Dear colleagues, 

We have wonderful news! We are delighted to announce that the ECR subcommittee has five new members! We are really excited to see what they bring to the team and look forward to working together on exciting new initiatives!

In today's newsletter, we will acknowledge the hard work from our past members and we will introduce you to our new members. We will also announce the upcoming April’s webinar discussing chaperones in redox biology and share with you a summary of March’s webinar. At the end of the newsletter, as always, you can also find a collection of upcoming events with important deadlines, some suggestions of interesting redox reads recently published, open call for papers and job opportunities for young redox researchers.

Good people go…

Last year, we bid farewell to some of our valued members.

• Carmen Castell: She first took charge of our LinkedIn account before transitioning to the webinar team, where she was responsible for the communications with the webinar invited speakers. She was known as our plant girl and, without a doubt, the best dancer!
• Eduardo Fuentes Lemus: As one of the founding members, he played a key role in conceptualizing and creating both the mentoring program and the editorial mentoring program. His kindness and professionalism left a lasting impression.
• Nikos Margaritelis: Nikos helped bring our webinar series to life and was also involved in the social media team. He was the creative force behind many of our initiatives, always full of original ideas. He was also the soul of our subcommittee—always ready for a good laugh, a good beer (via zoom or in person), and a reminder of the importance of numbers and statistics.
• Valeria Scalcon: A founding member and one of the masterminds behind our webinar series, Valeria was known for being the tallest member of the subcommittee, her incredible sense of humor, her impeccable organisation skills and her natural talent for teaching.

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially to people who have had such a meaningful impact on our lives. These ECR subcommittee members were not just essential contributors—they became our friends and an irreplaceable part of our redox family. We will miss them dearly, but their legacy will always remain a part of what we do.

…and new people come! Meet the new members of the ECR subcommittee!

Our subcommittee has recently welcomed five new members! We are excited to introduce them and look forward to the fresh ideas and energy they will bring. Meet our new members below!

Alina Sigaeva

I am a postdoc at SciLifeLab and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, where I am working on bringing together spatial proteomics and redox biology.

I studied cell biology and histology at Lomonosov Moscow State University, and during that time I was working on the effects of visible light spectrum on the ageing of the eyes. Ageing made me interested in oxidative stress, and for my PhD I joined Prof. Romana Schirhagl’s group in Groningen, the Netherlands. During my PhD project, I was developing and validating new nanoparticle-based sensors that now allow us to use quantum effects to detect free radicals in live cells with extremely high sensitivity and resolution. Being a biologist and working with physicists and engineers was challenging, but fun and extremely rewarding, and I could not have imagined a better environment. Over these years, I have also been involved in the organization of the Symposium for Biology Students in Europe, an event for Biology students from all fields and backgrounds, which has made me appreciate the importance of different perspectives and interdisciplinary dialogue even more. After my PhD I received a Rubicon fellowship from Dutch Research Council to spend 2 years in Sweden, at Prof. Emma Lundberg’s lab, where I am currently working with some wonderful people in a quest to bridge the fields of spatial proteomics and redox metabolism.

What annoys you in the lab?
Running out of pipette tips and having to walk to the storage room to fetch those.

What do you like to do the most in the lab?
I could spend hours at the confocal microscope.

What is your favourite thing to do for celebrating a successful experiment?
It usually means having some breathtakingly beautiful images to show, so I share those with my colleagues (and friends). Afterwards, there’s usually a relaxing evening at home.

Which was your first spot in your lab coat?
Probably hematoxylin, eosin, or some other histological stain.

 

Avilien Dard

I am a postdoc at VIB-Ugent Center for Plant System Biology in Ghent, Belgium, where I am working on redox regulation in stress granule formation during heat stress.

My journey in plant sciences integrates plant adaptation to environmental stress, redox mechanisms, and epigenetics. Trained at the University of Perpignan Via Domitia and the University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier in France, I developed expertise in molecular biology and genetics, laying the foundation for my research career. In October 2019, I started my PhD under Dr. Jean-Philippe Reichheld's supervision at the Laboratory of Plant's Genome and Development in Perpignan, France. Our research revealed redox mechanisms' significance in plant adaptation to heat waves and their impact on chromatin regulators, including histone deacetylases HDA6 and HDA19. After defending my thesis successfully in May 2023, I began my first postdoc in Prof. Dr. Frank Van Breusegem's lab at VIB-Ugent Center for Plant System Biology in Ghent, Belgium. My initial project focused on uncovering redox-sensitive proteins in the nucleus using redox proteomics. In April 2024, I secured the prestigious MSCA postdoc fellowship to initiate my independent research within the same team. This project involves developing new tools like genetically encoded redox proteomics probes and biosensors to investigate the role of redox regulation in stress granule formation during heat stress.

What annoys you in the lab?
Finding empty stock boxes!

What do you like to do the most in the lab?
Confocal imaging

What is your favourite thing to do for celebrating a successful experiment?
Enjoying a good beer with the team

Which was your first spot in your lab coat?
Coomassie blue probably

 

Chantalle Moulton

I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Human Longevity Program at IRCCS San Raffaele in Rome, Italy. My current research focuses on the role of redox biology in aging and neuroinflammation by combining molecular and cellular biology with nanotechnology to optimise biomimetic nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery in the brain.

My academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree in Human Physiology, Genetics, and Psychology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, where I developed a fascination for the molecular mechanisms at play in everyday life and also in pathology. This led me to pursue an interdisciplinary master’s degree in Health and Physical Activity taught by a cohort of European institutions, where I explored the role of extracellular vesicles in redox homeostasis after exercise in trained and untrained individuals. I then continued with a PhD at the University of Rome “Foro Italico,” where I investigated the impact of physical activity on DNA methylation, biological aging, and oxidative stress in breast cancer patients undergoing medical treatment.

Now, as a postdoc researcher, I am exploring how redox mechanisms contribute to neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and aging, and how we can treat related conditions via targeted drug delivery to the brain using biomimetic nanoparticles. Over my career, attending SFRR-E meetings has been a great experience, reinforcing my interest for redox research and interdisciplinary collaboration. I look forward to contributing to this scientific community and continuing to investigate the role of oxidative stress in health and disease.

What annoys you in the lab?
Failed experiments and western blots.

What do you like to do the most in the lab?
Brainstorming new experiments.

What is your favourite thing to do for celebrating a successful experiment?
Excitedly declaring “It worked!” to anyone that will listen.

Which was your first spot in your lab coat?
I think silver nitrate stains back in bachelor’s chemistry.

 

Marin Kuntic

I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Molecular Cardiology at the University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany. My research focuses on the effects of environmental and behavioural risk factors on the cardiovascular system.

My scientific interests started during my high school years, as I was involved in a training program for talented youth in Serbia. I went on to study physical chemistry at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, where I obtained a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree with the focus on biophysical chemistry. After this, I went to Germany where I obtained a PhD in the field of translational biomedicine, with the focus on molecular cardiology. My PhD thesis and my current research focus on the effects of environmental (noise and air pollution) and behavioural (smoking and diet) risk factors on the cardiovascular system in mouse models. I would like to continue my research career and lead my own lab one day.

What annoys you in the lab?
Lack of management.

What do you like to do the most in the lab?
Write papers.

What is your favourite thing to do for celebrating a successful experiment?
Go home early.

Which was your first spot in your lab coat?
Concentrated HCl. It was more of a hole than a spot.

