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Alex Schier

@schierlab.bsky.social
2.5K followers 71 following 48 posts

Schierlab. Biozentrum Basel. Development. Behavior. Zebrafish. Curious.

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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
For the rest of the story, check out the preprint. Emily started her lab at New York University this year, where she’s working on linking these kinds of internal sensations to behaviors. She is supersmart and an inspiring mentor. You can find her lab here: www.bayer-lab.org
bayer-lab.org
The Bayer Lab
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
This transgenic line also enabled us to sequence the neurons. For a small fish, Danionella is getting plenty of senses from its body: temperature, mechanical, nutrients, pain, inflammation. Comparing to the well-characterized mouse vagus, we find that many of these gene markers are conserved. 3/4
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Borrowing from zebrafish, we created a transgenic line to label the D. cerebrum sensory vagus. Thanks to the transparency of Danionella adults, we could trace and count these neurons. The adult part made a difference: we found that the vagus is asymmetric in males (but not females)! 2/4
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The first Danionella paper from the lab. Danionella cerebrum is transparent, so you can see all of the internal organs. But what sensory information are the organs sending to the brain? In our new preprint, Emily Bayer wanted to find out. 1/4 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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Biozentrum, University of Basel @biozentrum.unibas.ch · 03/09/2026
Congratulations to Yuping Li on being awarded a prestigious ERC Starting Grant. In her project, she will investigate how bacteria detect and defend themselves against giant viruses known as jumbophages.🧪 @yuping-li.bsky.social @unibas.ch @erc.europa.eu #ERCStartingGrant #research #lifesciences
biozentrum.unibas.ch
ERC Starting Grant for Yuping Li
Giant viruses are masters in evading bacterial defense systems. With a Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC), Prof. Yuping Li will investigate how bacteria detect and fight these gia...
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Free access rdcu.be/fASOz
rdcu.be
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Many thanks and congratulations to William Joo, Clare Diester, Vassilis Bitsikas, Myrto Panopoulou, Amelia Hidalgo, Konstantinos Ntemos, Rodrigo C. G. Pena, Fabia Imhof, Iris Odstrcil, Flavio Donato, Geoffrey Fucile, Daniel Kroeger and Thomas E. Scammell.
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
These discoveries provide entry points to further dissect the circuit and molecular mechanisms that make sleep inescapable.
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Despite this profound reduction in sleep, most animals survived, without compensatory increases in sleep drive or the behavioral deficits typically associated with severe sleep deprivation.
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Co-activation of GABAergic and serotonergic neurons in the median raphe promoted sleep, whereas co-inhibition chronically decreased sleep by ~70%.
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Our mapping approach identified the anterior medial preoptic area and the median raphe as candidate regions that reflect sleep deficit. The median raphe neurons include serotonergic neurons, as well as a separate GABAergic population whose intrinsic excitability increases during sleep deprivation.
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
We began this project by mapping brain regions responding to sleep deprivation, recovery sleep, and circadian behavior. Explore the brain activity atlas here sleep-wake-atlas.scicore.unibas.ch
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
What regulates the urge to sleep? William Joo and colleagues identified brain regions that reflect how long mice have been awake. Strikingly, inhibiting one of these regions reduces sleep by 70%, without the major behavioral deficits associated with sleep deprivation. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Wake-activated neuronal populations that regulate sleep drive - Nature
Whole-brain activity mapping, targeted cell manipulations and electrophysiology in mice identify wake-activated neuronal populations that are crucial for sleep drive and can persistently red...
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HHMI @hhmi-science.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
"We have no business applying to this," #GilliamFellow Sara Makanani told her PI. Her mentor’s reply? "We are worthy of this." // 2nd- or 3rd-year PhD student? Talk to your faculty advisor — apps open 9/1 for our BIGGEST cohort of mentee-mentor pairs yet! bit.ly/gilliam26
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Come join us at the @biozentrum.unibas.ch as Professor in Climate Biophysics. Blue-sky research, inspiring colleagues, and generous support.
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Image by Phil Abitua; now at UW in Seattle.
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Phil Abitua, now at UW in Seattle.
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Might cerebellar disinhibition underlie Restless Legs Syndrome symptoms? Will Joo found that loss of the RLS-associated gene meis1b perturbs locomotion in zebrafish by disinhibiting cerebellar output. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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Oded Mayseless @mayseless.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
11/11 Big picture: the larval zebrafish olfactory bulb is organized spatially, transcriptionally, and functionally in ways that reflect behavioral preference. Paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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Oded Mayseless @mayseless.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
7/11 Luckily, @yinanwan.bsky.social and Jakob developed a powerful approach for multiplexed whole-mount gene-expression mapping. Sequentially imaging 68 genes in intact larval brains, defined anatomical and transcriptional boundaries of the olfactory bulb at cellular resolution.
