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Sam Chawner

@samchawner.bsky.social
375 followers 599 following 24 posts

Senior Research Fellow (Wellcome Trust) at Cardiff University | ARFID | Eating Disorders | Genetic Conditions | Child Mental Health | 🏳️‍🌈

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Sam Chawner @samchawner.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
A week left to apply for this PhD on eating disorders (ARFID): gw4biomed.ac.uk/unlocking-th... Support on applying: gw4biomed.ac.uk/how-to-apply...
gw4biomed.ac.uk
Student Application Support - GW4 BioMed MRC DTP
The GW4 BioMed DTP provides a variety of application support, including Candidate Support Webinars and University-specific contacts.
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Reposted by Sam Chawner
Micah G. Allen @micahgallen.com · 07/08/2025
Very pleased to be featured in the August Editorial for Nature Mental Health! The stomach’s turn: elucidating the gut–brain axis www.nature.com/articles/s44...
nature.com
The stomach’s turn: elucidating the gut–brain axis - Nature Mental Health
Philosophers and scientists have debated for centuries about how cognition and emotions are produced and the causal roles the body and brain serve. The advent of more sophisticated models of gut–brain...
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Sam Chawner @samchawner.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Thanks @medresfdn.bsky.social for this great overview of our recent paper on Pica
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Sam Chawner @samchawner.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
Fun 2 days meeting future research leaders across Wales! @welshcrucible.bsky.social . Reflecting on my academic journey so far and planning ahead for the next steps. #crucible25
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Sam Chawner @samchawner.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Just over 2 weeks left to apply!
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Sam Chawner @samchawner.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Honoured to be part of Health and Care Research Wales first cohort of Emerging Leaders, providing an opportunity to develop leadership, and grow & showcase the amazing health research strengths of Wales 🐲 ! healthandcareresearchwales.org/about/news/h...
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Reposted by Sam Chawner
LEADING Study @leading-study.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
We are still looking for UK-based gender diverse adults (18+) who have a current or historical experiences of an eating disorder/disordered eating to complete a survey about your experiences. Find out more here: tinyurl.com/LEADINGStudy1 Please share widely with anyone who might be interested!
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Sam Chawner @samchawner.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Excited to share this fully-funded PhD opportunity to research the biology of disordered eating: Mood, Food, and Immunity: Exploring the Neuroimmunology of Mental Health, Appetite, and Disordered Eating in Genetically At-Risk Children www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
findaphd.com
Mood, Food, and Immunity: Exploring the Neuroimmunology of Mental Health, Appetite, and Disordered Eating in Genetically At-Risk Children at Cardiff University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Mood, Food, and Immunity: Exploring the Neuroimmunology of Mental Health, Appetite, and Disordered Eating in Genetically At-Risk Children at Cardiff University, listed on FindAPhD.com
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Sam Chawner @samchawner.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Pica, the eating of non-food substances, is an eating disorder we know very little about. So this Eating Disorder Awareness Week I thought I would share research I did with @nataliep310.bsky.social and on Pica prevalence pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38097525/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Prevalence and recurrence of pica behaviors in early childhood within the ALSPAC birth cohort - PubMed
This study enhances understanding of childhood pica behaviors, addressing a significant gap in knowledge. Pica occurrence in the general population is poorly understood due to few epidemiological stud...
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Sam Chawner @samchawner.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
This week is #EatingDisorderAwarenessWeek My research focuses on Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), which despite affecting 1-2% of children has been understudied and has low public awareness. Read more about my research plans here: www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/your-stories...
beateatingdisorders.org.uk
A Major Step Forward for ARFID Research: New Funding for Cardiff University - Beat
Despite being recognised as a serious condition, research into ARFID has been limited. This lack of understanding has left many without support.
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Reposted by Sam Chawner
Theo Sanderson @theo.io · 21/02/2025
1 week left to apply for this!
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Reposted by Sam Chawner
Pride in STEM @prideinstem.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
If you want to join our starter pack please do comment below - we are going to start a third one soon And if you asked to be in in the past but now feel you are at risk for being in them, do DM us and we will remove you. #StaySafeStayStrong go.bsky.app/Cw9bRYZ go.bsky.app/Cw9bRYZ
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Sam Chawner @samchawner.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Thanks Sky for highlighting ARFID - an eating disorder in need of greater recognition and research
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Sam Chawner @samchawner.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Interesting & inspiring week visiting the Born in Bradford team. Eating disorders & mental health is an important part of their latest Age of Wonder data collection: youtu.be/ockxBS6HT2A?...
youtu.be
What is Age of Wonder?
YouTube video by Born in Bradford
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Reposted by Sam Chawner
Jack Stonebridge @jackstonebridge.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Always a festive treat, running this science image competition alongside colleagues from the MRC ✨ 2024's winner 'illuminates complex parasite structures', offering clues for potential drug targets 🎄 Order your 'Twinkling Toxoplasma' cards now! 👇 #MedSky #AcademicSky
Toxoplasmosis is an illness caused by an infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Scientists often use microscopy to explore the biology of parasites such as this, seeking clues for potential drug targets.

To create this image, shaped like a Christmas tree, Dr Kseniia Bondarenko grew human skin cells in the lab, and then infected them with Toxoplasma. She then used fluorescent dyes to highlight various parasite structures, and captured high-resolution images.

The high-resolution images revealed the parasites’ basket-like skeleton (shown in yellow), inner shell (magenta), and DNA (blue). The ‘star’ on top of the tree is a regular-microscopy snapshot of an unusually large parasite rosette – a cluster of parasites that clump together inside the body.

This technique has the potential to illuminate complex parasite structures, so that areas of infection within the body can be more effectively targeted and treated.
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Sam Chawner @samchawner.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Hello Bluesky! A bit late to the show - how does this work 😅
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