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Robin May

@robinmay9.bsky.social
395 followers 194 following 59 posts

Professor at University of Birmingham, UK and Gresham College. Chief Scientific Adviser at the UK Food Standards Agency. Views very much my own (and occasionally someone else's too).

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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Sorry to hear that Ada Yonath has died: www.nature.com/articles/d41.... I hosted Ada at @unibirmingham.bsky.social in 2009. When she loaded 186 slides, I worriedly reminded her that it was a 45 minute talk. She grinned, then used every slide, in 45mins, and had the audience cheering. #classact.
nature.com
Ada Yonath obituary: Crystallographer who overcame ‘impossible’ challenge of mapping the ribosome
Nobel laureate persisted despite widespread derision and revolutionized structural biology by protecting fragile crystals.
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Absolute pleasure to be introducing Sir Andrew Pollard, @ovg.ox.ac.uk, to discuss health equity at the @ukhsa.bsky.social 2026 conference
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UK Health Security Agency @ukhsa.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Sharaine works at Porton Down, in what is sometimes called our 'top secret lab'. 🔬 🧪 Go behind the scenes and find out about her work on phages - a possible alternative treatment for antibiotics. 🧫
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Great to be in sunny Manchester for the @ukhsa.bsky.social 2026 conference! >1000 delegates, 30+ sessions some fabulous science and a LOT of coffee...what's not to love?!
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Some fabulous movies of swimming algae, molecular structures and much more...on screen at @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social meeting now, as @dyneinassembly.bsky.social talks us through how we might ultimately fix broken cilia...
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
In humans, eggs accumulate mutations with age, leading to higher mutational load in babies born to older parents. @anjalihinch.bsky.social showing that 70% of this mutational burden falls in only 3% of the genome, revealing mutation 'hotspots', at @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social annual meeting.
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Unravelling the evolution of innate immunity in Drosophila with @hansonmark.bsky.social at the @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social meeting. Plus I learnt that Persian cats have a genetic mutation in calprotectin that makes them susceptible to ringworm...#catmysteriesexplained.
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Delighted to be back at the annual @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social meeting after missing last year. Kicking off with the mysteries of the blood-brain barrier, brilliantly explained by @chrisgreene.bsky.social
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
And suddenly a vision of the future is right here in the present... BBC News - Robots compete in boxing, football and sprinting at World Humanoid Games - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
bbc.co.uk
Robots compete in boxing, football and sprinting at World Humanoid Games
The second-edition of the five-day competition kicked off in Beijing, China, on Saturday.
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
In terms of impact per £, the @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social prize is the most productive grant I ever received by a long margin. So if you're thinking of applying, don't hesitate a moment longer - get writing...and good luck!
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
It's @greshamcollege.bsky.social Oracy Competition final day! Bravo to all of our 12 amazing student finalists and good luck for the next couple of hours!
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Heading home after a fabulous, but all-too-brief, visit to #iccc26 @exeter.ac.uk, brilliantly organised by @balloulab.bsky.social and colleagues, to discuss some of our @ukhsa.bsky.social work on climate and health with fellow panellists @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social, Sarah Gurr & Mat Fisher.
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Folks, we have two critically important Director roles to fill at @ukhsa.bsky.social. If you're a senior scientist or clinician interested in trying to protect the UK's health, please take a look: www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi... www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk
Quick Check Needed
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
In case anyone was still in doubt about how fast climate change is happening, this is the #showmystripes graph for my little corner of the UK... 😥 @edhawkins.org showyourstripes.info/c/europe/uni...
showyourstripes.info
Show Your Stripes
Visualising how the climate has changed for every country across the globe
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
And it's out! Registration for the @ukhsa.bsky.social conference 2026 is now open. See you all in Manchester on 22-23rd September! www.conference.ukhsa.gov.uk/event/73c514...
conference.ukhsa.gov.uk
UKHSA Conference 2026
UKHSA Conference 2026
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Had a lot of fun talking about the benefits of fungi (rather than my usual gloom-and-doom about fungal pathogens!) with the folk over at Zoe recently. I suggest frying up a few mushrooms whilst you listen... zoe.com/learn/how-to...
zoe.com
How to Unlock The Secret Power of The Mushrooms
Could mushrooms hold the secret to better gut health and lower cholesterol? And can they protect your brain health? Today, we find out.
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Enjoyed spending today with the @nihr.bsky.social and @ukhsa.bsky.social supported Health Protection Research Units, hearing about research into everything from HIV testing strategies to vaccine engagement. Big research questions with big impacts...
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Quadram Institute @quadraminstitute.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
What microbes shared between parents and children? And what microbes are shared between grandparents, parents and children? 👪 Take part in our PEARL-AGE study to help us find out ➡️ buff.ly/48VykCL @earlhaminst.bsky.social
