Health news: 2012

December

Babraham Institute to collaborate with Karus Therapeutics - Press release - 17 December
Babraham Institute to collaborate with Karus Therapeutics to explore PI3 Kinase inhibitors in the treatment of inflammatory diseases…
Viruses cooperate or conquer to cause maximum destruction - Press release - 14 December
Scientists have discovered new evidence about the evolution of viruses, in work that will change our understanding about the control of infectious diseases…
Systems Immunology of the Human Life Course - News - 14 December
BBSRC have today announced a joint £4M call in Systems Immunology of the Human Life Course. This call aims to fund research that will support large…
International collaboration reveals how cell membranes reassemble after cell division - Press release - 13 December
An international collaboration between researchers at the Babraham Institute, Cancer Research UK’s London Research Institute, Imperial College London…
Delivering stem cells by post means more effective global treatment - Press release - 11 December
Findings from a new University of Reading study could lead to cheaper, wider and more effective stem cell research and treatment of disease…
Salmonella spreads by targeting cells in our gut - Press release - 11 December
Scientists have gained fresh insights into how the salmonella bug makes us ill…
Babraham researchers reveal how heart muscle cells get remodelled in response to disease and ageing - Press release - 11 December
Researchers at the Babraham Institute have discovered how signalling processes within the heart, controlled by a minute molecule known as miR133a…
New evidence for epigenetic effects of diet on healthy ageing - Press release - 7 December
New research in human volunteers has shown that molecular changes to our genes, known as epigenetic marks, are driven mainly by ageing…
Insight into DNA reprogramming during egg and sperm cell development - Press release - 6 December
Scientists at the Babraham Institute have gained a new understanding of when and how the DNA in developing egg and sperm cells is ‘reset’, in preparation…

November

Rare parasitic fungi could have anti-flammatory benefits - Press release - 16 November
Caterpillar fungi (Cordyceps) are rare parasites found on hibernating caterpillars in the mountains of Tibet. For centuries they have been highly prized…
Unique spinal nerve cell activity discovery - News - 12 November
Research team identifies novel forms of activity linked to development of motor behaviours such as swimming…

October

Six multinational projects awarded funding for research in Active and Healthy Ageing - Press release - 26 October
BBSRC is co-funding one of six multinational, multi-disciplinary research projects as part of the European Research Area on Ageing’s first joint research…
Partnering award helps uncover important embryonic stem cell pathway - News - 16 October
A Japan partnering award from BBSRC has helped enable an international collaboration of researchers to uncover a previously unrecognized…
Women may benefit more from eating oily fish than men - Press release - 12 October
New research, conducted at the University of Reading and funded BBSRC, shows that oily fish is twice as healthy for women’s hearts than men’s…
Why flies have the fastest vision - Press release - 12 October
Fly eyes have the fastest visual responses in the animal kingdom, but how they achieve this has long been an enigma…
Study reveals brain cells’ weakest links - Press release - 1 October
Research funded by BBSRC has revealed new insights into the brain that show for the first time why brain cells can stop communicating properly…

September

Scientists make old muscles young again in attempt to combat ageing - Press release - 27 September
Researchers at King’s College London, Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital have identified for the first time a key factor responsible…
Single gene cause of insulin sensitivity may offer insight for treating diabetes - Press release - 17 September
The first single gene cause of increased sensitivity to the hormone insulin has been discovered by a team of Oxford University researchers…
Could bioscience research bring more Olympic and Paralympic medals in Rio and beyond? - Press release - 14 September
Some of the UK’s leading bioscience and sports researchers have teamed up to help improve training for elite athletes, thanks to special funding from…

