Regulation of growth and metabolism
Lead Research Organisation:
MRC National Inst for Medical Research
Abstract
Any animal, including human, must grow many times its original size as it develops from an embryo into an adult. This growth is, in part, achieved by an increase in the number of cells, a process known as cell proliferation. The overall aim of this work at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research is to identify the key genes that regulate cell proliferation. Discovering these new genes will further our understanding of what goes wrong in cancer, when cells proliferate inappropriately during adult life. Much of this work utilises the fruit fly (Drosophila) as an efficient gene discovery tool. When the DNA sequences of the Drosophila and human genomes were completed, it became clear that fruit flies possess at least 85% of the genes involved in human diseases. This strong evolutionary conservation, coupled with powerful genetic techniques and a short life cycle, explains why Drosophila research has such an impressive track record in finding the underlying causes of human diseases. Recent research at the National Institute for Medical Research has identified several new genes that are important for switching off cell proliferation in the adult Drosophila brain. Many of these genes work by preventing neural stem cells from producing too many neurons. We have also identified a role for dietary fat in the regulation of overall body growth. We find that a Drosophila internal organ, resembling the human liver, is essential for metabolising dietary lipid into molecules that can then stimulate growth. This work also opens up the possibility of using the power of Drosophila genetics to discover potential new drugs to treat human liver diseases.
Technical Summary
The aim of our work is to identify the molecular mechanisms responsible for regulating the growth of the embryo. Growth regulation involves the integration of many different positive and negative signals that can act locally, within one tissue, or globally, to control the overall size of the organism. We wish to identify the molecules and genetic pathways important for stopping cell growth and proliferation towards the end of embryonic development. In the long term, these might provide new therapeutic targets for cancer treatments. In addition, we are investigating how environmental influences such as the composition of the diet can impact on the genes regulating growth and metabolism. This work may provide new insights into the aetiology of human metabolic diseases such as type II diabetes. The driver and gene discovery tool for much of our work is the genetic model organism Drosophila. Currently, we are focusing on two main approaches towards understanding growth regulation in Drosophila. In the first approach, we are studying how the growth of the central nervous system (CNS) is regulated. In particular, we are conducting genetic screens for genes regulating the time at which Drosophila neural stem cells (called neuroblasts) start and stop dividing. Several new neural-stem cell genes identified from these screens are currently being analysed. In the second approach, we are investigating how dietary fat intake influences growth and metabolism during development. As a first step towards this goal, we have identified a Drosophila cell type (the oenocyte) that is specialised for processing lipids and is essential for larval growth. Oenocytes carry out many of the functions of the human liver and can be used to model hepatic steatosis (fatty liver), a pathology associated with type II diabetes.
Organisations
- MRC National Inst for Medical Research, United Kingdom (Lead Research Organisation)
- Harvard University (Collaboration)
- Imperial Cancer Research Fund (Collaboration)
- University of Oxford, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Linkoping University (Collaboration)
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia (Collaboration)
- Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University of Nevada (Collaboration)
- Francis Crick Institute (Collaboration)
- Medical Research Council (Collaboration)
- Aix-Marseille University, France (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Alex P. Gould (Principal Investigator) |
Publications

Bailey AP
(2015)
Antioxidant Role for Lipid Droplets in a Stem Cell Niche of Drosophila.
in Cell


Breckenridge RA
(2013)
Hypoxic regulation of hand1 controls the fetal-neonatal switch in cardiac metabolism.
in PLoS biology

Brodu V
(2004)
EGF receptor signaling regulates pulses of cell delamination from the Drosophila ectoderm.
in Developmental cell

Brodu V
(2002)
abdominal A specifies one cell type in Drosophila by regulating one principal target gene.
in Development (Cambridge, England)

Brodu V
(2002)
abdominal A specifies one cell type in Drosophila by regulating one principal target gene
in DEVELOPMENT

Cenci C
(2005)
Drosophila Grainyhead specifies late programmes of neural proliferation by regulating the mitotic activity and Hox-dependent apoptosis of neuroblasts.
in Development (Cambridge, England)

Cheng L
(2011)
Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Spares Organ Growth during Nutrient Restriction in Drosophila
in Cell

Cheng LY
(2011)
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase spares organ growth during nutrient restriction in Drosophila.
