news 2022

Gene activity immediately after fertilisation is used to infer how an embryo forms. Scientists now ask if cancer begins the same way. At the moment of fertilisation, the genes in the fertilising sperm and egg are switched off. For a new embryo to develop, they must be switched on - but how? The answer is unknown, which seems remarkable for such a fundamental event at the beginning of embryonic life, and for decades, it was thought that genes in human embryos were silent for several days after fertilisation.

A new clinical trial, aimed at improving treatment options for patients with Crohn's disease, is to begin in Scotland. Led by the University of Glasgow and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) in collaboration with hospitals around Scotland, the BIOPIC Study will evaluate the use of PEN (Partial Enteral Nutrition) - in which patients replace half of their normal diet with liquid-only prepared supplements.

Cambridge scientists have discovered that cancer cells -hijack- a process used by healthy cells to spread around the body, completely changing current ways of thinking around cancer metastasis. These findings are among the most important to have come out of my lab for three decades Richard Gilbertson The team based at the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, found that blocking the activity of the NALCN protein in cells in mice with cancer triggers metastasis.

Junk- DNA could unlock new treatments for neurological disorders as scientists discover how its breaks and repairs affect our protection against neurological disease.

A blood test taken at the time of Covid-19 infection could predict who is most likely to develop long Covid, suggests a new small-scale study led by UCL researchers. The study, published in eBioMedicine , analysed proteins in the blood of healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2, comparing them to samples from healthcare workers who had not been infected.

A blood test taken at the time of Covid-19 infection could predict who is most likely to develop long Covid, suggests a new small-scale study led by UCL researchers. The study, published in eBioMedicine , analysed proteins in the blood of healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2, comparing them to samples from healthcare workers who had not been infected.

An extinct species of lizard-like reptile that belongs to the same ancient lineage as New Zealand's living tuatara has been discovered by a team involving a UCL researcher. The researchers describe the new species Opisthiamimus gregori , which once inhabited Jurassic North America about 150 million years ago alongside dinosaurs like Stegosaurus and Allosaurus , in a paper published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology .

A new mechanism that slows down and may even prevent the natural ageing of immune cells - one of the nine 'hallmarks of ageing'* - has been identified by an international team led by UCL scientists. Published in Nature Cell Biology , researchers say the discovery in-vitro (cells) and validated in mice was 'unexpected' and believe harnessing the mechanism could extend the life of the immune system, allowing people to live healthier and longer, and would also have clinical utility for diseases such as cancer and dementia.

A genetic and archaeological study involving a UCL researcher has revealed the great extent of migration from continental Europe into the East of England during the early Middle Ages. In the largest early medieval ancient DNA study to date, an interdisciplinary team consisting of geneticists and archaeologists, led by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, analysed over 400 individuals from ancient Britain, Ireland, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.

A carbohydrate commonly found attached to plant proteins is a food source for the bacteria in our gut, new research suggests. A carbohydrate commonly found attached to plant proteins is a food source for the bacteria in our gut, new research suggests. A paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describes how species of gut microbes use plant N-glycans, a type of complex carbohydrate, as nutrients.

Scientists have engineered mosquitoes that slow the growth of malaria-causing parasites in their gut, preventing transmission of malaria to humans. The genetic modification causes mosquitoes to produce compounds in their guts that stunt the growth of parasites, meaning they are unlikely to reach the mosquitoes' salivary glands and be passed on in a bite before the insects die.

Global warming is likely to cause a decline in the number of species of microbes that live in tropical soils - and that could threaten the biodiversity of rainforests and increase carbon emissions. In a new study, scientists - led by Dr Andrew Nottingham from the School of Geography at Leeds - say evidence indicates that tropical soils are "highly sensitive" to an increase in temperature.

Researchers have discovered a new way hospital-acquired infections resist antibiotics, through a 'silent' genetic mutation. Bacteria can acquire resistance to antibiotics through random mutations in their DNA that provide them with an advantage that helps them survive. Finding genetic mutations, and discovering how they help bacteria to survive antibiotic attack, is key to helping us fight back with new drugs.

Scientists believe a new genetically-targeted therapy to treat motor neurone disease (MND) could be a turning point for patient care, after the results of a Phase 3 clinical trial showed significant physical benefits for patients after 12 months.

Researchers have studied how certain bacteria perform photosynthesis using low-energy light, which could be engineered into crops to boost production. By studying the way two bacteria perform the difficult chemistry of photosynthesis, a team led by researchers have discovered the trade-offs they make when using lower-energy light.

Scientists have discovered a new protein which helps sperm fuse to an egg and is fundamental for human fertilisation.

New understanding about how the gut balances between 'good' and 'bad' bacteria could provide new clues for managing chronic gut diseases Immune cells called group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) play an essential role in establishing tolerance to symbiotic microbes that dwell in the human gastrointestinal tract, according to a new study.

Adult and adolescent cannabis users are no more likely than non-users to lack motivation or be unable to enjoy life's pleasure, new research has shown, suggesting there is no scientific basis for the stereotype often portrayed in the media. We are so used to seeing -lazy stoners- on our screens that we don't stop to ask whether they-re an accurate representation of cannabis users.

An international team of researchers has discovered that a new mammalian gene evolved to control an equally new structure in our nerve cells. Evolution is often portrayed as a -tinkering- process, one that makes use of slight modifications to pre-existing capabilities. So how do organisms evolve brand new structures?

Here's a batch of fresh news and announcements from across Imperial. From an award for a breakthrough that could produce cheaper hydrogen fuel , to research into how infectious diseases progress , here is some quick-read news from across the College. Hydrogen fuel breakthrough prize Professor Anthony Kucernak , from the Department of Chemistry , has been announced as a winner in the Physical Sciences category of the Falling Walls Foundation 's Science Breakthrough of the Year 2022.