The fundamental roles of axonal actin during neuronal growth and longevity
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: School of Biological Sciences
Abstract
The actin cytoskeleton within axon shafts has long been neglected, but supra-resolution microscopy has now made it amenable to investigation. Here we will use Drosophila genetics to dissect the roles of axonal actin, building on promising pilot data which suggest important functions in axon growth and in maintaining axonal MTs.
Axons are the cable-like protrusions of neurons which electrically wire the nervous system and are indispensable for its function. In spite of their importance, the fundamental mechanisms which underpin the formation and maintenance of axons remain poorly understood. Important understanding will come from work on the actin and microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton which is absolutely required for the growth and maintenance of axons. Actin and MTs are filamentous protein polymers which arrange into intracellular scaffolds maintaining cell architecture and mediating cell dynamics. So far, research has primarily been focussed on the prominent cytoskeletal networks of neurons: firstly, abundant actin networks in motile growth cones (GCs) which guide axon elongation during development; secondly, bundles of MTs which form the structural backbones of axons and are required to establish and then maintain axons for an organism's lifetime (i.e. decades in humans). Further important roles are likely to come from the actin cytoskeleton in axon shafts, but this actin has been difficult to visualise and has been widely neglected.
Recently, supra-resolution microscopy of mouse neurons delivered a precise template for studies of axonal actin. These studies revealed bundles of short actin filaments arranged into periodically patterned rings which surround the axonal MT bundles, ideal to regulate their dynamics. Notably, we find similar repetitive patterns when using supra-resolution microscopy on neurons of the fruitfly Drosophila, suggesting that these structures are evolutionary conserved and functionally relevant. Such relevance is further supported by our experiments with two classes of genetic and drug manipulations: one class is expected to affect actin in axon shafts, the other to maintain actin rings, but both clearly remove actin from GCs. These treatments have differential effects on axon extension which strongly support a model in which axonal actin has growth-promoting roles. Such a role of axonal actin would introduce novel mechanistic concepts into models of axon growth, thus providing new opportunities to unravel this still unresolved, fundamental problem in neurobiology.
Furthermore, our experiments with the two classes of actin manipulations suggest that axonal actin has a second role, which is to maintain axonal MTs. Thus, when MTs are destabilised through specific genetic manipulation, additional removal of axonal actin eliminates their proliferation and axons retract and eventually vanish. This surprising and novel finding likewise opens up new opportunities, and we believe that it will have potential implications not only for axon growth but also for axon degeneration and branching.
To turn our pilot data on axonal actin into substantial understanding of axon biology, we will capitalise on the unique genetic and experimental opportunities provided by fly neurons, for which we have 10 years of experience. Thus, we have already investigated ~40 actin and MT regulators of Drosophila, alone or in combinations, during axon growth and GC regulation. This provides us with a solid and unique knowledge base for the research on this project. Here, we will 1) use supra-resolution microscopy in combination with our actin manipulations to functionally validate the model of axonal actin rings, 2) proof the growth-promoting roles using micro-fluid chambers, refined live imaging and traction fore microscopy, 3) unravel the underlying mechanisms by focussing on actin-dependent MT polymerisation and forward sliding of MTs, and 4) demonstrate the relevance of axonal actin in vivo.
Axons are the cable-like protrusions of neurons which electrically wire the nervous system and are indispensable for its function. In spite of their importance, the fundamental mechanisms which underpin the formation and maintenance of axons remain poorly understood. Important understanding will come from work on the actin and microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton which is absolutely required for the growth and maintenance of axons. Actin and MTs are filamentous protein polymers which arrange into intracellular scaffolds maintaining cell architecture and mediating cell dynamics. So far, research has primarily been focussed on the prominent cytoskeletal networks of neurons: firstly, abundant actin networks in motile growth cones (GCs) which guide axon elongation during development; secondly, bundles of MTs which form the structural backbones of axons and are required to establish and then maintain axons for an organism's lifetime (i.e. decades in humans). Further important roles are likely to come from the actin cytoskeleton in axon shafts, but this actin has been difficult to visualise and has been widely neglected.