August

Stem cell-powered implant set to revolutionise orthopaedic surgery - Press release - 31 August
BBSRC-funded scientists at the University of Glagow are collaborating with surgeons at Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital to develop…
Epigenetic answers from archived Guthrie cards - Press release - 23 August
Over the last 50 years, the spotting of newborn’s blood onto filter paper for disease screening, called Guthrie cards, has become routine…
Breakthrough in understanding tumour growth - Press release - 15 August
Scientists at the Babraham Institute, working with collaborators at AstraZeneca, have made a breakthrough in understanding how a particular signalling…
Scientists decode essential step in protein synthesis - Press release - 15 August
Experts have revealed how a complicated set of proteins called TREX act as a passport for the transfer of cell blueprints which create proteins essential for life…
Bacteria genes hold key to improving antibiotic - News - 9 August
A new project is investigating whether altering the production of an antibiotic will remove the side effects that prevent it being used clinically to battle…
Bacteria branch out - Press release - 8 August
Streptomyces produce the majority of clinically useful antibiotics, yet we don’t fully understand how they grow…
Viruses’ tricks for hijacking bacteria could inspire new antibiotics - Press release - 7 August
Researchers at ICL have published the first detailed description of how a small molecule produced by a virus enables it to hijack bacteria's cellular equipment…
Research unravels nerve-wiring process - News - 2 August
Research published in The Journal of Neuroscience has unravelled key mechanisms that underpin the development of our nervous system…

July

Bacterial population diversity may complicate infection treatment in Cystic Fibrosis patients - News - 31 July
Bacteria infecting the lungs of individuals with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) can show considerable genetic diversity, even among bacterial isolates obtained from…
Discovery improves understanding of early onset inflammatory disease - Press release - 5 July
Scientists have discovered a ‘constant cloud’ of potent inflammatory molecules surrounding the cells responsible for diseases such as thickening of the arteries…
BBSRC-funded science at Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition - News - 2 July
The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, ‘Science Live’, runs from 3rd - 8th July displaying the most exciting, cutting-edge science and technology in the UK…

June

Gene discovery helps explain how flu can cause severe infections - Press release - 29 June
Scientists have discovered a new gene in the influenza virus that helps the virus control the body’s response to infection…
New technique could reduce number of animals needed to test chemical safety - Press release - 29 June
A new way of testing the safety of natural and synthetic chemicals has been developed by scientists with funding from BBSRC…
"Broken heart syndrome" protects the heart from adrenaline overload - Press release - 27 June
A condition that temporarily causes heart failure in people who experience severe stress might actually protect the heart from very high levels of adrenaline…
British research leads to UK-wide launch of Beneforté broccoli - Press release - 25 June
UK science has led to a new variety of broccoli with higher levels of a key phytonutrient, to be sold in all major UK supermarkets from next week…
World experts meet in Edinburgh to consider how life experiences impact on our genes - Press release - 25 June
World experts from the fields of social, biological and medical science will today gather in Edinburgh to discuss how they can cooperate to improve…
Cause of rare growth disease discovered - Press release - 25 June
A rare genetic disease which causes some parts of the body to grow excessively has been linked to a cancer-associated mutation that drives cell growth…
The activity of a bacterial effector protein seen in molecular detail - Press release - 12 June
Many plant and animal pathogens deploy molecules called ‘effector proteins’ as part of their ‘molecular arsenal’ to help them to infect and colonise their hosts…
Babraham-US collaboration reveals how injured nerves initiate self-destruction - Press release - 12 June
Scientists at the Babraham Institute, together with collaborators in the USA, have made a breakthrough in understanding how axons self-destruct in injury…
Scientists reveal structure of bacterial chainmail - Press release - 11 June
An international team of scientists has uncovered the structure of the protective protein coat which surrounds many bacteria like a miniature suit of armour…

May

Health benefits of vitamin D dependent on type taken - Press release - 31 May
New research funded by BBSRC has shown that vitamin D3 supplements could provide more benefit than the close relative vitamin D2…
A new dimension to DNA and personalised medicine of the future - Feature - 17 May
By investigating the existence of an unusual four-stranded structure of DNA in human cells, scientists have opened the door to novel cancer therapeutics…
Virus ‘barcodes’ offer rapid detection of mutated strains - Press release - 14 May
Researchers funded by BBSRC and others are developing a way to 'barcode' viral diseases to rapidly test new outbreaks for potentially lethal mutations…
Scientists identify protein that stimulates brown fat to burn calories - Press release - 11 May
Protein highlights ‘ideal mechanism’ for development of new therapies to fight obesity…
Scientists find new pieces of hearing puzzle - Press release - 9 May
Researchers have gained important new insights into how our sense of hearing works. Their findings promise new avenues for scientists to understand…
How a study of walking in high heels could help improve prosthetic limbs - Press release - 9 May
People walking normally, women tottering in high heels and ostriches strutting all exert the same forces on the ground despite very differently-shaped feet…
Breathing life into signalling pathways - Feature - 1 May
Understanding how the body senses oxygen leads to major spin-out success…