in Cell

Elstob PR
(2001)
spalt-dependent switching between two cell fates that are induced by the Drosophila EGF receptor.
in Development (Cambridge, England)
Description | Contribution to UKSCI review |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a national consultation |
Description | Royal Brompton Hospital lung cancer consortium |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in advisory committee |
Impact | Improved grant applications for securing funding for clinical lung cancer research the Royal Brompton BRU and optimised questionnaires and procedures for recruiting patients for clinical research programmes. |
Description | Autism Speaks (Formerly NAAR) award 2007 |
Amount | £40,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Autistica |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2006 |
End | 05/2007 |
Description | Biochemical Society vacation studentship 2010 |
Amount | £1,600 (GBP) |
Organisation | Biochemical Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2010 |
End | 05/2010 |
Description | EMBO Long Term Fellowship 2008-2010 |
Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | European Molecular Biology Organisation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Germany |
Start | 05/2008 |
End | 05/2010 |
Description | EMBO Short Term Fellowship |
Amount | € 3,571 (EUR) |
Funding ID | ASTF 194-2012 |
Organisation | European Molecular Biology Organisation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Germany |
Start | 05/2012 |
End | 05/2013 |
Description | EU Marie Curie IEF 2006-2008 |
Amount | £114,935 (GBP) |
Organisation | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Global |
Start | 05/2006 |
End | 05/2008 |
Description | FCT, Portugese postdoctoral fellowship 2007-2008 |
Amount | £22,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | New University of Lisbon |
Department | Foundation for Science and Technology |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | Portugal |
Start | 05/2007 |
End | 05/2008 |
Description | Sara Lee Shupf Award |
Amount | £14,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Weizmann Institute of Science |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | Israel |
Start | 05/2008 |
End | 05/2010 |
Description | Uehara Postdoctoral Research Fellowship |
Amount | ¥4,000,000 (JPY) |
Organisation | Uehara Memorial Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Japan |
Start | 06/2015 |
End | 06/2016 |
Title | BO-GAL4 transgenic Drosophila |
Description | The BO-GAL4 transgene permits expression of genes in oenocytes, insect cells that can be used to model aspects of hepatic steatosis (Gutierrez, E., Wiggins, D., Fielding, B. and Gould, A.P. (2007). Specialized hepatocyte-like cells regulate Drosophila lipid metabolism. Nature 445, 275-280). |
Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - non-mammalian in vivo |
Year Produced | 2007 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Several groups worldwide have begun to model aspects of mammalian lipid metabolism using our oenocyte system. |
Title | Drosophila model for organ sparing during IUGR |
Description | A Nutrient Restriction protocol in Drosophila was developed that permits the selective growth of the developing CNS and other spared organs at the expense of less critical tissues. This provides a fly model of brain sparing during mammalian intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR). A signalling pathway for CNS sparing involving the conserved receptor, Anaplastic Lymphoma kinase, was also identified. |
Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - non-mammalian in vivo |
Year Produced | 2011 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | A publication (PMID: 21816278 ) and subsequent requests for reagents from academic groups. |
URL | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S009286741100715X |
Title | Drosophila model for primary coenzyme Q deficiency |
Description | Mutants lacking the function of less, the fly orthologue of human PDSS1and protocols for rescue by dietary supplementation with Coenzyme Q10 and other coenzyme Q variants. |
Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - non-mammalian in vivo |
Year Produced | 2010 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | A publication (PMID: 20889762) and subsequent requests for reagents from academic groups. |
URL | http://dmm.biologists.org/content/3/11-12/799.long |
Title | Drosophila model for stress-induced lipid droplets |
Description | We have developed and analysed a Drosophila model for the induction of lipid droplets in the neural stem cell niche of the developing CNS. This can be used to investigate the regulation and the function of lipid droplets in the context of oxidative stresses such as hypoxia. |
Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - non-mammalian in vivo |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Bailey AP, Koster G, Guillermier C, Hirst EM, MacRae JI, Lechene CP, Postle AD, Gould AP (2015). Antioxidant Role for Lipid Droplets in a Stem Cell Niche of Drosophila. Cell 163 340. (PMID: 26451484) |
