缅北禁地

I am the Head of Biomedical Research Facilities at 缅北禁地, where I lead the strategic, operational and financial management of twelve scientific core facilities that support world-class biomedical research. My role centres on developing sustainable investment plans for research infrastructure, equipment and specialist expertise, ensuring our facilities continue to meet the evolving needs of the biomedical research community and enable researchers to deliver impactful science.

Before taking on this position, I held a dual role as Director of Biomedical Research Facilities while continuing to manage 缅北禁地's BioImaging Unit. During this time, I became increasingly passionate about creating sustainable models for research infrastructure investment and empowering Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) to play a more visible leadership role in research funding and strategic decision-making.

A key achievement has been the development of an RTP-led approach to research infrastructure funding. Working with colleagues across 缅北禁地, I helped place RTPs at the heart of our internal assessment and decision-making processes. By drawing on their technical expertise, operational insight and understanding of researchers' needs, we have created a more informed and sustainable approach to equipment investment. Since introducing this strategy in 2022, 缅北禁地's RTPs have led or co-led eighteen research infrastructure funding applications, with many now acting as principal applicants in their own right. Together, these bids have achieved a 61 per cent success rate and secured more than £8.5 million of investment in the facilities they manage. It is particularly rewarding to see this approach gaining recognition and beginning to influence practice nationally. .

From 2010 to 2024, I managed the BioImaging Unit, a core facility providing advanced light microscopy technologies, specialist imaging techniques and expert scientific support. During this period, I secured more than £5.5 million in competitive equipment funding, enabling significant expansion of both our technological capabilities and staffing. This investment strengthened support for researchers across 缅北禁地 and the wider North East research community, helping establish the facility as a leading centre for advanced bioimaging.

My scientific career began with a BSc in Physiology from the University of Bristol, followed by a PhD in Molecular Physiology at the University of Liverpool. During my doctoral research, I developed laser photoablation microscopy techniques to investigate calcium signalling. Subsequent postdoctoral research at the Universities of Cambridge and Liverpool further developed my expertise in cell imaging, microscopy technologies and cancer signalling.

Beyond my institutional responsibilities, I have contributed to international efforts to improve the quality and reproducibility of microscopy research. In 2019, I was invited to co-lead a Royal Microscopical Society focused interest group dedicated to improving microscope quality and imaging data practices across the UK. This initiative evolved into the international community, where I co-chaired the Planning and Funding Working Group until 2023, helping to shape global standards for instrument quality and reproducible imaging science.

I am also passionate about outreach and public engagement. In 2019, I founded The Cell Detectives, an RTP-led initiative designed to inspire curiosity in science and technology through hands-on access to cutting-edge instrumentation. By bringing together academia, industry and the public, the programme showcases biomedical research and STEM career opportunities in an engaging and accessible way.

Academic Career: As part of my PhD studies I developed a microscope-based laser photoablation system and applied it to investigate calcium signalling dynamics in live cells. Further postdoctoral research projects have all used microscopy in various forms to image and track cells in both fixed and live environments. My research has contributed towards publications in the fields of Calcium Signalling, Cancer (RAS proteins) and more recently, microscopy, where I have helped to develop novel fluorescence-based imaging techniques and preparatory methods.

Technical career: As manager of the BioImaging Unit, since 2010, I am currently responsible for the organisation, maintenance, user training and development of high-end microscopy resources in the Faculty these include: automated wide field, confocal, super resolution, live-cell imaging systems and data analysis software. In addition to this, I have a track record in assisting the development, validation and application of novel preparatory and imaging methods used to study cellular processes in both three dimensional tissues and individual cells.

Microscopy community: I am an active participant in the UK bioimaging community and was chosen to host their annual meeting in 2012. I am co-leading the UK’s efforts to improve microscope quality control procedures and was invited to set-up The Royal Microscopical Society’s ‘Quality Control Focused Interest Group’ to drive the subject nationally. I am a co-founder of the QUAREP-LiMi (Quality Assessment and Reproducibility for Instruments & Images in Light Microscopy) an international organisation established with similar aims.

Facility manager community: I am an active participate in the UK Technical Specialist Network and through this, co-founded the UK Research Facilities Coordinator’s Network (RFCN).  This is a UK-wide initiative dedicated to strengthening the visibility, sustainability, and strategic impact of research facilities across the Higher Education and Research Institutions. RFCN has over a 120 members and brings together facility managers, research technical professionals (RTPs), and institutional leaders to foster collaboration, share best practices, and advocate for the essential role of facilities in driving research excellence.

