Lila Allou
@lilaallou.bsky.social
Research Group Leader @MRC_LMS @imperialcollege
Reposted by Lila Allou
Congratulations Matthias Merkenschlager, lead PI Daniel Panne @uniofleicester.bsky.social & Benjamin Rowland @nkinl.bsky.social on their Wellcome Discovery Award!
They'll work across scales from the atomic to the organismal to learn how cohesin organises genomic processes central to human disease.
They'll work across scales from the atomic to the organismal to learn how cohesin organises genomic processes central to human disease.
Professor Matthias Merkenschlager and collaborators receive Wellcome Discovery Award
Professor Matthias Merkenschlager, Head of the Lymphocyte Development Group at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS), has been awarded a Wellcome Discovery Award as co-Principal Investigator wi...
lms.mrc.ac.uk
February 5, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Congratulations Matthias Merkenschlager, lead PI Daniel Panne @uniofleicester.bsky.social & Benjamin Rowland @nkinl.bsky.social on their Wellcome Discovery Award!
They'll work across scales from the atomic to the organismal to learn how cohesin organises genomic processes central to human disease.
They'll work across scales from the atomic to the organismal to learn how cohesin organises genomic processes central to human disease.
Reposted by Lila Allou
We wrote a protocol article detailing induction of dormancy in stem cells, embryos, and blastoids. We hope that it is useful to the community. As usual fun to work with @nicolasrivron.bsky.social, Heidar and Dhanur.
January 26, 2026 at 6:55 PM
We wrote a protocol article detailing induction of dormancy in stem cells, embryos, and blastoids. We hope that it is useful to the community. As usual fun to work with @nicolasrivron.bsky.social, Heidar and Dhanur.
Reposted by Lila Allou
Our latest story is now on bioRxiv. We present PETRA, a new method for deciphering how sequence variants impact gene regulation at scale.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This work was led by Magdalena Armas Reyes, a @crick.ac.uk PhD student until very recently. Congrats, Dr. Armas!
🧵 1/9
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This work was led by Magdalena Armas Reyes, a @crick.ac.uk PhD student until very recently. Congrats, Dr. Armas!
🧵 1/9
www.biorxiv.org
January 24, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Our latest story is now on bioRxiv. We present PETRA, a new method for deciphering how sequence variants impact gene regulation at scale.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This work was led by Magdalena Armas Reyes, a @crick.ac.uk PhD student until very recently. Congrats, Dr. Armas!
🧵 1/9
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This work was led by Magdalena Armas Reyes, a @crick.ac.uk PhD student until very recently. Congrats, Dr. Armas!
🧵 1/9
Reposted by Lila Allou
We are also recruiting a Postdoc in cell/molecular biology!
3yr, fully funded by @cancerresearchuk.org more details here: news.cancerresearchuk.org/2025/11/27/s...
Apply here: www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
3yr, fully funded by @cancerresearchuk.org more details here: news.cancerresearchuk.org/2025/11/27/s...
Apply here: www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
January 23, 2026 at 4:23 PM
We are also recruiting a Postdoc in cell/molecular biology!
3yr, fully funded by @cancerresearchuk.org more details here: news.cancerresearchuk.org/2025/11/27/s...
Apply here: www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
3yr, fully funded by @cancerresearchuk.org more details here: news.cancerresearchuk.org/2025/11/27/s...
Apply here: www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
Reposted by Lila Allou
We are recruiting a Postdoc in computational biology, together with @mariasecrier.bsky.social
4yr, fully funded by @cancerresearchuk.org, ideal for Postdocs wanting to develop their independence
Applications open now: www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
4yr, fully funded by @cancerresearchuk.org, ideal for Postdocs wanting to develop their independence
Applications open now: www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
Description
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities ment...
www.imperial.ac.uk
January 21, 2026 at 12:58 PM
We are recruiting a Postdoc in computational biology, together with @mariasecrier.bsky.social
4yr, fully funded by @cancerresearchuk.org, ideal for Postdocs wanting to develop their independence
Applications open now: www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
4yr, fully funded by @cancerresearchuk.org, ideal for Postdocs wanting to develop their independence
Applications open now: www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
Reposted by Lila Allou
🧬 We’re #Hiring a #Bioinformatician/ Computational Biologist!