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Oded Mayseless @mayseless.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
1/11 Excited to share my postdoc work from @schierlab.bsky.social and Rainer Friedrich! 🐟👃 How does the brain decide whether an odor is good or bad? In larval zebrafish, we find that odor preference is reflected in spatially cohesive neuronal domains of the olfactory bulb. 🧵
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bioRxiv Developmental Biology @biorxiv-devbio.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Interpretable decoding of cell fate from a snapshot of combinatorial signaling www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/20…
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Biozentrum, University of Basel @biozentrum.unibas.ch · 12/05/2026
🧪 A new study led by Dr. Janani Durairaj and Prof. Torsten Schwede shows that current AI models in drug discovery still face limitations. Learn more👇 @ninjani.bsky.social @torstenschwede.bsky.social @unibas.ch @snsf.ch @natureportfolio.nature.com www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news/detail/...
biozentrum.unibas.ch
AI models still reach limits in drug discovery
Developing new medicines is a slow and costly process. For some years now, artificial intelligence (AI) has been considered a promising tool to accelerate drug discovery by identifying drug candidates...
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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Jack Szostak "All of these things frighten me, and they should frighten you as well. I made the decision to create a life for myself here, because I viewed this as a place that rewarded determination, hard work, and integrity. It still has a chance to be that place again."
open.substack.com
I’m a Nobel Prize-winning immigrant. I can no longer recognize this country.
Attacks on science and immigrants are destroying America.
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Yinan Wan @yinanwan.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
With this “Behind the paper” story, I’d like to give special thanks to two remarkable contributors whose generosity made a big difference: @jialinliu.bsky.social for the scMultiomics data behind the multiomic atlas, and Guoqiang Yu’s group for sharing ITEC cell tracking, which enabled MERFISH-FATE.
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the Node @the-node.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
From fate to form: the journey to whole-embryo spatial transcriptomics In this 'Behind the paper' feature, @yinanwan.bsky.social shares the inside story of an ambitious journey with @schierlab.bsky.social & co. thenode.biologists.com/from-fate-to...
thenode.biologists.com
From fate to form: the journey to whole-embryo spatial transcriptomics - the Node
Where molecules meet form I have long been interested in understanding how development emerges at the intersection of molecular and spatial organization.
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Sally Lowell @cellysally.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
"We want to see the academic publishing industry change in a way that benefits science, not just profits"
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James Briscoe @jamesbriscoe.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
A question I get asked all the time by @dev-journal.bsky.social authors "Why does it cost so much to publish a paper?" We break down the finances and explain where the money goes Spoiler: quality publishing takes a village (people + infrastructure) journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
journals.biologists.com
‘Why is publishing so expensive?’
For many of us who work in scientific publishing, the title of this Editorial is a question we hear all the time when we're out talking to academics. And it's a perfectly reasonable one. After all, re...
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Biozentrum, University of Basel @biozentrum.unibas.ch · 23/03/2026
Prof. Markus Rüegg and Dr. Judith Reinhard joined the Telebasel studio to talk about progress and the ongoing challenges of the gene therapy they’ve developed to treat LAMA2-related muscular dystrophy, a currently incurable and fatal muscle disease affecting children. telebasel.ch/sendungen/pu...
telebasel.ch
Basler Forschende entwickeln Gentherapie gegen… | Telebasel
Ungefähr jedes Jahr wird in der Schweiz ein Kind mit einer schweren Muskelschwäche geboren. LAMA2-Muskeldystrophie ist unheilbar. Nun haben Forschende am…
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MwahahahahahadScientist @mads100tist.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
It's out! Happy to present ITEC, a semi supervised algorithm with an extremely low error rate that can track cells in files of any size (think Terabytes!). We used it in many organisms, including zebrafish, to study how organs form and linked it to gene expression www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... +🧪
biorxiv.org
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Biozentrum, University of Basel @biozentrum.unibas.ch · 13/03/2026
Embryogenesis in 4D: a developmental atlas for genes and cells 🧪 @schierlab.bsky.social developed a new method (#weMERFISH) that visualizes the activity of hundreds of genes across the entire zebrafish embryo with subcellular resolution. lnkd.in/eHY5gXDx @erc.europa.eu @snsf.ch @unibas.ch
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University of Basel @unibas.ch · 13/03/2026
How does a tiny cluster of cells become an embryo? Researchers @biozentrum.unibas.ch mapped gene activity across the entire zebrafish embryo, creating a 4D atlas that links gene expression to cell movement & development. www.unibas.ch/en/News-Even...
unibas.ch
Embryogenesis in 4D: a developmental atlas for genes and cells
Researchers at the University of Basel create a 4D atlas revealing how thousands of genes shape embryonic development in the zebrafish embryo.
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Yinan Wan @yinanwan.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Very grateful to everyone who made this work possible. I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with such an amazing team. Special thanks to: Jakob El Kholtei, KJ Jenie, @mcolomerr.bsky.social, and of course our wonderful collaborator Bogdan Bintu and my mentor @schierlab.bsky.social
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Improved version of this earlier preprint. Now with MERFISH-FATE to connect gene expression to morphogenesis. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Website to look at your favorite gene. schier.merfisheyes.com
schier.merfisheyes.com
MERFISHEYES - Interactive Zebrafish Embryo Single-Cell Atlas
Explore integrated single-cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and MERFISH spatial imaging data from zebrafish embryonic development. Interactive 3D visualization from gastrulation to organogenesis.
