Wyn Firth
@firthwyn.bsky.social
Astrocyte aficionado, immunometabolically inquisitive, energy homeostasis enthusiast. Probably hungry.
Currently studying astrocyte-neuron interactions in neurodegeneration | Postdoc @ Cardiff | Exeter alumnus x2 | Shotokan karateka
Views my own.
Currently studying astrocyte-neuron interactions in neurodegeneration | Postdoc @ Cardiff | Exeter alumnus x2 | Shotokan karateka
Views my own.
Pinned
Wyn Firth
@firthwyn.bsky.social
· Jul 27
Bioenergetic dysfunction and inflammation in hiPSC-derived astrocytes from m.14484T>C Leber′s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy
Leber′s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) is a maternally inherited mitochondrial disorder characterised by painless, progressive, and sequential visual failure. Most cases of LHON are driven by mito...
www.biorxiv.org
❗️🚨PREPRINT ALERT 🚨❗️
Very excited to say that the first study from my current role is out NOW as a preprint!
A huge amount of work and great collaborative effort not to mention great news to start annual leave
🧵 ⬇️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
#neuroskyence #astrocytes #metabolism #inflammation
Very excited to say that the first study from my current role is out NOW as a preprint!
A huge amount of work and great collaborative effort not to mention great news to start annual leave
🧵 ⬇️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
#neuroskyence #astrocytes #metabolism #inflammation
❗️🚨PREPRINT ALERT 🚨❗️
Very excited to say that the first study from my current role is out NOW as a preprint!
A huge amount of work and great collaborative effort not to mention great news to start annual leave
🧵 ⬇️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
#neuroskyence #astrocytes #metabolism #inflammation
Very excited to say that the first study from my current role is out NOW as a preprint!
A huge amount of work and great collaborative effort not to mention great news to start annual leave
🧵 ⬇️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
#neuroskyence #astrocytes #metabolism #inflammation
Bioenergetic dysfunction and inflammation in hiPSC-derived astrocytes from m.14484T>C Leber′s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy
Leber′s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) is a maternally inherited mitochondrial disorder characterised by painless, progressive, and sequential visual failure. Most cases of LHON are driven by mito...
www.biorxiv.org
July 27, 2026 at 8:26 PM
❗️🚨PREPRINT ALERT 🚨❗️
Very excited to say that the first study from my current role is out NOW as a preprint!
A huge amount of work and great collaborative effort not to mention great news to start annual leave
🧵 ⬇️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
#neuroskyence #astrocytes #metabolism #inflammation
Very excited to say that the first study from my current role is out NOW as a preprint!
A huge amount of work and great collaborative effort not to mention great news to start annual leave
🧵 ⬇️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
#neuroskyence #astrocytes #metabolism #inflammation
Reposted by Wyn Firth
Bioenergetic dysfunction and inflammation in hiPSC-derived astrocytes from m.14484T>C Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.23.740295v1
July 27, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Bioenergetic dysfunction and inflammation in hiPSC-derived astrocytes from m.14484T>C Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.23.740295v1
Reposted by Wyn Firth
“We’ve only had 114 years to do something, let our kids sort it out!”
June 25, 2026 at 7:07 AM
“We’ve only had 114 years to do something, let our kids sort it out!”
Reposted by Wyn Firth
Congratulations to Tanya Kaur on her recent lead author publication "Sex-differential associations of MC3R p.F45S with human metabolic profile" which has just been published in the Journal of Neuroendocrinology.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
<em>Journal of Neuroendocrinology</em> | BSN Journal | Wiley Online Library
Obesity and related metabolic disorders represent major global health challenges, highlighting the importance of understanding the central regulation of energy homeostasis. The melanocortin system is...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
June 17, 2026 at 6:59 AM
Congratulations to Tanya Kaur on her recent lead author publication "Sex-differential associations of MC3R p.F45S with human metabolic profile" which has just been published in the Journal of Neuroendocrinology.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Wyn Firth
“Why sir, it’s AI bubble collapse day”
June 1, 2026 at 2:47 PM
“Why sir, it’s AI bubble collapse day”
Reposted by Wyn Firth
A thoughtful articulation of an important angle to the debate that has not yet been well represented 🤓
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Phasing out animal research prematurely will maintain gender inequities in medicine - Nature Neuroscience
Decades of male bias in animal research have left female biology critically understudied. Prematurely phasing out animal research would lock this inequity into future biomedicine, disproportionately h...
