Geula Hanin

nature.comZFP57 is a regulator of postnatal growth and life-long health - Nature CommunicationsLactation is essential, but its genetic and epigenetic regulation is poorly understood. Here, Hanin et al. show that ZFP57 has an imprinting-independent role in controlling postnatal nutritional suppo...

🤱 🧬 Some discoveries really do take a long gestation....

Geula Hanin@geula.bsky.social

🎉 After a very long one (appropriately…), I’m excited to share work revealing an unexpected role for the epigenetic regulator ZFP57 - linking development, lactation, milk composition and lifelong health. Check it out: www.nature.com/articles/s41... #MammaryGlandBiology #DOHaD

Geula Hanin reposted

The Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research

@loke-ctr.bsky.social

🎓 Applications open for 4-year fully funded PhD studentship at the University of Cambridge’s Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research. 🔬 Explore exciting research projects in placental and reproductive biology. 📅 Deadline: 3 Nov 2026 🔗 www.trophoblast.cam.ac.uk/phd-students... 📢 Please share!

trophoblast.cam.ac.ukPhD Studentships | Loke Centre for Trophoblast ResearchThe Loke CTR provides a dynamic environment for PhD training in placental biology and reproductive science. Founded in 2007, it brings together 30 Principal Investigators with a shared interest in…

Geula Hanin reposted

Watson Lab

@ewatlab.bsky.social

I'm pleased to announce a PhD studentship opportunity supervised by Dr Geula Hanin and myself through the Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research. Project details below. Contact us if interested. www.trophoblast.cam.ac.uk/epigenetic-m...

trophoblast.cam.ac.ukEpigenetic mechanisms linking maternal choline supply and one-carbon metabolism during early perinatal development | Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research

cam.ac.ukResearch Assistant (In-vivo Scientist) (Fixed Term)The Hanin Lab, based in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, investigates the molecular basis of lactation and early nutrition to understand how m...

7 Aug

🚨 We're hiring! Join the Hanin Lab @ Cambridge as a Research Assistant/In-vivo Scientist. We're looking for someone with molecular and in-vivo experience to study how lactation & early-life nutrition shape lifelong health. Apply by 16 Aug: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...

@cam-repro.bsky.social @aj-twigger.bsky.social @koulman.bsky.social @pdncambridge.bsky.social @cambiochem.bsky.social @phar.cam.ac.uk @cambridgebiosci.bsky.social

16 June

What an incredible day at the Cambridge Lactation Network Summer Symposium! 🌟🤱 Researchers, clinicians, midwives, practitioners and students came together to explore breastfeeding and human milk from history to multi-omics. Huge thanks to our speakers, chairs, sponsors and attendees! 🙌

It’s exciting to see the UK lactation research community continuing to grow and connect across disciplines. If your work touches on lactation, breastfeeding, human milk, maternal-infant health, we’d love to have you join us. Already looking forward to the next one! 💙

6 May

Join us for the next Cambridge Lactation Network Summer Symposium on Friday, 12th of June 2026. Please register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/cambridge-... @cam-repro.bsky.social @pdncambridge.bsky.social @phar.cam.ac.uk @cambiochem.bsky.social @aj-twigger.bsky.social @koulman.bsky.social

@profantisles.bsky.social

2 May

Looking forward to sharing my perspective on maternal nutritional provision and learning about common mechanisms across species 🤱

Social Transfer Network@socialtransfernet.bsky.social

Parental nutrition: Do #milk and #mucus have things in common? Find out at the BYOF seminar on May 6th at 15:00–16:00 UK / UTC+1 | 16:00–17:00 Europe / UTC+2 | 10:00–11:00 US East / UTC-4 of our #SociallyTransferredMaterials network. Bring a beverage ☕️ as you prefer – with or without the milk!

Geula Hanin reposted

Prof Anthony Isles

20 Apr

Just one week left to apply for this 4-year #postdoc position!

Prof Anthony Isles@profantisles.bsky.social

❗We are recruiting❗ A PDRA based in the Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics at Cardiff University investigating the #molecular & #cellular changes in #schizophrenia, building on the work of the #MURIDAE cluster @mrcmousenetwork.bsky.social Please see link 👇 tinyurl.com/32u753js

tinyurl.comJob Search | Cardiff UniversitySearch for Internet job results.

Geula Hanin reposted

Benoit Bruneau

@benoitbruneau.bsky.social

25 Feb

vitamins!!!! They cure disease! Amazing work (again!) from @ishahjain.bsky.social's lab here at @gladstoneinst.bsky.social (and @arcinstitute.org) www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

cell.comVitamin B2 and B3 nutrigenomics reveals a therapy for NAXD diseaseA nutrigenomics framework identifies genetic diseases amenable to vitamin B2 and B3 therapies. This approach nominates vitamin B3 as a therapy for NAXD deficiency, a lethal neurodevelopmental disorder...

Geula Hanin reposted

Courtney Hanna

@cwhanna.bsky.social

20 Feb

This will be a great meeting! Don't forget to register!

The Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research@loke-ctr.bsky.social

Exciting News! 🚀 Registration Open! | Loke CTR Annual Meeting 2026 🎉 📅 16-17 July 2026 📍 St John’s College, Cambridge | 💻 Hybrid conference (in-person & online) 🔬 Epigenetics of embryogenesis and placentation 📌 To find out more and to register www.trophoblast.cam.ac.uk/ctrconferenc...

🧬 Our work challenges the idea that mother-offspring co-adaptation is driven purely by shared environment. Instead, we provide evidence for a genetically driven co-adaptation, with ZFP57 coordinating nutritional provisioning prenatally via imprinting and postnatally via lactation.

🙏 Huge thank you This work was only possible thanks to an incredible team! thank you to all my co-authors for their insight, persistence, and patience over the many years this project took to come to life. @geneticscam.bsky.social @koulman.bsky.social @pdncambridge.bsky.social

🧩 A surprising twist Milk from ZFP57-deficient mothers can partially protect these offspring from excessive adult weight gain. When the same pups are instead raised by healthy mothers, this protection is lost.

➡️ Out take-home message: 1️⃣ Milk from the biological mother is optimally matched to the specific requirements of her offspring. 2️⃣ Early-life nutritional programming is shaped by both prenatal and postnatal epigenetic mechanisms and mismatching these environments can have lasting consequences.

🥛 Milk composition is altered Dams lacking ZFP57 show: • delayed lactation onset • abnormal milk composition • increased oxidised triglycerides • reduced phosphatidylcholines This altered milk attenuates offspring growth during lactation.

👶 But the story goes deeper The prenatal environment also shapes outcomes. Offspring that develop in a ZFP57-deficient pregnancy show long-lasting changes in suckling, postnatal growth trajectories and adult metabolic health. These offspring are more prone to obesity and diabetes later in life.

🔬 What we discovered Loss of ZFP57: • alters mammary ductal branching and epithelial cell balance • disrupts gene expression programs linked to alveologenesis and lactation • does not cause widespread loss of imprinting in the mammary gland

This points to a previously unrecognised, imprinting-independent function for ZFP57 in the postnatal period.

❓Why this matters Lactation is central to maternal nutritional support, yet the genetic and epigenetic control of lactation and postnatal growth remains surprisingly poorly understood. Our study fills an important gap by identifying a specific epigenetic regulator linking these processes.

@natureportfolio.nature.com

💡 The starting idea ZFP57 controls imprinting. Imprinting operates in the adult mammary gland (as we showed in our 2025 NAR paper). So we asked: Could disrupting ZFP57 and therefore multiple imprinted pathways, alter postnatal resource allocation?

✨ What did we find? Zinc finger protein 57 (ZFP57), best known as a master regulator of genomic imprinting in early development, also regulates postnatal nutritional provisioning to the offspring by shaping: • mammary gland development • milk composition • offspring growth and lifelong health

Geula Hanin reposted

Nature Portfolio

6 Dec 2025

A Comment article in Nature Reviews Bioengineering discusses how understanding pregnancy stage-specific drug pharmacokinetics and placental drug transport can guide the design of nanomedicine to optimize treatments during pregnancy. 🔒

go.nature.comDesigning nanomedicine to overcome therapeutic challenges in pregnancy - Nature Reviews BioengineeringIllness during pregnancy presents a therapeutic dilemma: treatment must protect the mother without compromising fetal health. Yet, most drugs remain insufficiently studied in pregnancy. Understanding pregnancy stage-specific drug pharmacokinetics and placental drug transport can guide the design of nanomedicine to optimize treatments during pregnancy.

Geula Hanin reposted

Nature Reviews Endocrinology

@natrevendo.nature.com

2 Dec 2025

New content online: Oestrogen changes at menopause: insights into obesity-associated breast risk and outcomes

nature.comOestrogen changes at menopause: insights into obesity-associated breast risk and outcomesNature Reviews Endocrinology, Published online: 02 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41574-025-01208-7Oestrogen levels change after menopause and with weight gain above the normal BMI category, both of which can affect breast cancer risk and outcomes. This Review explores the current understanding of these associations.

Geula Hanin reposted

Nature Metabolism

@natmetabolism.nature.com

1 Dec 2025

bit.lyFat sensory cues in early life program central response to food and obesityNature Metabolism, Published online: 01 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s42255-025-01405-8Non-nutritive sensory components of high-fat diet, such as bacon flavour, are sufficient to impair metabolic health in offspring in mice.

tinyurl.comFrom mammary glands to nutrients: genetic insights into milk composition†This review integrates comparative perspectives on mammary gland development and lactation, highlighting genetic and epigenetic determinants that influence

14 Nov 2025

🔥🤱Excited to share our new review “From Mammary Glands to Nutrients: Genetic Insights into Milk Composition” We integrate GWAS, cross-species biology and biochemistry to reveal how maternal genetics shapes breastmilk and its essential role in mammalian life. tinyurl.com/bdevetkx

14 Nov 2025

Big shoutout to Boshra Alsulaiti for driving this review! @geneticscam.bsky.social

6 Nov 2025

Looking for a fully funded PhD in Cambridge? 🤱👩‍🔬🔬 I’m interested in hearing from strong candidates who want to apply with me to the competitive PhD funding scheme in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience @ Cambridge.

