Professor Michael Schrader is running a weekly Help Desk for members of the "Dynamic Cellular Systems & Applied Technologies" Research Theme within the University of Exeter Biosciences department. Michael will be available in the LSI Weston Exchange Hub every Friday, 13:00-13:30, to discuss help/support you may seek or any other points you may want to discuss. All Theme members (e.g. ECRs, PGRs, academics, technical/professional staff) are welcome.
The Schrader lab would like to wish everyone a very merry festive season, and a Happy New Year! Looking forward to an exciting and productive 2024!
Natasha Hunt, chair of the Zellweger UK Charity, visited the University of Exeter with husband Matt and son Harvey to talk about the ZUK charity she co-founded, and day-to-day life with her son Cameron, who was one of the oldest Zellweger patients in the UK. Zellweger syndrome disorders are severe peroxisome biogenesis disorders with very limited treatment options. As in previous years, Natasha gave a fascinating and emotional talk to undergraduate students as part of a patient-centred session within module BIO3086 on Cell Biology of Disease, which was very much appreciated by both the students and the Schrader research team. Thank you again Tash!
A new study led by Dr Reza Maroofian, Dr Rauan Kaiyrzhanov and Professor Henry Houlden from UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, and involving the Schrader research team, has identified the molecular defects underlying a complex developmental brain condition in children.
The researchers investigated the role of a specific regulatory protein in the brain known as acyl-CoA-binding domain-containing protein 6, or ACBD6. Up until now, the implication of defects in this protein have been unknown. This study, published in Brain journal, uncovered the role of malfunctioning ACBD6 in an ultra-rare condition in children, known as Autosomal Recessive ACBD6-related disorder. This is characterised by delays in the development of cognitive and motor skills and is associated with dystonia and parkinsonism. The Schrader research team recently discovered that malfunction of ACBD4 and ACBD5, members of the same protein family as ACBD6, can also cause neurological abnormalities. However, we could demonstrate that the cellular localisation and molecular mechanism of ACBD6 is different from ACBD5 malfunction. More information can be found in the University of Exeter press release here. The full journal article in Brain can be found here.
Today, the Schrader lab celebrated Dr Rechal Kumar successfully defending her PhD thesis. We can't wait to see what Rechal goes on to do next, but first a well deserved holiday!
The Schrader lab took part in the inaugural Away Day to launch the new "Dynamic Cellular Systems and Applied Technologies" research theme within the University of Exeter Biosciences department. Activities began with a quick fire 'getting to know you' session, followed by presentations from the research facilities. After lunch, there was a team bonding activity where attendees were asked to discuss how they would use their expertise to investigate a gene of interest, followed by group discussions to devise an Action Plan based on the expectations and needs of the community. The Schrader lab would like to thank everyone involved for making the away day so memorable, especially the 9 members of the organizing committee, which included current and former Schrader lab members Michael Schrader, Ruth Carmichael and Joe Costello. Michael Schrader attended and presented a poster at the Journal of Cell Science meeting 'Imaging Cell Dynamics' which took place in the Pestana Palace Hotel, Lisbon, Portugal from the 14-17th May 2023. This meeting represented a unique opportunity to bring together many different experts working at the interface between cell biology and imaging who use advanced light and electron microscopy approaches, as well as leading developers of imaging analysis approaches.
The recent Schrader lab paper "PEX11β and FIS1 cooperate in peroxisome division independently of mitochondrial fission factor" was shortlisted for the Journal of Cell Science Prize 2022, having been selected as one of the top 16 papers published in the journal that year. Congratulations to everyone involved! |
Michael Schrader
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