April

Doubling the information from the Double Helix - Press release - 27 April
Novel regulatory molecules called mirror-microRNAs control multiple aspects of brain function…
Salmonella infection, but not as we know it - Press release - 25 April
BBSRC-funded researchers at Cambridge University have shed new light on a common food poisoning bug. Using real-time video microscopy…
New insight into pain mechanisms - Press release - 24 April
Researchers have made a discovery which could help the development of analgesic drugs able to treat nerve damage-related pain…
Neuroscientists discover key protein responsible for controlling nerve cell protection - Press release - 23 April
Findings could lead to new therapies for stroke and epilepsy…
Study resolves debate on human cell shut-down process - Press release - 13 April
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have resolved the debate over the mechanisms involved in the shut-down process that halts cell division…
Plant research reveals new role for widespread protein - News - 4 April
Researchers looking at Arabidopsis plants have discovered a new role for a widespread protein…
Unique garden experiment changes understanding of behavioural mechanisms - Press release - 4 April
A unique experiment carried out in a Leicester garden, and concurrently in a garden in Italy, has yielded surprising results that has changed scientific knowledge…
Genes in worms could play a role in human ageing and disease - Press release - 2 April
Scientists have identified a gene in a simple water-dwelling worm that might play an important role…

March

Why can’t you sprint a marathon? - Press release - 20 March
Researchers have discovered a new memory mechanism within the nervous system that helps to avoid exhaustion…
Body clocks may hold key for treatment of bipolar disorder - Press release - 13 March
Insight into why lithium salts are effective at treating bipolar disorder…
New target for Alzheimer’s disease - Press release - 7 March
Scientists discover that specific antibodies halt Alzheimer’s disease in mice…
Carbohydrate-based medicines – more than a sugarcoating - Feature - 7 March
Breakthrough in sugar chemistry open door to new synthetic medicines…
Genetic changes in bacteria tracked - Press release - 6 March
An unusual case could tell researchers more about the genetic changes…
Pumping up funding for blood pressure research - Press release - 2 March
Researchers awarded £2.7M to determine possible new treatments…

February

Cell study may aid bid for motor neurone therapies - Press release - 29 February
New research shows how key cells are produced…
Telomeres' stress reveals insight into ageing - News - 29 February
Newcastle University discovers chromosomes ends are sensitive…
Immortal worms defy ageing - Press release - 28 February
Researchers demonstrate how a species of flatworm overcomes ageing…
Micronutrients prior to pregnancy affect offspring - News - 24 February
Scientists find that micronutrients affect methylation…
High-definition polarization vision discovered in cuttlefish - Press release - 21 February
Cuttlefish have the most acute polarization vision in animals…
Synthetic protein amplifies genes needed for stem cells - Press release - 17 February
Scientists find way to generate and maintain stem cells efficiently…
Diagnostics for viruses step closer to reality - Press release - 15 February
Researchers at University of Leeds have developed a new technique…
Scientist warns of new MRSA threat - Press release - 2 February
Emergence of a new MRSA bacterium in the United States …

January

Protein study gives fresh impetus in fight against superbugs - Press release - 31 January
How superbugs such as MRSA become resistant to treatment…
Cutting off the oxygen supply to serious diseases - Press release - 31 January
Family of proteins which regulate human body's 'hypoxic response'…
Scientists reveal how cholera bacterium gains a foothold in the gut - Press release - 27 January
Discovery could help scientists target treatments for the disease…
How to make better vaccines for humans and animals - Press release - 26 January
Scientists at IAH discover why some vaccines are not as effective…
Genetic study offers clues to how intelligence changes through life - Press release - 19 January
Genetic factors may account for 24% of changes in intelligence…
Scientists shed new light on link between ‘killer cells’ and diabetes - Press release - 16 January
Killer T-cells can inadvertently destroy cells that produce insulin…
New tool puts plant hormone under surveillance - Press release - 16 January
Sensor developed that allows auxin to be visualised in plant tissues…
Vitamin D could combat the effects of ageing in eyes - Press release - 16 January
Vitamin D reduces ageing effects in mouse eyes and improves vision…
How poor maternal diet can increase risk of diabetes – new mechanism discovered - Press release - 6 January
diet in the womb leads to problems storing fats in later life…