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cgatist.bsky.social
Chris Ponting
@cgatist.bsky.social
3.5K followers 270 following 62 posts
Disease genomics & molecular mechanisms; ME/cfs: http://decodeme.org.uk, SequenceME @ Edinburgh University. Views - my own. He/him.
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cgatist.bsky.social
Chris Ponting @cgatist.bsky.social · Oct 21
A personal viewpoint on #MECFS. This is focused not on #pwME rather on why we - society - forsake them. Please read ⬇️
theconversation.com/ignored-blam...
Ignored, blamed, and sometimes left to die – a leading expert in ME explains the origins of a modern medical ‘scandal’
The co-lead of the world’s largest ever genetic study into ME calls for a radical change in how society deals with the disease.
theconversation.com
cgatist.bsky.social
Welcome to the consequences of our burning of fossil fuels, our plane journeys, our submission to oil companies. Here are the consequences today, and they may well be lapping at your door, coming up through your floor, or your family’s/friends’ soon. Turn the tide.
www.facebook.com/reel/2089524...
1.2K views · 1.4K reactions | At 2am this morning my town flooded. It looks like the flood defence walls have either broken or been topped. The Monnow is rampant in the town. There a guy trapped in...
At 2am this morning my town flooded. It looks like the flood defence walls have either broken or been topped. The Monnow is rampant in the town. There a guy trapped in an ally opposite. This is...
www.facebook.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
scurry.bsky.social
Regretfully (for the sake of the authors and journal staff), I have this morning declined an invitation to review for a @royalsociety.org journal because of the Society’s continued refusal to stand up for its values in dealing with Elon Musk FRS.
Text of letter reads: “With apologies to the authors and to the staff at Royal Society Open Science who are blameless in all this, but I am not willing to devote time to review a Royal Society that continues to honour Elon Musk with its fellowship. Mr Musk stands in clear breach of the code of conduct which applies to all Fellows. He runs one of the most voluminous sources of misinformation on the planet (his social media platform X), to which he personally contributes without any regard for the Society's values of truth and evidence. Moreover, as head of DOGE he presided gleefully over the dismantling of USAID, an action hat has already lead to the deaths of an estimated 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. In the coming years millions more will die because of his actions. I am truly sickened by the Royal Society's failure to sand up for its values or indeed for umanity. Until I see a clear demonstration that it is prepared to enforce its code of conduct, I cannot see myself devoting time to reviewing for the Society's journals. Yours faithfully, Stephen Curry” P.S. Please feel free to forward this communication to the President of the Royal Society
November 14, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
aylwyn-scally.bsky.social
Come and join us here in Cambridge! Applications open for a new faculty position, for a researcher in computational and/or theoretical biology, based jointly in Genetics and Mathematics. Happy to answer questions about research, teaching and working here.

www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/faculty...
Faculty Position in Computational Biology
Applications are invited for an Assistant/ Associate Professorship in Computational Biology to commence on 1 April 2026 or shortly thereafter. This is a joint post between the Department of Applied
www.cam.ac.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:05 PM
cgatist.bsky.social
Thank you to the HCP who wrote to us about the real-world impact of our @decodemestudy.bsky.social study:
“I describe to all the patients I see with ME/CFS/FM this study as a key step in getting to new therapies whilst of course being realistic on expectations…I think even without treatment, knowing that what they have is a biological condition and not something ‘made up’ gives a lot of hope / relief. Similar to the paradigm shift as was seen with schizophrenia when everyone eventually realised it was a neurogenetic/neurodevelopmental condition.”
November 9, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
harmitmalik.bsky.social
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
cgatist.bsky.social
Interested in ME/CFS research?
Want to do a PhD with @aryback.bsky.social, @avakhamseh.bsky.social, @sjoerdvbeentjes.bsky.social & @cgatist.bsky.social?
Then apply for a *funded* Future Medicine PhD Fellowship.
See: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Please contact us to discuss before applying.
Personalised blood-based biomarkers for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) symptom severity at University of Edinburgh on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Personalised blood-based biomarkers for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) symptom severity at University of Edinburgh, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
ecowarriorss.bsky.social
Ration flying now
True impact of your flying several times higher than commonly used CO₂ calculators suggest
For example current calculations for first class from Singapore to Zurich on B777 plane, say it emits 5000 kg when in fact its 14,000 kg #climate
www.newscientist.com/article/2502...
Your flight emissions are way higher than carbon calculators suggest
Existing tools that work out the carbon footprint of flights greatly underestimate their warming impact, say the makers of a new calculator
www.newscientist.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
tomkindlon.bsky.social
In collaboration with WWTF (a big non-profit in Vienna dedicated to science), the WE&ME has created ME/CFS fellowships: 6-month research stays with funding of up to € 40,000.

www.wwtf.at/funding/prog...

Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update

#ChronicFatigueSyndrome #MEcfs #CFS #PwME
WE&ME Foundation In collaboration with WWTF (a big non-profit in Vienna dedicated to science), the WE&ME has created ME/CFS fellowships: 6-month research stays with funding of up to € 40,000. The call is aimed at young researchers in the ME/CFS field who would like to complete a six-month research stay at a research institution abroad. The deadline for applying is February 3 2026.
November 3, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
daltmann.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The complex path towards herpesvirus vaccines - Nature Microbiology
Herpesviruses cause a high disease burden, yet vaccines are lacking. Developing efficacious vaccines remains challenging and more research is needed to address this unmet public health priority.
www.nature.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
erictopol.bsky.social
We've just launched the first large, site-less (home, direct to participant) randomized trial for treatment of #LongCovid, testing tirzepatide (a GLP-1 drug) vs placebo. Please help spread the word
www.scripps.edu/news-and-eve...
Scripps Research scientists launch new digital clinical trial to test repurposed drug for long COVID symptom relief
www.scripps.edu
October 31, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
onehealthgenomics.bsky.social
New Publication:

Genome-Wide Aggregated Trans Effects Analysis for Circulating Proteins Indicates a Key Role of Immune Checkpoints in Type 1 Diabetes

@uoe-igc.bsky.social

diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/art...
Genome-Wide Aggregated Trans Effects Analysis for Circulating Proteins Indicates a Key Role of Immune Checkpoints in Type 1 Diabetes
The “omnigenic” hypothesis postulates that polygenic effects of common variants on typical complex traits coalesce via trans effects on the expression of a
diabetesjournals.org
October 31, 2025 at 3:52 PM
cgatist.bsky.social
Interested in ME/CFS research?
Want to do a PhD with @aryback.bsky.social, @avakhamseh.bsky.social, @sjoerdvbeentjes.bsky.social & @cgatist.bsky.social?
Then apply for a *funded* Future Medicine PhD Fellowship.
See: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Please contact us to discuss before applying.
Personalised blood-based biomarkers for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) symptom severity at University of Edinburgh on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Personalised blood-based biomarkers for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) symptom severity at University of Edinburgh, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
tomkindlon.bsky.social
Some info on #SequenceME, an exciting research project that wishes to use in a different way the samples collected for DecodeME

People can financially support such research here:
www.actionforme.org.uk/research-cam...

#MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #MEcfs #CFS #PwME
SequenceME: partnering for potential Together with Oxford Nanopore Technologies and the University of Edinburgh, we are seeking to secure funding for an exciting new study. Should funding be successful, the SequenceME study aims to build on the DecodeME project and will analyse the genetic code of up to 17,000 people with ME. It would seek to uncover the root causes of ME and to determine whether ME is one illness or an umbrella condition encapsulating multiple diseases, such as long Covid and other chronic conditions. The research team would use advanced whole genome sequencing technology to look at every location in the threebillion- letter genome, enabling the identification of rare genetic variants (small changes to DNA sequence) and structural variations. This detailed picture would help researchers advance the biological understanding of ME with more precision and lay the foundation for progress in diagnosis and treatment. By advancing understanding of this complex and debilitating illness, the study has the potential to deliver profound health, social, and economic benefits, from reducing the strain on healthcare systems to empowering patients with personalised treatments and plans. SequenceME would be the first genetics study in ME to use Oxford Nanopore’s new generation of nanopore-based technology. “DecodeME created the world’s largest ME/CFS study, and we are proud to take the next step with SequenceME,” says Dr Gordon Sanghera, CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies. “Using Oxford Nanopore’s any-length read sequencing technology, this project will uncover genetic insights that could transform patient care and open the door to personalised medicine for those living with ME.” “The SequenceME study will focus in its initial phase on severe and very severe cases of ME, ensuring that the people who live with its most devastating impacts are central to advancing understanding and driving meaningful change,” explains our CEO, Sonya Chowdhury. We will keep you upda…
October 26, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
🔊Announcing a new Physics/Astro PhD scholarship scheme in Edinburgh, for students from a Black heritage, inc mixed Black background. Please help me spread the word. The scholarship covers all tuition fees, living costs & research travel. #blackinSTEM 🔭👩‍🔬⚛️

ℹ️: www.ph.ed.ac.uk/studying/pos...
October 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
swastrosarah.bsky.social
it could be given doi
O'Dwyer and I were promised funding from NIHR by Lyn Romeo in 2022, but O’Dwyer was overloaded with getting promoted to a new post in Birmingham and finally pulled out at the last minute in March this year.
I am now actively looking for another academic to lead on this.
2/3
October 19, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
kacheston.bsky.social
The Big Survey is now live!