 

Tim Baldensperger

I am a Moritz Schlick Postdoctoral Fellow in protein chemistry at the University of Vienna. My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases. I study how cellular stressors such as reactive oxygen species, acyl-CoA species, α-dicarbonyls, and formaldehyde influence posttranslational modifications and protein aggregation.

I studied Food Chemistry at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and joined the research training group “Protein Modifications: A Key Mechanism in Aging” as a PhD student to investigate how posttranslational modifications change during aging. For my first postdoctoral position, I joined Tilman Grune’s lab at the German Institute of Human Nutrition, where I elucidated cytotoxic effects of the oxidatively crosslinked protein aggregate lipofuscin. In 2023 I relocated to Vienna and aim to establish my own junior research group “Posttranslational Modifications in Neurodegenerative Diseases” under the mentorship of Christian Becker.

What annoys you in the lab?
When I am ready to start an experiment, only to find that an essential chemical is empty because someone forgot to reorder it.

What do you like to do the most in the lab?
I enjoy working with analytical instruments like flow cytometry and mass spectrometry. These high-tech instruments are extremely fascinating and it is a huge privilege to operate them.

What is your favorite thing to do for celebrating a successful experiment?
I like to celebrate the successful completion of a project with a nice dinner at a great restaurant.

Which was your first spot in your lab coat?
Countless holes from acid splashes in “Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry”.

 

Next Webinar series “Emerging leaders in redox biology”

The next webinar will take place on April 1st, 2025, at 15:00 CET, focusing on the topic “Chaperones in redox biology” with featured speakers Kathrin Ulrich and Reymond Sutandy.

 

Redox-regulated chaperones in organismal proteostasis regulation

Kathrin Ulrich, PhD
Institute of Biochemistry, Center of Molecular Biosciences, CoMB, University of Cologne

Kathrin received her PhD in 2017 at Heidelberg University where she worked in the lab of Luise Krauth-Siegel on oxidative thiol modifications in African trypanosomes. As a postdoc, she joined the lab of Ursula Jakob at the University of Michigan to study redox-regulated chaperones and their roles in cell stress responses. Since Oct 2022, she is Juniorprofessor for Cellular Biochemistry at the University of Cologne. Her research group focuses on redox regulation of chaperones and their role in maintaining a healthy proteome during aging and environmental stresses. https://ulrichlab.uni-koeln.de 

 

 

ROS-mediated signaling of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response

Reymond Sutandy, PhD
University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas, USA

Reymond Sutandy is a molecular biologist currently establishing his independent lab as a Principal Investigator at the Institute of Molecular Systems Medicine within the Medical Department of Goethe University Frankfurt. He earned his B.Sc. from Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia, in 2011, and his M.Sc. from National Central University, Taiwan, in 2013. For his doctoral studies, Reymond moved to Germany, completing his Ph.D. in 2019 in molecular biology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. His doctoral research, conducted at the Institute of Molecular Biology under Dr. Julian König, focused on alternative splicing regulation by examining transcriptome-wide RNA-protein interactions. Following his Ph.D., Reymond joined the lab of Prof. Christian Münch as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University Frankfurt. There, he investigated the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), a proteostasis pathway triggered by the accumulation of misfolded proteins in mitochondria. His research revealed that UPRmt activation in humans is signaled by two critical mitochondrial-derived molecules: reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the accumulation of mitochondrial precursor proteins in the cytosol. Detection of these signaling molecules involves the oxidation of cysteine residues on the cytosolic co-chaperone DNAJA1, which in turn activates the transcription factor HSF1 to initiate the UPRmt. This work uncovered a novel role for DNAJA1 as a cytosolic surveillance molecule in UPRmt signaling. Reymond’s lab will continue to focus on exploring non-classical roles of chaperones beyond their traditional function in protein folding, specifically in mediating cell signaling and responding to changes in the cellular environment, including redox shifts. Ultimately, his lab aims to explore the relevance of these non-classical chaperone roles in both physiological and disease contexts, including aging.

 

Exciting update! The early bird registration and abstract submission deadlines for poster presentations at SFRR-I have been extended!

The early bird registration deadline for the 22nd SFRR-I Biennial Meeting hosted by the Society for Free Radical Research - Europe “The New Era of Redox Biology: from Basic Biochemistry to Redox Omics” to be held in Galway, Ireland, June 03 - 06, 2025 has been extended!

The early bird registration deadline is now 3rd April 2025.

The deadline for abstract submission for a poster presentation, has also been extended to 3rd April 2025.

For more details about the conference and the details of the program, including the symposia and keynote lectures, please visit the conference website: https://www.sfrrgalway2025.com/ 

 

Summary of March’s webinar:

On March’s webinar we learnt about “Redox, exercise and nutrition” with three wonderful talks by Stephen Bailey, Edziu Franczak and Lewan Parker. If you didn’t have a chance to follow the webinar, here’s a summary for you. Remember that you can also watch the recordings of the webinars through the SFRR-E intranet.

 

Influence of dietary nitrate supplementation on skeletal muscle redox processes, physiological responses and exercise performance

Stephen Bailey, PhD
Loughborough University, UK

Nitrate power: Fueling muscle performance. In this webinar, Dr. Stephen Bailey explored how dietary nitrate supplementation influences skeletal muscle redox status, physiological responses, and exercise performance. Dr. Bailey’s research demonstrates that nitrate supplementation can reduce the oxygen cost of exercise, improve endurance, and enhance muscle contractility, particularly in conditions where oxygen availability is limited. Additionally, he showed how nitrate affects oxidative stress and redox signaling in skeletal muscle, which plays a crucial role in muscle adaptation and fatigue resistance. By optimizing NO bioavailability, dietary nitrate has the potential to boost athletic performance and improve muscle function under conditions of intense exercise. Dr. Bailey’s work provides valuable insights into how nutrition-based strategies can support metabolic and cardiovascular health, making nitrate supplementation a promising tool for improving exercise capacity and overall well-being.

 

 

Mitochondrial quality control: Another reason why women are superior

Edziu Franczak, PhD candidate
University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas, USA

Uncovering women superiority. Edziu's presentation explored how mitochondrial quality control may contribute to women’s innate protection against metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Particularly, his talk emphasized how estrogen influences mitochondrial function in the liver, particularly in response to exercise and dietary metabolic stressors such as high-fat, high-sucrose diets. Edziu’s work suggests that estrogen-related signaling enhances mitochondrial respiratory capacity and promotes more effective quality control mechanisms, which could explain why females tend to have a lower risk of MASLD compared to males. By studying rodent models, he provided evidence that estrogen supports liver health and further investigated whether these protective mechanisms could inform new treatment strategies for MASLD. Importantly, his findings highlight the importance of sex differences and divergence in aerobic capacity in metabolic disease research and suggest that targeting mitochondrial function may be a promising therapeutic avenue.

 

 

The effect of exercise and nutrient ingestion on biomarkers of redox homeostasis

Lewan Parker, PhD
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Australia

Redox interindividual variability. Dr. Parker's talk focused on how exercise and nutrient ingestion affect redox homeostasis, specifically biomarkers related to oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses. In his recent work, Dr. Parker examined the individualized responses to exercise and high-glucose ingestion, and mainly how these factors influence oxidative balance in healthy individuals. His research proposes a significant degree of variability between individuals in response to exercise and nutritional interventions, highlighting the role of interindividual differences in redox homeostasis and adaptations. Notably, Dr. Parker’s research proposes that this variability is crucial for developing personalized exercise and nutrition approaches in managing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. 