Recently, supra-resolution microscopy of mouse neurons delivered a precise template for studies of axonal actin. These studies revealed bundles of short actin filaments arranged into periodically patterned rings which surround the axonal MT bundles, ideal to regulate their dynamics. Notably, we find similar repetitive patterns when using supra-resolution microscopy on neurons of the fruitfly Drosophila, suggesting that these structures are evolutionary conserved and functionally relevant. Such relevance is further supported by our experiments with two classes of genetic and drug manipulations: one class is expected to affect actin in axon shafts, the other to maintain actin rings, but both clearly remove actin from GCs. These treatments have differential effects on axon extension which strongly support a model in which axonal actin has growth-promoting roles. Such a role of axonal actin would introduce novel mechanistic concepts into models of axon growth, thus providing new opportunities to unravel this still unresolved, fundamental problem in neurobiology.
Furthermore, our experiments with the two classes of actin manipulations suggest that axonal actin has a second role, which is to maintain axonal MTs. Thus, when MTs are destabilised through specific genetic manipulation, additional removal of axonal actin eliminates their proliferation and axons retract and eventually vanish. This surprising and novel finding likewise opens up new opportunities, and we believe that it will have potential implications not only for axon growth but also for axon degeneration and branching.
To turn our pilot data on axonal actin into substantial understanding of axon biology, we will capitalise on the unique genetic and experimental opportunities provided by fly neurons, for which we have 10 years of experience. Thus, we have already investigated ~40 actin and MT regulators of Drosophila, alone or in combinations, during axon growth and GC regulation. This provides us with a solid and unique knowledge base for the research on this project. Here, we will 1) use supra-resolution microscopy in combination with our actin manipulations to functionally validate the model of axonal actin rings, 2) proof the growth-promoting roles using micro-fluid chambers, refined live imaging and traction fore microscopy, 3) unravel the underlying mechanisms by focussing on actin-dependent MT polymerisation and forward sliding of MTs, and 4) demonstrate the relevance of axonal actin in vivo.
Technical Summary
This project explores newly described actin structures of axons as a novel research direction to study the development and maintenance of axons. This topic is important, timely and promising since axon biology closely links to central aspects of brain development, function, regeneration and decay, but how axons are regulated during these processes remains little understood.
Axons are slender cable-like protrusions of neurons which wire the brain, and are indispensable elements of nervous systems. Their structural backbone is formed by bundles of microtubules (MTs) which are the key drivers of axon growth and essential for axon longevity. Supra-resolution microscopy of mouse axons has now shown that axonal MT bundles are surrounded by evenly spaced rings of bundled actin, ideally positioned to regulate axonal MTs. Notably, they are evolutionary conserved, since our supra-resolution microscopy of Drosophila neurons reveals similar repetitive axonal actin structures.
We have started to study their function using versatile fly genetics which provides powerful means to dissect the roles and regulation of the neuronal cytoskeleton. Using the ring model as a template we assess its proposed properties with specific actin manipulations and functional readouts. Our data so far support the model. Notably, they suggest important roles of axonal actin in promoting axon growth and in maintaining the polymerisation of axonal MTs.
Here we will test these proposed roles. 1) We will use supra-resolution microscopy to assess whether our manipulations affect actin rings as predicted, thus functionally validating the ring model. 2) Assessing actin manipulations with micro-fluid chambers, traction force microscopy, live imaging and stretch-biosensors we will test roles of axonal actin in growth promotion. 3) We will assess MT polymerisation and MT sliding as likely candidate mechanisms downstream of axonal actin, and 4) test the functional relevance of axonal actin in vivo.
Axons are slender cable-like protrusions of neurons which wire the brain, and are indispensable elements of nervous systems. Their structural backbone is formed by bundles of microtubules (MTs) which are the key drivers of axon growth and essential for axon longevity. Supra-resolution microscopy of mouse axons has now shown that axonal MT bundles are surrounded by evenly spaced rings of bundled actin, ideally positioned to regulate axonal MTs. Notably, they are evolutionary conserved, since our supra-resolution microscopy of Drosophila neurons reveals similar repetitive axonal actin structures.
We have started to study their function using versatile fly genetics which provides powerful means to dissect the roles and regulation of the neuronal cytoskeleton. Using the ring model as a template we assess its proposed properties with specific actin manipulations and functional readouts. Our data so far support the model. Notably, they suggest important roles of axonal actin in promoting axon growth and in maintaining the polymerisation of axonal MTs.
Here we will test these proposed roles. 1) We will use supra-resolution microscopy to assess whether our manipulations affect actin rings as predicted, thus functionally validating the ring model. 2) Assessing actin manipulations with micro-fluid chambers, traction force microscopy, live imaging and stretch-biosensors we will test roles of axonal actin in growth promotion. 3) We will assess MT polymerisation and MT sliding as likely candidate mechanisms downstream of axonal actin, and 4) test the functional relevance of axonal actin in vivo.
