iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Crazy scenes in Tuscany last night - partial eclipse during sunset under a massive thunderstorm. 😵‍💫

Reposted by Simon Richardson

Mike Murphy @mitoredox.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

I have two post doctoral positions available in my lab funded by the Wellcome Trust to develop new chemical biology approaches to studying mitochondria. Would suit those with interest in both mitochondria and chemical biology. Advert below-please forward and repost! www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...

cam.ac.uk

Research Associate x 2 (Fixed Term)

The Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit (MRC MBU), University of Cambridge, wishes to appoint two post-doctoral Research Associates to join the research group of Prof. Mike Murphy at t...

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Faraz Mardakheh @mardakheh.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

🚨🚨NEW PREPRINT ALERT!🚨🚨Proud to present our recent study, out now on bioRxiv, in which we reveal an RNA-dependent positive feedback loop that drives malignant ribosome biogenesis and tumour growth (1/15). 🔗 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Thanks Stefan! I totally agree, it was a really enjoyable (and packed) day engaging with 80 enthusiastic year 12s about why they might want to study medicine at Cambridge. I particularly liked the need for your pocket watch time-turner between 11:20 and 11:15am

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Stefan Marciniak @profmarciniak.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Wow! What a day. Thank you so much to Emily Lawson-Todd Our Schools Liaison Officer for organising everything, Kat Steer our comms lead whose TikTok video prompted many applications, fellows Simon Richardson, Nisha Nixon, & Matt Mason for their supervisons and lectures, and our student speakers! ❤️

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Stefan Marciniak @profmarciniak.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Looking forward to hosting lots of Year 12 students in @stcatharines.bsky.social for our Medical Taster Day Lectures from fellows & talks by current students, mock interview, & Cambridge-style supervisions I can’t wait !

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Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre @crukcamcentre.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Join @crukcamthoracic.bsky.social for their 'NextGen Researchers' seminar this Friday! Friday 26 June, 3-6pm CRUK Cambridge Institute, CB20RE Find out more and register for free ➡️ zurl.co/VAzwI

NextGen Researchers seminar poster for thoracic cancer research. The event takes place on 26 June 2026 from 3–6 PM at the CRUK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, with pizza and drinks provided. Featured speakers are Dr John Lizhe Zhuan, Dr José Antonio Valer, and Katherine Honan. A QR code and short URL are included for registration, alongside logos for Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, the University of Cambridge, and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

St Catharine’s wildflower meadow was looking stunning today. ❤️ Good luck to all our fab first year medical students sitting biochem and genetics Tripos exams from tomorrow! 💪🏼

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St Catharine's College @stcatharines.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

If you know Year 12 students thinking about studying medicine, let them know about our free taster day hosted by our students, staff & Fellows, incl. Stefan Marciniak (2011) as Director of Studies in Clinical Medicine. Sign up by 15 June: caths.cam.ac.uk/med 📸 Melanin Medics @cam.ac.uk

Corner of Main Court at St Catharine's College with text reading 'Free medicine taster day 30 June 2026. Apply now at caths.cam.ac.uk/med'

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Stefan Marciniak @profmarciniak.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Please spread the word about our forthcoming @stcatharines.bsky.social Medicine Taster Day 30th June 10am-4pm Application deadline 15 June Lectures, supervisions, watch a mock Interview, meet students and fellows www.caths.cam.ac.uk/outreach/tas...

caths.cam.ac.uk

Taster days and residentials

Are you: in Year 12 (S5 in Scotland, Year 13 in Northern Ireland) attending a UK state school thinking of applying to Medicine, Vet Med, or Biomedical Sciences? If the answer to these questions is "ye...

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Manav Pathania @manavpathania.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

We're seeking to fill two roles: a postdoc and a research assistant. Both will focus on resistance mechanisms in brain tumour models using various approaches (in vivo, spatial omics, CRISPR). Please apply if this aligns with your previous experience! shorturl.at/hZ6mG

media.tenor.com

a close up of a feather on a rock with the words `` hello '' written in white letters .

ALT: a close up of a feather on a rock with the words `` hello '' written in white letters .

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Excited and frankly nervous to be running the Cambridge Half Marathon tomorrow morning, having only signed up 4 weeks ago. But proud to be running for amazing Centre 33, which does so much for young people in Cambridgeshire. 💪🏼 www.justgiving.com/page/simon-r...

justgiving.com

Simon's fundraiser for Centre 33

Help Simon Richardson raise money to support Centre 33

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Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre @crukcamcentre.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

2025 is drawing to a close and what a year it’s been! 🌟 From growing our community to advancing research and transforming clinical practice, it’s been a year full of progress. Here are some of our 2025 highlights. 👇 Season's greetings to all our members, partners and supporters!