More information about the ECR Subcommittee can be found on the SFRR-E website (ECR Committee), while regular updates can be found on Twitter (@SFRR_Europe), Instagram (@sfrr_ecr) and LinkedIn (SFRR-E). For any question or suggestion you might have, you can contact us via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Hope to see you online for our next Webinar Series appointment,

The ECR subcommittee

 

Upcoming events:

UK Redox Network Meeting

• 28 April 2025
• Location: ICR Administrative Building, 123 Old Brompton Road (SW7 3RP), Chelsea, London
• Organisers: Joerg Mansfeld, Olena Rudyk & Giovanni Mann
• Speakers include: James Nathan, Elizabeth Veal, Paraskevi Kritsiligkou, Joseph Burgoyne
• Register here: https://forms.office.com/e/8Zt9Kq2dag 
• DEADLINE ABSTRACT SUBMISSION for oral and poster presentations: 31st MARCH 2025!

 

22nd SFRRI Biennial Meeting

• The New Era of Redox Biology: from Basic Biochemistry to Redox Omics
• 3 - 6 June 2025
• Location: Galway, Ireland
• Deadlines: Early Bird Registration and abstract submission for poster presentation: 4 April 2025
• Further information: https://www.sfrrgalway2025.com 
• Don’t miss out on the fascinating satellite symposia!

 

FASEB Science Research Conference. Ferroptosis, Oxidative Stress, and Lipid Metabolism

• 27 - 31 July 2025
• Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
• Deadlines:
  • Abstract Submission: 1 June 2025
  • Early Registration: 15 June 2025
  • Housing: 13 July 2025
• Further information: https://events.faseb.org/event/11797f9e-df16-42b9-9c47-f1e06713c4fb/summary  

 

EMBO Workshop: Thiol based redox switches: From chemistry to physiology and pathology

• 13 - 18 September 2025
• Location: Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain
• Abstract Submission Deadline: 18 May 2025
• https://meetings.embo.org/event/25-thiol-switches 

 

Interesting Redox Papers:

Marker, T., Steimbach, R.R., Perez-Borrajero, C. et al. Site-specific activation of the proton pump inhibitor rabeprazole by tetrathiolate zinc centres. Nat Chem (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-025-01745-8 

Miró-Vinyals, C., Emmert, S., Grammbitter, G., et al. Characterization of the glutathione redox state in the Golgi apparatus. Redox Biol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2025.103560 

Zuhra, K., Petrosino, M., Janickova, L. et al. Regulation of mammalian cellular metabolism by endogenous cyanide production. Nat Metab (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-025-01225-w 

Steglich, M., Larrieux, N., Zeida, A., et al. Human glutathione transferases catalyze the reaction between glutathione and nitrooleic acid. J Biol Chem (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108362 

Borbényi-Galambos, K., Erdélyi, K., Ditrói, T., et al. Realigned transsulfuration drives BRAF-V600E-targeted therapy resistance in melanoma. Cell Metab (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2025.01.021 

Noce, B., Marchese, S., Massari, M., et al. Design of Benzyl-triazolopyrimidine-Based NADPH Oxidase Inhibitors Leads to the Discovery of a Potent Dual Covalent NOX2/MAOB Inhibitor. J Med Chem (2025). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c02644 

 

Insightful Redox Reviews:

Lancaster, G.L. & Murphy, A.J. Do physiological changes in fatty acid composition alter cellular ferroptosis susceptibility and influence cell function? J Lipid Red (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlr.2025.100765 

Grimmett, Z.W., Schindler, J.C. & Stamler, J.S. Gases define redox signalling: NO, H2S, O2 … and cyanide. Nat Metab (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-025-01229-6 

Park, W.Y., Montufar, C. & Zaganjor, E. Mitochondrial substrate oxidation regulates distinct cell differentiation outcomes. Trends Cell Biol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2025.02.004 

Hartsema, E.A., Hemmling, H. & Hawkins, C.L. Comparative reactivity of hypohalous acids with proteins: Chemistry, biological effects and consequences. Adv Redox Res (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arres.2025.100119 

 

Latest Redox Preprints:

Zeisel, L., Dessen-Weissenhorn, L., Scholzen, K.C., et al. Bicyclic selenenyl sulfides tune stepwise rates of thiol/selenol addition, resolution, and cyclisation, to reveal cellular constraints for bioreductive probes targeting mammalian thioredoxin reductase. ChemRxiv (2025). https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv-2025-6vbn2 

Zimmermann, J., Lang, L., Malo Pueyo, J., et al. Heterooligomerization drives structural plasticity of eukaryotic peroxiredoxins. BioRxiv (2025). https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.03.641172 

Button, E.L., Lewis, J.B., Dwyer, E., et al. The 1-Cys peroxiredoxin, PRDX-6, suppresses a pro-survival response, including the Flavin monoxygenase, FMO-2, that protects against fungal and bacterial infection. BioRxiv (2025). https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.06.640586 

 

Call for papers:

Journal: Redox Biochemistry and Chemistry

• Special Issue: Spatial analysis and new methods of identifying and quantifying intracellular oxidants
• Submission deadline: 31 August 2025
• More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/320420/spatial-analysis-and-new-methods-of-identifying-and-quantifying-intracellular-oxidants 

 

Redox Job Opportunities:

Remember that if there’s an open position in your lab for early career researchers and you would like to advertise it in our newsletter, just write us an email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) containing the following information:

• Kind of position: (PhD student, Postdoc, etc)
• Research topic
• Institute/University
• Deadline
• Contact information
• Further information about the position (if any)

Dear colleagues, 

We are celebrating our birthday! It’s already been 3 years since the formation of the ECR subcommittee! We are very happy to reflect on what we have achieved so far for early career researchers, and we thank you all for the support that you have shown to us along the way. For more years to come!

In today's newsletter, we will do a sum-up of how much the ECR subcommittee has grown its first three years. We will also announce the upcoming March’s webinar discussing redox, exercise and nutrition and share with you a summary of February’s webinar. At the end of the newsletter, as always, you can also find a collection of upcoming events with important deadlines, some suggestions of interesting redox reads recently published, open call for papers and job opportunities for young redox researchers.

Three years of the ECR subcommittee: what we have achieved so far!

It seems like yesterday when this exciting journey of creating an ECR subcommittee composed by early career researchers and for early career researchers began. And look at us now! It’s been three years of intense work, networking and learning. This is what we have achieved so far:

• Webinar series: On the 7^th February 2022, we launched our webinar series “Emerging leaders in redox biology”. So far we’ve organised 19 webinars on a wide variety of topics: from NADPH oxidases to persulfides, from aging to exercise, from peer review to mental health. We are delighted to see the great reception these webinars have had, and we are already working in the next edition!
  
  
• Social media: We have created accounts on different platforms. Many of you follow us on our fun and creative Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/sfrr_ecr/), so far we have 1026 followers! Some of you are more into the professional-oriented LinkedIn where we already have 378 followers (https://www.linkedin.com/company/sfrr-e-ecr/)! Or maybe you prefer our X account that counts 946 followers. However we are transitioning to Bluesky, so please follow us there (https://bsky.app/profile/sfrre-ecr.bsky.social)!
  