Planned Impact
We use the fruitfly Drosophila to unravel fundamental roles of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton in axons, during nervous system development and maintenance. The key pathway for achieving impact on this project is to improve the wider appreciation and understanding of our research, and this will primarily involve communication with various target audiences, including other researchers (cell, developmental and neurobiologists), students, representatives from industry and members of the general public. This task is challenging because full appreciation of our research and its enormous potentials requires the integrated understanding of three very different topics, each loaded with specific ideas and concepts:
a) the function, organisation, growth, maintenance and decay of axons; this topic touches on anatomy, neurophysiology, developmental and cell biology, and has important implications for brain disorders or events of spinal cord injury.
b) the key roles of the cytoskeleton during all biological processes of axons, the cytoskeleton as a major lesion site in the ageing brain, the prevalence of "cytoskeletal genes" in human brain disorders and, consequently, the cytoskeleton as a promising but little explored drug target.
c) the strategy of using the invertebrate model organism Drosophila, in particular its powerful genetics, as effective means to understand fundamental biology, the impressive track-record of Drosophila in delivering significant scientific advance, and the translational value of such work in flies.
I am already proactive in communicating our research at all levels, including scientific audiences (several conceptual reviews and a specialist blog), industry (interaction with the Manchester robotics unit, connections to J&J and Boehringer) and the wider public (press releases, an online layman's guide, public engagement in museums and schools). During this project, we will keep momentum through carrying on with these activities, we will qualitatively improve them to increase their impact, and will engage in two new and complementary activities designed to reach even wider audiences.
Impact activities will involve (1) publication of our research in peer-reviewed journals, (2) presentation on conferences three times a year, (3) the writing of a conceptual review about axon growth, (4) active contributions to the nEUROskeleton blog, (5) collaboration with our Media Relations Officer Kath Paddison to turn out press releases, (6) the reactivation of links to industrial representatives (J&J, Boehringer Ingelheim) to discuss the application of our Drosophila models for drug screens, (7) build a web resource informing about axons and the neuronal cytoskeleton, (8) generate an animation film and filmed interviews for this resource, (9) continue with school and museums events, (10) collaborate with North West Schools, the Directorate for the Student Experience, and the Manchester Institute of Education to develop resources which will help to establish Drosophila as a modern teaching tool in schools. The last activity will include an application for a Wellcome Trust People Award. Finally, I will take on one Nuffield student each year.
a) the function, organisation, growth, maintenance and decay of axons; this topic touches on anatomy, neurophysiology, developmental and cell biology, and has important implications for brain disorders or events of spinal cord injury.
b) the key roles of the cytoskeleton during all biological processes of axons, the cytoskeleton as a major lesion site in the ageing brain, the prevalence of "cytoskeletal genes" in human brain disorders and, consequently, the cytoskeleton as a promising but little explored drug target.
c) the strategy of using the invertebrate model organism Drosophila, in particular its powerful genetics, as effective means to understand fundamental biology, the impressive track-record of Drosophila in delivering significant scientific advance, and the translational value of such work in flies.
I am already proactive in communicating our research at all levels, including scientific audiences (several conceptual reviews and a specialist blog), industry (interaction with the Manchester robotics unit, connections to J&J and Boehringer) and the wider public (press releases, an online layman's guide, public engagement in museums and schools). During this project, we will keep momentum through carrying on with these activities, we will qualitatively improve them to increase their impact, and will engage in two new and complementary activities designed to reach even wider audiences.
Impact activities will involve (1) publication of our research in peer-reviewed journals, (2) presentation on conferences three times a year, (3) the writing of a conceptual review about axon growth, (4) active contributions to the nEUROskeleton blog, (5) collaboration with our Media Relations Officer Kath Paddison to turn out press releases, (6) the reactivation of links to industrial representatives (J&J, Boehringer Ingelheim) to discuss the application of our Drosophila models for drug screens, (7) build a web resource informing about axons and the neuronal cytoskeleton, (8) generate an animation film and filmed interviews for this resource, (9) continue with school and museums events, (10) collaborate with North West Schools, the Directorate for the Student Experience, and the Manchester Institute of Education to develop resources which will help to establish Drosophila as a modern teaching tool in schools. The last activity will include an application for a Wellcome Trust People Award. Finally, I will take on one Nuffield student each year.