6 Nov 2025

If you’re excited by lactation biology / mammary gland development / milk composition and want to do mechanistic work in vivo, get in touch. You’ll need: • strong academic track record (min good 2:1 or equivalent) • essential: hands-on molecular biology experience

findaphd.comFindAPhD : PhD Opportunities in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience at University of CambridgeApply for a PhD: PhD Opportunities in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience at University of Cambridge

6 Nov 2025

If this sounds like you - send me a DM/email with your CV + transcript + a few lines on your interests. I’d be happy to discuss ideas and support a competitive application. www.findaphd.com/phds/program...

Geula Hanin reposted

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans

@astroroyalscot.bsky.social

4 Oct 2025

Conventional wisdom says motherhood should wait for tenure as before you land a permanent post, #academia is just not that family friendly🙁 @carersinstemm.bsky.social are calling for change and to celebrate their new report, a Saturday🧵on parenting & academia! 1/9 👩‍🔬🧪🔭⚛️ ℹ️: carersinstemm.co.uk

Geula Hanin reposted

The Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research

@loke-ctr.bsky.social

2 Oct 2025

Looking to pursue cutting-edge research in early development, maternal-fetal interaction, or placental biology? See 👇 - Funded PhD www.trophoblast.cam.ac.uk/phd-students... - Next Generation Fellowship www.trophoblast.cam.ac.uk/next-generat... - MPhil www.mphil.bio.cam.ac.uk/mphil-pathwa...

Geula Hanin reposted

Meghan Azad, PhD

@meghanazad.bsky.social

23 Sept 2025

A Genetic Atlas of the Mammary Gland 🧬🤱🐭 New research from @geula.bsky.social & team shows shifts in gene activity across pregnancy → lactation → weaning. This new 'atlas' provides new avenues for studying lactation disorders and breast cancer. academic.oup.com/nar/article/...

Geula Hanin reposted

academic.oup.comDynamic allelic expression in mouse mammary glands across the adult developmental cycleAbstract. The mammary gland, which primarily develops postnatally, undergoes significant changes during pregnancy and lactation to facilitate milk producti

🔥🚨 Our new paper is finally out in @narjournal.bsky.social! academic.oup.com/nar/article/53/17/gkaf804/8248607 We built the first comprehensive atlas of dynamic allelic expression in the mouse mammary gland across adulthood, tracking genes across virgin, #pregnancy, #lactation & #involution. 🧵

Geula Hanin reposted

University of Cambridge

@cam.ac.uk

bit.lyStudy of breast cell changes in motherhood provides clues to breastfeeding difficultiesA University of Cambridge study of adult mammary gland development has revealed new genes involved in breastfeeding, and provided insights into how genetic

Breastfeeding boosts babies' lifelong health – but 1 in 20 women struggle. @geula.bsky.social @geneticscam.bsky.social found that 'milk squeezing' cells, rather than 'milk-producing' cells, may be to blame. Find out how this could lead to new ways to supporting mothers 👉 bit.ly/4mTUixN

Big shoutout to my amazing co-authors 👏 thank you for your ideas and teamwork. A real privilege to work together on this! A special thank you to my mentor Anne Ferguson-Smith, for her guidance and support! @geneticscam.bsky.social

geulahanin-mammarygland.shinyapps.ioMammary ASE Explorer

Our atlas is open & ready to explore in this link: geulahanin-mammarygland.shinyapps.io/mammary_data... Excited to see what the community will do with it!

We also find that postpartum breast cancer–associated genes are activated after weaning in a cell type often overlooked in the mammary gland, revealing early molecular signals specific to postpartum breast cancer.

Why does it matter? 💡 We identify new targets for lactation failure 💡 Early risk markers for postpartum breast cancer 💡 Insight into how maternal vs paternal genes control lactation 💡 We provide a comprehensive public atlas for the community

Our atlas revealed 25 imprinted genes in the mammary gland, uncovered novel regulators of lactation and showed that genes linked to breastfeeding failure & postpartum breast cancer are active in unexpected cell types.

Interestingly, we found that genes linked to lactation problems aren’t confined to milk-producing cells. They’re also active in other mammary cells like mammary adipocytes and stromal cells, broadening our view of what drives successful lactation.

Why? Breastfeeding is vital for both mother & infant, but the genetic & epigenetic regulation of lactation remains poorly understood. Imprinted genes, which exert parent-of-origin-specific effects, drive prenatal growth. We asked if they also shape early nutrition by regulating lactation.

So address this, we built the most detailed mammary dataset yet: 480 transcriptomes, 6 cell types, 10 developmental stages and reciprocal hybrid crosses with 4 biological replicates: A time-lapse map of gene activity across motherhood.