  
• SFRR-E meetings: Starting in Ghent 2022, we have had the opportunity to organise some activities at the annual SFRR-Europe conferences. Thanks to your participation and interest in these events, we’ve been gradually increasing the number of activities that we plan. Last year in Istanbul we organised a successful ECR networking event, a meet the professor session, two sunrise seminars and the first ECR symposium with only young speakers! We will soon announce what we have planned for Galway conference, but you can check the schedule for some hints https://www.sfrrgalway2025.com/ 
  
  
• Mentoring program: In 2023 we created a mentoring program in which we paired young scientists with senior scientists to get career and professional advice. We have run this program now for two cohorts and organised the first mentoring lunch at Istanbul’s conference last year. We are over the moon with your positive experiences, knowing that it is helping you grow makes all the efforts worth it! We are happy to announce that the program will run for a third year, stay tuned!
  
  
• Editorial mentoring program: We created a new editorial mentoring program in which selected young scientists are paired with an editor of the best redox journals for a year to learn how editorial work functions. The program is now running and the first cohort is getting hands-on experience.

The ECR subcommittee works very hard to deliver all these. We are very pleased that our efforts are so well appreciated and we are very thankful for all the feedback and the support you have given us. Recently FEBS asked us to write a piece about our work highlighting our achievements. You can see it here: https://network.febs.org/posts/what-is-the-ecr-subcommittee-of-the-sfrr-europe-up-to-the-new-kid-on-the-block 

 

Next Webinar series “Emerging leaders in redox biology”

The next webinar of the year will take place on March 4th, 2025, at 15:00 CET, focusing on the hot topic “H₂S redox signaling” with featured speakers Stephen Bailey, Edziu Franczak and Lewan Parker. 

Influence of dietary nitrate supplementation on skeletal muscle redox processes, physiological responses and exercise performance

Stephen Bailey, PhD

Loughborough University, UK

Stephen’s research focuses on exercise and nutritional interventions to improve nitric oxide production, cardiovascular health, oxidative metabolism and exercise performance.  Stephen has published over 150 research outputs on these topics.  He is a Fellow of the European College of Sport Science, a member of The Physiological Society, and he serves on the editorial board of two international journals and as a judge for the European Specialists Sports Nutrition Awards.

 

Mitochondrial quality control: Another reason why women are superior

Edziu Franczak, PhD candidate

University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas, USA

Edziu is a PhD student in Dr. John Thyfault's lab at the University of Kansas Medical Center. His research focuses on understanding the mechanisms that regulate the pathogenesis and treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in the context of exercise and dietary metabolic stressors. Specifically, his research aims to understand how estrogen-mediated signaling modulates hepatic mitochondrial respiratory capacity and quality control mechanisms that may foster innate protection against MASLD in female rodent models. 

 

The effect of exercise and nutrient ingestion on biomarkers of redox homeostasis

Lewan Parker, PhD

Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Australia

Dr Parker is a joint NHMRC & Heart Foundation Early Career Fellow and leader of the Redox Regulation of Health and Disease research group at Deakin’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN). Dr Parker's internationally recognised research program explores how physical activity, redox biology, bone metabolism, and vascular health, regulate glycaemic control, exercise capacity, and cardiometabolic health and disease. Through the identification of novel mechanisms, his research continues to explore new ways to harness exercise and nutrition for the prevention, management, and treatment of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Summary of February’s webinar:

On February's webinar we learnt about “H₂S redox signaling” with two inspiring talks by Denisse Scufi and Jan Miljkovic. If you didn’t have a chance to follow the webinar, here’s a summary for you. Remember that you can also watch the recordings of the webinars through the SFRR-E intranet. 

Hydrogen sulfide role in stomatal immunity

Denisse Scufi, PhD

Signaling Mechanisms in Plants Lab, IIB-CONICET-UNMdP, Mar Del Plata, Argentina

Shut the Pore! - Stomata are natural pores on the leaf surface that help plants exchange gases with the environment. Stomata also function as entry points for pathogens. Plants can regulate stomata closure by different molecular mechanisms, including phytohormones, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), or the recognition of peptide effectors from the pathogen, among others. In this webinar, Dr. Denise Scuffi shared their latest work characterising the role of H₂S in the pathogen-induced stomata closure. This was evaluated using a mutant line in cytosolic L-CYSTEINE DESULFHIDRASE 1 (DES1), the main source of cytosolic H₂S in plants. They proved that stomata closure in des1 plants does not happen after exposition to either the pathogen or the effector. A response that can be reversed in des1 plants is treating these mutants with an H₂S donor. Moreover, they further conclude that the role of H2S in regulating stomata closure is also linked with the control of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and intracellular calcium homeostasis. We invite everyone to check Dr. Scuffi’s research in their latest preprint (https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.14.638267).

 

Mitochondria-Targeted Protection Against Cardiac Ischemia-Reperfusion via Rapid Persulfide and H2S Release

Jan Miljkovic, PhD

MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, UK

Hydrogen Sulfide to the Heart- In this webinar, Dr. Jan Miljkovic presented his work on creating, designing, and applying sulfur-containing molecules to treat the damage produced by cardiac ischemia reperfusion (IRI). These molecules act as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) donors, which has been demonstrated to be beneficial for cardiac pathologies. The multiple roles of H₂S include scavenging ROS/RNS, binding to the metal centres of proteins, and promoting a post-translational modification called S-sulfhydration. In their novel approach, Dr. Miljkovic showed how a targeted delivery of H₂S from mitochondria, using targeted compounds that serve as H₂S donors, could represent a therapeutic opportunity to alleviate IRI. Among these compounds, using MitoPerSulf before IRI showed a significant cardioprotective effect in a mouse model, limiting the IRI-associated damage. These results show MitoPerSulf as a cardioprotective strategy with great potential against the damaging effects of IRI when applied in a precise time window before the tissues become ischemic. For more details, please check Dr. Miljkovic’s work published in Redox Biology (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2022.102429).

 

More information about the ECR Subcommittee can be found on the SFRR-E website (ECR Committee), while regular updates can be found on Twitter (@SFRR_Europe), Instagram (@sfrr_ecr) and LinkedIn (SFRR-E). For any question or suggestion you might have, you can contact us via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Hope to see you online for our next Webinar Series appointment,

The ECR subcommittee

 

Upcoming events:

UK Redox Network Meeting

• 28 April 2025
• Location: London, UK

 

22nd SFRRI Biennial Meeting

• The New Era of Redox Biology: from Basic Biochemistry to Redox Omics
• 3 - 6 June 2025
• Location: Galway, Ireland
• Deadlines:
  • Travel Grant Applications: 10 January 2025
  • Abstract Submission: 10 February 2025
  • Early Bird Registration: 31 March 2025
• Further information: https://www.sfrrgalway2025.com

 

 FASEB Science Research Conference. Ferroptosis, Oxidative Stress, and Lipid Metabolism

• 27 - 31 July 2025
• Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
• Deadlines:
  • Abstract Submission: 1 June 2025
  • Early Registration: 15 June 2025
  • Housing: 13 July 2025
• Further information: https://events.faseb.org/event/11797f9e-df16-42b9-9c47-f1e06713c4fb/summary

 

EMBO Workshop: Thiol based redox switches: From chemistry to physiology and pathology

• 13 - 18 September 2025
• Location: Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain
• Abstract Submission Deadline: 18 May 2025
• https://meetings.embo.org/event/25-thiol-switches

 

Interesting Redox Papers:

Cobley, J.N., Chatzinikolaou, P.N. & Schmidt, C.A. The nonlinear cysteine redox dynamics in the i-space: A proteoform-centric theory of redox regulation. Redox Biol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2025.103523