Organisations
Publications
Prokop A
(2016)
Aiming for long-term, objective-driven science communication in the UK.
in F1000Research
Smith G
(2023)
How neurons maintain their axons long-term: an integrated view of axon biology and pathology
in Frontiers in Neuroscience
Voelzmann A
(2022)
Drosophila Primary Neuronal Cultures as a Useful Cellular Model to Study and Image Axonal Transport.
in Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
Qu, Y
(2017)
Periodic actin structures in neuronal axons are required to maintain microtubules
in Mol Biol Cell
Qu Y
(2017)
Periodic actin structures in neuronal axons are required to maintain microtubules.
in Molecular biology of the cell
Beaven R
(2015)
Drosophila CLIP-190 and mammalian CLIP-170 display reduced microtubule plus end association in the nervous system.
in Molecular biology of the cell
Hahn I
(2019)
The model of local axon homeostasis - explaining the role and regulation of microtubule bundles in axon maintenance and pathology.
in Neural development
Prokop, A.
(2018)
Why funding fruit fly research is important for the biomedical sciences
in Open Access Govern
Prokop, A.
(2018)
What is Developmental Biology - and why is it important?
in Open Access Government
Hahn I
(2021)
Tau, XMAP215/Msps and Eb1 co-operate interdependently to regulate microtubule polymerisation and bundle formation in axons.
in PLoS genetics
Description | Obj. 1: We have carefully dissected key components contributing to the formation of cortical axonal actin demonstrating nucleators, adducin and spectrin as key players, but not actin elongators - Obj. 2: We find growth-inhibiting roles of growth cone actin to be essentially regulated through integrins, and axonal actin playing key roles in maintaining MT polymerisation (functionally coupled to spectraplakins) - Obj. 3: One key mechanism is the maintenance of MT polymerisation through yet unknown mechanisms; we speculate forces in form of tranegrity mechanisms to play a role which will be a future area of engagement. |
Exploitation Route | Ideas can be taken by others working on axons. |
Sectors | Education |
URL | http://www.molbiolcell.org/content/early/2016/11/21/mbc.E16-10-0727.abstract |
Description | Our droso4schools project as well as our Manchester Fly Facility project are having increasing impact internationally. The impact evidence is listed and regularly updated in our "ManFlyFacility-Impact" document which can be downloaded from: https://figshare.com/articles/Manchester_Fly_Facility_Resources/1328031 Presentation about our outreach work at a European conference: Patel, S., Prokop, A. (2021b) Making the impossible possible through objective-driven, long-term initiatives. 18th European Drosophila Neurobiology Conference (Org.: S. Casas Tintó, F. A. Martin), online from Madrid (04-06 May) -- www.neurofly2020.com |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Education |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | Alzheimer Society Biomedical Junior Fellowship |
Amount | £400,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | AS-JF-16b-004 |
Organisation | Alzheimer's Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 03/2021 |
Description | Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship |
Amount | £374,702 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ECF-2017-247 |
Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2017 |
End | 09/2020 |
Description | Using SIM and STED microscopy to understand the regulation of cortical actin in neurons |
Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 15130015 |
Organisation | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
Department | Central Laser Facility |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2015 |
End | 10/2015 |
Description | Using SIM and STED to study cortical actin in mammalian neurons |
Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 15230024 |
Organisation | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
Department | Central Laser Facility |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2016 |
End | 05/2016 |
Description | Using supra-resolution microscopy to understand the roles of cortical actin in neurons |
Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 14230031 |
Organisation | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
Department | Central Laser Facility |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2014 |
End | 02/2015 |
Description | 13 School activities or hostings since March 2016 |
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 | School visits or hostings since March last year (between 20-200 participants): • British Science Week, University of Manchester -14 to 17 March 2017 • Loreto sixth form college, Manchester, 19 Jan 2017 • Trinity School, Manchester, 16th Dec 2016 • Audiolab Project, Manchester- 1 Nov 2016 • Altrincham Grammar School - 11 Oct 2016 • 9 month collaboration with Trinity CoE High School and Loreto Sixth Form College within the droso4schools project - Aug 2016 to June 2017 • Y12 Mini Summer School, Faculty of Life Sciences - 25 July 2016 • Y10 Work Experience Programme - 18 July 2016 • Discover Life Sciences Event, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester - 12 July 2016 • Ryburn Valley High, Fly Facility, 15 April 2016 • St John's RC Primary School, 05 April 2016 • Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy, Fly Facility - 22 March 2016 • British Science Week, University of Manchester -11 to 20 March 2016 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
