Dr Laura McCulloch
Principal investigator at the University of Edinburgh.
Research on the systemic immune response to stroke and complications of stroke recovery. #Bcells #infection #GIdysfunction #cognitivedecline
Wellcome Sir Henry Dale fellow
- Nice summary of our recent publications in the articles below
- Two new papers from the McCulloch lab reveal how the body changes after experiencing a stroke. 1. Stroke and “fight-or-flight” response weakens the immune system > edin.ac/4a166dD 2. Long term changes to the intestinal microbiome seen after stroke > edin.ac/4jR2LBl
- We have a second paper to share this week, this time investigating the gut-brain axis in stroke. Here we show that stroke is associated with persistent gut structural and microbiome changes, however these changes are distinct in acute and chronic recovery. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
- Congratulations to Rachel Martin and Isobel Mouat the fantastic first authors and to our knowledgeable collaborators Robert Whelan, @lizihegarty.bsky.social Lizzie Blunt, CJ Anderson, David Dockrell, @bainlab.bsky.social and @gwotzerho.bsky.social
- We find in chronic recovery, changes to luminal antibodies may play a role in persistent gut dysbiosis. This supports a recently published collaboration led by @hepworth-lab.bsky.social and Maddy Hurry showing altered gut antibody and dysbiosis in acute stroke www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- Together these papers suggest a key role for B cells and antibodies in intestinal dysfunction after stroke
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCullochGreat team-work behind our paper just published on stroke-induced immune cell changes, involving groups across @edinunineuro.bsky.social @edinuni-irr.bsky.social @ukdri.ac.uk @lydiabeckeriii.bsky.social. A pandemic in midst of study not anticipated at outset!
- I’m excited to start 2026 with our new collaborative research paper examining circulating B cell populations in acute ischemic stroke patients, which is particularly exciting as we see translation of our previous data from animal models into patients. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- I’m excited to start 2026 with our new collaborative research paper examining circulating B cell populations in acute ischemic stroke patients, which is particularly exciting as we see translation of our previous data from animal models into patients. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- In summary, we found that MZ-B cells- key producers of anti-bacterial IgM- are substantially reduced acutely after stroke
- Remaining B cells had impaired ability to release IgM and cytokines in response toTLR9 stimulation
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View full threadThis study was a team effort between our fantastic collaborators @edinuni-irr.bsky.social @ukdri.ac.uk @lydiabeckeriii.bsky.social and Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre and we are grateful to all of the patients and healthy volunteers that donated blood to enable our research
- We have a further exciting PhD opportunity in the lab investigating the impact of systemic infection on the recovering brain after stroke and its link to small vessel disease and cognitive decline. Details in the link below www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCulloch🧠🛡️ Don’t miss Neuroimmunology Across the Body, exploring brain–immune–nerve crosstalk in infection, pain and gut–brain health. Proudly sponsored by the UK GIBA Network. #Neuroimmunology #BSI2025
- Not long to go until #BSI25 For neuroimmunology enthusiasts, please come to our double session "Neuroimmunology across the body" on Wed 3rd jointly hosted by the Neuroimmunology Affinity Group and Wessex Immunology Group
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCullochNew paper out from the lab, led by Maddy Hurry. We investigate how stroke leads to peripheral complications in the gut through dysregulation of IgA mediated host-commensal crosstalk. @lydiabeckeriii.bsky.social @diiirm.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- I am pleased to offer another PhD opportunity supervised by myself and @joyedwardshicks.bsky.social Here we will investigate how neural signals regulate adaptive immune responses www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
- We are looking for a PhD. student to work with us on our investigation into immune suppression and infection vulnerability after stroke. This project will focus on the lung immune environment and therapeutic interventions to improve infection clearance. www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCullochJoin the Dyer Lab (Dr @douglaspdyer.bsky.social) as a Research Associate in Neuro-Immunology & Extracellular Matrix Biology (ImmunoMatrix). 🔬 Focus: chemokines, glycocalyx & inflammatory disease 📍 Cutting-edge biochem, biophysics & in vivo biology Apply now 👉 shorturl.at/jEQ6G
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCulloch🚨 The Menon lab is hiring a postdoc! Interested in mucosal immunology? Come join our team to study lung-infiltrating B cell dynamics in COPD & other chronic lung diseases @ukri.org @lydiabeckeriii.bsky.social Please help spread the word #ImmunoSky www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCullochExplore new research on #Neuroimmunology & #Neurodegeneration, incl. macular degeneration, the role of #microglia, β-amyloid transport, CNS #autoimmunity, and the sympathetic control of cancer progression 👉 rupress.org/jem/collecti... #ksneuroimmune25 #ksneurodegen25 @keystonesymposia.bsky.social
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCullochPlease join us for the summer EIG mini symposium on Tuesday 17th of June. The session starts at 13:30 in @edinuni-irr.bsky.social IRR South seminar room 1.05 with talks by Prof Simon Graham, Dr Kate Sutton and Prof Christoph Scheiermann. See you there!