Zhang, Q., Liu, X. & Wei, Q. Apoptotic breast cancer cells after chemotherapy induce pro-tumour extracellular vesicles via LAP-competent macrophages. Redox Biol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2024.103485

Cendali, F.I., Lisk, C., Dzieciatkowska, M., et al. Increased exercise tolerance in humanized G6PD-deficient mice. Blood Adv (2025). https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2024013968

Smiriglia, A., Lorito, N., Bacci, M., et al. Estrogen-dependent activation of TRX2 reverses oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction associated with steatotic disease. Cell Death Dis (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-025-07331-7

Li, H., Furusawa, T., Cavero, R., et al. Metabolic dependency mapping identifies Peroxiredoxin 1 as a driver of resistance to ATM inhibition. Redox Biol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2025.103503

Valeros, J., Jerome, M., Tseyang, T., et al. Rhodoquinone carries electrons in the mammalian electron transport chain. Cell (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2024.12.007

Torres-López, M., Spiller, P.F., Gao, L., et al.. Acute oxygen sensing by arterial chemoreceptors with a mutant mitochondrial complex I ND6 subunit lacking reverse electron transport. FEBS Lett (2025). https://doi.org/10.1002/1873-3468.70017

Morton, K.S., George, A.J. & Meyer, J.N. Complex I superoxide anion production is necessary and sufficient for complex I inhibitor-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans. Redox Biol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2025.103538

Petrovic, D., Slade, L., Paikopoulos, Y., et al. Ergothioneine improves healthspan of aged animals by enhancing cGPDH activity through CSE-dependent persulfidation. Cell Metab (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2024.12.008

 

Insightful Redox Reviews:

Liu, P., Liu, Z.Y., Mao, S., et al. Targeted mitochondrial function for cardiac fibrosis: An epigenetic perspective. Free Radic Biol Med (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2025.01.001

Chrzan, N. & Hartman, M.L. Copper in melanoma: At the crossroad of protumorigenic and anticancer roles. Redox Biol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2025.103552

Guo, Q., Tang, Y., Wang, S & Xia, X. Applications and enhancement strategies of ROS-based non-invasive therapies in cancer treatment. Redox Biol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2025.103515

Fuentes-Lemus, E., Usgame, K., Fierro, A. & López-Alarcón, C. Enzymes of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway as targets of oxidants: Role of redox reactions on the carbohydrate catabolism. Redox Biochem Chem (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbc.2025.100049 

 

Lastest Redox Preprints:

Lang, L., Leiskau, L., Thullen, L. & Deponte, M. H2S is a potential universal reducing agent for Prx6-type peroxiredoxins. BioRxiv (2025). https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.13.638076

Wyckelsma, V.L., Murgia, M., Kamandulis, S., et al. Antioxidant supplementation blunts the proteome response to three weeks of sprint interval training preferentially in human type 2 muscle fibres. BioRxiv (2025). https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.27.634979

 

Call for papers:

• Journal: Free Radical Biology and Medicine
• Special Issue: Redox medicine: Translation of Basic science to the Clinic
• Submission deadline: 1 March 2025
• More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/314690/redox-medicine-translation-of-basic-science-to-the-clinic

   

Redox Job Opportunities:

Remember that if there’s an open position in your lab for early career researchers and you would like to advertise it in our newsletter, just write us an email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) containing the following information:

• Kind of position: (PhD student, Postdoc, etc)
• Research topic
• Institute/University
• Deadline
• Contact information
• Further information about the position (if any)

Dear colleagues, 

Happy New Year!

We are wishing you a prosperous year, with exciting discoveries, important publications and progress and growth in your career! We are hoping to see you all in person in Galway in June this year for the SFRR-I meeting hosted by SFRR-E! Don’t forget to submit your abstract by the 10th of February!

In today's newsletter, we will present to you the first cohort of the Editorial Mentoring Programme. We will also announce the upcoming February’s webinar discussing H₂S redox signaling and share with you a summary of December’s and January’s webinar. At the end of the newsletter, as always, you can also find a collection of upcoming events with important deadlines, some suggestions of interesting redox reads recently published, open call for papers and job opportunities for young redox researchers.

The SFRR-E ECR Editorial mentoring programme is here!

We are delighted to announce that the ECR editorial mentoring programme is now underway!

The SFRR-E ECR committee with support from the SFRR-E, the SFRR-E official journals and Elsevier announced the launch of a new ECR editorial mentoring programme late last year. The aim of the programme is to offer Early Career Researchers (ECRs) the opportunity to increase their engagement with scientific publishing and gain experience in editorial board work and manuscript handling.

Seven selected mentees have now started working with Rafael Teixeira, receiving training information on the roles of editors and the Elsevier online system. When the training is completed, each mentee will start working with their mentor until the end of the year. The mentors on the programme are Andreas Daiber (Redox Biology), Giovanni Mann (FRBM) and Michael Davies (RBC).

We believe that the mentees will learn a lot from the vast expertise of the mentors and they will benefit tremendously from this experience. We are thankful to everybody who made this programme possible!

Next Webinar series “Emerging leaders in redox biology”

The next webinar of the year will take place on February 4th, 2025, at 15:00 CET, focusing on the hot topic “H₂S redox signaling” with featured speakers Denisse Scufi and Jan Miljkovic.

Hydrogen sulfide role in stomatal immunity

Denisse Scufi, PhD

Signaling Mechanisms in Plants Lab, IIB-CONICET-UNMdP, Mar Del Plata, Argentina

She is a researcher at Signaling Mechanisms in Plants Lab at the IIB-CONICET-UNMdP, Argentina. During her PhD she established the link between gasotransmitters and phospholipids in stomatal movements under Drs. García-Mata and Laxalt supervision. Furthermore, she visited the Plant Energy Biology Lab head of Dr. Schwarzländer in Germany where she trained in studying the dynamics of reactive oxygen species and redox regulation in living plant cells through novel fluorescent protein sensors. She is particularly focused on hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) involvement during stomatal immunity and the signalling behind it. Furthermore, she is interested in finding target proteins of the posttranslational modification (PTM) triggered by H₂S, known as persulfidation, and how this PTM modulates target proteins in the plant-pathogen context.

Mitochondria-Targeted Protection Against Cardiac Ischemia-Reperfusion via Rapid Persulfide and H₂S Release

Jan Miljkovic, PhD

MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, UK

He is a Senior Research Associate at the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, UK. His research background, beginning with Ph.D. training, established expertise in gasotransmitters (e.g., NO, HNO, and H₂S) and redox-related mechanisms within cellular biology, particularly concerning reactive oxygen species and protein posttranslational modifications. Building on this foundation, his postdoctoral training expanded his focus to include the effects of dietary interventions, caloric restriction, and H₂S on metabolism and longevity, with an emphasis on their translational applications.

Currently, his work centres on H₂S-based regulation of mitochondrial and cellular metabolism, with the goal of developing novel therapeutics that advance lifespan research and enhance our understanding of redox regulation in both normal and altered cellular homeostasis.

Summary of December’s and January’s webinar:

On December's webinar we learnt about “Redox Methods” with two inspiring talks by James Cobley and Rafael Argüello while in January, the focus was on “Environmental stressors in cardiovascular diseases” and we enjoyed two great talks by Timoteo Marchini and Marin Kuntic. If you didn’t have a chance to follow the webinar, here’s a summary for you. Remember that you can also watch the recordings of the webinars through the SFRR-E intranet.

