News/Events

Cambridge clinical researchers elected Fellows of the Royal Society
Two NIHR Cambridge BRC clinical researchers, Prof. Sadaf Farooqi and Prof. David Rowitch, have been elected as Royal Society Fellows.Read more

Save your energy! New tool shows algorithms’ environmental impact
Data science and artificial intelligence are transforming UK healthcare – but at an environmental cost.
The data centres housing the supercomputers that run the algorithms account for 100 megatonnes of CO2 emissions every Read more

Ability of multi-drug resistant infection to evolve within cystic fibrosis patients highlights need for rapid treatment
Researchers have tracked how a multi-drug resistant organism is able to evolve and spread widely among cystic fibrosis patients Read more

Differing immune responses discovered in asymptomatic cases and those with severe COVID-19
A UK-wide study part-funded by the NIHR has identified differences in people’s immune responses to COVID-19, depending on whether they have no symptoms or more serious reactions to the virus.Read more

Stress does not lead to loss of self-control in eating disorders, study finds
Stress does not trigger binge eating in people with eating disorders, new research suggests.Read more

Placenta is dumping ground for genetic defects
Researchers have confirmed that the normal structure of the placenta is different to any other human organ and resembles that of a tumour, harbouring many of the same genetic mutations found in childhood cancers.Read more

Diphtheria risks becoming ‘major global threat’ again as it evolves resistance to antimicrobials
Diphtheria is evolving to become resistant to a number of classes of antibiotics and in future could lead to vaccine escape, warn an international team of researchers.Read more

Celebrating International Women’s Day
8th March marks International Women’s Day, hear from two women who work in research at the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre.Read more

Genomics study identifies routes of transmission of coronavirus in care homes
Genomic surveillance – using information about genetic differences between virus samples – can help identify how SARS-CoV-2 spreads in care home settings.Read more

Single dose of Pfizer BioNTech vaccine reduces asymptomatic infections and potential for SARS-CoV-2 transmission
New data suggests that a single dose of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine can reduce by 75% the number of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections.Read more

Can a tapeworm drug boost protection from Covid-19 for high-risk kidney patients?
A new trial led by Cambridge launches to see if the drug niclosamide, usually used to treat tapeworms, can prevent Covid-19 infection in vulnerable, high-risk kidney patients.Read more

Could repairing damaged donor livers be the key to increasing life-saving transplants?
Researchers have found a way to grow ‘mini bile ducts’ in a lab-setting to repair damaged livers.Read more

Pfizer BioNTech vaccine likely to be effective against B1.1.7 strain of SARS-CoV-2
The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine BNT162b2 is likely to be effective against the B1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2, even though its efficacy is modestly affected. However, when the E484K mutation – first seen in the South African variant – is added, it substantially increases the amount of antibody required to prevent infection.Read more

New research suggests COVID-19 severity can be predicted in hospitalised patients
Research conducted at Addenbrooke’s hospital and supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre has found it may be possible to predict which patients will go on to develop severe or long-term COVID Read more

DNA test can quickly identify pneumonia in patients with severe COVID-19, aiding faster treatment
Researchers have developed a DNA test to quickly identify secondary infections in COVID-19 patients, who have double the risk of developing pneumonia while on ventilation than non-COVID-19 patients.Read more

Mindfulness can improve mental health and wellbeing – but unlikely to work for everyone
Mindfulness courses can reduce anxiety and stress and increase mental wellbeing but not in all non-clinical settings and may be no better than other practices aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing.Read more

Dexamethasone should be avoided in patients with chronic subdural haematoma
A commonly-used treatment for chronic subdural haematoma could lead to a worse outcome than receiving no medication. Read more

Symptoms of depression linked to increased risk of heart disease and stroke
People who experience symptoms of depression are more likely to go on to develop heart disease or suffer a stroke than those who report good mental health.Read more

Apathy could predict onset of dementia years before other symptoms
Apathy – a lack of interest or motivation – could predict the onset of some forms of dementia many years before symptoms start. Read more

AI speeds up cancer treatment
Doctors aim to drastically cut cancer waiting times using artificial intelligence to automate lengthy radiotherapy preparations.Read more