URL | http://www.agouldlab.com |
Title | Hoxb4 Monoclonal Antibody |
Description | The I12 rat-mouse hybridoma produces monoclonal antibodies recognising the human, mouse and rat Hoxb4 protein. It was deposited at the Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank (http://dshb.biology.uiowa.edu/) in 1999. (This work was done as a collaboration between Alex Gould at MRC NIMR and Dr. R. Krumlauf, currently at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, USA.) |
Type Of Material | Antibody |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Hoxb4 plays a central role in promoting hematopoietic stem cell expansion. Therefore, the I12 hybridoma has proved particularly useful for developing ex vivo methods for expanding human hematopoietic stem cells prior to injecting them into patients. See, for example: Amsellem S, Pflumio F, Bardinet D, Izac B, Charneau P, Romeo PH, Dubart-Kupperschmitt A, Fichelson S. Ex vivo expansion of human hematopoietic stem cells by direct delivery of the HOXB4 homeoprotein. Nat Med. 2003;9:1423-7. PMID: 14578882 |
URL | http://dshb.biology.uiowa.edu/ |
Title | VDTS metabolomics method |
Description | Volume determination with two standards allows absolute quantification and improved chemometric analysis of metabolites by NMR from submicroliter samples. |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Publication of: Volume determination with two standards allows absolute quantification and improved chemometric analysis of metabolites by NMR from submicroliter samples. Anal. Chem. 85, 12046-54. Ragan TJ, Bailey AP, Gould AP and Driscoll PC (2013) Inclusion of NMR platform in the new Crick Metabolomics STP (facility). |
URL | http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ac403111s |
Description | Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute |
Organisation | Cancer Research UK |
Department | Cancer Research UK London Research Institute (LRI) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We established a Drosophila model for human asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and used it to uncover the molecular mechanism by which brain growth is protected when nutrients are scarce. This work was published in the following paper: Cheng, LY; Bailey, AP; Leevers, SJ; Ragan, TJ; Driscoll, PC and Gould, AP (2011). Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Spares Organ Growth during Nutrient Restriction in Drosophila. Cell 146, 435-47. |
Collaborator Contribution | Advice and PI3Kinase reagents related to genetic studies in Cell (2011) paper. |
Impact | Multidisciplinary paper utilizing NMR metabolomics and Drosophila genetics in Cell (2011). Pubmed ID: 21816278. Cell (Press release, Preview and Podcast): http://www.cell.com/retrieve/pii/S0092867411007690 http://download.cell.com/images/edimages/podcasts/0804cell2011.mp3 Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology: http://www.nature.com/nrm/journal/v12/n9/full/nrm3177.html Science Editors Choice: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6045/920.2.full?sid=a14a89d8-a7aa-40f2-b943-9ce673efed55 Science Signalling Editors Choice: http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sigtrans;4/185/ec220 Francis Crick Institute: http://www.crick.ac.uk/news/science-news/2011/08/05/the-selfish-brain |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Francis Crick Institute Metabolomics STP |
Organisation | Francis Crick Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Hypothesis driven experiments and biological samples for metabolomics analysis |
Collaborator Contribution | NMR and mass spectrometry based analysis of polar and apolar metabolites |
Impact | Publications: PMID: 26451484 PMID: 29123106 PMID: 30757904 |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Harvard Medical School |
Organisation | Harvard University |
Department | Harvard Medical School |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Our team provides the expertise in lipid metabolism and designs and conducts all of the Drosophila experiments. |
Collaborator Contribution | The laboratory of C. P. Lechene at The National Resource for Imaging Mass Spectrometry provides the technical expertise with SIMS and access to a SIMS machine. |
Impact | Steinhauser, M.L, Bailey, A.P, Senyo, S.E, Guillermier, C, Perlstein, T.S, Gould, A.P, Lee, R.T and Lechene, C.P. (2012). Multi-isotope imaging mass spectrometry quantifies stem cell division and metabolism. Nature 481, 516-519 |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | Linkoping University Medical School, Sweden |
Organisation | Linkoping University |
Department | University Medical School Linkoping |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We conducted a detailed analysis of the genes required to form insulin-producing cells in the posterior of the Drosophila CNS. These have similarities to those required to form human pancreatic beta cells. |
Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Stefan Thor contributed reagents and advice that culminated in the following paper: Miguel-Aliaga I, Thor S, Gould A.P.(2008). Postmitotic specification of Drosophila insulinergic neurons from pioneer neurons. PLoS Biol: 6, e58 |
Impact | PLoS Biology paper, PubMed ID:18336071 |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | NIMR Division of Mathematical Biology |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Department | MRC National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We conducted an in vivo analysis of the Q10 synthesis gene, Qless, in Drosophila and established a fly model of human primary CoQ deficiency disease. |
Collaborator Contribution | Modelling the structure of wild-type and mutant forms of the Drosophila Q10 synthetic enzyme, Qless. This contributed to the following publication: Grant, J; Saldanha, JW and Gould, AP (2010). A Drosophila model for primary coenzyme Q deficiency and dietary rescue in the developing nervous system. Disease Models & Mechanisms 3, 799-806. |
Impact | Multidisciplinary paper involving bioinformatics, mathematical modelling and genetics in Disease Models & Mechanisms (2010). Pubmed ID: 20889762. |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | NIMR, Division of Developmental Biology |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Department | MRC National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Our team, in particular TJ Ragan and myself, provided expertise in metabolism and NMR-based metabolomics for this collaborative study on cardiac metabolism. |
Collaborator Contribution | The team of T. Mohun, in particular R. Breckenridge, conducted the majority of experiments for this collaborative study on cardiac metabolism. |
Impact | Breckenridge R.A, Piotrowska, I., Ng, K-E., Ragan, T.J., West, J.A., Kotecha S., Towers, N., Bennett, M., Kienesberger, P.C., Smolenski, R.T., Siddall, H.K., Offer, J.L., Mocanu, M.M., Yelon, D.M., Dyck, J.R.B., Griffin, J.L., Abramov, A.Y., Gould, A.P. and Mohun, T.J. (2013). Hypoxic Regulation of Hand1 Controls the Fetal-Neonatal Switch in Cardiac Metabolism. PLOS Biology 11: e1001666 (PMID: 24086110) |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | NIMR, Division of Mathematical Biology |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Department | MRC National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We conducted an in vivo analysis of the Drosophila sVWC expression patterns and made transgenic overexpression constructs. |
Collaborator Contribution | Mathematical modelling of the structures of a new family of secreted proteins in insects. This lead to a collaborative publication: Sheldon TJ, Miguel-Aliaga I, Gould A.P, Taylor WR, Conklin D (2007). A novel family of single VWC-domain proteins in invertebrates. FEBS Lett: 581, 5268-74. |
Impact | FEBS Lett. paper, PubMed ID: 18028914 |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | NIMR, Division of Molecular Structure |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Department | MRC National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We established a Drosophila model for human asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and used it to uncover the molecular mechanism by which brain growth is protected when nutrients are scarce. This work was published in the following paper: Cheng, LY; Bailey, AP; Leevers, SJ; Ragan, TJ; Driscoll, PC and Gould, AP (2011). Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Spares Organ Growth during Nutrient Restriction in Drosophila. Cell 146, 435-47. |
Collaborator Contribution | NMR metabolomics analysis of Drosophila |
Impact | Multidisciplinary paper utilizing NMR metabolomics and Drosophila genetics in Cell (2011). Pubmed ID: 21816278. Cell (Press release, Preview and Podcast): http://www.cell.com/retrieve/pii/S0092867411007690 http://download.cell.com/images/edimages/podcasts/0804cell2011.mp3 Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology: http://www.nature.com/nrm/journal/v12/n9/full/nrm3177.html Science Editors Choice: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6045/920.2.full?sid=a14a89d8-a7aa-40f2-b943-9ce673efed55 Science Signalling Editors Choice: http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sigtrans;4/185/ec220 Francis Crick Institute: http://www.crick.ac.uk/news/science-news/2011/08/05/the-selfish-brain |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Oxford Centre for Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We first identified the insect equivalent of heptocytes and then conducted an extensive genetic analysis of their functions, identifying over 20 new lipid metabolism genes. Many of these are conserved in humans. |
Collaborator Contribution | Analysis of fatty acids by gas chromatography by David Wiggins and Barbara Fielding. This collaborative data was included in an Article in Nature: Gutierrez, E., Wiggins, D., Fielding, B. and Gould, A.P. (2007). Specialized hepatocyte-like cells regulate Drosophila lipid metabolism. Nature: 445, 275-280. |