An illustration of silhouettes of five people in a family holding hands. There are illustrations of microbes inside their guts
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
And for the last time... Just about to kick off my final lecture as 39th @greshamcollege.bsky.social Professor of Physic. It's been a LOT of fun - thanks to everyone who has come along over the years!
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RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
On World Bee Day, it's important to be able to tell what's a bee and what's a colleague. #WorldBeeDay
Close-up of a fluffy Shrill Carder Bee feeding on a purple flower, dusted with pollen. Pale blue text reads: “If your manager runs a very small overstretched team, communicates mostly through high-pitched buzzing, and can only reliably be found in a handful of fields… that’s not your manager, that’s a Shrill Carder Bee.” An Ashy Mining Bee with black and silver-grey fur perched on a pale green leaf. Pale blue text jokes: “If your colleague prefers working alone, leaves little piles of mess behind, disappears when conditions aren’t ideal, and has sealed themselves inside a dirt tunnel… that’s not your colleague, that’s an Ashy Mining Bee.” The bee appears alert, with large dark eyes and long antennae.Close-up of a Patchwork Leaf-cutter Bee standing on a green leaf. Its striped body and fuzzy face are shown in detail. Pale blue text reads: “If your work bestie has been taking bits off the office plants, keeps carrying tiny circles of leaves around, and says they’re ‘working on a side project’… that’s not your work bestie, that’s a Patchwork Leaf-cutter Bee.” A fluffy Buff-tailed Bumblebee balances on purple flowers against a soft green background. Pale blue text jokes: “If your Executive Director runs a huge underground operation, is cute and fuzzy, and solves obstacles by biting straight through them… that’s not your Executive Director, that’s a Buff-tailed Bumblebee.”
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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @drtedros.who.int · 17/05/2026
After having consulted the #DRC & #Uganda where the #Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus is known to be currently occurring, I determine that the epidemic constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), as defined in the provisions of IHR. My statement: bit.ly/4wGGiwX
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Passionate about science and journalism? Then take a look at this opportunity with the @smclondon.bsky.social and help play a key role in communicating important science to the world. www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/job...
sciencemediacentre.org
Press Officer | Science Media Centre
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Should you eat mouldy food? (Spoiler alert, the answer is almost always 'no'). BBC Bitesize asked some infectious disease chap at @unibirmingham.bsky.social to explain why... www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/art...
bbc.co.uk
What happens if you eat mouldy food? - BBC Bitesize
Can you eat mouldy bread, fruit or vegetables?
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Willem van Schaik @wvschaik.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Super-excited to be organising the first in-person meeting of the @target-amr.bsky.social network today and tomorrow. We will be launching an initiative for pump-priming and an amazing comic by Eddie Ross on AMR Genomics
A comic with a phylogenetic tree. The background is the opening slide of a conference
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
The selfless dedication of people around the world to help support those affected by the ongoing hantavirus outbreak has been remarkable, but this is perhaps the most incredible part of the response so far: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Army parachutes onto Tristan da Cunha to help Briton with suspected hantavirus
The specialist team parachuted onto Tristan da Cunha, a remote British overseas territory, to treat them.
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
The UK's Scientific Advisory Committee on GM is recruiting. So if you are a scientist with an understanding of genetic modification, please take a look and consider applying - I can guarantee it will be an interesting role! www.hse.gov.uk/careers/sacg...
hse.gov.uk
Scientific Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification (SACGM) - HSE
Recruitment of Chair and Independent Members for the Scientific Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification .
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Measles still kills almost 100,000 people each year. That's 100,000 too many, so I was delighted to join colleagues from @who.int at today's inaugural meeting of the WHO Colllaborating Centre on Measles and Rubella at @ukhsa.bsky.social. One more step on the road to measles elimination...
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Sad to hear that Dame Bridget Ogilvie has died. A pioneering science leader and a great immunologist, but mostly I will remember her as a kind and enthusiastic supporter of early career scientists through her work at @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridget...
en.wikipedia.org
Bridget Ogilvie - Wikipedia
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Pleasure to visit the HPRU in Chemical Threats and Hazards at @uniofleicester.bsky.social earlier this week and hear about everything from PFAS in water to pollen counts (top discovery: pollen counts are currently done by an army of volunteers with microscopes - who knew?!)
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
After a lengthy Bluesky outage (caused solely by inertia, not a position statement) I figure it's high-time I rejoined. And what better way than with a shout out to @biology.ox.ac.uk for a superb reunion event and tour of the new building at @ox.ac.uk yesterday. #newbuildingenvy
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Couldn't have said it better myself. Oh, wait a minute...
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Brian Bilston @brianbilston.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Here’s a poem called ‘English Roundabouts’.
English Roundabouts
 
