Manchester Cell Matrix Centre

It was a great first day at British Science Week. We are talking mucus, microbes, and parasites!

This team developed lab grown cartilage models that let them see what goes wrong in multiple epiphyseal dysplasia. Their work shows that a MATN3 gene change disrupts cartilage and drives excess cholesterol production, a surprising clue that could lead to new treatments.

lnkd.in/eangQ5PP

Flyer of the Matrix Biology Europe conference listing invited speakers

Registration for #MBE2026 is now open!
Join us in Oulu 🇫🇮 for the flagship European meeting dedicated to fundamental #ECM research.
ECRs and trainees, this is a unique chance to connect with leaders in the field, present your work, gain visibility, and build your network!
More at www.mbe2026.org

Very excited to announce that registration is open for the BSMB Spring 2026 meeting in Manchester, April 13-14th. Already an amazing lineup and lots of opportunities to speak!
Register, bsmb.ac.uk/meetings/ecm... @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social

As we fully settle into the New Year we are proud to continue to celebrate Professor Martin Humphries who was awarded an OBE in the King’s 2026 New Year Honours for services to Bioscience—recognising his leadership, research impact and commitment to our community.

@martinhumphries.bsky.social

Research Technician:Oxford Road | Manchester Cell-Matrix Centre Dr Kerrie Marie’s research group at the University of Manchester is looking for a Grade 5 Research Technician to join their team studying melanoma cell plasticity. This is an exciting opportunity to c...

Kerrie Marie’s research group at the University of Manchester is looking for a Grade 5 Research Technician to join their team studying melanoma cell plasticity.

lnkd.in/e7QvH2R7

Collagen VI microfibril structure reveals mechanism for molecular assembly and clustering of inherited pathogenic mutations Nature Communications - Collagen VI microfibril cryo-EM structure resolves a cysteine-rich coiled-coil important for heterotrimerization and microfibril assembly, reveals a hotspot of collagen VI...

Amazing new paper from Clair Baldock's lab resolves the collagen VI microfibril structure by cryo-EM to reveal a cysteine-rich coiled-coil crucial for heterotrimerization & microfibril assembly. The structure also reveals a hotspot of collagen VI muscular dystrophy mutations that disrupt assembly.

We are celebrating Three Decades of Discovery and Excellence at the Cell Matrix Centre!

In preprints: a new preprint curation initiative from Development

In preprints: unpicking chemical and mechanical crosstalk for axonal pathfinding

Dionn Hargreaves and Sarah Woolner @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social‬ discuss the #preprint from @evapillai.bsky.social‬ ‪@sudimukherjee.bsky.social‬ @franzelab.bsky.social‬ et al.
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

We had a great day today at the Translation Manchester Showcase. Let us know, what does Translational research mean to you?

Congratulations to Tony Day of @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social @fbmh-uom.bsky.social on his election to the Academy of Medical Sciences (‪@acmedsci.bsky.social). Tremendous contributions to basic and translational research on proteoglycans.

Are you a PhD student or researcher passionate about cell-matrix research? Are you part of a research community that faces barriers to access or opportunity?

Our Visiting Scholar Scheme offers short-term research placements at the Manchester Cell-Matrix Centre.

Apply by May 30: lnkd.in/eppWKvH2

So excited to share our first neuro focused paper from the lab, we show that CXCL4 (PF4) is transported into the brain by proteoglycans within the endothelial glycocalyx and that GAG binding also mediates the pro neurogenesis effects of CXCL4. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Women in Science: Dharshika YouTube video by Manchester Cell Matrix Centre

Today at the Manchester Cell Matrix Centre, we're excited to showcase another Woman in Science, Dharshika Jayalath (Pathiranage), Dharshika is a lab manager, whose research focuses on the circadian clock and circadian rhythms.

Watch Dharshika's video here: youtube.com/shorts/bS-KL...

Women in Science: Dionn YouTube video by Manchester Cell Matrix Centre

Today at the Manchester Cell Matrix Centre, we're excited to showcase another Woman in Science, Dionn, a postdoctoral researcher specializing in Quantitative and Biophysical Biology.

Watch Dionn's video here: youtube.com/shorts/W57Gz...

