News

Collaborative COVID-19 study reveals variation in immune response

20 April 2021

The largest study of its type in the UK has identified differences in the immune response to COVID-19 between asymptomatic people and those suffering more severely with the virus.

Changes can be detected in BRCA1 breast cells before they turn cancerous

9 March 2021

Researchers at the University of Cambridge may have found the earliest changes that occur in seemingly healthy breast tissue long before any tumours appear, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.

Multiple sclerosis research boosted with £1.85million funding for Cambridge Centre for Myelin Repair

19 February 2021

The MS Society has awarded £1.85million of new funding for its research in Cambridge, as part of their fight to stop multiple sclerosis (MS). Scientists aim to find new treatments, faster, for tens of thousands of people living with progressive forms of MS in the UK, who currently have nothing to stop disability progression.

Lab-grown ‘mini-bile ducts’ used to repair human livers in regenerative medicine first

18 February 2021

Scientists have used a technique to grow bile duct organoids – often referred to as ‘mini-organs’ – in the lab and shown that these can be used to repair damaged human livers. This is the first time that the technique has been used on human organs.

Gut research identifies key cellular changes associated with childhood-onset Crohn’s Disease

8 December 2020

Human Cell Atlas researchers have tracked the very early stages of human foetal gut development, and found specific cell functions that appear to be reactivated in the gut of children with Crohn’s Disease - a vital step towards better management and treatment of the condition.

Severe infections wreak havoc on mouse blood cell production

23 November 2020

Severe infections like malaria cause short and long-term damage to precursor blood cells in mice, but some damage could be reversed, find researchers.

Uncovering network control of blood cell production

26 October 2020

Blood stem and progenitor cells are responsible for the constant production of red and white blood cells, and also platelets, with millions of these blood cells being produced every second. Disruption of this blood cell production system can lead to diseases such as leukaemia, a type of blood cancer caused by a rapid overproduction of abnormal white blood cells.

‘Mini-lungs’ reveal early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection

23 October 2020

To better understand how SARS-CoV-2 infects the lungs and causes disease, a team of scientists from the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and collaborators in South Korea turned to organoids – ‘mini-organs’ grown in three dimensions to mimic the behaviour of tissue and organs.

Uncovering new therapeutic interventions for Multiple Sclerosis

28 September 2020

Results from a Phase 2 trial, based on underpinning research from the Franklin lab have shown that remyelination is possible in humans. These results are being built on in a new clinical trial funded by the MS Society, based on further research from the Franklin group, involving the diabetes drug metformin and the antihistamine clemastine.

Dr Sanjay Sinha featured in Surgeons: Edge of Life on BBC 2

25 September 2020

Dr Sanjay Sinha, group leader at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Cardiologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, was featured in the latest series on Surgeons: Edge of Life aired on BBC 2 on the 20th of October.