Oxiforms: Redox biology at the proteoform level

James Cobley, PhD

School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom

The talk provided a mathematical description of cysteine redox proteoforms, covering how they are distributed into percentage redox grades. Their geometry with respect to binomial theorem-Pascal’s triangle-was also delineated. Computational experiments suggest highly oxidised cysteine redox proteoforms might form in the context of redox regulation. A novel method called Cleland Immunoblotting confirmed that this might be the case, revealing unexpected cysteine redox proteoforms. This emerging area is expected to generate new insights in redox biology.

 

Decoding complexity: A closer look at stress, metabolism and epigenetic crosstalks through Epic-SCENITH and SNUPR

Rafael Argüello, PhD

Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France

Advancing personalized medicine through metabolic profiling. In our latest webinar, Rafael Argüello shared with us the critical need for personalized medicine to address the alarming 86% failure rate in conventional clinical trials. He emphasized how the future of personalized diagnosis relies on the identification of independent patient characteristics beyond superficial clinical data. By leveraging advanced metabolic profiling and comprehensive blood assays, His research aims to uncover deeper insights into individual patient biology, focused on the intricate nature of cellular metabolism using SCENITH, a groundbreaking, flow cytometry-based technique designed to profile energy metabolism at the single-cell level. SCENITH operates by blocking specific metabolic pathways to halt ATP production, allowing precise measurement of cellular responses using Seahorse technology. This method enables the detection of changes in protein synthesis and offers detailed metabolic profiles of diverse cell types. As an example, this method allows the analysis of myeloid cells within solid tumors such as meningioma and renal carcinoma. The technique reveals varied metabolic profiles that are independent of cell lineage or activation states, providing essential data for understanding tumor microenvironments and immune responses. Additionally, SCENITH is optimized for ex vivo studies, particularly beneficial for rare cells in whole blood samples, thereby minimizing biases introduced by culture media.

Redox and inflammatory mechanisms linking air pollution PM2.5 exposure with cardiovascular disease and metabolic derangements

Timoteo Marchini, PhD

Vascular Immunology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany

Leave the car and use the bike – Dr. Timoteo Marchini shared with us his research focused on how cardiovascular and respiratory health is affected by air pollution, specifically the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that comes from fossil fuel combustion. These particles reach deep into the lungs, initiating oxidative stress and inflammation, which aggravates myocardial infarction and stroke, accelerates atherosclerosis, and promotes cardiovascular risk factor development (e.g., obesity). Their experimental approach uses collected PM2.5 samples in vitro and in vivo (acute) settings, as well as chronic models of whole-body exposure to polluted urban air. These models revealed early markers of lung inflammation, such as increased leukocyte counts and pro-inflammatory cytokine release driven by preceding rises in oxidized glutathione levels. Dr. Marchini described how chronic urban air exposure in mice causes pulmonary inflammation and impaired cardiac mitochondrial function. Alterations that contribute to greater myocardial damage following ischemia-reperfusion injury. They managed to pinpoint that the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages is activated by PM2.5 through lysosomal disruption and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to the release of IL-1β.

Effects of combined exposure to noise and particulate matter

Marin Kuntic, PhD

Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany

It’s a pollutant? It’s a plane? – Dr. Marin Kuntic presented his research on how air and noise pollution affect us, with a focus on aircraft noise and its impact on cardiovascular health. Noise pollution is more than just an annoyance and it constitutes a serious public health risk that affects a portion of the European population. Importantly, Dr. Kuntic’s research uncovered that sustained noise exposure is linked to markers of oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, critical precursors to cardiovascular complications. Using a mouse model, they study h ow cardiovascular drugs might mitigate these adverse effects. Mice exposed to aircraft noise were treated with a combination of the beta-blocker propranolol and the alpha-blocker phenoxybenzamine. These compounds effectively prevented noise-induced endothelial and microvascular dysfunction, suggesting potential pathways to safeguard human cardiovascular health against environmental stressors.

More information about the ECR Subcommittee can be found on the SFRR-E website https://www.sfrr-europe.org/index.php/ecr-committee , while regular updates can be found on Twitter (@SFRR_Europe), Instagram (@sfrr_ecr) and LinkedIn (SFRR-E). For any question or suggestion you might have, you can contact us via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Hope to see you online for our next Webinar Series appointment,

The ECR subcommittee

 

Upcoming events:

22nd SFRRI Biennial Meeting

• The New Era of Redox Biology: from Basic Biochemistry to Redox Omics
• 3 - 6 June 2025
• Location: Galway, Ireland
• Deadlines:
  • Travel Grant Applications: 10 January 2025
  • Abstract Submission: 10 February 2025
  • Early Bird Registration: 31 March 2025
• Further information: https://www.sfrrgalway2025.com

 

FASEB Science Research Conference. Ferroptosis, Oxidative Stress, and Lipid Metabolism

• 27 - 31 July 2025
• Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
• Deadlines:
  • Abstract Submission: 1 June 2025
  • Early Registration: 15 June 2025
  • Housing: 13 July 2025
• Further information: https://events.faseb.org/event/11797f9e-df16-42b9-9c47-f1e06713c4fb/summary

 

 

Interesting Redox Papers:

Scherschel, M., Niemeier, J-O., Jacobs, L.J.H.C., et al. A family of NADPH/NADP+ biosensors reveals in vivo dynamics of central redox metabolism across eukaryotes. Nat Comm (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55302-x

Ostrom, E.L., Stuppard, R., Mattson-Hughes, A. & Marcinek, D.J. Inducible and reversible SOD2 knockdown in mouse skeletal muscle drives impaired pyruvate oxidation and reduced metabolic flexibility. Free Radic Biol Med (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.10.310 

Zimmermann, J., Lang, L., Calabrese, G., et al. Tsa1 is the dominant peroxide scavenger and a source of H2O2-dependent GSSG production in yeast. Free Radic Biol Med (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.11.004

Obermann, T., Sakshaug , T., Kanagaraj , V.V., et al. Genomic 8-oxoguanine modulates gene transcription independent of its repair by DNA glycosylases OGG1 and MUTYH. Redox Biol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2024.103461

Zhang, Q.Y., Zhang, H.Y., Feng, S.G., et al. Macrophage metabolic reprogramming ameliorates diabetes-induced microvascular dysfunction. Redox Biol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2024.103449

Eaglesfield, R., Fernandez-Vizarra, E., Lacko, E., et al. Sub-organellar mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide observed using a SNAP tag targeted coumarin-based fluorescent reporter. Redox Biol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2025.103502

Shields, S., Gregory, E., Wilkes, O., et al. Oxidative Stress Promotes Axonal Atrophy through Alterations in Microtubules and EB1 Function. Aging Dis (2025). https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2024.0839

 

 

Insightful Redox Reviews:

Fujii, J., Ochi, H. & Yamada, S. A comprehensive review of peroxiredoxin 4, a redox protein evolved in oxidative protein folding coupled with hydrogen peroxide detoxification. Free Radic Biol Med (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.12.015

Matrullo, G., Filomeni, G. et Rizza, S. Redox regulation of focal adhesions. Redox Biol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2025.103514 

Rojo, A.I., Buttari, B., Cadenas, S., et al. Model organisms for investigating the functional involvement of NRF2 in non-communicable diseases. Redox Biol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2024.103464

Ghosal, J., Sinchana, V.K. & Chakrabarty, S. Ferroptosis meets microRNAs: A new frontier in anti-cancer therapy. Free Radic Biol Med (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.11.023

Huang, H., Chen, Y., Xu, W. et al. Decoding aging clocks: New insights from metabolomics. Cell Metab (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2024.11.007

 

Call for papers:

• Journal: Free Radical Biology and Medicine
• Special Issue: Redox medicine: Translation of Basic science to the Clinic
• Submission deadline: 1 March 2025
• More information:
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/314690/redox-medicine-translation-of-basic-science-to-the-clinic 

 

Redox Job Opportunities:

Postdoc positions

• Kind of position: Postdoc (2 years)
• Research topic: Physiology and Pharmacology
• Institute/University: Karolinska Institute, Stockholm
• Deadline: 31st January 2025
• Contact information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Further information about the position: We are searching for someone skilled in biochemistry and/or chemical biology. Knowledge in EPR technique is highly appreciated.