URL | http://www.flyfacility.ls.manchester.ac.uk/forthepublic/teachersandschools/#Visits |
Description | 4 CPD events since March 2016 |
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 | • STEM Learning RCUK cutting edge programme - 13 July 2017 • MANCEP Teacher's conference at Manchester Metropolitan University - 17 Feb 2017 • Teacher's Summer School, Faculty of Life Sciences, Manchester University - 11 July 2016 • ASE Annual Conference, Birmingham - 8 January 2016 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
URL | http://www.flyfacility.ls.manchester.ac.uk/forthepublic/teachersandschools/#CPD |
Description | 5 teacher seminars |
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 | CPD teacher training event, Fly Facility, Manchester University - 25 Jan 2018 School-University Partnership, Networking Event, Manchester University - 23 Nov 2017 STEM Learning RCUK cutting edge programme - 13 July 2017 Royal Society Science event - 15 March 2017 MANCEP Teacher's conference at Manchester Metropolitan University - 17 Feb 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
URL | http://www.flyfacility.manchester.ac.uk/forthepublic/teachersandschools/#CPD |
Description | 7 school visits |
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 | Animal Research Day, FBMH, Manchester University - 7 Dec 2017 Discover Life Sciences, FBMH, University of Manchester - 28/29 Jun 17 Loreto sixth form college - 19 May 2017 Manchester Grammar - 16 May 2017 Trinity School, Manchester - 8 May 2017 Animal Research Day, FBMH, Manchester University - 29 March 2017 Loreto sixth form college - 27 March 2017 Withington Primary School - 23 March 2017 Manchester Grammar - 21 March 2017 Loreto sixth form college, Manchester - 13 March 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.flyfacility.manchester.ac.uk/forthepublic/teachersandschools/#Visits |
Description | A short film explaining our work on neuronal maintenance to the public |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A YouTube video explaining our research in simple terms. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_r-mfMc610 |
Description | Abdulazeez, R, Prokop, A. (2020). How fruit flies can boost life and biomedical sciences in Nigeria. In "Yerwa Express News", 19 July |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | An article in a national newspaper explains the advantages of using Drosophila in research to drive cutting-edge research whilst saving resources. Available information and resources were disseminated |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.yenlive.com/news/index.php/opinions/3158-video-how-fruit-flies-can-boost-life-and-biomed... |
Description | Blog post describing new school resource |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Prokop, A. (2018h). A novel engaging approach to teaching life cycle and evolution in KS2 classrooms (primary schools). Blog post in "Gedankenexperimente" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://poppi62.wordpress.com/2018/12/01/primary-school |
Description | Blog post in NCCPE blog |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Science communication in the biomedical science: challenges opportunities and new approaches. Blog post in "NCCPE blog" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/blog/science-communication-biomedical-science-challenges-opportun... |
Description | Blog post in PLOS | BLOGS |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Communicating basic science: what goes wrong why we must do it and how we can do it better. Blog post in "PLOS | BLOGS" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://blogs.plos.org/scicomm/2017/11/20/communicating-basic-science-what-goes-wrong-why-we-must-do-... |
Description | Bollington Scibar, Bollington, 14 Oct 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Discussing the importance of Drosophila research for the biomedical sciences at a local bar outreach event |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://bollingtonscibar.wordpress.com/speakers/ |
Description | CPD teacher seminars |
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 | o Teachers' Summer School, Faculty of Life Sciences, Manchester University (27/07/15; 20 teachers; 4 hrs) o Bringing Cutting Edge Science - CPD teacher event, Fly Facility, Manchester University (23/03/15; 10 teachers; 4 hrs) o MANCEP Teachers' conference at Manchester Metropolitan University (13/02/15; 60 teachers; ½ day) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.flyfacility.ls.manchester.ac.uk/forthepublic/teachersandschools/#CPD |
Description | Calderón Segura, M. E, González Marín, B, Muraro, N, Galagovsky, D, Olguin, P, Prokop, A, Patel, S. (2020). droso4LatAm - Constuyendo una comunidad para la divulgación de Drosophila melanogaster |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | A webpage was designed to reach Spanish speaking audiences to raise awareness and disseminate resources to teach biology in schools based on Drosophila experiments |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://droso4latam.wordpress.com |
