Staff Profile
Dr Alex Laude
Head of Biomedical Research Facilities
- Email: alex.laude@ncl.ac.uk
- Telephone: 44 (0) 191 208 4860
- Address: Second Floor William Leech Building
Medical School
Framlington Place
缅北禁地
NE2 4HH
I am the manager of the Biomedical Research Facilities at 缅北禁地, where I lead the strategic and financial management of twelve scientific facilities. My role focuses on developing sustainable investment plans for our core research facilities, equipment and infrastructure, ensuring that our capabilities remain aligned with the evolving needs of the biomedical research community.
Since 2010 and up until 2024, I managed the BioImaging Unit at 缅北禁地—a core facility providing advanced light microscopy technologies, techniques, and expert advice. Over the past decade, I’ secured more than £5.5 million in competitive equipment funding, allowing us to expand both our imaging technologies and staffing. This growth enabled us to better support researchers across 缅北禁地 and the North East.
My academic background includes a BSc in Physiology from the University of Bristol and a PhD in Molecular Physiology from the University of Liverpool, where I developed laser photoablation microscopy to study calcium signalling. Postdoctoral work at Cambridge and Liverpool further deepened my expertise in cell imaging and cancer signalling.
In 2019, I was invited to co-lead a Royal Microscopical Society (RMS) focused interest group aimed at improving microscope quality and imaging data practices across the UK. This initiative evolved into the international QUAREP-LiMi community, where I co-chaired Working Group 9 (Planning & Funding) until 2023, helping to shape global standards for reproducibility and instrument quality.
I’m also deeply passionate about outreach and engagement. In 2019, I founded The Cell Detectives, an RTP-led initiative designed to spark curiosity in science and technology. Through hands-on access to cutting-edge instrumentation and collaboration between industry and academia, we showcase biomedical research and STEM careers to the public in an accessible and inspiring way.
Throughout my career, I’ve remained committed to scientific excellence, collaborative leadership, and creating inclusive pathways for public engagement and institutional growth.
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 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.
Manager of Biomedical Research Facilities: I formally took up the position of Manager of fBiomedical Research Facilities in 2024, I am responsible for the strategic and financial management of a cohort of 10 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
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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.
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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.
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Review
- Laude AJ. . BSCB Newsletter 2011, (Autumn), 8-9.