The human aorta stiffens with age but this is not a benign process with a stiffer aorta conferring a higher risk of cardiovascular events including stroke. Recent work by Dr Yasmin from the Division of Experimental Medicine & Immunotherapeutics, Department of Medicine (O’Shaughnessy and Wilkinson groups) published in Scientific Reports has identified two extracellular matrix proteins (aggrecan […]

The spread of cancers to distant organs, or metastasis, is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. How cancers develop the capability to spread has remained mostly unclear, however. New research led by Dr. Sakari Vanharanta at the MRC Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, has now identified molecular mechanisms that allow cancer cells to acquire […]

A research team, led by Dr José Silva and Dr Elsa Sousa from the Wellcome – MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, at the University of Cambridge, used mouse embryonic stem cells to reveal that X Chromosome Inactivation starts on all X chromosomes regardless of sex (XX or XY).  Research published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, […]

Researchers from the Departments of Haematology and Public Health and Primary Care, led by Nick Gleadall and Adam Butterworth, have published a study with collaborators in North America, to enable more precise antigen-matching of patients with blood donors. The whole genome sequencing (WGS)-based antigen typing platform provides a novel approach to improve transfusion outcomes with […]

The groups of David Savage (Institute of Metabolic Sciences) and Symeon Siniossoglou (CIMR) have collaborated in a Developmental Cell study that provides new insights into a biophysical mechanism through which levels of the major membrane component phosphatidylcholine (PC) are sensed. The physiological importance of maintaining membrane lipid composition within narrow limits is reflected by the many diseases in which this […]

Congratulations to Simon Tavaré, from the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, upon his election as a Foreign Associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.  This is a tremendous honour, as Foreign Associates constitute only a small fraction of the Academy, and the bar for election is exceptionally high.  Simon’s citation is as follows: Tavaré works […]

Kidney cancer research continues to flourish in the Cambridge Renal Cancer Group (CanRenCam) within the Department of Surgery.  A collaboration between Tom Mitchell, the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the TRACERx Renal consortium has revealed how and when renal cell carcinomas initiate to clearly depict the evolutionary trajectories of these tumours. In the first of a […]

Scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, led by Eleftheria Zeggini, and their collaborators, including Andrew McCaskie, Department of Surgery, investigated the genetics behind osteoarthritis, as well as the diseases and traits that are linked to it. In the largest study of its kind, nine novel genes for osteoarthritis have been discovered. Results of the study,published 19th March […]