It has been such a privilege to get to work on this with such a wonderful, inspiring team at @actionforme.bsky.social, including our brilliant Patient and Public Involvement Group, made up of people with lived experience of ME and Long Covid.
actionforme.bsky.social Action for ME @actionforme.bsky.social · Oct 13
Our 2025 Big Survey is now open! 🎉

For more information, our FAQs, and to take part, head to our web page: www.actionforme.org.uk/research-campaigns/our-research-work/big-survey/

Thank you for supporting our research💙

🤝in collaboration with
@durhamimh.bsky.social @kacheston.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
science.org
The secret to the naked mole-rats’ extraordinarily long life may lie in subtle changes to just four amino acids, researchers report in Science. https://scim.ag/3IUquTb
A cGAS-mediated mechanism in naked mole-rats potentiates DNA repair and delays aging
Efficient DNA repair might make possible the longevity of naked mole-rats. However, whether they have distinctive mechanisms to optimize functions of DNA repair suppressors is unclear. We find that na...
scim.ag
October 15, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
marcveld.bsky.social
Varicella-zoster virus reactivation and the risk of dementia

Vaccination is more that protection against the pathogen-caused disease.

www.nature.com/artic...
1/6
Varicella-zoster virus reactivation and the risk of dementia
Nature Medicine - Large-scale longitudinal health records reveal consistent association of varicella-zoster virus reactivation with dementia.
www.nature.com
October 6, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
mecfsskeptic.bsky.social
1) We’ve just published our second instalment on the DecodeME results, this timing zooming in on the genes associated with ME/CFS.
October 13, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
drannecarpenter.bsky.social
15 years in the making, we confirmed that mitochondria - the powerhouse of the cell - have an unusual localization in patients who experience psychosis (including schizophrenia and bipolar disorders). You’ll never guess what kind of patient cells we used to make this discovery… 🧵
mitochondria from bipolar patients are closer to the nucleus in these images; control patients' are spread out further
October 10, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
ewanbirney.bsky.social
I am hiring! - looking for a Staff Scientist to co-run my research group with me. Staff Scientist is a senior professional scientist role at EMBL. Please forward to people you might know who could be interested! embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
Staff Scientist
About EMBL-EBI EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute is a data powerhouse, utilised on a global scale to advance scientific discovery through bioinformatics and solutions to some of the world’s mos...
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com
October 10, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
ewanbirney.bsky.social
A reminder that the PhD program for EMBL is open for winter recruitment round. If you want to understand life at a molecular level and have a quantitative science (you don't have to have done biology - we love our mathematicians/physcists/chemists!) apply www.embl.org/about/info/e...
Application – EMBL International PhD Programme
www.embl.org
October 9, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
sheencr.bsky.social
Early days for this test- interesting results and could be exciting but on a small group size and without other inflammatory conditions I would be cautious about saying it’s a test for ME yet
Scientists develop first ‘accurate blood test’ to detect chronic fatigue syndrome
Research could offer hope for ME patients – but some experts urge caution and say more studies needed
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 7:10 AM
cgatist.bsky.social
The research used to claim reliability of a ME/CFS blood test has important limitations, shown here.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Three possible confounders in a study proposing an ME/CFS blood test : sex/age, batch and inactivity/severity. Better designed studies by independent researchers are necessary.
October 8, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Reposted by Chris Ponting
profsimonfisher.bsky.social
Twenty-four years ago today, our paper “A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder” was published: www.nature.com/articles/350....
A personal thread about the ups & downs of the journey we took to get to that point....1/n
🗣️🧬🧪
Image shows the first two printed pages of the paper “A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder” by Cecilia Lai and colleagues, published in Nature in 2001 (volume 413, pages 519-523). The abstract reads as follows: Individuals affected with developmental disorders of speech and language have substantial difficulty acquiring expressive and/or receptive language in the absence of any profound sensory or neurological impairment and despite adequate intelligence and opportunity. Although studies of twins consistently indicate that a significant genetic component is involved, most families segregating speech and language deficits show complex patterns of inheritance, and a gene that predisposes individuals to such disorders has not been identified. We have studied a unique three-generation pedigree, KE, in which a severe speech and language disorder is transmitted as an autosomal-dominant monogenic trait. Our previous work mapped the locus responsible, SPCH1, to a 5.6-cM interval of region 7q31 on chromosome 7. We also identified an unrelated individual, CS, in whom speech and language impairment is associated with a chromosomal translocation involving the SPCH1 interval. Here we show that the gene FOXP2, which encodes a putative transcription factor containing a polyglutamine tract and a forkhead DNA-binding domain, is directly disrupted by the translocation breakpoint in CS. In addition, we identify a point mutation in affected members of the KE family that alters an invariant amino-acid residue in the forkhead domain. Our findings suggest that FOXP2 is involved in the developmental process that culminates in speech and language.
October 4, 2025 at 1:34 PM