Description | Contribution on 6 outreach events since March 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Contribution on 6 outreach events since March 2016 • Celebration of Philanthropy Showcase, University of Manchester, 6 April 2017 • Body Experience, Manchester Museum, 18 March 2017 • National Student Conference, University Place, Manchester, 11 Feb 2017 • Audiolab Project, Manchester- 1 Nov 2016 • Behind the scenes of Manchester, Faculty of Life Science, 27 July 2016 • Body Experience, Manchester Museum, 19 March 2016 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
URL | http://www.flyfacility.ls.manchester.ac.uk/forthepublic/outreachactivities/#events |
Description | Contribution on BBC Worldservice program |
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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | 10 minute interview on: Luck-Baker, A. (2018). Do Insects Feel Pain? Discovery, Killing Insects: The Rights and Wrongs (episode 2 of 2). In "BBC World Service Discovery", pp. 27 min. BBC, UK. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csxgp4 |
Description | Design and implemementation of the Brain Box website |
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 | The Brain Box website was set up as a legacy site marketing the Brain Box event, explaining its components and serving as a legacy site to be referred to in future articles (one article has been accepted subject to revisions in Sem Cell Dev Biol). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://mcrbrainbox.wordpress.com |
Description | Extracurricular school visits |
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 | o Kings' School, Chester, Genetics Roadshow (19/11/15; 200 students, 2 hrs) o St Peter's High School, Manchester (19/11/15; 60 students; 3hrs) o Aquinas College, Stockport (02/11/15; 20 students; 3 hrs) o Nelson & Colne College, Nelson (06/10/15; 40 students; 3 hrs) o Animal Research Day, Faculty Life Sci., Manchester Univ. (25/03/15; 45 students; 3 hrs) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.flyfacility.ls.manchester.ac.uk/forthepublic/teachersandschools/#Visits |
Description | Genetics Soc. of America blog |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Patel, S., Prokop, A. (2019). Why fruit flies belong in primary and secondary schools. Blog post in "Genes to Genomes" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://genestogenomes.org/flies-in-schools |
Description | Guest blog for Genetics Society of America |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Guest blog for the Genetics Society of America: "Maintaining a strong Drosophila community - starting with students" (also mirrored on my own "Gedankenexperimente" blog site) about the importance of Drosophila as a model and how to disseminate this to the general public. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://genestogenomes.org/guest-post-maintaining-a-strong-drosophila-community-starting-with-student... |
Description | Guest blog on Pedagoo |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | A guest blog on pedagoo.org (later mirrored and expanded with great impact on my own blog "Gedankenexperimente") explaining and summarising all our school resources. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://poppi62.wordpress.com/2015/08/28/school-flies/ |
Description | Installation of an interactive brain sculpture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Using woollen threads as axons we wired up a 2m long 3D brain structure assembled by Paul Smith and placed on the landing in front of the Great Hall during the Brain Box event. We asked visitors to join in by adding their personal connections to that brain, choosing their own colour to connect across as ever they liked! The wiring process was documented by Florin Nica and Keith Myers as part of the Connected Explorers project. The sculpture is now on public display in the AV Hill Building of The University of Manchester and is being lend out for further exhibitions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://mcrbrainbox.wordpress.com/arts/#2 |
Description | Key organiser of the BRAIN BOX science fair with over 5K visitors |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Brain Box was a unique large-scale public engagement spectacle that took place in Manchester Town Hall as part of Manchester Day 2016. Its aim was to engage the public about all aspects of the brain and brain related research and showcase the enormous strength of neuroscience as a subject in Manchester. It achieved this through collaboration with Manchester City Council, with other Faculties of UoM, MMU, Salford University, NHS, 2 Manchester museums, patient groups and artists. The event had a common design, and contributors were grouped into 8 themes. Over 5000 visitors attended the event. Its legacy is provided through a dedicated webpage, a brain sculpture on exhibition in the AV-Hill building and a publication in Sem Cell Biol (accepted subject to revision). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://mcrbrainbox.wordpress.com/ |
Description | Maintaining a webpage for the general public |
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 | "For the Public" area on the Fly Facility web page which is a worldwide unique collection of outreach information for drosophilists, teachers and the public >23K views |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.flyfacility.ls.manchester.ac.uk/forthepublic/ |
