Gunn-Moore
Group Highlights
My group has made major discoveries in understanding the cellular and biochemical mechanisms involved in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (linking mitochondrial and synaptic dysfunction), where we have pioneered new models (including the first identification that cetaceans also show similar pathology) and identified potential therapeutic targets with resultant industrial collaboration for novel inhibitors (filed patents). Using both molecular and novel biophysical techniques, we have also discovered novel biochemical pathways that are involved in the growth and development of mammalian neurons. These findings include the first identification of the protein FRMD6/Willin as an upstream component of the Hippo pathway, which prior to our work, was thought to be involved only in cancer, but we have now linked its activity to Alzheimer’s disease progression.
I always claim that we are truly interdisciplinary, as we have published >140 papers in Biology, Chemistry and Physics journals, including a range of highly cited publications in top journals, e.g., Science, Nature Medicine, Nature Methods, Nature Protocols, Nature Communications and Science Advances and have been funded from highly competitive sources.
Research
- Inhibitors and activity of 17beta HSD10 in Alzheimer’s disease
- Willin/FRMD6 activity in Alzheimer’s disease
- Non-human models of dementia
- Biophotonics
Group Members
Publications
Chapters
Structured illumination microscopy as a diagnostic tool for nephrotic disease
Nylk, J., Pullman, J. M., Campbell, E. C., Gunn-Moore, F. J., Prystowsky, M. B. & Dholakia, K., 2017, Advanced Biomedical and Clinical Diagnostic and Surgical Guidance Systems XV. Grundfest, W. S., Vo-Dinh, T. & Mahadevan-Jansen, A. (eds.). SPIE, 1005417. (Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE; vol. 10054).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Integrated 3D macro-trapping and light-sheet imaging system
Yang, Z., Piksarv, P., Ferrier, D. E. K., Gunn-Moore, F. J. & Dholakia, K., 2015, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation XII. Spalding, G. C., Dholakia, K., Dholakia, K. & Spalding, G. C. (eds.). SPIE, 95480T. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; vol. 9548).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Optical Transfection of Mammalian Cells
Antkowiak, M., Dholakia, K. & Gunn-Moore, F. J., 31 May 2015, Understanding Biophotonics - Fundamentals, Advances and Applications. Tsia, K. (ed.). p. 693-734
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Femtosecond optical injection of intact plant cells using a reconfigurable platform
Mitchell, C. A., Kalies, S., Cizmar, T., Bellini, N., Kubasik-Thayil, A., Heisterkamp, A., Torrance, L., Roberts, A. G., Gunn-Moore, F. J. & Dholakia, K., 1 Jan 2014, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. Vol. 8972.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Imaging the cellular response to transient shear stress using time-resolved digital holography
Arita, Y., Antkowiak, M., Gunn-Moore, F. & Dholakia, K., 26 Feb 2014, Optical Elastography and Tissue Biomechanics. Larin, K. & Sampson, D. (eds.). Bellingham: SPIE, Vol. 8946. 7 p. (Proceedings of SPIE; vol. 8946).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Single cell transfection by laser-induced breakdown of an optically trapped gold nanoparticle
Arita, Y., Ploschner, M., Antkowiak, M., Gunn-Moore, F. & Dholakia, K., 7 Mar 2014, Frontiers in Ultrafast Optics: Biomedical, Scientific, and Industrial Applications XIV. Heisterkamp, A., Herman, P., Meunier, M. & Nolte, S. (eds.). Bellingham: SPIE, Vol. 8972. 7 p. (Proceedings of SPIE; vol. 8972).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Wavefront shaping of a Bessel light field enhances light sheet microscopy with scattered light
