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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…

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…

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 …

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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 …

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…

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…

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 …

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…

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…

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…

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…