Mikhail Spivakov
@mspivakov.bsky.social
Genomics biologist. Group leader at MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Hon. Senior Lecturer (Associate Prof.) at Imperial College London.
Opinions / view my own.
https://functionalgenecontrol.group
Opinions / view my own.
https://functionalgenecontrol.group
Pinned
Mikhail Spivakov
@mspivakov.bsky.social
· Jan 27
Genetic coupling of enhancer activity and connectivity in gene expression control - Nature Communications
Here, the authors study the effects of expression quantitative trait loci on enhancer activity and promoter contacts in primary monocytes isolated from male individuals, suggesting an inherent genetic...
www.nature.com
Our new paper is finally out, showing that the same enhancer sequences - and likely the same transcription factors recruited to them - affect the activity of distal enhancers and their looping over to target gene promoters.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
It is highly upsetting to see Labour - yet again - aiming for the lowest denominator. This is both unethical and ineffective.
I came to this country as a child refugee. No English, no certainty, no idea what my life could become. Britain gave me refuge.
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
It is highly upsetting to see Labour - yet again - aiming for the lowest denominator. This is both unethical and ineffective.
As scientists, we wield an unusual amount of power over our peers. There's a huge amount of labour, dedication and creativity behind most papers and grant proposals. It's possible - and important - to both promote scientific rigour and advocate for the people producing the work.
November 15, 2025 at 12:09 PM
As scientists, we wield an unusual amount of power over our peers. There's a huge amount of labour, dedication and creativity behind most papers and grant proposals. It's possible - and important - to both promote scientific rigour and advocate for the people producing the work.
I elaborated on my proposal for a "grants commons" in an opinion piece for Times Higher Education.
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/comm...
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/comm...
A common grant application database would cut the waste of resubmission
Financial restrictions oblige funders to reject vast numbers of sound proposals. Why not retain them for other funders to consider, asks Mikhail Spivakov
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:42 PM
I elaborated on my proposal for a "grants commons" in an opinion piece for Times Higher Education.
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/comm...
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/comm...
Totally agree and had been proposing this for a while. Time to join forces and make this happen?
The idea is to decouple the journals from the review step. They’ll still exist, but they’ll need to add other value. They’ll highlight, curate, add new perspectives. If they do a good job they can still be prestigious (like Scientific American or Wired) (1.2) 👇
November 8, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Totally agree and had been proposing this for a while. Time to join forces and make this happen?
Reposted by Mikhail Spivakov
The costs of the UK’s Global Talent Visa looks a trifle high in comparison to competitor countries - largely through the Immigration Health Surcharge (which critics say is a form of double taxation as they contribute to the NHS through normal tax on their earnings)
October 21, 2025 at 5:57 AM
The costs of the UK’s Global Talent Visa looks a trifle high in comparison to competitor countries - largely through the Immigration Health Surcharge (which critics say is a form of double taxation as they contribute to the NHS through normal tax on their earnings)
From a sample of over 10 papers (on most of which I'm either not an author or not a senior author), over a year-long revisions in our field are becoming common. Before we accept this as the norm, I suggest we consider the consequences & inequalities this creates, even in the era of preprints.
October 16, 2025 at 8:48 AM
From a sample of over 10 papers (on most of which I'm either not an author or not a senior author), over a year-long revisions in our field are becoming common. Before we accept this as the norm, I suggest we consider the consequences & inequalities this creates, even in the era of preprints.
The PhD opportunities in our group and in many others at @mrc-lms.bsky.social are now open!
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work-and-stu...
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work-and-stu...
October 10, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The PhD opportunities in our group and in many others at @mrc-lms.bsky.social are now open!
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work-and-stu...
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work-and-stu...
A quick heads-up that we will have two PhD positions available to start in October 2026. One as part of MRC LMS PhD programme, and one as a transdisciplinary studentship with @srinjan.bsky.social and Thomas Ouldridge at Imperial.
October 9, 2025 at 7:17 AM
A quick heads-up that we will have two PhD positions available to start in October 2026. One as part of MRC LMS PhD programme, and one as a transdisciplinary studentship with @srinjan.bsky.social and Thomas Ouldridge at Imperial.
