Studying circuit function and behaviour in Drosophila following disruptions in developmental remodeling
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: Developmental Neurobiology
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Darren Williams (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Constance WD
(2018)
Neurexin and Neuroligin-based adhesion complexes drive axonal arborisation growth independent of synaptic activity.
in eLife
Pop S
(2020)
Extensive and diverse patterns of cell death sculpt neural networks in insects.
in eLife
| Title | Film collaboration with artist Suki Chan |
| Description | https://twitter.com/dev_neuro/status/1575843764941250560 https://twitter.com/FrauLoredana/status/1528019782636818434 Our work used extensively in a number of projects. https://vimeo.com/user2742618 |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Lots of discussion on the dementia and it's perception within society |
| URL | https://vimeo.com/user2742618 |
| Description | The grant is in progress but so far our collaboration helps us explore the role of cell death in nervous system function. We have seen walking and fly phenotypes in flies in which neurons have not been removed. The technology used also allowed us to look at the impact of the loss of neuroligin1 on animal behaviour. |
| Exploitation Route | The use of high climbing assays could be used by Drosophila labs studying disease |
| Sectors | Healthcare |
| Description | Sane and Williams joint project |
| Organisation | The National Centre for Biological Sciences |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Professor Sanjay Sane is the leader of the Flight Lab at NCBS and we became interested in each other's work through mutual collaborator. Since that time have made great efforts to communicate about research and have started to collaborate. Dr Sane is a world leader in the biomechanics and behaviour of movement in insects. His lab uses large insect model systems, state-of-the-art high-speed videography, kinematic analysis with machine learning tools and classical single-cell electrophysiological recordings to study the sensorimotor function in behaving animals. We wish to develop unique synergies by bringing together our complimentary expertise and gain insights in hitherto intractable questions about the development and function of sensorimotor systems in insects. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Simran Vridi, a PhD student from the Sane lab, visited King's to train in the Williams lab. Both groups to move forward an exciting multi-disciplinary project building bespoke genetic tools that the Sane lab will use in Drosophila. Simran also trained members of the Williams lab in behavioural approaches. |
| Impact | We are still at the early stages as the pandemic destroyed the opportunities that we'd designed and we are only now able to execute. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Brainwaves |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Sidmouth Science festival. Primary school children spend a day learning about the nervous system |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2022 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/LabDarren/status/1582132589917540352 |
| Description | DevNeuroAcademy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The DevNeuro Academy Widening Participation project consists of a regular programme of activities designed to improve the progression and success of students currently under-represented at our university and other institutes of higher education. The project combines a series of four in-school interactive 'Discovery workshops' with a two-week laboratory summer research work experience in our Centre. At the end of the work experience there will be a graduation ceremony here at Guy's campus. The students' families, class-mates and teachers will be invited and the students will be presented with a certificate. Students from non-selective state schools are widely under-represented at top universities. 48% of privately educated children go on to study at a highly selective university, whilst only 18% of state school children, and a staggering 2% of children eligible for free school meals, gain a place at a highly selective university. The primary objective of the DevNeuro Academy project is to engage with challenging local non-selective state schools and contribute towards changing these numbers. The workshops were designed with the goal of providing the students with solid conceptual foundations, as well as skills and new ideas to further build on. Each workshop combines theoretical talks and lots of interactive activities about the exciting field of developmental neurobiology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017 |
| URL | http://tinyurl.com/jsmvsep |