15 May 2026
Hantavirus: Rats. RNA viruses. Cruise ships.
What could possibly go wrong?Professor Colin Crump joined The Naked Scientists Podcast to unpack the recent hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, explaining what hantaviruses are, how they spread, and why scientists are watching closely.From rodent reservoirs to rare human transmission events, Colin breaks down the science behin…
6 May 2026
Inside the Cell’s Mind: Mahata Lab Breakthrough Reveals How Cells Make Life-or-Death Decisions
How Stress Hormone Cortisol Shapes Cancer-Fighting T CellsA groundbreaking paper from the Mahata Lab in the Department of Pathology reveals how the stress hormone cortisol can rewire the behaviour of human “killer” T cells (CD8 T cells), which play a key role in controlling cancer. The study shows that cortisol alters how these cells read and use t…
29 Apr 2026
Delivering Immunity Where It Matters: Gene Therapy Targets Lung Inflammation at Its Source
Targeting lung inflammation at source: gene therapy approach shows promise in severe respiratory diseaseResearchers from the Department of Pathology have developed a targeted gene delivery platform that enables localised control of immune responses in the lung, offering a potential new strategy for treating severe respiratory inflammation.In a new …
21 Apr 2026
Inside the Invisible War: Scientists Crack the Code of Astrovirus Replication
Scientists uncover how astroviruses replicate inside human cellsNew research published in NAR Molecular Medicine sheds light on how astroviruses — a common cause of gastroenteritis — replicate within host cells, offering potential new targets for antiviral therapies.Why astroviruses matterAstroviruses are widespread gastrointestinal pathogens affec…
17 Apr 2026
How the Immune System “Edits” Itself: New Insights from Mouse Cells
A molecular “editor” inside the immune systemA hidden quality-control system inside our cellsEvery second, your immune system is scanning for threats. One of its most important tools is a molecular display system called MHC class I (MHC-I), which presents tiny protein fragments (peptides) on the surface of cells. These fragments act like “ID cards,…
10 Apr 2026
Cracking Cancer’s Cortisol Code
Breakthrough in Cancer Immunotherapy: Overcoming Steroid ResistanceThe Hidden Barrier in TumoursRecent research published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy reveals a critical obstacle in cancer treatment: the tumour microenvironment itself. Lung tumours are enriched with glucocorticoids—particularly cortisol—which suppress the body’s immu…
30 Mar 2026
Cracking the Small RNA Code: PymiRa Brings Speed and Precision to miRNA Discovery
Rewriting the Rules of Small RNA Analysis: A Faster, Smarter Path to Biomarker DiscoveryA new study from the Enright, Murray, and Coleman groups, led by PhD student Zac Scurlock, and published in PLOS Computational Biology, introduces an innovative computational tool that could significantly accelerate how pathologists and researchers interpret sma…
26 Mar 2026
Kidney Research UK Highlights Professor Colin Crump’s Breakthrough Work on BK Virus
Cambridge Research Offers New Hope Against BK Virus in Transplant PatientsMiniature kidneys, major breakthrough potentialProfessor Crump and his team are taking a cutting-edge approach to this challenge by developing kidney organoids—tiny, three-dimensional models that replicate key structures and functions of human kidneys.These miniature kidneys …
26 Mar 2026
Alceus Bio Wins Pioneer Group and AbbVie’s Golden Ticket
A Breakthrough Moment for a New Biotech PlayerAlceus Bio has been awarded the prestigious Golden Ticket programme from Pioneer Group and AbbVie—a major endorsement of its potential to reshape cancer treatment. Founded in 2024 by Alexander Evans, Alberto Conti, and Rahul Roychoudhuri, the company brings together expertise rooted in immunology and pa…
25 Mar 2026
From Lab to Lifeline: Mahalaqua Noor Named Among Cambridge’s 21 to Watch 2026
Mahalaqua Noor Named Among Cambridge’s “21 to Watch” for 2026Mahalaqua (Mila) Noor has been recognised as one of the standout innovators in the 2026 21 to Watch awards, a prestigious programme celebrating founders and researchers tackling some of the world’s most urgent health and climate challenges.Organised by Cambridge Management Consulting, the…
18 Mar 2026
Meningitis: Information for staff and students
Meningitis updateWe are aware that colleagues across the University and Colleges may have questions regarding the meningitis outbreak in Kent.At present, the University has not been contacted by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and no additional actions have been advised.As a precaution, colleagues may wish to familiarise themselves with the …
11 Feb 2026
Flexibility in viral translation initiation revealed in enteroviruses
Researchers led by Dr Valeria Lulla have uncovered new insights into how enteroviruses regulate protein production, revealing unexpected flexibility in viral translation initiation.This study was carried out in collaboration with the Firth and Graham Groups in Virology, the Deane lab at CIMR, and the Zilbauer lab at Cambridge Stem Cell Institute.Us…
30 Jan 2026
Breaking Down Barriers: Improving CAR T-Cell Therapy for Colorectal Cancer
New Advances in CAR T-Cell Therapy for Colorectal Cancer Researchers in the Mahata Group , in collaboration with Prof Sir David Klenerman and colleagues, have uncovered a key reason why anti-CEACAM5 CAR T-cell therapies — a promising form of immunotherapy — have so far struggled to treat colorectal cancer (CRC), and have identified a potential stra…
30 Jan 2026
Reading the Signals: How Malaria Parasites Respond to Host Stress
Understanding how malaria parasites respond to stress within the human host is central to explaining both disease severity and transmission.In a recent study led by Professor Catherine Merrick, researchers uncovered a previously unrecognised mechanism by which Plasmodium parasites sense and respond to changes in host metabolism. The work shows that…
5 Dec 2025
The Macrophage Maneuver: Eddie’s Method for Silencing All Resistance
In a recent study exploring how Toxoplasma gondii seizes control of immune cells through early, stealthy suppression, researchers uncovered a strategy so cunning a movie villain could have devised it.And in Betty Chung's household, one charismatic orange feline—Eddie, Lord of Fluff and Shadows—appears to have taken notes.Much like the parasite’s ra…