Staff Profile

I have managed the BioImaging facility (provider of advanced light microscopy, technology, techniques and advice) since 2010. Under my direction, the facility has secured over £4.5m in competitive equipment funding over the past 10 years. This has allowed us to expanded the facility in terms of imaging technologies and staff to meet the needs of the biomedical research community in Newcastle and the North East.

In 2019 I was invited to co-lead a RMS focused interest group to improve microscope quality and imaging data analysis / management practices within the UK.  This more recently expanded into the international QUality Assessment & REProducibility for instruments & images in Light Microscopy (QUAREP-LiMi) community (www.quarep.org) where until 2023, I co-chaired working group 9 (planning & funding).

Since 2022, I have been appointed the Director of Faculty Facilities (FMS). I am responsible for the strategic and financial management of a cohort of 9 scientific facilities in addition to developing sustainable investment plans for the faculty's core research equipment infrastructure.  

I am a passionate advocate for outreach and engagement and in 2019 created The Cell Detectives outreach group (https://thecelldetectives.agency).  The aim is to evoke interest in science and technology through hands-on access to cutting-edge instrumentation and passionate scientists. The group is RTP-led but brings together, industry and academics to provide an engagement vehicle with which to showcase biomedical research, instrumentation and STEM careers to the public.

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.

Director of Faculty Facilities: I took up the position of director of faculty facilities in 2022, I am responsible for the strategic and financial management of a cohort of 9 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 TRAC-based 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. Spatial transcriptomics reveals novel genes during the remodelling of the embryonic human arterial valves. 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. Detecting respiratory chain defects in osteoblasts from osteoarthritic patients using imaging mass cytometry. 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. QUAREP-LiMi: A community-driven initiative to establish guidelines for quality assessment and reproducibility for instruments and images in light microscopy. 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. Micro-Meta App: an interactive tool for collecting microscopy metadata based on community specifications. 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. Dual detection of nafcillin using a molecularly imprinted polymer-based platform coupled to thermal and fluorescence read-out. 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. Mitochondrial dysfunction impairs osteogenesis, increases osteoclast activity, and accelerates age related bone loss. Scientific Reports 2020, 10(1), 11643.
  • Wadkin LE, Orozco-Fuentes S, Neganova I, Bojic S, Laude A, Lako M, Parker NG, Shukurov A. Seeding hESCs to achieve optimal colony clonality. Scientific Reports 2019, 9(1), 15299.
  • Harriman A, Karlsson JKG, Laude A, Hall MJ. Photoisomerization of the Cyanine Dye Alexa‐Fluor® 647 (AF‐647) in the Context of dSTORM Super‐Resolution Microscopy. Chemistry - A European Journal 2019, 25(65), 14983-14998.
  • Wilson R, Ahmmed AA, Poll A, Sakaue M, Laude A, Sieber-Blum M. Human peptidergic nociceptive sensory neurons generated from human epidermal neural crest stem cells (hEPI-NCSC). PLoS ONE 2018, 13(6), e0199996.
  • Wadkin LE, Orozco-Fuentes S, Neganova I, Swan G, Laude A, Lako M, Shukurov A, Parker NG. Correlated random walks of human embryonic stem cells in vitro. Physical Biology 2018, 15(5), 056006.
  • Wadkin LE, Elliot LF, Neganova I, Parker NG, Chichagova V, Swan G, Laude A, Lako M, Shukurov A. Dynamics of single human embryonic stem cells and their pairs: a quantitative analysis. Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 570.
  • Werner A, Patti M, Zinad HS, Fearn A, Laude A, Forster I. Molecular determinants of transport function in zebrafish Slc34a Na-phosphate transporters. 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. Investigating complex I deficiency in Purkinje cells and synapses in patients with mitochondrial disease. 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. Extensive respiratory chain defects in inhibitory interneurones in patients with mitochondrial disease. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 2016, 42(2), 180-193.
  • Phillips J, Laude A, Lightowlers R, Morris CM, Turnbull DM, Lax NZ. Development of passive CLARITY and immunofluorescent labelling of multiple proteins in human cerebellum: understanding mechanisms of neurodegeneration in mitochondrial disease. Scientific Reports 2016, 6, 26013.
  • Laude AJ, Simpson AW. Compartmentalized signalling: Ca2+ compartments, microdomains and the many facets of Ca2+ signalling. The FEBS Journal 2009, 276(7), 1800-1816.
  • Laude AJ, Prior IA. Palmitoylation and localisation of RAS isoforms are modulated by the hypervariable linker domain. Journal of Cell Science 2008, 121(4), 421-427.
  • Omerovic J, Laude AJ, Prior IA. Ras proteins: paradigms for compartmentalised and isoform-specific signalling. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 2007, 64(19-20), 2575-2589.
  • Laude AJ, Tovey SC, Dedos SG, Potter BV, Lummis SC, Taylor CW. Rapid functional assays of recombinant IP3 receptors. Cell Calcium 2005, 38(1), 45-51.
  • Laude AJ, Prior IA. Plasma membrane microdomains: organization, function and trafficking. Molecular Membrane Biology 2004, 21(3), 193-205.
  • Riley AM, Laude AJ, Taylor CW, Potter BV. Dimers of D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate: design, synthesis, and interaction with Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors. Bioconjugate Chemistry 2004, 15(2), 278-289.
  • Rosenberg HJ, Riley AM, Laude AJ, Taylor CW, Potter BV. Synthesis and Ca2+-mobilizing activity of purine-modified mimics of adenophostin A: a model for the adenophostin-Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor interaction. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2003, 46(23), 4860-4871.
  • Turvey MR, Laude AJ, Ives EO, Seager WH, Taylor CW, Thorn P. Modulation of IP(3)-sensitive Ca(2+) release by 2,3-butanedione monoxime. Pflügers Archiv European Journal of Physiology 2003, 445(5), 614-621.
  • Taylor CW, Laude AJ. IP3 receptors and their regulation by calmodulin and cytosolic Ca2+. Cell Calcium 2002, 32(5-6), 321-334.
  • Steel GJ, Laude AJ, Boojawan A, Harvey DJ, Morgan A. Biochemical Analysis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SEC18 Gene Product: Implications for the Molecular Mechanism of Membrane Fusion. 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. Author Correction: Towards community-driven metadata standards for light microscopy: tiered specifications extending the OME model (Nature Methods, (2021), 18, 12, (1427-1440), 10.1038/s41592-021-01327-9). 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. Author Correction: QUAREP-LiMi: a community endeavor to advance quality assessment and reproducibility in light microscopy (Nature Methods, (2021), 18, 12, (1423-1426), 10.1038/s41592-021-01162-y). 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. Towards community-driven metadata standards for light microscopy: tiered specifications extending the OME model. 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. QUAREP-LiMi: a community endeavor to advance quality assessment and reproducibility in light microscopy. Nature Methods 2021, 18, 1423-1426.

• Review

  • Laude AJ. Super Resolution Microscopy: are there limits?. BSCB Newsletter 2011, (Autumn), 8-9.