Impact | BBC new item (11th March2007), see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6433463.stm MRC press release, see http://www.mrc.ac.uk/NewsViewsAndEvents/News/MRC003414 Nature paper PubMed ID: 17136098 |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (fly CNS tumours) |
Organisation | Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Metabolomics Chemically defined Drosophila diet |
Collaborator Contribution | Droosphila genetics |
Impact | Histidine is selectively required for the growth of Myc-dependent dedifferentiation tumours in the Drosophila CNS. Francesca Froldi, Panayotis Pachnis, Milán Szuperák, Olivia Costas, Tharindu Fernando, Alex P Gould, Louise Y Cheng. The EMBO Journal (2019) e99895. DOI 10.15252/embj.201899895 PMID: 30804004 |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Southampton General Hospital (Lipidomics) |
Organisation | Southampton General Hospital |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Hospitals |
PI Contribution | Our laboratory carried out hypothesis driven experiments and provided biological samples for lipidomics analysis |
Collaborator Contribution | Tandem mass spectrometry and data analysis of lipidomics samples |
Impact | Antioxidant Role for Lipid Droplets in a Stem Cell Niche of Drosophila. Bailey AP , Koster G, Guillermier C, Hirst EMA, MacRae JI, Lechene CP, Postle AD, Gould AP (2015). Cell 163, 340-353 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2015.09.020 |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | University of Marseille, France |
Organisation | Aix-Marseille University |
Department | Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille Luminy (IBDM) |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Our team provided the expertise and lab environment in which this collaboration on Drosophila CNS sparing in the visual system was initiated during the last year that C. Maurange worked with us as a postdoctoral fellow. |
Collaborator Contribution | As an independent PI at University of Marseille, C. Maurange completed the project together with a postdoctoral fellow, E. Lanet. |
Impact | Lanet, E, Gould, A.P and Maurange C. (2013). Protection of Neuronal Diversity at the Expense of Neuronal Numbers during Nutrient Restriction in the Drosophila Visual System. Cell Reports 3, 587-94. (PMID: 23478023) |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | University of Nevada (very long chain fatty acid metabolism) |
Organisation | University of Nevada |
Department | Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Extensive genetic and phenotypic analysis in Drosophila of a new fatty acid metabolism pathway that inhibits signalling via PI3-Kinase, a key oncogene mutated in many different cancers. |
Collaborator Contribution | in vitro enzyme activity assays for one of the two faty acid enzymes in this collaborative study: fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FarO) |
Impact | Einat Cinnamon, Rami Makki, Annick Sawala, Leah P. Wickenberg, Gary J. Blomquist, Claus Tittiger, Ze'ev Paroush, Alex P. Gould (2016). Drosophila Spidey/Kar Regulates Oenocyte Growth via PI3-Kinase Signaling. PLOS Genet, 12, e1006154. (PMID: 27500738) |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | 1st Crick Symposium 2012 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The first Crick symposium, which took place at the Wellcome Collection on 2 July, was on Metabolism in Health and Disease. It was organised by Alex Gould. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
URL | https://www.crick.ac.uk/news/news-archive/2012/07/03/symposium-success/ |
Description | BBC news item on Nature 07 paper |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | BBC news item "Fruit flies provide liver hope" http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6433463.stm Stimulated interest (and funding) in using Drosophila as a genetic model for aspects of human lipid metabolism and liver functions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
URL | http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6433463.stm |
Description | Cell Podcast 2011 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Bob Kruger from Cell discusses brain sparing with Alex Gould (from a Cell podcast - August 2011) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
URL | http://www.agouldlab.com/current-lab-members.html |
Description | Crick Community Newsletter interview 2012 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview for The Crick Community newsletter, June 2012 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
URL | http://www.agouldlab.com/interview-with-alex.html |
Description | Essay on Stem Cells 2009 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Wrote a Mill Hill Essay on "Stem cells: sorting out the hope from the hype" (2009): http://www.historyofnimr.org.uk/mill-hill-essays/essays-yearly-volumes/2009-2/stem-cells-sorting-out-the-hope-from-the-hype/ Generated interest from members of the public |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
URL | http://www.historyofnimr.org.uk/mill-hill-essays/essays-yearly-volumes/2009-2/stem-cells-sorting-out... |