Many enhancers that drive tissue-specific gene expression are already connected to gene promoters in human pluripotent cells.
In a new preprint, we share some clues about when, how, and why this happens!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
In a new preprint, we share some clues about when, how, and why this happens!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Poising and connectivity of emergent human developmental enhancers in the transition from naive to primed pluripotency
In primed human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) resembling post-implantation epiblast, numerous lineage-specific enhancers assume the poised chromatin state, co-marked by H3K4me1 and Polycomb-associate...
www.biorxiv.org
October 3, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Many enhancers that drive tissue-specific gene expression are already connected to gene promoters in human pluripotent cells.
In a new preprint, we share some clues about when, how, and why this happens!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
In a new preprint, we share some clues about when, how, and why this happens!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Translational research is digging for gold. Basic research is learning where and what to dig. The more funding is diverted to translation, the more we deplete the research ecosystem, driving the supplies of "gold" - immediately translatable findings and innovations - to unsustainably low levels.
July 19, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Translational research is digging for gold. Basic research is learning where and what to dig. The more funding is diverted to translation, the more we deplete the research ecosystem, driving the supplies of "gold" - immediately translatable findings and innovations - to unsustainably low levels.
My colleagues at @mrc-lms.bsky.social are hiring (five postdoc positions in total!).
Interested in developmental epigenetics? So are we! Apply now to join us for your postdoc!
Multiple positions across multiple groups @mrc-lms.bsky.social
Projects spanning germline demethylation, gene regulation, genome architecture in development & disease 👇👇
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work/vacanci...
Multiple positions across multiple groups @mrc-lms.bsky.social
Projects spanning germline demethylation, gene regulation, genome architecture in development & disease 👇👇
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work/vacanci...
MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientists x 5 - MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences
Applications are now open for up to five postdoctoral positions in the area of developmental epigenetics.
lms.mrc.ac.uk
July 15, 2025 at 7:02 AM
My colleagues at @mrc-lms.bsky.social are hiring (five postdoc positions in total!).
Congratulations to Will Scott and the team from @mrc-lms.bsky.social on this exciting study!
A new study, published today in Nature, reveals the hidden benefits of weight loss on fat tissue.
A better understanding of how weight loss leads to health improvements at a molecular level could help inform the development of therapies for diseases such as type 2 diabetes in the future.
A better understanding of how weight loss leads to health improvements at a molecular level could help inform the development of therapies for diseases such as type 2 diabetes in the future.
Study reveals the hidden benefits of weight loss on fat tissue
Scientists from the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) and Imperial College London have produced the first detailed characterisation of the changes that weight loss causes in human fat tissue by...
lms.mrc.ac.uk
July 10, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Congratulations to Will Scott and the team from @mrc-lms.bsky.social on this exciting study!
"We’re reaping the fruits of what happened economically 50 years ago, when... decisions began to prioritize efficiency and making as much money as possible over what was ethically correct."
english.elpais.com/culture/2025...
english.elpais.com/culture/2025...
Philip Kitcher, philosopher: ‘Life is a human project, not God’s’
The British thinker is an advocate of collective progress and laments our contemporary individualism. In an interview with EL PAÍS, he says that there is value in idealism, even when it is absurd
english.elpais.com
July 5, 2025 at 10:50 AM
"We’re reaping the fruits of what happened economically 50 years ago, when... decisions began to prioritize efficiency and making as much money as possible over what was ethically correct."
english.elpais.com/culture/2025...
english.elpais.com/culture/2025...
AI models go dumb when fed their own output. But as we are increasingly reading AI-generated text and looking at AI-generated images, how about us?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
AI models collapse when trained on recursively generated data - Nature
Analysis shows that indiscriminately training generative artificial intelligence on real and generated content, usually done by scraping data from the Internet, can lead to a collapse in th...
www.nature.com
June 2, 2025 at 6:05 AM
AI models go dumb when fed their own output. But as we are increasingly reading AI-generated text and looking at AI-generated images, how about us?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
My heart goes to UK migrants who feel outraged with UK govt's proposals to retroactively extend the qualifying period for permanent residence by 5(!) years. The last Labour govt did the same just by 1 year and it was still shocking and destructive.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
1/n
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
1/n
1.5m foreign workers already in UK could face longer wait for permanent settlement
People who have moved to UK since 2020 may face extra five-year wait to stay indefinitely under Labour crackdown
www.theguardian.com
May 14, 2025 at 4:06 PM
My heart goes to UK migrants who feel outraged with UK govt's proposals to retroactively extend the qualifying period for permanent residence by 5(!) years. The last Labour govt did the same just by 1 year and it was still shocking and destructive.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
1/n
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
1/n
Reposted by Mikhail Spivakov
May 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
There is one sure way to reduce net immigration: make life in this country rubbish for everyone.
