We have developed an innovative method to detect small biological particles in blood samples, opening up new possibilities for earlier and more accurate disease diagnosis.  The technique, which we refer to as VISTA (Vesicle Imaging by Single-molecule TCCD Analysis), allows scientists to characterise tiny particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are released by cells into the blood.  “This new tool is of huge potential, offering an easy way to obtain information from patient blood samples, without the need for invasive biopsies.” - Noelia. EVs carry molecular information of their cells of origin and are increasingly recognised as potential biomarkers for diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and infections. However, because EVs are highly variable, and similar in size to other particles in the blood, they have been difficult to study using traditional methods. This new approach combines fluorescent labelling (to make EVs glow), microfluidics (a system that m...

Our post-doc Abigail attended the  annual Target ALS meeting in Boston last week along with the rest of our consortium members, including Gian Tartaglia, Jenna Gregory, Fergal Waldron, and Neil Shneider. Abigail was invited to present our group’s work on detecting TDP-43 in biological fluids using our TDP-43 aptamer ( Zacco et al., 2022 ) and super-resolution microscopy. There was also a sneak-peek of some of our work using the FUS aptamers, some of which is now in a pre-print ( Zacco et al., 2025 )! It's always great to hear about progress made in this field, many thanks to the organisers for hosting and to all our fellow consortium members who did a great job presenting our work. 

  Last week, some members of the ESMB group attended the Synuclein meeting 2025 to hear about current and future approaches to target synulceinopathies. This event offered a very varied programme, with talks ranging from clinical and pre-clinical studies in the field of Parkinson’s disease and Multiple System Atrophy all the way to super-resolution imaging of aSynuclein aggregates. It was an amazing experience to get to hear from groups that have changed this field over the years and also to see all the new projects being set up to study these diseases onset and progression, therapies and diagnosis. It felt like going back to the origins of the group, where it all started! Finally, Gala dinner/party at King’s College Hall was definitely a highlight of the programme.

Researchers from the ESMB have developed a single-molecule liposome assay that promises to transform the study of membrane disruption by proteins and peptides. Their innovative method, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, addresses longstanding challenges in membrane-related research across antimicrobial activity, toxicity, and disease pathology. Membrane integrity is crucial for cellular health, playing a vital role in processes such as ion transport and signal transmission. Disruption of these membranes is linked to various disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s disease, and certain cancers. Traditional techniques for examining the membrane-disrupting effects of proteins and peptides can be challenging and often require larger quantities, which are costly and difficult to produce. Their new approach uses single-molecule confocal microscopy with fast-flow microfluidics to detect membrane disruption with minimal quantities of proteins and peptides. This method provides unparal...

Mathew and Noelia were recently invited to attend the Japan-UK neuroscience meeting being held in Osaka, Japan. The meeting, jointly funded by AMED and MRC, sought to strengthen connections between researchers in the UK and Japan. The meeting was a fantastic opportunity to share their research, and also learn about other work being conducted by neuroscientists in the two countries. Delegates were also treated to trip to a local castle, and were serenaded by talented singers in an impromptu Karaoke bar visit!

Many congratulations to Zuzanna, who has passed her PhD viva. Also, huge thanks to Professors Anita Jones and Salvador Ventura for examining Zuzanna. 

Congratulations to Katie, Candace and Takeshi, who have published a new paper in eLife.  Building on a hypothesis first proposed by Francis Crick in 1984, the research addresses how the brain retains memories despite the continuous turnover of proteins. Crick theorised that specialised proteins could bind in pairs, allowing one to be replaced while the other stabilises the connection, preserving memories over time. The research team led by Professor Seth Grant and Professor Mathew Horrocks tested this hypothesis, focusing on a protein essential for learning and memory called PSD95. Using advanced forms of microscopy and genetic techniques that enables visualisation of protein pairs isolated from the mouse brain, they confirmed Crick's theory.  They also discovered that the protein exchange occurs slowest in those areas of the brain responsible for long-term memory. Professor Horrocks commented, "It was exciting to directly visualise synaptic building blocks at nanometre resolu...