Cancer treatment: study finds targeting nearby ‘normal’ cells could improve survival rates
Cancer of the immune system, called lymphoma or leukaemia, generally affects the entire body’s bone marrow and lymph nodes. Because these types of cancers are so widespread, surgery isn’t useful, so patients are usually treated with chemotherapy. Although these treatments have become significantly better in the past ten years, lymphoma and chronic leukaemia often come back months or years after treatment.
Single-cell analysis of the earliest cell fate decisions in development
Researchers at the Babraham Institute, EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), CRUK Cambridge Institute and the Wellcome – MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute have provided the first single-cell epigenomic analysis of gastrulation, a crucial process in early embryo development. The researchers analysed over 1,000 cells from mouse embryos to understand the epigenetic priming events preceding gastrulation and the cell fate decisions these establish. The findings, published on Wednesday 11th December in Nature, uncover fundamental knowledge about the processes that programme cell fate in the early embryo to generate all the organs and tissues of the body.
Affiliate group leader Florian Merkle named Robertson Stem Cell Investigator
The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) announced the 2019 class of NYSCF – Robertson Investigators, welcoming six of the most talented stem cell researchers and neuroscientists into the NYSCF Investigator Program.
First cell map of developing human liver reveals how blood and immune system develop
In a world first, scientists have created the human developmental liver cell atlas that provides crucial insights into how the blood and immune systems develop in the foetus. It maps changes in the cellular landscape of the developing liver between the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, including how stem cells from the liver seed other tissues to support the high demand for oxygen needed for growth.
Diabetes drug reverses cell ageing and could stop multiple sclerosis
New research published in Cell Stem Cell suggests a common diabetes drug could hold the key to stopping disease progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). The new finding offers hope to people living with advanced forms of the condition, who currently have no treatment and often see disability as inevitable.
Stem cell studies offer hope for childhood neurological condition
Two new studies by an international team of researchers report progress in using stem cells to develop new therapies for Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), a rare genetic condition affecting boys that can be fatal before 10 years of age.
Discovering the numerous paths of stem cell decision making
How cells change their identity to become a different cell type and the route they follow to reach their final form is a fundamental unanswered question at the heart of developmental biology.
Cambridge scientists reverse ageing process in rat brain stem cells
New research, published today in Nature, reveals how increasing brain stiffness as we age causes brain stem cell dysfunction, and demonstrates new ways to reverse older stem cells to a younger, healthier state.
New stem cell research funded as part of UK-Japan collaborations to tackle global challenges
Professor Austin Smith from the Wellcome – MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute is one of the first round of researchers from the UK and Japan funded to tackle major global challenges in collaborative projects announced today, Friday 9th August 2019.
New stem cell combination could help to repair damaged hearts
A combination of heart cells derived from human stem cells could be the answer to developing a desperately-needed treatment for heart failure, according to new research part-funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and published in Nature Biotechnology.
New study pinpoints cell types affected in brains of multiple sclerosis patients
Scientists have discovered that a specific brain cell known as a ‘projection neuron’ has a central role to play in the brain changes seen in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Pilkington Teaching Prize awarded to Prof Anna Philpott
In a ceremony held yesterday evening (25th June) at Girton College, Professor Anna Philpott received one of this year’s Pilkington Prizes for teaching excellence at the University of Cambridge.
New charity - Myelopathy.org - launched
To raise awareness of myelopathy and to address gaps in our knowledge of the condition and how best to treat it, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute Affiliate, Dr Mark Kotter and colleague Ben Davies, together with Iwan Sadler, have launched Myelopathy.org, a charity that aims to give patients a voice and effect change.
Establishing the Molecular Blueprint of Early Embryo Development
A pioneering group of biologists, physicists and mathematical modellers in Cambridge have studied the genetic activity of over 100,000 embryonic cells to establish the molecular blueprint of mouse early embryo development.
Stem Cell Research Hits the Road
Two PhD students from the Wellcome – MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute are embarking on a 6000km journey in a customised Renault 4L to support children and schools in Morocco, and to raise awareness of stem cell research at a global scale.
From eye drops to potential leukaemia treatment
An active ingredient in eye drops that were being developed for the treatment of a form of eye disease has shown promise for treating an aggressive form of blood cancer.