May 12, 2025 at 3:16 PM
There is one sure way to reduce net immigration: make life in this country rubbish for everyone.
Our institute has created an exciting postdoc fellowship scheme for UK black heritage scientists. Please spread the word and apply if eligible!
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work/vacanci...
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work/vacanci...
MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist (Emerging Innovators Fellowship for Black Heritage Scientists) - MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences
The MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) is a biomedical research institute where scientists and clinicians collaborate to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine. Fun...
lms.mrc.ac.uk
April 3, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Our institute has created an exciting postdoc fellowship scheme for UK black heritage scientists. Please spread the word and apply if eligible!
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work/vacanci...
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work/vacanci...
❤️🔥 Passionate about gene regulation research, in the wet and/or dry lab?
🎡 Excited about London's vibrant research and social environment?
🔬 Looking for a funded postdoc position (but ideally, have the CV and drive to apply for a fellowship in your 1st year)?
Please DM/email me to discuss!
🎡 Excited about London's vibrant research and social environment?
🔬 Looking for a funded postdoc position (but ideally, have the CV and drive to apply for a fellowship in your 1st year)?
Please DM/email me to discuss!
March 9, 2025 at 9:51 PM
❤️🔥 Passionate about gene regulation research, in the wet and/or dry lab?
🎡 Excited about London's vibrant research and social environment?
🔬 Looking for a funded postdoc position (but ideally, have the CV and drive to apply for a fellowship in your 1st year)?
Please DM/email me to discuss!
🎡 Excited about London's vibrant research and social environment?
🔬 Looking for a funded postdoc position (but ideally, have the CV and drive to apply for a fellowship in your 1st year)?
Please DM/email me to discuss!
Govts aren't businesses, and efficiency isn't their main virtue. They need to be resilient and fair, and efficiency often comes at the cost of that.
February 24, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Govts aren't businesses, and efficiency isn't their main virtue. They need to be resilient and fair, and efficiency often comes at the cost of that.
Our new paper is finally out, showing that the same enhancer sequences - and likely the same transcription factors recruited to them - affect the activity of distal enhancers and their looping over to target gene promoters.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Genetic coupling of enhancer activity and connectivity in gene expression control - Nature Communications
Here, the authors study the effects of expression quantitative trait loci on enhancer activity and promoter contacts in primary monocytes isolated from male individuals, suggesting an inherent genetic...
www.nature.com
January 27, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Our new paper is finally out, showing that the same enhancer sequences - and likely the same transcription factors recruited to them - affect the activity of distal enhancers and their looping over to target gene promoters.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Happy to be part of this exciting study with Oleg Glebov's lab at KCL/Quindao and our own Lumi Ruje!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.12.12.628225v1
t.co
December 18, 2024 at 11:59 AM
Happy to be part of this exciting study with Oleg Glebov's lab at KCL/Quindao and our own Lumi Ruje!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Dear reviewers, when you refuse to re-review a revised version of the paper you reviewed earlier, you mess things up quite badly for the authors. Please try to avoid doing that.
September 19, 2024 at 8:22 PM
Dear reviewers, when you refuse to re-review a revised version of the paper you reviewed earlier, you mess things up quite badly for the authors. Please try to avoid doing that.
Congratulations to Pavel Artemov in our lab on passing his PhD viva and many thanks to Vlad (@teiflab.bsky.social) and Alexis (@alexisbarr.bsky.social) for conducting it!
September 11, 2024 at 8:26 PM
Congratulations to Pavel Artemov in our lab on passing his PhD viva and many thanks to Vlad (@teiflab.bsky.social) and Alexis (@alexisbarr.bsky.social) for conducting it!