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Gene expression patterns in zebrafish embryos (6-somite stage; anterior at top).
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Very happy to see this out. 👏 @yinanwan.bsky.social Bogdan Bintu and team. Whole-embryo spatial transcriptomics at subcellular resolution from gastrulation to organogenesis | free link Science www.science.org/eprint/5MHTM...
science.org
Whole-embryo spatial transcriptomics at subcellular resolution from gastrulation to organogenesis
Gene expression patterns underlie development, but their systematic detection in whole embryos has remained elusive. We introduce a whole-embryo imaging platform using multiplexed error-robust fluores...
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 07/03/2026
TODAY IS THE DAY. NATIONWIDE rallies in your local city are kicking off today to SAVE SCIENCE, PROTECT HEALTH, and DEFEND DEMOCRACY. Visit standupforscience.net/march7 to find your local rally! GET OUT THERE SCIENCE ACTIVISTS!!! #March7 #standupforscience #science #rally #savescience
standupforscience.net
Stand Up for Science: March 7th, 2026 — STAND UP FOR SCIENCE
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Biozentrum, University of Basel @biozentrum.unibas.ch · 02/03/2026
The Summer Call for our prestigious, fully funded #PhDFellowships is now open to talented early-career scientists worldwide. 🔬 Rotation-based program 🌍 International community 🗓 Apply by May 8, 2026 Apply now and join a leading life sciences institute! www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/phd/internat...
biozentrum.unibas.ch
Biozentrum PhD Fellowships
Share your passion for life sciences. If you are talented and highly motivated, want to broaden your horizons and are interested in a wide range of research topics, apply for one of the sought after B...
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Pauli Group (posts by Andi Pauli) @pauligroup.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
One more week to finalize your applications for the 2026 MBL zebrafish course at Woods Hole! Application deadline extended to March 9. Please repost and forward to anyone interested in learning 'everything zebrafish'! www.mbl.edu/education/ad...
mbl.edu
Zebrafish Development and Genetics | Marine Biological Laboratory
Over the past 30 years, the zebrafish has emerged as a powerful model system for the study of vertebrate development and disease. This course will focus on the development and genetics of zebrafish an...
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Deadline March 1. Join the new Dietschy Facility for Tissue Science. www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/open-positio...
biozentrum.unibas.ch
Research Specialist in Microscopy and Spatial Transcriptomics (80-100%)
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Deadline March 1. Join the new Dietschy Facility for Tissue Science. www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/open-positio...
biozentrum.unibas.ch
Research Specialist in Computational Neuroscience and Data Analysis (80-100%)
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Deadline March 1. Join the new Dietschy Facility for Tissue Science. www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/open-positio...
biozentrum.unibas.ch
Research Specialist in Image Analysis (80-100%)
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Pauli Group (posts by Andi Pauli) @pauligroup.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Switching fields or wanting to become an expert in #zebrafish research? The @mblscience.bsky.social 2026 Zebrafish Development & Genetics course offers a fantastic opportunity to learn from leaders in the field! Application deadline: March 2 Please spread the word! www.mbl.edu/education/ad...
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Peter Fabian @fabianlab.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Thinking about EZM2026 in Vienna? 🐟 Travel grants are now open for students & ECRs. 7–11 July 2026 | Deadline: March 15 Hope to see many of you there! @ezsociety.bsky.social #zebrafish
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Louis-Jeantet Foundation @louisjeantetfdn.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
FIONA DOETSCH @doetschlab.bsky.social @biozentrum.unibas.ch @unibas.ch is awarded the 2026 Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine for discovering the identity of neural stem cells in the adult mammalian brain and for demonstrating that they enable mammals to adapt to specific physiological states.
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Dr Emma Hodcroft @firefoxx66.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Best Christmas Card of 2025 award goes out to the @biozentrum.unibas.ch for this incredible building-themed-advent-calendar! Opening a window each day has been fantastic! ❄️☃️😁
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
We will miss you Madalena and follow your exciting research at MPIDresden@mpi-cbg.de‬
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Madalena M. Reimão Pinto @madalenamrp.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
This past month marked the end of an era at the @schierlab.bsky.social @biozentrum.unibas.ch. It was a meaningful, intense, often challenging, but also incredibly rewarding chapter of my scientific journey. Thank you all in the Schier Lab for the unconditional support and the Schierleading!
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Biozentrum, University of Basel @biozentrum.unibas.ch · 02/12/2025
🧪An international study led by Prof. Roderick Lim has discovered that nuclear pore complexes—gateways in the nuclear membrane—are not rigid or gel-like as once thought. Instead, their interiors are constantly moving and rearranging. @unibas.ch @snsf.ch 👉 www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news/detail/...
biozentrum.unibas.ch
Shapeshifting gates guard the cell nucleus
An international study led by the University of Basel has discovered that nuclear pore complexes – tiny gateways in the nuclear membrane – are not rigid or gel-like as once thought. Their interiors ar...
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