Head / Director of Biomedical Research Facilities: I served as Director of Biomedical Research facilities from 2022 and formally took up the position of Head of Biomedical Research Facilities in 2025, I am responsible for the strategic and financial management of a cohort of 12 scientific facilities. As part of the role I have implemented an investment strategy to ensure that the faculty's core research infrastructure as well as the scientific facilities are well maintained, fit for purpose and kept at the cutting-edge of biomedical research. This has broadened my knowledge of other enabling technologies ranging from electron microscopy, through flow cytometry to genomics and proteomics.  I work closely with facility managers to develop and implement sustainable and robust cost-recovery models for facility management. Central to my sustainable facility strategy is the recognition, reward and carer development of the RTPs that provide the important link between technology and biomedical research; I am keen to ensure that this need reflected in the way that advanced research technologies are supported in the UK.

MMB053 Enabling technologies & methodologies for biomedical research MRes module co-leader

PSC2002 - Fluorescent-based techniques to study intracellular signalling in living cells

UG / PG - Fluorescence imaging techniques theory and hands-on

Microscopy workshop - three-day microscopy- and techniques focussed workshop

Small-group microscopy tutorials

• Articles

  • Queen R, Crosier M, Eley L, Kerwin J, Turner JE, Yu J, Alqahtani A, Dhanaseelan T, Overman L, Soetjoadi H, Baldock R, Coxhead J, Boczonadi V, Laude A, Cockell SJ, Kane MA, Lisgo S, Henderson DJ. . PLoS Genetics 2023, 19(11).
  • Hipps D, Dobson PF, Warren C, McDonald D, Fuller A, Filby A, Bulmer D, Laude A, Russell O, Deehan DJ, Turnbull DM, Lawless C. . Bone 2022, 158, 116371.
  • Nelson G, Boehm U, Bagley S, Bajcsy P, Bischof J, Brown CM, Dauphin A, Dobbie IM, Eriksson JE, Faklaris O, Fernandez-Rodriguez J, Ferrand A, Gelman L, Gheisari A, Hartmann H, Kukat C, Laude A, Mitkovski M, Munck S, North AJ, Rasse TM, Resch-Genger U, Schuetz LC, Seitz A, Strambio-De-Castillia C, Swedlow JR, Alexopoulos I, Aumayr K, Avilov S, Bakker G-J, Bammann RR, Bassi A, Beckert H, Beer S, Belyaev Y, Bierwagen J, Birngruber KA, Bosch M, Breitlow J, Cameron LA, Chalfoun J, Chambers JJ, Chen C-L, Conde-Sousa E, Corbett AD, Cordelieres FP, Nery ED, Dietzel R, Eismann F, Fazeli E, Felscher A, Fried H, Gaudreault N, Goh WI, Guilbert T, Hadleigh R, Hemmerich P, Holst GA, Itano MS, Jaffe CB, Jambor HK, Jarvis SC, Keppler A, Kirchenbuechler D, Kirchner M, Kobayashi N, Krens G, Kunis S, Lacoste J, Marcello M, Martins GG, Metcalf DJ, Mitchell CA, Moore J, Mueller T, Nelson MS, Ogg S, Onami S, Palmer AL, Paul-Gilloteaux P, Pimentel JA, Plantard L, Podder S, Rexhepaj E, Royon A, Saari MA, Schapman D, Schoonderwoert V, Schroth-Diez B, Schwartz S, Shaw M, Spitaler M, Stoeckl MT, Sudar D, Teillon J, Terjung S, Thuenauer R, Wilms CD, Wright GD, Nitschke R. . Journal of Microscopy 2021, 284(1), 56-73.
  • Rigano A, Ehmsen S, Ozturk SU, Ryan J, Balashov A, Hammer M, Kirli K, Boehm U, Brown CM, Bellve K, Chambers JJ, Cosolo A, Coleman RA, Faklaris O, Fogarty KE, Guilbert T, Hamacher AB, Itano MS, Keeley DP, Kunis S, Lacoste J, Laude A, Ma WY, Marcello M, Montero-Llopis P, Nelson G, Nitschke R, Pimentel JA, Weidtkamp-Peters S, Park PJ, Alver BH, Grunwald D, Strambio-De-Castillia C. . Nature Methods 2021, 18(12), 1489-1495.
  • Hudson A, Jamieson O, Crapnell R, Rurack K, Soares T, Mecozzi F, Laude A, Gruber J, Novakovic K, Peeters M. . Materials Advances 2021, 2(15), 5105-5115.
  • Dobson PF, Dennis EP, Hipps D, Reeve A, Laude A, Bradshaw C, Stamp C, Smith A, Deehan DJ, Turnbull DM, Greaves LC. . Scientific Reports 2020, 10(1), 11643.
  • Wadkin LE, Orozco-Fuentes S, Neganova I, Bojic S, Laude A, Lako M, Parker NG, Shukurov A. . Scientific Reports 2019, 9(1), 15299.
  • Harriman A, Karlsson JKG, Laude A, Hall MJ. . Chemistry - A European Journal 2019, 25(65), 14983-14998.
  • Wilson R, Ahmmed AA, Poll A, Sakaue M, Laude A, Sieber-Blum M. . PLoS ONE 2018, 13(6), e0199996.
  • Wadkin LE, Orozco-Fuentes S, Neganova I, Swan G, Laude A, Lako M, Shukurov A, Parker NG. . Physical Biology 2018, 15(5), 056006.
  • Wadkin LE, Elliot LF, Neganova I, Parker NG, Chichagova V, Swan G, Laude A, Lako M, Shukurov A. . Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 570.
  • Werner A, Patti M, Zinad HS, Fearn A, Laude A, Forster I. . American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology 2016, 311(6), R1213-R1222.
  • Chrysostomou A, Grady JP, Laude A, Taylor RW, Turnbull DM, Lax NZ. . Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 2016, 42(5), 477-492.
  • Lax NZ, Grady J, Laude A, Chan F, Hepplewhite PD, Gorman G, Whittaker RG, Ng Y, Cunningham MO, Turnbull DM. . Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 2016, 42(2), 180-193.
  • Phillips J, Laude A, Lightowlers R, Morris CM, Turnbull DM, Lax NZ. . Scientific Reports 2016, 6, 26013.
  • Laude AJ, Simpson AW. . The FEBS Journal 2009, 276(7), 1800-1816.
  • Laude AJ, Prior IA. . Journal of Cell Science 2008, 121(4), 421-427.
  • Omerovic J, Laude AJ, Prior IA. . Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 2007, 64(19-20), 2575-2589.
  • Laude AJ, Tovey SC, Dedos SG, Potter BV, Lummis SC, Taylor CW. . Cell Calcium 2005, 38(1), 45-51.
  • Laude AJ, Prior IA. . Molecular Membrane Biology 2004, 21(3), 193-205.
  • Riley AM, Laude AJ, Taylor CW, Potter BV. . Bioconjugate Chemistry 2004, 15(2), 278-289.
  • Rosenberg HJ, Riley AM, Laude AJ, Taylor CW, Potter BV. . Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2003, 46(23), 4860-4871.
  • Turvey MR, Laude AJ, Ives EO, Seager WH, Taylor CW, Thorn P. . Pflügers Archiv European Journal of Physiology 2003, 445(5), 614-621.
  • Taylor CW, Laude AJ. . Cell Calcium 2002, 32(5-6), 321-334.
  • Steel GJ, Laude AJ, Boojawan A, Harvey DJ, Morgan A. . Biochemistry 1999, 38(24), 7764-7772.