www.nature.com
May 26, 2026 at 7:27 AM
A thoughtful articulation of an important angle to the debate that has not yet been well represented 🤓
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Wyn Firth
Beyond delighted to share our amazing collaboration with Thierry Alquier's lab @alquierthierry.bsky.social on a conserved role for neuronal lipid droplets in regulating energy homeostasis in vivo led by Celena Cherian, Romane Manceau, Danie Majeur, and Colin Miller www.nature.com/articles/s42... /1
Neuronal lipid droplets play a conserved and sex-biased role in maintaining whole-body energy homeostasis - Nature Metabolism
In vivo regulation of neuronal lipid droplet formation mediates whole-body energy homeostasis in a sex-specific manner in Drosophila and mice.
www.nature.com
April 14, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Beyond delighted to share our amazing collaboration with Thierry Alquier's lab @alquierthierry.bsky.social on a conserved role for neuronal lipid droplets in regulating energy homeostasis in vivo led by Celena Cherian, Romane Manceau, Danie Majeur, and Colin Miller www.nature.com/articles/s42... /1
Reposted by Wyn Firth
It’s been a long while since I’ve posted on here. Been working on a lot, some of it’s finally bearing fruit!
Excited for my latest review!
Sex Hormone Control of Neurophysiology & Behavior
#neuroskyence 🧠🧪
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
Excited for my latest review!
Sex Hormone Control of Neurophysiology & Behavior
#neuroskyence 🧠🧪
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
Sex Hormone Control of Neurophysiology and Behavior
Sex hormones are a primary source for biological variation throughout the animal kingdom, from morphological characteristics to elaborate courtship displays. These steroids, such as estrogens and andr...
www.annualreviews.org
March 30, 2026 at 2:07 PM
It’s been a long while since I’ve posted on here. Been working on a lot, some of it’s finally bearing fruit!
Excited for my latest review!
Sex Hormone Control of Neurophysiology & Behavior
#neuroskyence 🧠🧪
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
Excited for my latest review!
Sex Hormone Control of Neurophysiology & Behavior
#neuroskyence 🧠🧪
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
Reposted by Wyn Firth
❗We are recruiting a Post-Doctoral Research Associate❗
The PDRA will be based in the Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics at Cardiff University and will investigate the #molecular and #cellular changes in #schizophrenia.
Please see link 👇
tinyurl.com/32u753js
The PDRA will be based in the Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics at Cardiff University and will investigate the #molecular and #cellular changes in #schizophrenia.
Please see link 👇
tinyurl.com/32u753js
Job Search | Cardiff University
Search for Internet job results.
tinyurl.com
March 30, 2026 at 8:38 AM
❗We are recruiting a Post-Doctoral Research Associate❗
The PDRA will be based in the Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics at Cardiff University and will investigate the #molecular and #cellular changes in #schizophrenia.
Please see link 👇
tinyurl.com/32u753js
The PDRA will be based in the Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics at Cardiff University and will investigate the #molecular and #cellular changes in #schizophrenia.
Please see link 👇
tinyurl.com/32u753js
Reposted by Wyn Firth
🧠 Ever wondered how stress affects reproduction?
Using in vivo calcium imaging, optogenetics, and computational modelling, we reveal a tug-of-war between two amygdala GABA populations translating stress into changes of the hormonal rhythms.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Using in vivo calcium imaging, optogenetics, and computational modelling, we reveal a tug-of-war between two amygdala GABA populations translating stress into changes of the hormonal rhythms.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
March 18, 2026 at 3:02 PM
🧠 Ever wondered how stress affects reproduction?