Description | Francis Crick Institute News Item 2011 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Francis Crick Institute Scientific news item: http://www.crick.ac.uk/news/science-news/2011/08/05/the-selfish-brain Asked to present research at the Francis Crick Institute Update in 2011. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
URL | http://www.crick.ac.uk/news/science-news/2011/08/05/the-selfish-brain |
Description | Francis Crick Institute Update 2011 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | A talk at the Francis Crick Institute Update was attended by 50 people involved with the design, construction and management of the new Francis Crick Institute in central London: http://www.crick.ac.uk/ This series of talks is designed to inform/inspire the non-scientists involved in this huge project about what science is going to be housed inside the new building. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | History of NIMR Film 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The film is called National Institute for Medical Research: The Place The People The Science and it was completed in 2015. It was made by Taslima Khan. Alex Gould is interviewed. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.historyofnimr.org.uk/film/ |
Description | History of NIMR book "A century of Science for Health" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This book about the story of the MRC National Institute for Medical Research was published to mark the Institute's 100th anniversary in 2014. Alex Gould contributed to two chapters: Chapter 19 - Reproduction, hormones and metabolism Chapter 21 - Developmental biology |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.historyofnimr.org.uk/a-century-of-science-for-health/100-years-of-science-for-health-the-... |
Description | MRC Annual Review 08/09 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed by the MRC Press office about our recent work on using fruit flies to find out how neural stem cells work (Cell 2008). Ridiculed for wearing a frivolous flowery shirt on the publicity photographs. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
Description | MRC Network May/June 2011 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Research Roundup item in MRC Network May/June 2011 on Nature (2011) paper: "Food for thought: how dietary protein helps brain growth" Generated interest from clinical and basic scientists |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | MRC Press Release for Cell 08 paper |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | MRC Press Release: "Timer genes control brain size" http://www.mrc.ac.uk/NewsViewsAndEvents/News/MRC004610 Stimulated interest in using Drosophila as a genetic model for studying human neural stem and progenitor cells. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
Description | MRC Press Release for Nature 07 paper |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | MRC Press Release and front-page web site item: "Fruit-fly fatty secrets shed light on liver disease" www.mrc.ac.uk/NewsViewsAndEvents/News/MRC003414 Stimulated interest (and funding) in using Drosophila as a genetic model for aspects of human lipid metabolism and liver functions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006 |
Description | NIMR Centenary Symposium 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The talk was to scientists, ex-scientists and other employees of MRC NIMR over the years and led to much discussion about how the ideas and practice of science has changed over the past 100 years. Contributions were made to a book and also a film on the history of NIMR |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | NIMR/UCL Lab web pages |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Information about our research is available at the NIMR and UCL web sites: http://www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/research/alex-gould/ http://www.ucl.ac.uk/neuroscience/Page.php?ID=12RsearcherID=342 Raises the general awareness of our research and helps with recruitment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015 |
Description | University of the Third Age (U3A) 2013 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Approximately 200 people, mostly retired, attended a very lively U3A annual meeting on the subject of "You are what your mother ate" These annual meetings will continue, despite the untimely death of the inspirational organiser Dr. Michael Sargent. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/u3a/ |
Description | You Tube item on Nature 2012 paper |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | A video was placed on You Tube, made by NIMR, describing Multi-Isotope Imaging Mass Spectrometry as relevant to our Nature 2012 paper: Steinhauser, M.L, Bailey, A.P, Senyo, S.E, Guillermier, C, Perlstein, T.S, Gould, A.P, Lee, R.T and Lechene, C.P. (2012). Multi-isotope imaging mass spectrometry quantifies stem cell division and metabolism. Nature 481, 516-519 208 hits after 3 months. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |