My Lab Unlocked: New England Biolabs Senior Scientist and Durham University Professor Tim R Blower
Professor Tim R Blower FRSB on the renaissance happening in bacteriophage research
One research theme of my lab is to investigate the microbiology, biochemistry and atomic structures of a range of systems used in phage defence. The environment is a hugely abundant source of viruses that are thankfully of no danger to humans, but are ancient and specialised predators of bacteria. These bacteriophages (or “phages” for short) are so numerous and so effective at infecting their hosts they have put bacteria under huge evolutionary pressure and forced the evolution of means to protect themselves. This has resulted in a wealth of enzymes and systems for “phage defence”. The most famous examples are the restriction enzymes that revolutionised biotechnology in the 1970s, and more recently, the CRISPR-Cas systems co-opted for genome editing.
Phage biology, and systems for phage defence, are having a renaissance. The arrival of rapid and relatively cheap sequencing technologies has allowed bioinformaticians to mine the databases for new phage defence systems, based on associations with defence-related genetic neighbours found in the same loci of microbial genomes. The rate of discovery is fantastic but comes with challenges. For instance, there is currently a rush to find, characterise and deliver applications for a wealth of novel systems. This drives competition and produces a volume of papers that is hard to track. However, the popularity of the field is also advantageous, bringing in young scientists who can take on these systems and develop the next generation of biotechnological tools.
My lab members do an excellent job of working across a broad range of fields. We bring together microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, genomics and structural biology. This breadth of capability allows us to take a holistic approach to research that can widen the questions we consider. Many of my lab members haven’t tried structural biology before they arrive, but it is now much more accessible and can readily be added to a person’s skillset. I enjoy providing thorough training and producing scientists who can tackle projects that operate across different biological scales. We also collaborate widely as we believe that working across borders can be much more beneficial than fighting it out and trying to publish before other researchers.
The characteristic holes or 'plaques' indicating bacteriophage infection of a plate of bacteria. Courtesy of Ninjatacoshell via Wikimedia commons
My lab at Durham University started in August 2015 following a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the US. I wanted to come back to the UK and join my passion for microbiology and biochemistry with the structural biology skills I had honed while in the US. I am proudest when I see a new recruit work through the highs and inevitable lows of Masters or PhD training, or a PostDoc project, and then get their first manuscript accepted for publication. For them to have that external stamp of validation is wonderful, and each success counts for the lab as a whole. Based on the scientific achievements of my lab members, I have been able to win a Lister Prize. Though this was a moment of personal success, I am always careful to thank those who helped me get there!
I trained at University of Cambridge for 10 years, from undergraduate to postdoc (supervised by Professor George Salmond and Professor Ben Luisi). At that stage I felt it necessary to prove to myself I could survive elsewhere, so I won a European Molecular Biology Organisation Fellowship to join the lab of Professor James Berger at the University of California-Berkeley. The lab moved from Berkeley to Johns Hopkins University during my tenure. Over three years I got to experience labs on the West and East coasts of the US and make new networks of colleagues and friends. I then started my lab in Durham and worked my way to Professor, with the support of fantastic colleagues. I have recently started a new lab at New England Biolabs back in the US, though my Durham lab remains open.
I recently moved back to the US to start a research lab at New England Biolabs. We will again be focused on phage defence systems, but with more freedom to explore more high-risk high-reward research ideas due to the support of industrial backing. The research department at New England Biolabs has over twenty labs doing fundamental research, so I am finding it very similar to a traditional academic setting.
Bacteriophages or “phages” for short are ancient and specialised predators of bacteria
This isn’t groundbreaking, but I believe that at the early stages of a scientific career, dedication and hard work are needed to get the results that become papers. Without tenacity, I would not have the papers to make my CV competitive for schemes such as the EMBO Fellowship, which then provided a platform for me to move across the world. All the hard work likely only pays off when you have the right support network around you as the process will be difficult. My lab mates and supervisors provided vital critiques when needed. I have made a habit of seeking out smart people and learning from them along the way!
In any early career researchers wanted a similar career path, I would say that it is important to emphasise that scientists have many career paths open to them after their training. My path would likely be considered traditional, from PhD to postdoc then having a lab of my own. We should disabuse ourselves of the outdated notion that this is the only route. With that caveat that if you are passionate about running your own academic lab, you are going to have to get those papers to bump up your CV. Work hard, be kind to yourself, and take on the responsibility and ownership of the project. Become the expert in your topic and sell that narrative! I do feel for scientists working through the ranks in the current climate as it is a very competitive market, but it can be ultimately hugely rewarding.
The Blower lab is funded by the BBSRC, EPSRC, the Lister Institute, the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Society.
Professor Tim R Blower FRSB is Honorary Professor at the Department of Biosciences, Durham University and Senior Scientist at New England Biolabs