Using in vivo calcium imaging, optogenetics, and computational modelling, we reveal a tug-of-war between two amygdala GABA populations translating stress into changes of the hormonal rhythms.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Using in vivo calcium imaging, optogenetics, and computational modelling, we reveal a tug-of-war between two amygdala GABA populations translating stress into changes of the hormonal rhythms.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Wyn Firth
We are recruiting a postdoc to join a Wellcome Trust-funded project at LSI-Exeter, investigating the role of neural-pancreas dynamics in maintaining glucose homeostasis. 🐟🔬🧠
@lsiexeter.bsky.social #zebrafish #islet #postdocjobs
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Please repost 🙏
@lsiexeter.bsky.social #zebrafish #islet #postdocjobs
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Please repost 🙏
Powered by MHR
jobs.exeter.ac.uk
February 4, 2026 at 5:33 PM
We are recruiting a postdoc to join a Wellcome Trust-funded project at LSI-Exeter, investigating the role of neural-pancreas dynamics in maintaining glucose homeostasis. 🐟🔬🧠
@lsiexeter.bsky.social #zebrafish #islet #postdocjobs
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Please repost 🙏
@lsiexeter.bsky.social #zebrafish #islet #postdocjobs
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Please repost 🙏
Reposted by Wyn Firth
PSA for all #microglia lovers: certain Iba1 antibodies (see our new paper below for details) label not only microglia, but also vasopressin neurons, at least in mice. Brain region and species matter. A friendly reminder to always validate your antibodies! 🔬
www.eneuro.org/content/13/2...
www.eneuro.org/content/13/2...
A Common Iba1 Antibody Labels Vasopressin Neurons in Mice
There are a wide variety of commercially available antibodies for labeling microglial cells based on different protein targets, as well as antibodies for the same protein target made in different spec...
www.eneuro.org
February 3, 2026 at 9:36 PM
PSA for all #microglia lovers: certain Iba1 antibodies (see our new paper below for details) label not only microglia, but also vasopressin neurons, at least in mice. Brain region and species matter. A friendly reminder to always validate your antibodies! 🔬
www.eneuro.org/content/13/2...
www.eneuro.org/content/13/2...
Reposted by Wyn Firth
Four year PhD in Edinburgh to develop an iPSC organoid model with integrated glial cells supervised by Bowles, McColl and Williams exploring neuronal health. Closing date: 15th December
www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/job/phd-nove...
www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/job/phd-nove...
PhD: Novel neuroimmune iPSC-organoid models
Four year PhD in Edinburgh to develop an iPSC organoid model with integrated glial cells supervised by Bowles, McColl and Williams exploring neuronal health.
www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
November 21, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Four year PhD in Edinburgh to develop an iPSC organoid model with integrated glial cells supervised by Bowles, McColl and Williams exploring neuronal health. Closing date: 15th December
www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/job/phd-nove...
www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/job/phd-nove...
Reposted by Wyn Firth
Our new review is out today!
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝘇𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻: 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
We argue that Alzheimer’s disease is not just a problem of brain hypometabolism, but a disorder of metabolic inflexibility.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝘇𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻: 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
We argue that Alzheimer’s disease is not just a problem of brain hypometabolism, but a disorder of metabolic inflexibility.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
The Energetic Collapse of the Alzheimer's Brain: Metabolic Inflexibility Across Cells and Networks
Metabolic inflexibility in Alzheimer's disease. Schematic illustrating the biphasic trajectory of metabolic activity relative to canonical Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers. In the presymptomatic p...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Our new review is out today!
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝘇𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻: 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
We argue that Alzheimer’s disease is not just a problem of brain hypometabolism, but a disorder of metabolic inflexibility.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝘇𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻: 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
We argue that Alzheimer’s disease is not just a problem of brain hypometabolism, but a disorder of metabolic inflexibility.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Wyn Firth
My SWBio PhD DTP project with Lukasz Chrobok (@chroboklab.bsky.social) and Kate Elliott (@neuroendo.bsky.social) is now advertised:
Run, sleep, repeat: Regular exercise for good health and longevity.
bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristo...
Run, sleep, repeat: Regular exercise for good health and longevity.
bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristo...
bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:07 PM
My SWBio PhD DTP project with Lukasz Chrobok (@chroboklab.bsky.social) and Kate Elliott (@neuroendo.bsky.social) is now advertised:
Run, sleep, repeat: Regular exercise for good health and longevity.
bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristo...