#Single-cell genomics, #Epigenomics & #3Dgenome biology in #Zebrafish #DevBio 🐟
📍 @cabd-upo-csic.bsky.social, CABD, Seville (Spain)
🕒 Full-time, 3-year position (start March 2026)
📅 Apply by Feb 15, 2026
👉 drive.google.com/file/d/1M8rp...
#Single-cell genomics, #Epigenomics & #3Dgenome biology in #Zebrafish #DevBio 🐟
📍 @cabd-upo-csic.bsky.social, CABD, Seville (Spain)
🕒 Full-time, 3-year position (start March 2026)
📅 Apply by Feb 15, 2026
👉 drive.google.com/file/d/1M8rp...
Job offer 2026.pdf
drive.google.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:57 PM
🧬 We’re #Hiring a #Bioinformatician/ Computational Biologist!
#Single-cell genomics, #Epigenomics & #3Dgenome biology in #Zebrafish #DevBio 🐟
📍 @cabd-upo-csic.bsky.social, CABD, Seville (Spain)
🕒 Full-time, 3-year position (start March 2026)
📅 Apply by Feb 15, 2026
👉 drive.google.com/file/d/1M8rp...
#Single-cell genomics, #Epigenomics & #3Dgenome biology in #Zebrafish #DevBio 🐟
📍 @cabd-upo-csic.bsky.social, CABD, Seville (Spain)
🕒 Full-time, 3-year position (start March 2026)
📅 Apply by Feb 15, 2026
👉 drive.google.com/file/d/1M8rp...
Reposted by Lila Allou
Our work on #RegulatoryTrajectories is out today in Nat. Comms: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Led by @raquelrouco.bsky.social, this study establishes a new framework to study how enhancer landscapes act sequentially at developmental loci and are silenced to shape gene expression patterns. (1/n)
Led by @raquelrouco.bsky.social, this study establishes a new framework to study how enhancer landscapes act sequentially at developmental loci and are silenced to shape gene expression patterns. (1/n)
Client Challenge
www.nature.com
January 12, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Our work on #RegulatoryTrajectories is out today in Nat. Comms: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Led by @raquelrouco.bsky.social, this study establishes a new framework to study how enhancer landscapes act sequentially at developmental loci and are silenced to shape gene expression patterns. (1/n)
Led by @raquelrouco.bsky.social, this study establishes a new framework to study how enhancer landscapes act sequentially at developmental loci and are silenced to shape gene expression patterns. (1/n)
Reposted by Lila Allou
Don't forget to register for our upcoming Spring Meeting: 'Molecules to Morphogenesis'
Get your abstracts submitted by the 16th of January!
bsdb.org/meetings
Get your abstracts submitted by the 16th of January!
bsdb.org/meetings
January 9, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Don't forget to register for our upcoming Spring Meeting: 'Molecules to Morphogenesis'
Get your abstracts submitted by the 16th of January!
bsdb.org/meetings
Get your abstracts submitted by the 16th of January!
bsdb.org/meetings
Reposted by Lila Allou
We are hiring!
Looking for curious and motivated new colleagues to join my lab at the Karolinska Institute @ki.se.
If you are interested in studying cell identity and pancreas biology using human organoids, (spatial)omics genome and bioengineering please reach out!
#hiring #sciencejob #STEMJobs
Looking for curious and motivated new colleagues to join my lab at the Karolinska Institute @ki.se.
If you are interested in studying cell identity and pancreas biology using human organoids, (spatial)omics genome and bioengineering please reach out!
