Krishna clocks personal best at Manchester Marathon!

The Journal of Microscopy’s newest Editorial Board Member recently demonstrated his athletic prowess at the 2026 Manchester Marathon.

Dr V V G Krishna Inavalli, who joined the Journal team earlier this month, swapped his microscope for a pair of trainers and completed the city’s annual 26.2-mile race in just three hours, 49 minutes and 58 seconds.

Krishna is currently the Head of Microscopy Group at the University of Southampton’s Centre for Cancer Immunology, where he develops cutting-edge technology to investigate antibody-based cancer therapeutics. He is also a member of the RMS Light Microscopy Committee.

However, it was his recently-discovered passion for running which was to the fore in Manchester on 19 April, as he crossed the finish line for a personal best time.

Krishna said: “What began in 2022, when I started running with the simple goal of completing a 5km park run, gradually grew into a passion for taking on bigger challenges.

“Marathon running pushes you both physically and mentally, but that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding. After learning some tough lessons at the Manchester Marathon last year, I was determined to return better prepared. Returning this time, with more consistent training and a smarter approach, I was able to achieve a personal best, which made all the hard work worthwhile. I’m proud not just of the result, but of the journey it took to get there.”

Krishna brings a wealth of experience to the Journal editorial team, including nearly two decades working in optics and more than 10 years working in an interdisciplinary environment. He has developed various light microscopy techniques ranging from diffraction-limited to super-resolution microscopy techniques to probe cellular biology.

His developments have aided in the understanding of morpho-molecular interactions of Neuronal Synapses, as well as the exploration of the Brain's extracellular space. He also secured a £1M BBSRC ALERT grant for an open-access STED.