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCullochNow online! Macrophages direct location-dependent recall of B cell memory to vaccination
- 🚨New preprint alert 🚨 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... Delighted to share our recent study looking at chronic changes to the intestine and intestinal microbiome after stroke
- We found lower body weights and structural changes to the colon persisted out to 3 months after experimental stroke (MCAO) in mice
- At our earliest timepoint, 5 days post stroke, there is a reduced mucus barrier in the colon and a delayed intestinal transit time. However these normalise in chronic recovery
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View full threadThis was an exciting collaboration in @edinuni-irr.bsky.social driven by Rachel Martin and Isobel Mouat supported by Robert Whelan and @lizihegarty.bsky.social and collaboration with CJ Anderson, David Dockrell, @bainlab.bsky.social and @gwotzerho.bsky.social funded by @wellcometrust.bsky.social
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCullochThe spring EIG session is coming this Thursday on 1st of May. Please join us from 13:30 in @edinuni-irr.bsky.social IRR South seminar room 1.05 for fantastic talks by Dr. Elizabeth Mann, Dr. Tovah Shaw and Prof. Hamida Hammad. See you there!
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCullochSo excited to share our first neuro focused paper from the lab, we show that CXCL4 (PF4) is transported into the brain by proteoglycans within the endothelial glycocalyx and that GAG binding also mediates the pro neurogenesis effects of CXCL4. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCulloch'The results show that mitochondria, which generate the energy that powers cells, differ in type and density in different parts of the brain. For example, the evolutionarily oldest brain regions have a lower density of mitochondria than newer regions.' www.nature.com/articles/d41...
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCullochHeart-brain-spleen axis that induces adaptive cardiac remodeling in response to pressure overload www.cell.com/immunity/ful... preview @cp-immunity.bsky.social www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCullochOrgan-specific sympathetic innervation defines visceral functions www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCullochStoler-Barak, @zivshulman.bsky.social et al. show that SMARCA5-mediated #chromatin remodeling is required for germinal center formation rupress.org/jem/article/... 📘 In Multifaceted B Cell Functions & Dysfunctions: rupress.org/jem/collecti... #KSBCells25
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCullochOur new collection highlights recent advances in B lymphocyte biology from homeostasis to inflammation & dysfunction leading to lymphoma development. Read new research accompanying @keystonesymposia.bsky.social on Multifaceted B Cell Functions & Dysfunctions: buff.ly/3CX1Y0O #KSBCells25
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCulloch🚨 We have TWO exciting open positions in our lab! 🚨 We are looking for talented, highly motivated, and collaborative individuals to join our dynamic team as: 🔬 Research Assistant www.kennedy.ox.ac.uk/jobs/researc... 💻 Bioinformatics Postdoc www.kennedy.ox.ac.uk/jobs/bioinfo... 📢 Please share!
- Reposted by Dr Laura McCullochOur new publication on BCR sequencing in ME/CFS, adding to the evidence of an increased usage of IGHV3-30. Much more immunological research is needed to understand the many lines of evidence indicating immune-mediated or autoimmune components to the disease. www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