Nylk, J., Mitchell, C., Vettenburg, T., Gunn-Moore, F. J. & Dholakia, K., 12 Mar 2014, Three-Dimensional and Multidimensional Microscopy: Image Acquisition and Processing XXI. Brown, T., Cogswell, C. & Wilson, T. (eds.). Bellingham: SPIE, Vol. 8949. 8 p. (Proceedings of SPIE; vol. 8949).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Femtosecond optical transfection as a tool for genetic manipulation of human embryonic stem cells
Torres-Mapa, M. L., Gardner, J., Bradburn, H., King, J., Dholakia, K. & Gunn-Moore, F., 2013, Frontiers in Ultrafast Optics: Biomedical, Scientific, and Industrial Applications XIII. 861104. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; vol. 8611).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
High-throughput optical injection of mammalian cells using a non-diffracting beam in a microfluidic platform
Rendall, H. A., Marchington, R. F., Praveen, B. B., Bergmann, G., Arita, Y., Heisterkamp, A., Gunn-Moore, F. J. & Dholakia, K., 2013, Frontiers in Ultrafast Optics: Biomedical, Scientific, and Industrial Applications XIII. 861103. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; vol. 8611).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Holographic approach for optical poration and trapping of developing embryos
Torres-Mapa, M. L., Antkowiak, M., Cizmarova, H., Ferrier, D. E. K., Dholakia, K. & Gunn-Moore, F., 2013, The European Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO_Europe 2013. (Optics InfoBase Conference Papers).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Articles
High-throughput screening of potent drug-like molecules targeting 17β-HSD10 for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and cancer
Aitken, L., Baillie, G., Pannifer, A., Morrison, A., Major, L. L., Alphey, M. S., Sethi, R., Timmerman, M., Robinson, J., Riley, J., Shishikura, Y., Koekemoer, L., Von Delft, F., Rutjes, H., Read, K., Jones, P. S., McElroy, S. P., Smith, T. K. & Gunn-Moore, F. J., 18 Jun 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: ACS Chemical Biology. ASAP, p. 1-16 16 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Spontaneous mammalian models for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
Ford, M., Gunn-Moore, F. J. & Dalgleish, M. P., 2025, In: Brain Communications. 7, 4, p. 1-16 16 p., fcaf287.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
The Hippo signaling pathway as a therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease
Chen, D., Wigglesworth-Littlewood, S. & Gunn-Moore, F. J., 26 Sept 2025, In: Molecular Neurodegeneration. 20, p. 1-31 31 p., 100.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Quantifying DNA damage following light sheet and confocal imaging of the mammalian embryo
Chow, D. J. X., Schartner, E. P., Corsetti, S., Upadhya, A., Morizet, J., Gunn-Moore, F. J., Dunning, K. R. & Dholakia, K., 5 Sept 2024, In: Scientific Reports. 14, 12 p., 20760.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Alzheimer’s disease-like neuropathology in three species of oceanic dolphin
Vacher, M. C., Durrant, C. S., Rose, J., Hall, A. J., Spires-Jones, T. L., Gunn-Moore, F. & Dagleish, M. P., 1 Apr 2023, In: European Journal of Neuroscience. 57, 7, p. 1161-1179 19 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Development of submicromolar 17β-HSD10 inhibitors and their in vitro and in vivo evaluation
Benek, O., Vaskova, M., Miskerikova, M., Schmidt, M., Andrys, R., Rotterova, A., Skarka, A., Hatlapatkova, J., Karasova, J. Z., Medvecky, M., Hroch, L., Vinklarova, L., Fisar, Z., Hroudova, J., Handl, J., Capek, J., Rousar, T., Kobrlova, T., Dolezal, R. & Soukup, O. & 3 others, , 5 Oct 2023, In: European Journal Of Medicinal Chemistry. 258, 18 p., 115593.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The mitochondrial enzyme 17βHSD10 modulates ischemic and amyloid-β-induced stress in primary mouse astrocytes
Metodieva, V., Smith, T. K. & Gunn-Moore, F. J., 12 Sept 2022, In: eNeuro. 9, 5, 24 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Willin/FRMD6 mediates mitochondrial dysfunction relevant to neuronal Aβ toxicity