PhD positions

• Kind of position: PhD position (4 years)
• Research topic: Understanding intracellular redox heterogeneity
• Institute/University: The University of Liverpool
• Deadline: 31 January 2025
• Contact information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Further information about the position: A PhD position (fully funded for UK students only) is available at the lab of Dr P. Kritsiligkou. Please contact them directly for more information on how to apply.

 

• Kind of position: PhD position (4 years)
• Research topic: RNA modifications under stress conditions
• Deadline: 31 January 2025
• Contact information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Further information about the position: A PhD position (fully funded for students world-wide) is available at the lab of Dr P. Kritsiligkou. Please contact them directly for more information on how to apply.

 

Remember that if there’s an open position in your lab for early career researchers and you would like to advertise it in our newsletter, just write us an email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. containing the following information:

• Kind of position: (PhD student, Postdoc, etc)
• Research topic
• Institute/University
• Deadline
• Contact information
• Further information about the position (if any)

Dear colleagues, 

In today's newsletter, we are excited to announce the final webinar of the season discussing Redox methods and the launch of the call for new ECR fellowships. We will also share with you a summary of November's webinar and of the PhD symposium. At the end of the newsletter, as always, you can also find a collection of upcoming events with important deadlines, some suggestions of interesting redox reads recently published, open call for papers and job opportunities for young redox researchers.

Next Webinar series “Emerging leaders in redox biology”

The final webinar of the year will take place on December 3rd, 2024, at 15:00 CET, focusing on the important topic “Redox methods” with featured speakers James Cobley and Rafael Argüello.

Oxiforms: Redox biology at the proteoform level

James Cobley, PhD
School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom

After studying the redox aspects of sports supplements as an exercise physiology student, James Cobley joined Abertay University (Dundee) to research the biology of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the nervous system, with a particular focus on synapse pruning. During this time, he visited the lab of Prof. Michael Murphy to learn the art of measuring ROS, particularly mitochondrial superoxide using MitoNeD. Thereafter, James joined the University of the Highlands and Islands (Inverness) to study cysteine redox biology using microplate-based techniques and developed the idea of oxiforms: cysteine redox proteoforms. Presently, James is post-doctoral researcher in the lab of Prof. Angus Lamond at Dundee University. There, James is applying mass spectrometry based proteomics to analyse adipose tissue from identical and non-identical human twins, using the Astral machine. He is also working on methods to measure cysteine redox proteoforms using mass spectrometry.

Decoding complexity: A closer look at stress, metabolism and epigenetic crosstalks through Epic-SCENITH and SNUPR

Rafael Argüello, PhD
Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France

Rafael J. Argüello is tenured research associate at CNRS (Marseille) and the inventor of SCENITHTM, a method for metabolic profiling with single cell resolution. A molecular biologist with a PhD in Human Immunology from Argentina (UBA) and postdoctoral work at CIML and UCSF, his research now focuses on stress, metabolism and epigenetics in immune cells. His awards include the 2021 Diversity-Equity and Inclusion Paper of the Year 2021. He co-founded GammaOmics, a startup developing personalized medicine tools, is active in the non-profit-Expedición Ciencia, and is a co-founding member of the European ImmunoMetabolism Network.

 

ECR Fellowships - New call open!!

If you are an ECR member of the SFRR-E and under 40 years of age in one of the following situations:

• Postdoc (minimum 3 years after the completion of your PhD).
• Scientist returning to academia after a career break
• Scientist less than 3 years into your first academic position.

You can apply to one of the SFRR-E/OCC ECR Fellowships! These fellowships provide funding up to 10.000€ for a 12-month period supporting research or seed-funding for a new project relevant for the redox field.

If you are interested in applying, please submit your application via the SFRR-E intranet. Deadline: 20th December 2024.

More information as well as the application form are available in the members area of the SFRR-E web: https://intranet.sfrr-europe.org

Good luck to you all!

New ECR subcommittee members - call open until the 29th November!

The ECR subcommittee is looking for new members! Are you interested in joining a vibrant redox community trying to support young researchers in the redox field? We have open spots in the following committees: social media team, newsletter team, webinar team and mentoring program.

If you are less than 40 years old and/or you have defended your PhD thesis less than 10 years ago and you would like to contribute to the redox ECR community, we are looking forward to meeting you!

The call is now open until the 29th November 2024.

You can apply by filling out this form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LPMHD6C or directly reach out to us if you have questions!

 

Second Edition of the PhD Redox Relay Online Symposium:

On the 19th November six enthusiastic PhD students showcased their research at the 2nd Edition of our PhD Symposium!

Each presenter did an excellent job presenting their PhD projects in just 5 minutes! The symposium covered a diverse range of topics, from aging and sports science to the cutting-edge field of persulfides and chronic diseases. The students presented their data with enthusiasm, shared their ideas with confidence, and tackled even the toughest questions with ease.

It was a real pleasure listening to them and if this is the future of redox biology, we are very excited for the years to come!

Please acknowledge our brave PhD students!

If you missed it, you can find the symposium on the society’s intranet!

 

November's webinar:

On November's webinar we enjoyed two great talks on the topic “Redox in Photosynthetic organisms” by Sophie Hendrix and Libero Gurrieri.

Glutathione peroxidase-like 8 (GPXL8): A new player in hydrogen peroxide signalling in Arabidopsis thaliana?

Sophie Hendrix, PhD
Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

Do you feel the heat? Plant cells depend on an extensive antioxidant defense network to keep reactive oxygen species (ROS) at sub-toxic levels. One member of this network is glutathione peroxidases (GPX). In mammalian cells, GPXs detoxify hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) via the GSH/GR/NADPH redox relay, while plant GPXs, in contrast, use the TRX/NTR/NADPH redox relay, and therefore named GPX-like proteins or GPXLs. Dr. Sophie Hendrix shared with us the potential role of a GPXL in alleviating heat-induced ferroptosis plants. A type of programmed cell death dependent on Iron that is well understood in mammal cells but with limited information in plants. Moreover, Dr. Hendrix proved that this GPXL can work as a new H₂O₂ sensor in vitro and in vivo. Using different variants of this GPXL, they have gained further insight into the importance of each of its conserved cysteines in establishing the protein’s oxidoreductase activity. These new discoveries contribute to elucidating the function of uncharacterized plant GPXLs and open the possibility of generating new redox sensors for H₂O₂.