#hiring #sciencejob #STEMJobs
January 3, 2026 at 10:49 PM
We are hiring!
Looking for curious and motivated new colleagues to join my lab at the Karolinska Institute @ki.se.
If you are interested in studying cell identity and pancreas biology using human organoids, (spatial)omics genome and bioengineering please reach out!
#hiring #sciencejob #STEMJobs
Looking for curious and motivated new colleagues to join my lab at the Karolinska Institute @ki.se.
If you are interested in studying cell identity and pancreas biology using human organoids, (spatial)omics genome and bioengineering please reach out!
#hiring #sciencejob #STEMJobs
Reposted by Lila Allou
Looking to start your lab in generative biology / AI?
Come join us at the @sangerinstitute.bsky.social
Sanger is core-funded so you can generate data at scale to train the next generation of models and understanding. Design/Engineering/Chemistry/Proteins/Pathways!
pls RT
tinyurl.com/GenGenFaculty
Come join us at the @sangerinstitute.bsky.social
Sanger is core-funded so you can generate data at scale to train the next generation of models and understanding. Design/Engineering/Chemistry/Proteins/Pathways!
pls RT
tinyurl.com/GenGenFaculty
Group Leader - Generative Biology and AI
Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenge...
tinyurl.com
January 1, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Looking to start your lab in generative biology / AI?
Come join us at the @sangerinstitute.bsky.social
Sanger is core-funded so you can generate data at scale to train the next generation of models and understanding. Design/Engineering/Chemistry/Proteins/Pathways!
pls RT
tinyurl.com/GenGenFaculty
Come join us at the @sangerinstitute.bsky.social
Sanger is core-funded so you can generate data at scale to train the next generation of models and understanding. Design/Engineering/Chemistry/Proteins/Pathways!
pls RT
tinyurl.com/GenGenFaculty
Reposted by Lila Allou
Activator-promoter compatibility in mammals - Hcfc1 is a key and intrinsically CGI-promoter-specific co-activator that cannot activate non-CGI promoters. Lead by @nemcko.bsky.social & Kevin Sabath in collab. with @plaschkalab.bsky.social @impvienna.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... (1/2)
Activator-promoter compatibility in mammals: a CpG-Island-specific co-activator directly bridges transcription factors to TFIID
Transcription from CpG island (CGI) promoters controls the expression of two-thirds of mammalian genes, yet despite their prevalence, it remains unknown whether CGI-specific co-activators with intrins...
www.biorxiv.org
December 30, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Activator-promoter compatibility in mammals - Hcfc1 is a key and intrinsically CGI-promoter-specific co-activator that cannot activate non-CGI promoters. Lead by @nemcko.bsky.social & Kevin Sabath in collab. with @plaschkalab.bsky.social @impvienna.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... (1/2)
Reposted by Lila Allou
Helping this mood is our latest now out in its final form! @irfankathiriya.bsky.social leading the teams with me. Thanks to the editors and reviewers (incl. @wythelab.bsky.social)for a pleasant and productive journey. More to come when the full issue is out. www.nature.com/articles/s44...
A disrupted compartment boundary underlies abnormal cardiac patterning and congenital heart defects - Nature Cardiovascular Research
Kathiriya et al. identify a cardiac progenitor lineage with expression of Tbx5 and anterior heart field-specific expression of Mef2c that bisects the intraventricular septum during development and sho...
www.nature.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Helping this mood is our latest now out in its final form! @irfankathiriya.bsky.social leading the teams with me. Thanks to the editors and reviewers (incl. @wythelab.bsky.social)for a pleasant and productive journey. More to come when the full issue is out. www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Reposted by Lila Allou
Ancient #viral #DNA shaped early #embryonic development ...