Women in Science: Erin YouTube video by Manchester Cell Matrix Centre

At the Manchester Cell Matrix Centre, we're showcasing our researchers' through a new video series. Kicking off with Women in Science, today we highlight Erin, a PhD student studying the ImmunoMatrix in Complex Disease and Project Lead of Research Hive.

Erin's video youtube.com/shorts/2xT0q...

A fantastic postdoc opportunity available for talented PhD graduates to work in our CRUK funded PhD project.
jobs.manchester.ac.uk/internal/Job...
@mcr-breastcentre.bsky.social @mcrcnews.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social @official-uom.bsky.social @fbmh-uom.bsky.social

Macrophages promote collagen deposition through circadian regulation of fibroblasts Collagen deposition in fibroblasts, the primary collagen-producing cells, is regulated by both macrophages and the circadian rhythm, although how these regulatory processes interact with one another i...

Our lab's #1st manuscript from our #1st #PhD Katie is on #bioRxiv! Check it out 👇🏻

#macrophage regulation of fibroblast #collagen #circadian rhythm. #ImmunoECMatrix w/ @profandrewmac.bsky.social @tracyh9494.bsky.social @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

We had a great time yesterday taking some #TimetoTalk. We thank everyone who took the time out of their day to just simply connect.

Pink square graphic with black text which reads, 'World Cancer Day - 4 February'

In the UK, nearly 1 in 2 people will get cancer in their lifetime. It's World Cancer Day today – a global day to raise awareness and take action against cancer 🌍

Whatever your cancer experience, share this post and help us get the word out.

#WorldCancerDay #WCD2025

This research offers new insights into COVID-19 pathology and potential therapeutic targets. A great example of pushing the boundaries of matrix biology!

#MatrixBiology #Hyaluronan #LungHealth

@becky-dodd.bsky.social @profjudiallen.bsky.social

Research Associate - Mechanisms Associated with Extracellular Matrix Assembly and Stability at The University of Manchester Apply for the Research Associate - Mechanisms Associated with Extracellular Matrix Assembly and Stability role on jobs.ac.uk, the top job board for academic positions in higher education. View details...

We are hiring!!

How do basement membranes become stable structures during tissue growth? How can we measure turnover and dynamics?

Come and join our team to help us answer these questions!

@mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social
@stramerlab.bsky.social

More info 👇

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLN927/r...

The novel ECM protein SNED1 mediates cell adhesion via the RGD-binding integrins α5β1 and αvβ3 Summary: The recently discovered extracellular matrix protein SNED1 promotes the adhesion of breast cancer cells and neural crest cells via interaction with α5β1 and αvβ3 integrins, the first SNED1 re...

Our paper entitled "The novel #ECM protein SNED1 mediates cell adhesion via the RGD-binding #integrins α5β1 and αvβ3" is now published in #OpenAccess in @jcellsci.bsky.social @biologists.bsky.social. Big congrats Dharma pdtr124.bsky.social and Nandini! doi.org/10.1242/jcs....

(BBSRC NWD) Developing biomaterials to engineer how cancer cells sense force to regulate gene expression at The University of Manchester on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - (BBSRC NWD) Developing biomaterials to engineer how cancer cells sense force to regulate gene expression at The University of Manchester, listed on FindAPhD.com

📣 PhD opportunity in the lab!

💡 Are you interested in developing biomaterials to understand how cancer cells sense their surroundings to control gene activity?

🔗 For info on the project, and for details on how to apply, click here: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

📧 Do get in touch if interested!

Please spread the word and sign up for our exciting spring meeting in Nottingham with amazing speakers on the topic of ECM, immunity and infection. An exciting and developing field! paacr4.wixsite.com/bsmb-spring2...

Endocytic recycling is central to circadian collagen fibrillogenesis and disrupted in fibrosis Secretion and fibrillogenesis of collagen-I are separately controlled molecular pathways in the fibroblast, where surprisingly endocytic recycling is required for fibril formation and is increased in ...

Very glad to see this study finally out (and mentioned on bsky already!)- it's been a huge #collaboration across different groups🙏🏻

Fibroblasts recycles (in a #circadian manner) #collagen to make new fibrils, which is enhanced in #fibrosis.

doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
@elife.bsky.social

Manchester Cell-Matrix Centre members

We'll always have matrix... Happy holidays to all our members and collaborators.