They’re making the roundabouts great again 
by painting the flag of St George
to keep our circular road systems safe
from the dark, satanic hordes.

What do they want? Patriotic junctions!
When do they want them? Before it’s too late.
Good old-fashioned English roundabouts,
as decreed by Alfred the Great.

Behold the sacred intersection,
this blessed plot, this septic isle.
English roundabouts for English people,
draped in red and white and bile. 

St George is cross, as well he may be –
whipped-up hate, he’s seen before.
Give way to the right, the road signs rage,
and the far right most of all.

Brian Bilston
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Gresham College @greshamcollege.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
😱 Why Do We Fear? Free tickets now open 👉 gres.hm/why-fear Fear keeps us alive, but can also trap us in phobias or push us toward thrill-seeking. Prof @robinmay9.bsky.social asks, can understanding its biology help us overcome it? *also of @imibirmingham.bsky.social
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
One week left to apply, folks! And I promise that I'm not spending my final month in post making all sorts of daft decisions that you'll have to unravel if you get the job...! 😉
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Institut Pasteur Education @pasteuredu.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
🖥️ The MOOC “Medical Mycology” is open for registration!    👉 bit.ly/medical-myco... 🍄 Welcome to the fascinating world of fungi, agents of major infectious diseases! Discover the taxonomy, ecology, identification of fungi, epidemiology of infectious diseases, drugs, link with HIV…Share this info!
bit.ly
Medical Mycology
Welcome to the fascinating world of fungi, agents of major infectious diseases!
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
Just in case Pinewood Studies are reading this, then I'm more than happy to discuss my consultancy fee with you (I'm thinking maybe a hand-me-down Bond dinner suit - without bullet holes - and a quick spin in the Aston Martin?)
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
This is the job I've been doing for the last five years and it is FANTASTIC. So if your finger is hovering uncertainly over the 'apply now' button, then stop hesitating and press it! www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cg...
civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk
Quick Check Needed
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
Great to be able to talk about the impact of climate change on infections at today's 'Leave No One Behind' schools' conference with @mulberrytrust.bsky.social @greshamcollege.bsky.social and @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social. Yet another reason (as if we needed one) to get to #netzero ASAP.
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Institute of Microbiology and Infection @imibirmingham.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Excellent talk from @robinmay9.bsky.social about his life, David Attenborough being his inspo and the Food Standards Agency 🦠🥪
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
This is a very nice testament to the strength of UK science, not to mention the importance of international collaboration - congratulations awardees, one and all! www.russellgroup.ac.uk/news/uk-take...
russellgroup.ac.uk
UK takes the lead on ERC Advanced Grant wins | Russell Group
New data shows the UK has won by far the largest share of ERC grants, one of the most prestigious and competitive funding schemes in the EU
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Cara Giovanetti @idontevencara.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Woah, they've also got a tool where you can listen to the image: skyviewer.app/skysynth
skyviewer.app
Listen | Skyviewer
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
125 years of preparation, and @unibirmingham.bsky.social is looking at its most spectacular... #UoB125
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
A @greshamcollege.bsky.social short on Rethinking the 'reincarnation' of Dire Wolves. Or rather, why they aren't Dire Wolves at all (sorry to disappoint all you Game of Thrones fans out there): youtu.be/Scesbs7GT6U?...
youtu.be
De-Extinction or Design? Rethinking the ‘Return’ of the Dire Wolf - Robin May
YouTube video by Gresham College
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The Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
In our latest blog post we catch up with #BlavatnikAwards Life Sciences Laureate @stewartlab.bsky.social, who recently attended the Blavatnik Awards ceremony and public symposium and gave talks about his preventive health work on preterm infant microbiomes 🫄👶 lister-institute.org.uk/congratulati...
lister-institute.org.uk
Congratulations Chris Stewart, 2025 Blavatnik Laureate for Life Sciences – Lister Institute
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Gresham College @greshamcollege.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Tickets open: The Future of Immunity gres.hm/future-immunity Our understanding of our immune system is vastly different from 50 years ago, w/ modern therapies that would have once seemed like science fiction. @robinmay9.bsky.social asks: what next for #immunity? @imibirmingham.bsky.social
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Every time I hear someone playing the free piano at Euston Station, blissfully unaware of the small crowd of commuters tapping their feet in time behind them, it restores my faith in the future of civilisation...
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Gresham College @greshamcollege.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Today at 6pm: Do Computers Get Sick? How Humans and Computers Fight Viruses Watch via: gres.hm/computer-virus Profs @robinmay9.bsky.social & @cyberbaines.bsky.social ask whether there are similarities between human & #computer immunity? Can we use discoveries in one to help protect the other?
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European Research Council (ERC) @erc.europa.eu · 06/05/2025
“Science has no passport, no gender, no ethnicity, no political party.” EC President Ursula von der Leyen, announcing a €500M initiative to attract top global talent. In a fractured world, science remains a unifying force – rooted in diversity, driven by curiosity, and shared by all humanity.
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Gresham College @greshamcollege.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
How do vaccines work? Prof @robinmay9.bsky.social explains how #vaccination changed the world, saving millions of lives and enabling us to eradicate a lethal disease for the first time in human history... Watch full lecture: gres.hm/how-vaccines #immunology #vaccine
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Robin May @robinmay9.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Delighted to see this one published in @asm.org mBio today. It's possibly the longest-running project we've ever had in the lab, all started by the throwaway question, "Are there any plants that are pathogens of animals...?" journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
journals.asm.org
Phylogenetic analysis of pathogenic algae reveals lineage-dependent patterns of phagocytosis | mBio
Protothecosis is a rare algal infection caused by members of the genus Prototheca, which is comprised of unusual non-photosynthetic algae. Six pathogenic species have been identified so far that can c...
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