| #virus | #TransposableElements | #genome | #infection | By @mrc-lms.bsky.social via @sciencex.bsky.social
| #virus | #TransposableElements | #genome | #infection | By @mrc-lms.bsky.social via @sciencex.bsky.social
How ancient viral DNA shapes early embryonic development
A new study from the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) in London, UK reveals how ancient viral DNA once written off as "junk" plays a crucial role in the earliest moments of life. The…
phys.org
December 22, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Ancient #viral #DNA shaped early #embryonic development ...
| #virus | #TransposableElements | #genome | #infection | By @mrc-lms.bsky.social via @sciencex.bsky.social
| #virus | #TransposableElements | #genome | #infection | By @mrc-lms.bsky.social via @sciencex.bsky.social
Reposted by Lila Allou
Our preprint "Predictive design of tissue-specific mammalian enhancers that function in vivo in the mouse embryo" is on bioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... . Amazing collaboration by @shenzhichen1999.bsky.social, Vincent Loubiere (@impvienna.bsky.social,@viennabiocenter.bsky.social),... (1/2)
Predictive design of tissue-specific mammalian enhancers that function in vivo in the mouse embryo
Enhancers control tissue-specific gene expression across metazoans. Although deep learning has enabled enhancer prediction and design in mammalian cell lines and invertebrate systems, it remains uncle...
www.biorxiv.org
December 24, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Our preprint "Predictive design of tissue-specific mammalian enhancers that function in vivo in the mouse embryo" is on bioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... . Amazing collaboration by @shenzhichen1999.bsky.social, Vincent Loubiere (@impvienna.bsky.social,@viennabiocenter.bsky.social),... (1/2)
Reposted by Lila Allou
🚨Our story is published! Same bones but + dissection of MERVL’s role integrating signals from #ZGA factors, & + about pathological DUX4 activation of NOXA #TEsky. Thanks to all revs for their helpful comments improving the ms. Even #rev3 - until they ghosted us 😜
www.science.org/doi/epdf/10....
www.science.org/doi/epdf/10....
December 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
🚨Our story is published! Same bones but + dissection of MERVL’s role integrating signals from #ZGA factors, & + about pathological DUX4 activation of NOXA #TEsky. Thanks to all revs for their helpful comments improving the ms. Even #rev3 - until they ghosted us 😜
www.science.org/doi/epdf/10....
www.science.org/doi/epdf/10....
Reposted by Lila Allou
We are recruiting a PhD student to tackle a fundamental question in cancer biology: how DNA replication fails at centromeres and drives chromosomal instability (CIN) — a major driver of tumour evolution and therapy resistance.
tiny.cc/vilw001
#PhD #CancerResearch #GenomeStability #Chromatin
tiny.cc/vilw001
#PhD #CancerResearch #GenomeStability #Chromatin
PhD Studentship: Understanding How Centromere Replication Fails in Cancer Imperial College London & The Institute of Cancer Research (CRUK Convergence Science Centre) at Institute of Cancer Research o...
PhD Project - PhD Studentship: Understanding How Centromere Replication Fails in Cancer Imperial College London & The Institute of Cancer Research (CRUK Convergence Science Centre) at Institute of...
www.findaphd.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:46 PM
We are recruiting a PhD student to tackle a fundamental question in cancer biology: how DNA replication fails at centromeres and drives chromosomal instability (CIN) — a major driver of tumour evolution and therapy resistance.
tiny.cc/vilw001
#PhD #CancerResearch #GenomeStability #Chromatin
tiny.cc/vilw001
#PhD #CancerResearch #GenomeStability #Chromatin
Reposted by Lila Allou
Lovely little pre-Christmas present to see this out @natcellbio.nature.com! Some 🔥 new results in here since the biorvix incl (1) a new RARE-GFP reporter ✳️🙌, (2) additional NMP quantification 🔢, (3) no neural tube patterning on RA inhibition 🙅 etc. Enjoy! 😍 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Modelling co-development between the somites and neural tube in human trunk-like structures - Nature Cell Biology
Makwana, Tilley et al. generate human stem cell-based trunk-like structures approximating Carnegie stage 13–14 of development. They use them to model and study the development of the thoracic and lumbar trunk.
www.nature.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Lovely little pre-Christmas present to see this out @natcellbio.nature.com! Some 🔥 new results in here since the biorvix incl (1) a new RARE-GFP reporter ✳️🙌, (2) additional NMP quantification 🔢, (3) no neural tube patterning on RA inhibition 🙅 etc. Enjoy! 😍 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Lila Allou
New lab preprint!
