Trince’s Post

Interesting piece in this week's Nature on the various factors behind the success of the MRC's Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. Of particular note (I think): "Prioritizing small teams also optimizes the sharing of technologies and budgets and incentivizes scientists from different fields to converge on the same projects.... This connectivity often leads to rapid and creative combinations of ideas between teams. It also allows for the sharing of failure and resilience to it, which is inevitable in high-risk, high-stakes innovative research" "Because the LMB’s strategy focuses on long-term, transformational goals rather than short-term incremental gains, its internal evaluation system for researchers is more concerned with the potential of the overall scientific programme3 than with standard individual performance metrics, such as the number of journal publications and citations, personal impact factors, grant funding, awards and collaborations." https://lnkd.in/eewc2XJj

#WednesdayWisdom From our bench to yours. 🧑🔬 Our experts are here to support your research. This week's wisdom is provided by August Estabrook, PhD, Senior Scientist at Vector Laboratories. Learn more about VectaPlex™ here: https://bit.ly/4djTxZA

A new computational approach to de novo protein design enables the creation of drug-binding proteins with accurate design and prediction binding energy and specificity, researchers report in Science. 📄: https://scim.ag/6EF

How can we best characterize surfaces functionalized with dense layers of biomolecules? 🧬 Check out our latest paper where we explore the use of super-resolution microscopy to unlock new insights into surface characterization at the molecular level. 🔬✨ Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/e6Cm67HM

#WednesdayWisdom From our bench to yours. 🧑🔬 Our experts are here to support your research. Special thanks to Shuhui Chen, Ph.D., Research and Development Scientist at Vector Laboratories, for this tip of the week!

We are excited to share a groundbreaking blog post highlighting recent advancements in the field of vision science. Researchers have made significant progress in understanding two-photon vision, a complex process that enhances our comprehension of how organisms perceive their environment. This innovative study sheds light on the mechanisms underlying this remarkable visual capability, opening new avenues for research and applications in various fields. Explore the full article to learn more about these fascinating findings and their implications for vision science. Read the full post here: https://ift.tt/eYtQhRc

🧪🔍 Invisible molecules show the truth: cells don't break even ✨ The lipid membranes surrounding human cells are known to be asymmetric in terms of their molecular composition. The localisation of #cholesterol within these membranes has, however, been difficult to pinpoint until recently. Using neutron scattering and selective deuteration, researchers were able to provide deep insights into the complexity of biological membranes. This knowledge can help design articificial membranes for drug delivery and facilitate the handling of demanding proteins. "Our findings contradict current working hypotheses in the field of lipid research, which may lead to a revision of some notions." says Ursula Perez-Salas (from University of Illinois Chicago) the corresponding author of the study. "The ILL's diverse and state-of-the-art instrument suite and the excellent on-site combination of neutron science and cutting-edge laboratory and deuteration expertise make it a fantastic environment for such complex experiments", she adds. "Despite the large distance, we therefore very much cherish our long-standing transatlantic collaboration."

🤓 This week’s blog post examines a crucial but frequently overlooked component of scientific experimentation - choosing and verifying an appropriate cell line for your research and development. https://lnkd.in/gE7jZYT6

Dr. Isaac T.S. Li and two of his PhD students, David Bakker and Micah Yang, have developed an artificial adhesion system that closely mimics natural biological interactions, with potential applications in materials science and medicine. Read more: https://loom.ly/4jHf0ZU #UBCO #Chemistry #Research #Innovation

Learn more about Dr. Picazo's story and his research in the latest NIGMS Biomedical Beat Blog! "Inventing New Ways to Build Bonds: Q&A With Elias Picazo" https://lnkd.in/gji9rZsp