• Notes

  • Hammer M, Huisman M, Rigano A, Boehm U, Chambers JJ, Gaudreault N, North AJ, Pimentel JA, Sudar D, Bajcsy P, Brown CM, Corbett AD, Faklaris O, Lacoste J, Laude A, Nelson G, Nitschke R, Farzam F, Smith CS, Grunwald D, Strambio-De-Castillia C. . Nature Methods 2022, 19, 255.
  • Boehm U, Nelson G, Brown CM, Bagley S, Bajcsy P, Bischof J, Dauphin A, Dobbie IM, Eriksson JE, Faklaris O, Fernandez-Rodriguez J, Ferrand A, Gelman L, Gheisari A, Hartmann H, Kukat C, Laude A, Mitkovski M, Munck S, North AJ, Rasse TM, Resch-Genger U, Schuetz LC, Seitz A, Strambio-De-Castillia C, Swedlow JR, Nitschke R. . Nature Methods 2022, 19, 256.
  • Hammer M, Huisman M, Rigano A, Boehm U, Chambers JJ, Gaudreault N, North AJ, Pimentel JA, Sudar D, Bajcsy P, Brown CM, Corbett AD, Faklaris O, Lacoste J, Laude A, Nelson G, Nitschke R, Farzam F, Smith CS, Grunwald D, Strambio-De-Castillia C. . Nature Methods 2021, 18(12), 1427-1440.
  • Boehm U, Nelson G, Brown CM, Bagley S, Bajcsy P, Bischof J, Dauphin A, Dobbie IM, Eriksson JE, Faklaris O, Fernandez-Rodriguez J, Ferrand A, Gelman L, Gheisari A, Hartmann H, Kukat C, Laude A, Mitkovski M, Munck S, North AJ, Rasse TM, Resch-Genger U, Schuetz LC, Seitz A, Strambio-De-Castillia C, Swedlow JR, Nitschke R. . Nature Methods 2021, 18, 1423-1426.

• Review

  • Laude AJ. . BSCB Newsletter 2011, (Autumn), 8-9.