Our research focuses on how to build and maintain a nervous system for life. We use C. elegans as a model system because we can use sophisticated genetic, imaging and molecular approaches to study the cellular mechanisms of this protection in exquisite detail.
Neurons are subjected to continuous strain, mostly due to body movement and their location within skin, muscles, organs, and joints. Excessive mechanical strain, or shear stress due to external or internal traumas, can trigger degeneration. Virtually every neuron, including those of the central nervous system, is susceptible to different types of strain insults and mechanical strain has been implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative disease.
Our aim is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms that ensure neurons maintain their correct structure and function throughout life.
To address these questions we use state-of-the-art in vivo microscopy, genome engineering, genetics and molecular and cell biology techniques.
Positions are available at multiple levels to grow our team. If you are interested in joining our lab please contact Sean Coakley.
About our research
Our research program focuses on the fundamental molecular mechanisms required to build and maintain a nervous system for life. Neurons are subjected to continuous mechanical stress from body movement and their physical microenvironment. Failure to withstand these forces triggers axonal degeneration, a hallmark of both traumatic injury and neurodegenerative disease.
Rather than viewing neurons in isolation, we investigate how external tissues and specialised cellular scaffolds actively insulate and shield the nervous system from structural failure. By uncovering these basic biological principles, we aim to map the definitive genetic and molecular pathways that preserve axonal integrity throughout an organism's lifespan.
Current focus areas
- Mapping the nanoscale. How do external tissues build protective scaffolds to shield the nervous system from damage? This project pairs sophisticated genetics and cell biology with super-resolution microscopy to map a newly discovered epidermal periodic skeleton that preserves axonal integrity. Ideal for students wanting to master cutting-edge imaging and analysis, as well as modern genetic techniques like CRISPR.
- Hunting for novel regulators of axon integrity. What specific molecules prevent axons from breaking under mechanical stress? You will leverage the powerful in vivo genetics of C. elegans to run forward genetic screens and functional genomics, discovering novel neuroprotective pathways that preserve nervous system stability. Ideal for students interested in functional genomics and discovery science.
- Molecular control of cell-adhesion. How do cell-adhesion complexes mechanically anchor and shield the nervous system? This project investigates how specialised adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix machinery provide the essential structural support required to prevent neurodegeneration. Ideal for students eager to dive into cell signalling, live-cell imaging, and adhesion biology.
Our technical arsenal
Students and researchers in our lab gain hands-on expertise in key techniques that underpin modern developmental biology and molecular neuroscience laboratories:
- Advanced imaging: Super-resolution microscopy, quantitative nanoscale image analysis and live-cell imaging.
- Functional genomics: High-throughput in vivo forward genetic screening and discovery science pipelines.
- Genome engineering: Precision gene editing and tagging via CRISPR-Cas9.
- Molecular biology: PCR, Cloning, whole genome sequencing, immunoprecipitation
Featured publication
Our discovery of a novel epidermal periodic skeleton that maintains tissue integrity and shields axons from structural failure was recently published in Science Advances and features of the cover of the issue.
Coakley, S., Bonacossa Pereira, I., Le, D., Hilliard, M.A. (2026) An epidermal membrane-associated periodic skeleton restricts endocytosis to stabilize neuron-epidermal attachment and preserve axons. Sci Adv 12, eadz4762. 10.1126/sciadv.adz4762.
Join our team
If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Dr Sean Coakley. Please include your CV, an academic transcript, and a brief summary outlining how our research aligns with your academic trajectory and why.