Description | One hour presence on the BBC Radio Manchester morning show |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 17/06/2016 BBC Radio Manchester: one hour presence on the morning show presented by Alison Butterworth and Phil Trow; purpose was to talk about the upcoming Brain Box event at Manchester Day of which I was a key organiser |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04th27z |
Description | Organisation and participation in 4 science fair events |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | • Science Spectacular, Manchester Museum, 20 Oct 2018 • Science Uncovered Manchester, Manchester Museum, 28 Sept 2018 • Didsbury SciBar, Manchester, 23 April 2018 • British Science Week, 12-16 March 2018 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
URL | http://www.flyfacility.manchester.ac.uk/forthepublic/outreachactivities/#events |
Description | PLoS blog post |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Patel, S., Prokop, A. (2018). An objective-driven long-term initiative to communicate fundamental science to various target audiences - a Drosophila case study. Blog post in "PLOS | BLOGS" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://tinyurl.com/yd663m45 |
Description | PLoS blog post |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Prokop, A. (2018c). How to communicate basic research in schools - a case study using Drosophila. Blog post in "PLOS | BLOGS" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://tinyurl.com/yazj4yrc |
Description | Patel, S and Prokop, A. (2021) "Re-animating school biology lessons through teaching with living flies", submitted REF2021 impact case |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The outreach activities since 2011 with respect to developing school resources based on our research activities were turned into an impact case for REF2021; successfully submitted. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Publication in a school/teacher journal |
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 | Schools |
Results and Impact | Prokop, A. (2016a). Fruit flies in biological research. Biological Sciences Review 28, 10-14 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.escholar.manchester.ac.uk/uk-ac-man-scw:277700 |
Description | Publication of new lesson resource |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Prokop, A. (2018d). LESSON 6 - Life cycles. Blog post in "droso4schools" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://droso4schools.wordpress.com/l6-lifecycle/ |
Description | School engagement events |
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 | • Animal Research Day, FBMH, Manchester University - 17 July 2019 • Animal Research Day, FBMH, Manchester University - 20 March 2019 • British Science Week, University of Manchester -11 to 15 March 2018 • Animal Research Day, FBMH, Manchester University - 12 Dec 2018 • Scarisbrick Hall School, 14 Nov 2018 • St John's RC Primary School, 17 Oct 2018 • Discover Life Sciences Event, FBMH, University of Manchester - 17/18 July 2018 • Manchester University/ Lancashire Schools collaboration, Scarisbrick Hall School -4 July 2018 [Evaluation] • Y10 Work Experience Programme - 28 June 2018 • Manchester Grammar - 27 June 2018 • Brookburn Primary, Manchester - 06 June 2018 • Animal Research Day, FBMH, Manchester University - 29 March 2018 • British Science Week, University of Manchester -13 to 16 March 2018 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.flyfacility.manchester.ac.uk/forthepublic/teachersandschools/#Visits |
Description | Sci Bar - public engagement event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | SciBar, Park Tavern, Macclesfield, 22 Jan 2018 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://flyfacility.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/announcement.jpg |
Description | Supervising 3 science communication placement students |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Charlotte Blackburn, University of Edinburgh - November 2017 Sophie Demaine, University of Manchester - August 2016- June 2017 Joshua Heafield, University of Manchester - August 2016- June 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
URL | http://www.flyfacility.manchester.ac.uk/forthepublic/teachersandschools/#Placements |
Description | Supervising 4 placement students actively working on the droso4schools project |
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 | PIPS postgraduate students or undergraduate placement scheem students work as teaching assistants in our partner schools and generate teaching resources for biology classes, using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a teaching tool: • Sophie Demaine, University of Manchester - August 2016-June 2017 (UG placement) • Joshua Heafield, University of Mnachester - August 2016-June 2017 (UG placement) • Jennifer Harbottle, University of Aberdeen - January-March 2015 (PG PIPS) • Patrick Stangward, University of Manchester - January-March 2015 (PG PIPS) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017 |
URL | http://www.flyfacility.ls.manchester.ac.uk/forthepublic/teachersandschools/#Placements |
Description | Times Highered Article |
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 | Prokop, A. (2018b). First in fly: Drosophila research and biological discovery, by Stephanie Elizabeth Mohr. In "Times Higher Education", 29 March, pp. 58-9, London |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.timeshighereducation.com/books/review-first-in-fly-stephanie-elizabeth-mohr-harvard-univ... |