We find that Wee1 phosphorylates Cdh1(FZR1) and suppresses APC/C(Cdh1) activity to promote S-phase entry
A fantastic team effort from the combined forces of @lavuillemenot.bsky.social, Lucas Morales, Calin-Mihai Dragoi & Beth Pennycook
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
We find that Wee1 phosphorylates Cdh1(FZR1) and suppresses APC/C(Cdh1) activity to promote S-phase entry
A fantastic team effort from the combined forces of @lavuillemenot.bsky.social, Lucas Morales, Calin-Mihai Dragoi & Beth Pennycook
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Wee1 opposes APC/C(Cdh1) activity to promote S-phase entry
Wee1 phosphorylates and inhibits CDK activity to inhibit mitotic entry and establish a G2 DNA damage checkpoint. Consequently, Wee1 inhibitors are in clinical trials, developed to be synthetically let...
www.biorxiv.org
December 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM
New lab preprint!
We find that Wee1 phosphorylates Cdh1(FZR1) and suppresses APC/C(Cdh1) activity to promote S-phase entry
A fantastic team effort from the combined forces of @lavuillemenot.bsky.social, Lucas Morales, Calin-Mihai Dragoi & Beth Pennycook
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
We find that Wee1 phosphorylates Cdh1(FZR1) and suppresses APC/C(Cdh1) activity to promote S-phase entry
A fantastic team effort from the combined forces of @lavuillemenot.bsky.social, Lucas Morales, Calin-Mihai Dragoi & Beth Pennycook
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Reposted by Lila Allou
Applications are open for @dev-journal.bsky.social 2026 Pathway to Independence (PI) programme, supporting postdocs applying for group leader positions:
Mentoring
Profile raising
Leadership training
Network building
Spread the word...
www.biologists.com/grants/devel...
Mentoring
Profile raising
Leadership training
Network building
Spread the word...
www.biologists.com/grants/devel...
Development's Pathway to Independence Programme
Our grants support and encourage the sharing of knowledge throughout the community by facilitating international collaboration, event attendance and the organisation of scientific meetings, conference...
www.biologists.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Applications are open for @dev-journal.bsky.social 2026 Pathway to Independence (PI) programme, supporting postdocs applying for group leader positions:
Mentoring
Profile raising
Leadership training
Network building
Spread the word...
www.biologists.com/grants/devel...
Mentoring
Profile raising
Leadership training
Network building
Spread the word...
www.biologists.com/grants/devel...
Reposted by Lila Allou
Congratulations to LMS group head @mpercharde.bsky.social
who has been selected as one of this year’s EMBO Young Investigators! 🌟
The prestigious EMBO Young Investigator Programme supports exceptionally talented life scientists who represent innovation and excellence in their fields.
@embo.org
who has been selected as one of this year’s EMBO Young Investigators! 🌟
The prestigious EMBO Young Investigator Programme supports exceptionally talented life scientists who represent innovation and excellence in their fields.
@embo.org
LMS group head Michelle Percharde joins EMBO Young Investigator Programme
We’re delighted to announce that Michelle Percharde, Head of the Chromatin & Development Group at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) has been selected as one of this year’s EMBO Young Invest...
lms.mrc.ac.uk
December 2, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Congratulations to LMS group head @mpercharde.bsky.social
who has been selected as one of this year’s EMBO Young Investigators! 🌟
The prestigious EMBO Young Investigator Programme supports exceptionally talented life scientists who represent innovation and excellence in their fields.
@embo.org
who has been selected as one of this year’s EMBO Young Investigators! 🌟
The prestigious EMBO Young Investigator Programme supports exceptionally talented life scientists who represent innovation and excellence in their fields.
@embo.org
Reposted by Lila Allou
Want to analyze the role of endogenous retroviruses in early human development or investigate their regulation in pluripotency and early development for your PhD?
Join the lab of @fueyoraquel.bsky.social via the IMPRS-BAC #gradschool!
👉 www.molgen.mpg.de/5094682/Fuey...
Join the lab of @fueyoraquel.bsky.social via the IMPRS-BAC #gradschool!
👉 www.molgen.mpg.de/5094682/Fuey...
November 27, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Want to analyze the role of endogenous retroviruses in early human development or investigate their regulation in pluripotency and early development for your PhD?
Join the lab of @fueyoraquel.bsky.social via the IMPRS-BAC #gradschool!
👉 www.molgen.mpg.de/5094682/Fuey...
Join the lab of @fueyoraquel.bsky.social via the IMPRS-BAC #gradschool!
👉 www.molgen.mpg.de/5094682/Fuey...
Reposted by Lila Allou
Join @mpercharde.bsky.social Lab at the MRC LMS! We have an 18mo postdoc position to cover a couple of projects (maternity leave and paper revisions). The projects are focussed on chromatin in early mouse embryos and metabolism in mouse embryonic stem cells and pluripotency.
November 27, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Join @mpercharde.bsky.social Lab at the MRC LMS! We have an 18mo postdoc position to cover a couple of projects (maternity leave and paper revisions). The projects are focussed on chromatin in early mouse embryos and metabolism in mouse embryonic stem cells and pluripotency.
Reposted by Lila Allou
🚨Post open in our lab! Come work on some cool themes involving metabolism, chromatin, early development 🤓. Pls RT
Join @mpercharde.bsky.social Lab at the MRC LMS! We have an 18mo postdoc position to cover a couple of projects (maternity leave and paper revisions). The projects are focussed on chromatin in early mouse embryos and metabolism in mouse embryonic stem cells and pluripotency.
November 27, 2025 at 2:26 PM
🚨Post open in our lab! Come work on some cool themes involving metabolism, chromatin, early development 🤓. Pls RT
Reposted by Lila Allou
Register now for the EMBO Workshop "Limb development and regeneration: Quantitative, ecological, and diversification studies" in #Tokyo, Japan, 23–27 March 2026.
Abstract submission/Registration deadline:
12/15 December 2025
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-limb-dev
#EMBOLimbDev #EMBOevents 🧪
Abstract submission/Registration deadline:
12/15 December 2025
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-limb-dev
#EMBOLimbDev #EMBOevents 🧪
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Register now for the EMBO Workshop "Limb development and regeneration: Quantitative, ecological, and diversification studies" in #Tokyo, Japan, 23–27 March 2026.
Abstract submission/Registration deadline:
12/15 December 2025
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-limb-dev
#EMBOLimbDev #EMBOevents 🧪
Abstract submission/Registration deadline:
12/15 December 2025
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-limb-dev
#EMBOLimbDev #EMBOevents 🧪
Reposted by Lila Allou
📣 We’re hiring 6 new Team Science postdocs!
Our Team Science approach brings together interdisciplinary researchers to tackle questions no single field can solve alone.
Find out more and download our brochure below
Our Team Science approach brings together interdisciplinary researchers to tackle questions no single field can solve alone.
Find out more and download our brochure below
MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientists x 6 - MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences
Team Science Project
lms.mrc.ac.uk
November 20, 2025 at 1:43 PM
📣 We’re hiring 6 new Team Science postdocs!
Our Team Science approach brings together interdisciplinary researchers to tackle questions no single field can solve alone.
Find out more and download our brochure below
Our Team Science approach brings together interdisciplinary researchers to tackle questions no single field can solve alone.
Find out more and download our brochure below