Chen, D., Yu, W., Aitken, L. & Gunn-Moore, F. J., 6 Oct 2022, In: Cells. 11, 19, 27 p., 3140.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Willin/FRMD6: a multi-functional neuronal protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease
Chen, D., Yu, W., Aitken, L. & Gunn-Moore, F. J., 4 Nov 2021, In: Cells. 10, 11, 27 p., 3024.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Benzothiazolyl ureas are low micromolar and uncompetitive inhibitors of 17β-HSD10 with implications to Alzheimer’s disease treatment
Schmidt, M., Benek, O., Vinklarova, L., Hrabinova, M., Zemanova, L., Chribek, M., Kralova, V., Hroch, L., Dolezal, R., Lycka, A., Prchal, L., Jun, D., Aitken, L., Gunn-Moore, F., Kuca, K. & Musilek, K., 17 Mar 2020, In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21, 6, 26 p., 2059.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Papers
Holographic approach for optical poration and trapping of developing embryos
Torres-Mapa, M. L., Antkowiak, M., Cizmarova, H., Ferrier, D. E. K., Dholakia, K. & Gunn-Moore, F., 2013.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Femtosecond cellular transfection using a non diffracting light beam
Tsampoula, X., Garcés-Chávez, V., Comrie, M., Stevenson, D. J., Agate, B., Brown, C. T. A., Gunn-Moore, F. & Dholakia, K., 2008, p. BMD60.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Other publications
Optical fibre system for transfecting material into a cell
Dholakia, K. (Inventor), Ma, N. (Inventor), Ashok, P. C. (Inventor), Stevenson, D. (Inventor) & Gunn-Moore, F. (Inventor), 3 Jan 2023, IPC No. C12N 15/89 (2006.01), C12M 3/00 (2006.01), G02B 3/00 (2006.01), Patent No. CA 2801671, 10 Jun 2011, Priority date 11 Jun 2010, Priority No. 1009800.2
Research output: Patent
Author correction: Nanostructural diversity of synapses in the mammalian spinal cord (Scientific Reports, (2020), 10, 1, (8189), 10.1038/s41598-020-64874-9)
Broadhead, M. J., Bonthron, C., Arcinas, L., Bez, S., Zhu, F., Goff, F., Nylk, J., Dholakia, K., Gunn-Moore, F., Grant, S. G. N. & Miles, G. B., 24 Nov 2021, In: Scientific Reports. 11, 1, 23160.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
Design, synthesis and in vitro evaluation of benzothiazole-based ureas as potential ABAD/17β-HSD10 modulators for Alzheimer’s disease treatment
Hroch, L., Benek, O., Guest, P., Aitken, L., Soukup, O., Janockova, J., Musil, K., Dohnal, V., Dolezal, R., Kuca, K., Smith, T. K., Gunn-Moore, F. J. & Musilek, K., 1 Aug 2016, In: Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 26, 15, p. 3675-3678 4 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
Corrigendum: Design, evaluation and structure-activity relationship studies of the AChE reactivators against organophosphorus pesticides
Musilek, K., Dolezal, M., Gunn-Moore, F. & Kuca, K., Sept 2011, In: Medicinal Research Reviews. 31, 5, p. 819 1 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
Growing old is not for wimps
Gunn-Moore, F. J. & Gunn-Moore, D., 2010, In: Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 12, 11, p. 835-836
Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Violet diode-assisted photoporation and transfection of cells
Paterson, L., Agate, B., Comrie, M., Ferguson, R., Stevenson, D., Lake, T., Brown, C., Gunn-Moore, F. J., Riches, A. C., Bryant, P. E., Sibbett, W. & Dholakia, K., Aug 2005
Research output: Other contribution
Axo-glial interactions during myelination.
Perrine, C., Tait, S., Barbin, G., Gunn-Moore, F. J., Girault, J., Denissenko-Nehrbass, N., Guennoc, A., Zalc, B., Brophy, P. & Lubetzki, C., 2002
Research output: Other contribution
Neurofascin as a glial partner for the paranodin/caspr-contactin axonal complex at the axoglial junction.
Barbin, G., Tait, S., Charles, P., Faivre-Sarraihl, C., Gunn-Moore, F. J., Denisenko-Nehrbass, N., Guennoc, A., Girault, J., Brophy, P. & Lubetzki, C., 2002
Research output: Other contribution
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