@dunnschool
More formally, the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford. More understandably, we aim to transform human health through discovery research. More completely, https://www.path.ox.ac.uk
A panel discussion at the Phoenix Picturehouse
Last month, the Friends of the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter held a screening of Breaking the Mould - a BBC drama that portraits the world-changing research done at the Dunn School to develop penicillin.
The screening was followed by an expert panel discussion including @georgiaisom.bsky.social.
Congratulations to Luciano Marasco Gutierrez from the Proudfoot lab, who won an oral presentation award at the recent RNA UK conference! 👏
Luciano's presentation was on MBLAC2, an endonuclease that regulates rRNA quality control.
Continuing our DPhil in Cancer Science interview series for #InternationalDayofWomenAndGirlsInScience2026, we spoke to fourth-year Fundamental Scientist, Lena Duma, whose work in @dunnschool.bsky.social focuses on DNA repair system in cells. @medsci.ox.ac.uk
www.cancer.ox.ac.uk/news/interna...
Would you like to write for The Economist? We are hiring for our science and technology internship. Find out more and apply here
Paywalled but visible to many uni-based people
Apparently...
Much reduced MRC success rate for grants now in pipeline
Reduced MRC future funding for 'applicant-led' research
But 'life sciences remain a priority'....
Lot of room for more clarity (and recognition of effects on ECRs)
Helpful update into UKRI and research council funding changes from Zoe Kleinman @zsk.bsky.social
But please more focus on 2 things...
1) Immediate effects (eg funding decisions expected in March)
2) Likely disproportionate effects on early career scientists
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I watched much of Ian Chapman's (Head of @ukri.org) appearance this morning at @ukparliament.parliament.uk Science, Innovation and Technology Committee..
A few points and new information that bioscientists may find interesting...
A 🧵
A new study from the @tcell.bsky.social lab demonstrates a novel strategy to reduce dangerous off-target effects in engineered T cell therapies.
Find out more: www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
80 years ago the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for the discovery and development of penicillin into the medicine that changed the world.
Let's celebrate Fleming, Florey and Chain, but also remember the many people who contributed to this work: science is and remains a team effort! 🤝
Breaking...
Very good news. A first step towards...?
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Supported by £2.7 million of funding from Wellcome’s Biology of Fungal Adaptation programme, a five-year research project leverages a network of leading international experts from the Quadram Institute, @dunnschool.bsky.social and @monashuniversity.bsky.social.
When scientists @dunnschool.bsky.social do science, their peers around the world take notice
When scientists, and others, @dunnschool.bsky.social do a Christmas party, they rock
Volume up
Sarah McLean presenting a leadership masterclass in the Dunn School
We were delighted to welcome Sarah McLean for an insightful and engaging leadership masterclass with our staff and students. She shared her journey into leadership, explored the qualities of effective leaders, and held a Q&A offering tailored advice.
Thank you, Sarah, for your time and expertise!
By capturing the interplay of nutrient competition and toxin warfare, a new paper by the Foster lab shows what it takes to win against neighbouring bacterial strains – with important implications for antimicrobial resistance research.
Read more: www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
You can find out more about our Postdoc Programme and what involves here: www.path.ox.ac.uk/work-with-us...
Today we are again hosting the prestigious @embolableadership.bsky.social course for our postdocs, in partnership with @ndm.ox.ac.uk and @idrm.ox.ac.uk.
It is part of the Dunn School Postdoc Programme, our commitment to providing a launching pad for the careers of our postdocs and research staff!
The Christmas spirit is definitely in the air!
Last Friday saw talented Dunners take a break from the lab to relax and crochet decorations for our departmental Christmas tree. What a talented bunch! 🧶 🎄 Thank you Vasiliki for organising!
This Friday: the famous departmental Christmas party!
The Dunn School women in science group with their three panellists
The event was led by the Dunn School's Women in Science group, which was formed in October 2023 and has since run several panels to discuss how women navigate challenges in STEM.
Panel event with three alumnae
On Wednesday, we hosted ‘Been there, Dunn that’, an event that saw three of our alumnae return to talk about their time at the Dunn School and their subsequent careers. A big thank you to Penny, Abi and Ines for taking the time and sharing your stories!
Decorated Christmas tree
Christmas has arrived at the Dunn School! Season greetings to you all🎄
Glad to see that someone is speaking up for us...😉
A great read! Fleming's discovery of the antibacterial properties of Penicillium mould cannot have happened as he described.
@kevinsblake.bsky.social rounds up the evidence.
Spoiler: no sign of foul play, but certainly the canonical story is almost certainly distorted.
This event will take place on Wednesday 3 December, 2-3pm and is open to all our alumni to watch remotely via MS Teams.
If you’d like to attend our alumni events, please join our Alumni Network to receive the joining instructions for this event and future updates. Join here: shorturl.at/MX2Zz
Been there, Dunn that poster - with portraits of the three speakers
Next week, we will be welcoming back three alumnae from different decades, to join our Women in Science group for a conversation about their time in the Dunn School and their experiences as women in STEM.
Many congratulations Teresa!
Teresa Thurston was awarded the 2025 Pettenkofer Prize, recognising her contributions to identifying how different bacterial effectors impact the outcome of infection.
www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
Congratulations Teresa!
Cover of Fusion
📣 The latest issue of our magazine Fusion is now out!
We explore how AI, improved SEM capabilities and new groups are contributing to the Dunn School’s research. Also keep an eye out for the literary talents of our staff and students.
Every issue can be found on our website: shorturl.at/lOGpH
Congratulations to @sarojsaurya.bsky.social, Highly Commended as a Sustainability Champion (staff category) in this year's Green Gown Awards! 💚
The Green Gown Awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges in the UK and Ireland.
The latest paper by @erikbakkeren.bsky.social and the Foster group shows a potential way to engineer the microbiome by replacing problem strains with beneficial ones
Find out more @natmicrobiol.nature.com:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪 Interested in the early days of modern biology - a time before PCR or cloning - and how one generation of scientists transformed trial and error into the precision science we know today?
Check out this podcast by our former postdoc and now CEO, Jurgi Camblong, with Prof Proudfoot 🎧