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Brian Huntly and I are looking to recruit a postdoc to investigate a promising novel therapeutic target in B-ALL @scicambridge.bsky.social. This new CRUK-funded project will involve collaboration with Prof Sir Steve Jackson's group @cruk-ci.bsky.social and the CRUK Functional Genomics centre.

cam.ac.uk

Research Associate (Huntly Lab - Fixed Term)

We are seeking a postdoctoral Research Associate to work on an exciting new multi-disciplinary project studying B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL). The project is a collaboration between Dr

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Delighted to help @crukpolicy.bsky.social promote their #BackTheBreakthroughs campaign in Parliament today. Wide-ranging discussions, including on crucial work to reduce regulatory hurdles for trials, improve access to new therapeutics and support clinical academics.

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

cam.ac.uk

Research Associate (Huntly Lab - Fixed Term)

We are seeking a postdoctoral Research Associate to work on an exciting new multi-disciplinary project studying B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL). The project is a collaboration between Dr

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Leukaemia UK @leukaemiauk.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

A decade of bold ideas, brilliant minds & real impact. 💡 Our John Goldman Fellowships are driving progress in leukaemia research, from identifying new drug targets to repurposing existing medicines. Read more: www.leukaemiauk.org.uk/stories/a-de...

leukaemiauk.org.uk

A decade of progress and impact - Leukaemia UK

This October marks ten years since Leukaemia UK launched its John Goldman Fellowship (JGF) programme. In this blog, and the next, we’ll explore its impact and successes.

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

On my way back from a fabulous day of science and catching up with friends and colleagues at the UKALL Research Network update day. Great to see so much progress. 👍

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University of Cambridge @cam.ac.uk · 07/10/2025

It is with great sadness that the University shares the news of the death of Professor Sir John Gurdon, founder of the @gurdoninstitute.bsky.social Read our tribute to the visionary Nobel Laureate and watch an interview from 2012, just after he won: bit.ly/4mM8o3r

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Stefan Marciniak @profmarciniak.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Great to host our new @stcatharines.bsky.social medics before their first college dinner 🩺😷🚑🩻⚕️

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Thank you @leukaemiauk.bsky.social for the invitation to #WCD2025. 😋 It was great to share some of our work and humbling to hear the story of 4 year old Billie the Brave. Congrats on raising so much in one evening for life changing leukaemia research! ❤️

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Thanks to @leukaemiauk.bsky.social for the opportunity to contribute to this amazing session. So important to link patient experiences with our science and translational research

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St Catharine's College @stcatharines.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

💙 Between now & the UCAS application deadline on 15 Oct, it’s worth checking if you're eligible for the Finlay Family Bursary, which covers all tuition fees & a living allowance for a St Catharine’s student from Scotland for all 3 or 4 years of an undergraduate degree: shorturl.at/K0RuE 3/3

shorturl.at

The Finlay Family Bursary for Scottish undergraduates

We are proud to offer this bursary to encourage Scottish students to apply for, and take up, the offer of an undergraduate place at St Catharine’s – an opportunity which would normally involve greater financial cost than attending a Scottish university.

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Blood Journals Portfolio @bloodjournals.hematology.org · 30/07/2025

LS, an emergent form of acute leukemia relapse after antigen-targeted therapy, primarily in B-ALL, has dismal outcomes. buff.ly/59xI6qv #hemesky

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

I feel a student granulomatous round of unknown aetiology coming on.

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Geula Hanin @geula.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

I’m looking for a Postdoc to join my new lab @pdncambridge.bsky.social on an MRC-funded project and explore maternal inter-organ communication with a focus on the mammary gland, using a novel mouse model. 📍 Tenure: 3 years ⏳ Deadline: 15 August 2025 Please RT 🙏 👉 www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/51984/

jobs.cam.ac.uk

Research Associate (Fixed Term) - Job Opportunities - University of Cambridge

Research Associate (Fixed Term) in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge.

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

No trains? No problem! Wacky races down to The City of London with these amazing @crukcamcentre.bsky.social entrepreneurial scientists just in time for the CRUK Innovation and Enterprise awards. Thank you @crhorizons.bsky.social 🥂🎉🙏

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Absolute honour to attend Marc Mansour’s @marcmansour.bsky.social inaugural lecture at ICH today. An inspiring clinician scientist and all round legend. #researchculture

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Fabulous news Geula. Congratulations!! 🥂

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

Really exciting to co-organise the 20 year graduation reunion for Oxford medical school last night. Wonderful to reunite with old friends and hear retired DoS Tim Lancaster speak powerfully about how caring is at the heart of good medicine 💊❤️

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Stefan Marciniak @profmarciniak.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Best night of the year ! Farewell dinner for the new doctors from @stcatharines.bsky.social Interviewed them 7 years ago. Watched them blossom for 6 years. Now they’re amazing!