Redox control of starch degradation interlaces glutathione, thioredoxins and guard cell function

Libero Gurrieri, PhD
Molecular Plant Physiology Lab, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy

Take a breath! Plants use stomata as pores for gas exchange, letting carbon dioxide (CO2) in for carbon fixation and water out as vapor. Stomata opening and closing are mediated by a pair of guard cells that, in turn, are controlled by multiple factors, including starch degradation. Starch is the carbohydrate reserve that plants build during the day and use during the night when photosynthesis is not possible. Starch degradation leads to ATP production, which activates ion channels that ultimately change the cell water potential, facilitating stomata closure. In this webinar, Dr. Libero Gurrieri presented his work on characterizing BAM1, a chloroplast beta-amylase regulated by redox. BAM1 is inactive upon forming an intramolecular disulfide bond and active when reduced. He proved that mutant lines for chloroplastic glutathione reductase (GR) have more degraded starch, indicating increased amylase activity, and they are currently following the hypothesis that GSH can glutathionylate BAM1, protecting it from redox inactivation. The following research will focus on the connection between the redox-regulated amylase activity and stomata opening, reinforcing the redox-gas exchange link in plant leaves.


More information about the ECR Subcommittee can be found on the SFRR-E website (ECR Committee), while regular updates can be found on Twitter (@SFRR_Europe), Instagram (@sfrr_ecr) and LinkedIn (SFRR-E). For any question or suggestion you might have, you can contact us via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Hope to see you online for our next Webinar Series appointment,

The ECR subcommittee

Upcoming events:

22nd SFRRI Biennial Meeting

The New Era of Redox Biology: from Basic Biochemistry to Redox Omics
3 - 6 June 2025
Location: Galway, Ireland
Deadlines:
Travel Grant Applications: 10 January 2025
Abstract Submission: 10 February 2025
Early Bird Registration: 31 March 2025
Further information: https://www.sfrrgalway2025.com

 

FASEB Science Research Conference. Ferroptosis, Oxidative Stress, and Lipid Metabolism

27 - 31 July 2025
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Deadlines:
Abstract Submission: 1 June 2025
Early Registration: 15 June 2025
Housing: 13 July 2025
Further information: https://events.faseb.org/event/11797f9e-df16-42b9-9c47-f1e06713c4fb/summary 

 

Interesting Redox Papers:

Lang, L., Reinert, P., Diaz, C. & Deponte, M. The dithiol mechanism of class I glutaredoxins promotes specificity for glutathione as a reducing agent. Redox Biol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2024.103410

Fiorenza, M., Onslev, J., Henríquez-Olguín., C., et al. Reducing the mitochondrial oxidative burden alleviates lipid-induced muscle insulin resistance in humans. Sci Adv (2024). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adq4461

Sarah Barakat, Şeyma Çimen, Ş, Miri, SM., et al. Bioenergetic shift and proteomic signature induced by lentiviral-transduction of GFP-based biosensors. Redox Biol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2024.103416

Pérez-Chávez, I., Koberstein, J.N., Malo Pueyo, J., et al. Tracking fructose 1,6-bisphosphate dynamics in liver cancer cells using a fluorescent biosensor. iScience (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.111336

Choudhary, D., Foster, K.R. & Uphoff, S. The master regulator OxyR orchestrates bacterial oxidative stress response genes in space and time. Cell Syst (2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cels.2024.10.003

Ito, J., Nakamura, T., Toyama, T., et al. PRDX6 dictates ferroptosis sensitivity by directing cellular selenium utilization. Mol Cell (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2024.10.028

Ryu, K.W., Fung, T.S., Baker, D.C., et al. Cellular ATP demand creates metabolically distinct subpopulations of mitochondria. Nature (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08146-w

Chen, Z., Inague, A., Kaushal, K. et al. PRDX6 contributes to selenocysteine metabolism and ferroptosis resistance. Mol Cell (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2024.10.027

Gomes, F., Turano, H., Haddad, L.A. & Netto, L.E.S. Human mitochondrial peroxiredoxin Prdx3 is dually localized in the intermembrane space and matrix subcompartments. Redox Biol (2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2024.103436

Pace, P.E., Fu, L., Hampton, M.B. & Winterbourn, C.C.. Redox proteomic analysis of H2O2 -treated Jurkat cells and effects of bicarbonate and knockout of peroxiredoxins 1 and 2. Free Radic Biol Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.10.314

 

Insightful Redox Reviews:

Zachary J. Rogers, Z.J., Flood, D. & Taylor, C.T. Oxygen control in cell culture – your cells may not be experiencing what you think! Free Radic Biol Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.11.036

 Sies, H. SFRRI Inaugural Alberto Boveris Award Lecture Dynamics of Intracellular and Intercellular Redox Communication. Free Radic Biol Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.11.002

Jackson, MJ. Exercise-induced adaptations to homeostasis of reactive oxygen species in skeletal muscle. Free Radic Biol Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.10.270

José Viña, J., Borrás, C. & Mas-Bargues, C. Free radicals in Alzheimer's disease: From pathophysiology to clinical trial results. Free Radic Biol Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.09.051

Duong, L.D., West, J.D. & Morano, K.A. Redox Regulation of Proteostasis. J Biol Chem (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107977

 

Lastest Redox Preprints:

Agostinis, P., Rizzollo, F., Escamilla-Ayala, A., et al. A Bdh2-driven Lysosome to Mitochondria Iron Trafficking Controls Ferroptosis in Melanoma. Research Square (2024). https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5345588/v1 

 

Call for papers:

Journal: Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Special Issue: Redox medicine: Translation of Basic science to the Clinic
Submission deadline: 1 March 2025
More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/314690/redox-medicine-translation-of-basic-science-to-the-clinic

  

Redox Job Opportunities:

Postdoc positions

• Kind of position: Postdoc (2 years)
• Research topic: Physiology and Pharmacology
• Institute/University: Karolinska Institute, Stockholm
• Deadline: 31st January 2025
• Contact information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Further information about the position: We are searching for someone skilled in biochemistry and/or chemical biology. Knowledge in EPR technique is highly appreciated.


• Kind of position: Postdoc (3 years)
• Research topic: Post-translational Modifications and Proliferation
• Institute/University: The Institute of Cancer Research, London ( Dr. Jörg Mansfeld Lab)
• Deadline: 15th December 2024 (Interviews January 2025)
• Contact information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Further information about the position: we are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious candidate for a Postdoctoral Training Fellow position, with experience in cell cycle research, ubiquitin, or redox biology. A strong cell biology or biochemistry background with an emphasis on the regulation of protein-protein interactions and mechanistic studies in vitro or in cells is highly desirable. Knowledge in DNA replication and/or DNA damage repair is desirable.
• Lab webpage: https://www.mansfeldlab.com
• To apply:
https://jobs.icr.ac.uk/vacancies/1059/postdoctoral-training-fellow--post-translational-modifications-and-cell-proliferation.html

 

PhD positions

• Kind of position: PhD position (4 years)
• Research topic: Understanding intracellular redox heterogeneity - www.kritsiligkou.com
• Institute/University: The University of Liverpool
• Deadline: 31 December 2024
• Contact information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Further information about the position: A PhD position (fully funded for UK students only) is available at the lab of Dr P. Kritsiligkou. Please contact them directly for more information on how to apply.

Remember that if there’s an open position in your lab for early career researchers and you would like to advertise it in our newsletter, just write us an email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) containing the following information:

• Kind of position: (PhD student, Postdoc, etc)
• Research topic
• Institute/University
• Deadline
• Contact information
• Further information about the position (if any)