Aaron J Farrugia

How do cells recognize matrix topography? In this preprint we show that α5β1-integrin fibrillar adhesions rapidly form in response to topographic cues like electrospun nanofibers- no actomyosin contractility, focal adhesions or fibronectin secretion needed doi.org/10.1101/2025.1…

Our first talk from @MBIsg – @AlexanderBersh1 presented work by @aaronjfarr combining beautiful live imaging and theoretical modelling showing how fibronectin fibrillar adhesions decode matrix topography. It's not just about focal adhesions in mechanosensing! #MBIMPG2025

🚨Two exciting opportunities available at the Mechanobiology Instutute @MBIsg in Singapore 🇸🇬 We’re studying how the cytoskeleton interacts with 🧫 integrin adhesions and 🧬 the nucleus Please share or get in touch! 🔬🌏

Just a few days to submit for the Sep 9-12 @MBIsg conference! Cool feature this year- a #HawkerCentre night with speakers and ECRs. Imagine enjoying Char Kway Teow & chatting #microtubules with someone like Sasha Bershadsky! Register here: mbi.nus.edu.sg/events/mbiconf…

@RadioGenoa Trump

Who is worst politician in world today?

@SamStehbens @robertr33 @arc_gov_au @drDJVDavid @NatureCellBio Big congratulations Sam and Team! 🍾 Beautiful work!

Excited to announce…..it’s finally arrived (!!) nature.com/articles/s4155… A big thank-you to my team (particularly @robertr33), co authors & #FutureFellowship funding from @arc_gov_au Importantly- a big shoutout to @drDJVDavid @NatureCellBio for their support. 👇tweetorial 👇 #VivaLaMicrotubules 🎉

@ActonLab @CRUKresearch @ERC_Research @wellcometrust @LMCB_UCL @UCLLifeSciences @hlhorsnell2 @lotte_dewinde @S_Makris @MillwardLindsey @eriksahailab @yuktihari @ReiseSousaLab @TurleyLabGNE @christabenji Amazing news!! Congratulations Professor Acton! 🍾

Promotion success! "Professor Acton" - October 2024 Thank you @CRUKresearch, @ERC_Research, @wellcometrust for funding Thank you @LMCB_UCL, @UCLLifeSciences for mentorship and support since 2016. But above all, thank you to the amazing students and postdocs past and present

@calvo_lab … also makes me feel very old 😅

@calvo_lab Awesome! Happy Birthday Calvo lab🥳 what a milestone!! Honoured to be have been a part of the team 🥲

In October 2013 I started my career as a PI – so Calvo Lab is 10 year old🥳!! Thanks to the institutions that host/hosted us over the years (@ICR_London, @IBBTEC, @CSIC, @unican), and to the mentors and colleagues youtube.com/watch?v=Y6C7Qg…

“Ten years ago I was kicked out and forced to retire.” Our new medicine laureate Katalin Karikó (@kkariko) told us how much it means to be awarded the Nobel Prize after a scientific career that has been full of challenges. Ten years ago, Karikó was still doing all her experiments by hand but today she has been awarded the medicine prize for her research on mRNA, which led to the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Listen now:

But the story is different for another type of integrin adhesions, fibrillar adhesions. @aaronjfarr from @AlexanderBersh1's lab revealed how they are controlled by myosin II filaments and are highly sensitive to membrane tension and topography 🌁

@AlexanderBersh1 of @MBIsg described the interplay between focal adhesions, actomyosin cytoskeleton and microtubule network, as well as the important role of KANK protein coupling these components. Microtubules associating with the FAs induce sliding, then disassembly 🛝

We are super happy to announce that our article on the generation of nanoscale protrusion forces by actin networks is now available @NatureComms rdcu.be/cQWGZ 🥳👇

#Hiring new faculty at all levels! Seeking #PI candidates dedicated to multidisciplinary research on development, aging and repair. Successful ones will hold a joint-appointment as a Prof. / Assoc. Prof. / Asst. Prof. at a suitable department @NUSingapore. 📧 mbihr@nus.edu.sg

Killer T cells are beautiful! This high resolution/rapid acquisition video of a T cell attacking a lymphoma cancer cell was captured on a specialized Lattice Light Sheet microscope with the help of my wonderful collaborators @HHMIJanelia. See more details in the thread below.

Great feature on cell chirality featuring the work of Yee Han Tee from the lab of Alexander Bershadsky! Keep an eye out for a sessions on chirality and symmetry breaking at @2022Wcb later this year too.

And finally, the Judges Choice Winner! Invading Cancer Cells by @JamieWhitelaw5. Prize sponsored by @focalplane_jcs. #SNS2021SULSA

📣Don't miss Sasha Bershadsky @AlexanderBersh1 talking on the interplay between actin, integrin adhesions and microtubules next monday (22/11)

I never get tired of watching #rotavirus #calciumsignaling in action. 🌊🌊🌊 Cool things to look for: 1) Ca2+ waves are cooperative?🤯 Watch the 2 cells in the upper right at ~70 min. 2) A cell 'waves' goodbye! 👋💥Watch for the Super-duper cell death Ca2+ wave at ~100 min.