page. I’m ...
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
That was quick. I have reached the £50 mark - sufficient to buy enough glass slides for a scientist to examine 1,470 tumour samples through a microscope. A little goes a long way!! fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/colins-...
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
I’m going to be taking on the 10 Days of 5k Challenge this October to help raise money for Cancer Research UK. Please show your support and help fund life-saving research by donating to my page. fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/colins-...
fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org
Colin's Giving Page
Thanks for visiting my fundraising page. I’m going to be taking on the 10 Days of 5k Challenge this October to help raise money for Cancer Research UK. Please show your support and help fund life-savi...
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Reposted by Colin M. Hammond
Wendy Bickmore @wbickmor.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
Honoured to be in Birmingham to mark Bryan Turner’s retirement- a gentleman and giant of epigenetics.
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
Debatably, the first red brick university. Thanks to the organisers for a great conference!
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
Landmark! Last week we had the inaugural new group leaders and lab members day out @ New Brighton's Championship Adventure Golf Course 😎. New annual tradition? I will try not to win every year 🫣😅
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Colin M. Hammond @needfuzz.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
RIP Diogo Jota and André Silva. Very sad. YWNWA ♥️
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