While Cagla and Kasia were representing the lab at the British Society for Matrix Biology (BSMB) in Manchester, Roufaida got a chance to present her work at the German Society for Matrix Biology (DGMB) meeting in Heidelberg, where our CHANGE DCs also organised a satellite conference as part of the meeting. Well done!
Research Assistant/Associate in Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering
We’re hiring a Biomaterials researcher! The PRISM project at Newcastle University is recruiting a Research Assistant/Associate in Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering, and we’d love to reach strong candidates through the community. This is an opportunity to work at the interface of biomaterials, regenerative engineering, and translational science within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.
We’re looking for someone with solid expertise in biomaterials and materials science, particularly:
• Electroactive, naturally derived biomaterials (e.g. collagen or peptide-based systems)
• Biomaterial chemistry and functionalisation
• Nanoparticle/material fabrication and biological evaluation
• AFM and multimodal characterisation
Experience in biomaterials–immune interactions or cartilage tissue engineering is desirable.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Apply here: https://lnkd.in/ecj7B9bf
Please feel free to share with your networks or tag colleagues who might be a great fit!
We’re back in Newcastle after a brilliant British Society for Matrix Biology Spring 2026 meeting in Manchester, organised by Douglas Dyer. It was great to be back in Manchester, see old friends and make new connections! The program was very inspiring and covered all aspects of matrix biology. Cagla Erdas from our lab presented her data and Jack B. Roberts from the Newcastle University Skeletal Research Group was awarded a poster prize (well done Jack!). Thank you Doug for organising a brilliant meeting!
It was also a great opportunity to pop over to Liverpool after the meeting, catch up with Blandine Poulet and discuss future projects. Back in Newcastle full of matrix inspiration!
“Business Interaction Vouchers support strategic R&D partnerships between businesses and academic researchers, helping to catalyse the development of tools, technologies, and methodologies that reduce reliance of the use of animals in research, whilst also advancing capabilities that could one day be more powerful than current animal models. This new strategic portfolio of projects supported across the NC3Rs networks, through joint investment with BBSRC, covers a broad and exciting range of new 3Rs innovations which will drive innovation across the sector.”
– Dr Lee Beniston FRSB, Associate Director for Industry Partnerships and Collaborative Research and Development, BBSRC
Our exciting project in collaboration with Copner Biotech and with researchers from across Newcastle and Northumbria Universities combines expertise in biosciences, engineering, and advanced materials. The team will use advanced bioprinting technologies to generate cartilage-like structures for investigating the biological mechanisms involved in cartilage development, ageing and disease. Using Copner Biotech’s next generation 3D modelling software and bioprinting platform, the team will combine a variety of bioinks to produce constructs with defined microarchitectures. The developed in vitro models will be compared against existing data from human samples and animal studies to assess the physiological relevance and suitability for safety testing of senolytic (i.e. those that selectively induce the death of senescent cells) drugs used to treat osteoarthritis.
For more information on our project and on other projects in the cohort, please visit: https://nc3rs.org.uk/news/bridging-gap-new-funding-academic-industry-partnerships-between-nc3rs-network-members
We went out for the Skeletal Research Group (SRG) drinks and a PI curry yesterday to celebrate the coming of spring and the recent SRG successes, including
Several publications:
Grant funding:
Well done everyone!!!
On the 28th of February, after our Genetics Matters event, Dr Helen Walker and the Rare Disease NUCoRE team lit up Newcastle iconic buildings (the Civic Centre, the Millennium Bridge and the St Mary’s Lighthouse) in the International Rare Disease Day colours, to raise awareness of rare diseases and support patients living with rare conditions in our communities.
Our annual Genetics Matters Rare Disease Day event was a great success!
We have met with 110 people at the Great North Museum: Hancock on the 28th of February, discussed novel treatments for rare diseases, the need for more equity for rare disease patients, and shared our discoveries and projects to advance rare disease research and improve lives of patients with rare diseases.
We received great feedback, with participants asking to be involved in several research activities, requests for more public lectures, and requests for school visits and work experience placements. Thank you to all the scientists, presenters and participants for attending Genetics matters 2026. We really enjoyed it, and we are looking forward to seeing everyone next year!
Genetics Matters flyers 2015-2026.
Time really flies!
This year marks the 10th edition of our popular Genetics Matters – a Rare Disease Day event. Over the years we have chatted to over 900 people, exhibited work by 20+ genetic and rare disease laboratories, interacted with multiple charities and patient organisations and worked tirelessly to raise awareness of rare diseases and rare disease research in the North East.
We are really looking forward to seeing everyone at the Great North Museum: Hancock this Saturday at 10am. There will be presentations, debates, hands on experiments, microscopes, activities, enthusiastic scientists, free lunch, and some yummy cake.
Event agenda
09:30-10:10 Arrival and tea/coffee
10:10-10:15 Welcome – Kasia Pirog
10:15-10:30 Introduction to the rare disease landscape at Newcastle – John Sayer
10:30-10:50 Jordi Diaz-Manera: Presenting the MyoGuide – a resource to advance diagnosis and research in neuromuscular diseases
10:50-11:10 Sophie Hambleton: What are ‘Advanced Therapies’ and what hope do they offer for people living with a rare disease?
11:10-11:30 Annette Pantall: A patient’s perspective on the importance of genetics and novel therapies
11:30-11:50 Carly Nicklin: Anthony Nolan, a pioneering UK charity that saves the lives of people with blood cancer and blood disorders by managing a stem cell donor register
11:50-12:30 Debate: How do we get more treatments to the people who need them? In the absence of medicines and cures for many conditions, how do we help patients live their best lives? How do we address inequities for people living with a rare disease?
12:30-13:00 Lunch (buffet)
13:00-15:00 Round tables (lab demos, hands on activities, approx. 10-15 min per table)
The final CHANGE MSCA DN meeting took place in Padova last week. It was great to see how far our students have advanced their research and how they developed into mature scientists driving their own program of research and building their own networks.
We are very proud of you all!
Thank you to Prof Paolo Bonaldo, Prof Paola Braghetta and Prof Matilde Cescon for organising a great meeting and looking after us all.
It is sad that this consortium is coming to an end but we hope to continue working with our European colleagues. We will eagerly follow the development of our DCs, and hope that they will be the next generation of matrix biologists leading the field in the future.
Registration for our annual #GeneticsMatters Rare Disease Day patient and public information day is now open. Join us for interesting presentations and hands-on demonstrations, meet the scientists, and find out more about rare disease research at Newcastle University and The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The event is FREE to attend and refreshments will be provided. To register, click: https://lnkd.in/eSSbGNSD