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Thanks to the editorial team @natcomms.nature.com for including our recent paper in their Editors' Highlights in the field of Cancer Biology 🎉

eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com

Editors' Highlights | Nature Communications

Editors' Highlights

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Saloni @scientificdiscovery.dev · 09/06/2025

I wrote a new piece on how much progress has been made in treating childhood leukemia. The answer is: quite a lot! Before the 1970s, fewer than 10% of children diagnosed survived 5 years after diagnosis. Now most are cured and around 85% survive that long. ourworldindata.org/childhood-le...

Two charts present survival rates for childhood leukemia over time, specifically focusing on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

In the top panel, for ALL, a series of curved lines represent overall survival rates plotted against years since diagnosis. The lines show a marked increase in survival rates from the late 1960s, when only 14% of children survived more than five years post-diagnosis, to around 94% in the 2010s. Key intervals are labeled, with different colors indicating different periods of diagnosis, ranging from 1972-1975 to 2010-2015.

The bottom panel illustrates survival rates for AML, which are consistently lower overall compared to ALL. Like the top graph, it features several colored lines indicating specific periods. The highest point noted indicates a survival rate of 65%. The graph captures trends in survival as well, showing gradual improvement over time, from 1975-1977 up to 2011-2017.

Data sources for these visualizations are cited at the bottom: Mignon Loh et al. (2023) for ALL and Todd M Cooper et al. (2023) for AML, both from the Children's Oncology Group. The chart is published by Our World in Data, and licensed under Creative Commons by the author, Saloni Dattani.

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

What an inspiring evening hearing from patients, researchers and fundraisers at an Evening with Leukaemia UK. So much progress. So much to do @leukaemiauk.bsky.social

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Thanks to Chris Smith and the Naked Scientists for the invitation to discuss our work - fully clothed 🤓 www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/int...

thenakedscientists.com

Dual drug approach shows promise against childhood cancer

On the B-ALL...

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

And that’s a wrap. 20 supervisons in biochemistry and genetics for the Catz @stcatharines.bsky.social first year medics. Good luck in the exams!

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

12/12 Special thanks to the patient donors and samples from VIVO Biobank and of course Brian Huntly & group 🤗 #CSCI @crukcamcentre.bsky.social | Work in my group is largely funded by Cancer Research UK #CRUK, Leukaemia UK @leukaemiauk.bsky.social‬ and the European Hematology Association. 🙏🏻

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

11/12 Lots of thanks for help with this multidisciplinary project, including to stellar PhD Alicia Garcia-Gimenez and RA Jon Ditcham for all their hard work | to amazing collaborators @koulman.bsky.social @mitoredox.bsky.social @marcmansour.bsky.social

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

10/12 Excitingly, the CREBBP inhibitor Inobrodib has already been tested in combination with Venetoclax in AML, confirming safety. We therefore think this could be a novel, safe, oral approach that could complement current chemo- and immunotherapies, improving outcomes and reducing toxicity.

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

9/12 The results almost perfectly replicated the findings in our genetic model, confirming marked sensitisation or synergy between CREBBP and BCL2 inhibitors in cell line and PDX models in vitro and in vivo.

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

8/12 Only 20% of patient have a CREBBP mutation at relapse, yet this is a very strong mechanism. We therefore tested whether pharmacological inhibitors of CREBBP can sensitise B-ALL to Venetoclax, irrespective of genetic subtype.

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

7/12 Interestingly, these changes can also be seen in patients – TARGET RNAseq data showed that low expression of CREBBP strongly correlates with dysregulation of ether-linked lipid pathways and up-regulation of redox scavengers.

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

6/12 Transcriptional, proteomic and lipidomic analysis of our cell line models showed up-regulation of redox-protective pathways, alongside changes in lipids, including low levels of peroxisomal/ER ether-linked lipids, and high levels of ferroptosis-susceptible membrane PUFAs.

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

5/12 The known mechanism of BCL2 inhibitors is to induce apoptotic programmed cell death, but at low dose in our sensitive cell lines, the predominant form of cell death turned out to be ferroptosis. Why…?

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

4/12 Targeted drug screening on these lines showed that CREBBP mutations potently sensitised the B-ALL cell lines to the BCL2 inhibitor Venetoclax, with up to a 1000x change in lethal dose.

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

3/12 We used CIRPSR to genetically-engineer B-ALL cell lines that only differed in the presence or absence of various CREBBP mutations. The result: CREBBP loss reduced gene transcription, and phenotypically resulted in higher levels of metabolism and a paradoxical *slowing* of cell cycle.

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Simon Richardson @simonrichardson.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

2/12 CREBBP mutations are associated with high-risk and chemoresistance in B-ALL, and are enriched at relapse. We wanted to understand what CREBBP is doing in B-ALL and identify novel drugs to treat these high-risk patients.

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