Run, sleep, repeat: Regular exercise for good health and longevity.
bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristo...
Reposted by Wyn Firth
Congratulations to @sarahibex.bsky.social and Team at the University of Exeter Medical school (@hls.exeter.ac.uk) on the breakthrough study on #diabetes pathology
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Small things matter: Lack of extraislet β cells in type 1 diabetes
Early loss of small extraislet β cells in children with type 1 diabetes could explain age-related differences in disease.
www.science.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Congratulations to @sarahibex.bsky.social and Team at the University of Exeter Medical school (@hls.exeter.ac.uk) on the breakthrough study on #diabetes pathology
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Wyn Firth
Reposted by Wyn Firth
We're seeking a motivated postdoc to help us and NovoNordisk generate cutting-edge human cellular models of metabolic disease. For details & to apply (by 6th Oct), see: cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc.... If you think someone in your network might be interested, please share. Thank you!
September 26, 2025 at 11:30 AM
We're seeking a motivated postdoc to help us and NovoNordisk generate cutting-edge human cellular models of metabolic disease. For details & to apply (by 6th Oct), see: cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc.... If you think someone in your network might be interested, please share. Thank you!
Reposted by Wyn Firth
Studies in rats reveals that insulin–dependent release of endozepines from NTS-astrocytes is fundamental to control blood glucose levels www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Insulin evokes release of endozepines from astrocytes of the NTS to modulate glucose metabolism in male rats
The central nervous system (CNS) plays a key role in regulating metabolic functions, but conditions like obesity and diabetes can disrupt this balance…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 21, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Studies in rats reveals that insulin–dependent release of endozepines from NTS-astrocytes is fundamental to control blood glucose levels www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Wyn Firth
Latest publication from the lab spearheaded by @shoreseashell.bsky.social & in collaboration with @zeqiraj.bsky.social is out. Using structural, biochemical & computational tools, this work sheds light on the mechanism of action of BAY-3827 in inhibiting #AMPK 1/3
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Mechanism and cellular actions of the potent AMPK inhibitor BAY-3827
The mechanism and unique molecular/cellular features of the potent and selective AMPK inhibitor BAY-3827 are unraveled.
www.science.org
September 9, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Latest publication from the lab spearheaded by @shoreseashell.bsky.social & in collaboration with @zeqiraj.bsky.social is out. Using structural, biochemical & computational tools, this work sheds light on the mechanism of action of BAY-3827 in inhibiting #AMPK 1/3
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
A bit late to the #MicroscopyMonday and #FluorescenceFriday parties - on the microscope at the time!
Fruits of a (very hard) side project: #iPSC derived #astrocytes
Looking forward to some functional testing next!
Green: GFAP, magenta: S100b, blue: DAPI
#neuroskyence #glia #astrocytes
🔬🧫✨🧪
Fruits of a (very hard) side project: #iPSC derived #astrocytes
Looking forward to some functional testing next!
Green: GFAP, magenta: S100b, blue: DAPI
#neuroskyence #glia #astrocytes
🔬🧫✨🧪
September 9, 2025 at 10:54 AM
A bit late to the #MicroscopyMonday and #FluorescenceFriday parties - on the microscope at the time!
Fruits of a (very hard) side project: #iPSC derived #astrocytes
Looking forward to some functional testing next!
Green: GFAP, magenta: S100b, blue: DAPI
#neuroskyence #glia #astrocytes
🔬🧫✨🧪
Fruits of a (very hard) side project: #iPSC derived #astrocytes
Looking forward to some functional testing next!
Green: GFAP, magenta: S100b, blue: DAPI
#neuroskyence #glia #astrocytes
🔬🧫✨🧪
Reposted by Wyn Firth
Astrocyte networks are much larger than previously thought, which “flips the way we think about astrocytes and what their networks may mean,” says @liddelowsa.bsky.social.
By @callimcflurry.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/astrocytes/a...
By @callimcflurry.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/astrocytes/a...
September 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Astrocyte networks are much larger than previously thought, which “flips the way we think about astrocytes and what their networks may mean,” says @liddelowsa.bsky.social.
By @callimcflurry.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/astrocytes/a...
By @callimcflurry.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/astrocytes/a...