News

An analysis of studies incorporating data from almost 30 million people has highlighted the role that air pollution – including that coming from car exhaust emissions – plays in increased risk of dementia.Dementias such as Alzheimer's disease are estimated to affect more than 57.4 million people worldwide, a number that is expected to almost triple…

Scientists have found a way to stop brain cancer cells spreading by essentially ‘freezing’ a key molecule in the brain.The finding could pave the way for a new type of treatment for glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, although extensive testing will be required before it can be trialled in patients. Glioblastoma is the most comm…

Researchers have found why common cuff-based blood pressure readings are inaccurate and how they might be improved, which could improve health outcomes for patients.High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the top risk factor for premature death, associated with heart disease, strokes and heart attacks. However, inaccuracies in the most common form…

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has today announced the approval of a new treatment for a form of hereditary blindness for use on the NHS in England. Cambridge researchers played a pivotal role in providing the evidence that led to this important development.Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) affects around 2,500 …

An artificial heart valve made from a new type of plastic could be a step closer to use in humans, following a successful long-term safety test in animals.A research team, led by the Universities of Bristol and Cambridge, demonstrated that the polymer material used to make the artificial heart valve is safe following a six-month test in sheep.Curre…

The brain holds a ‘map’ of the body that remains unchanged even after a limb has been amputated, contrary to the prevailing view that it rearranges itself to compensate for the loss, according to new research from scientists in the UK and US.The findings, published today in Nature Neuroscience, have implications for the treatment of ‘phantom limb’ …

Twelve academics from the University of Cambridge have been made Fellows of the prestigious British Academy for the humanities and social scienceThey are among 92 distinguished scholars to be elected to the fellowship in recognition of their work in fields ranging from medieval history to international relations.It couldn't be a more important time…

The University of Cambridge and AstraZeneca have a long history of scientific collaboration. In 2013, AstraZeneca’s decision to move its global headquarters and new strategic R&D centre to Cambridge started a new chapter of partnership.AstraZeneca chose Cambridge – the largest life science cluster in Europe – for its access to world-leading academi…

Cambridge University has been selected as a partner in a key Government initiative to attract more of the world’s best research talent to the UK.Because of its track record in recruiting and supporting top international researchers, the University will get a share of the new £54 million Global Talent Fund, along with 12 of the UK’s leading universi…

Cambridge researchers are leading drug discovery to develop safer, more effective treatments for the millions of people affected by Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, if nothing changes one in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime, either by caring for someone with the condition, …

Many life-saving drugs directly interact with DNA to treat diseases such as cancer, but scientists have struggled to detect how and why they work – until now.In apaperpublished in the journalNature Biotechnology, University of Cambridge researchers have outlined a new DNA sequencing method that can detect where and how small molecule drugs interact…

Cambridge scientists have managed to identify and kill those breast cancer cells that evade standard treatments in a study in mice. The approach is a step towards the development of new treatments to prevent relapse in patients.Tumours are incredibly complex, made up of many different types of tumour cells – and some of these cells are able to evad…

A drug used to reduce the risk of blood clots does not help patients recovering from moderate and severe COVID-19, despite this approach being offered to patients, a UK-wide trial, led by Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the University of Cambridge has found.This finding is important because it will prevent unnecessary harm occurring to people for no ben…

Cambridge researchers will play a key role in clinical trials of a new treatment that involves transplanting healthy nerve cells into the brains of patients with Parkinson’s disease.This could transform the way we treat Parkinson’s diseaseRoger BarkerThe Swedish Medical Products Agency has granted approval for the trial to proceed; ethical approval…

Researchers say a ‘human bottleneck’, due to historical cuts in public health funding, delayed the UK’s scale-up of COVID-19 testing in the early stages of the country’s pandemic response.A pandemic like COVID-19 is guaranteed to happen again at some point.Jordan SkittrallThe researchers, who were on the front line of the UK’s early response to COV…