PDN unveils new departmental logo
The new logo was chosen as the winner of an internal competition among its staff
How synapse formation drives brain cancer growth
A study just published in Nature, by a team including Hugh Robinson of PDN, has shed new light on how glutamate receptor ion channels are involved in metastasis of cancer to the brain, showing that cancer cells which express growth-promoting glutamate receptors integrate themselves into neuronal synapses to obtain activating glutamate.
Potential therapeutic target for early-onset preeclampsia
Research by CTR in collaboration with Andrew Murray identified a protein response pathway during preeclampsia which could provide a new insight for potential therapeutic target of the disease
Margherita Turco receives ERC starting grant award
The CTR researchers is among 8 Cambridge recipients of European Union awards given to early-career researchers from over 50 countries
Exercise in pregnancy improves health of obese mothers by restoring their tissues
Exercise immediately prior to and during pregnancy restores key tissues in the body, making them better able to manage blood sugar levels and lowering the risk of long term health problems, suggests new research carried out in mice by CTR
Bursting the Notch Bubble: New Insights into In Vivo Transcriptional Dynamics
Study from the Bray lab makes the cover of the journal Developmental Cell
Machine learning tool improves tracking of tiny moving particles
A new automated tool developed by the Franze Lab and driven by machine learning technology may make it easier and faster for scientists to track the movement of tiny particles inside living cells
Morphogenesis of extra-embryonic tissues directs the remodelling of the mouse embryo at implantation
New paper by the Zernicka-Goetz group shows that cross-talk between the embryonic epiblast and the extraembryonic trophectoderm orchestrates the transformation of the blastocyst to the egg cylinder
Individual variation in genes alters our ability to regulate emotions
A new study in marmoset monkeys by Dr Andrea M. Santangelo and Prof Angela Roberts, suggests that individual variation in genes alters our ability to regulate emotions, of relevance to our understanding of anxiety and depression, and provides insights for the development of new strategies in individualised therapies
Scientists identify possible source of the ‘Uncanny Valley’ in the brain
Scientists from Fabian Grabenhorst's group have identified mechanisms in the human brain that could help explain the phenomenon of the ‘Uncanny Valley’ – the unsettling feeling we get from robots and virtual agents that are too human-like. They have also shown that some people respond more adversely to human-like agents than others.
How the placenta and the fetus engage in regulated communication during pregnancy
Study by Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri's lab, published in eLIFE, shows how the placenta and the fetus engage in a two-way communication during pregnancy, suggesting that faulty signalling can cause growth restriction
Elisa Galliano awarded teaching prize by CUSU
The Cambridge University Student Union has given Dr Galliano a prize for best Undergraduate Supervisor (science and tech category) as part of their student-led teaching awards
Felodipine induces autophagy and clears neurotoxic proteins associated with neurodegeneration
New study by the Fleming lab on felodipine in collaboration with CIMR published in Nature Communications
Dr Cecilia Brassett awarded 2019 Pilkington Prize
PDN's Clinical Anatomist has been awarded a the Pilkington Prize in recognition of her outstanding contribution to excellent teaching and course development
Amygdala neurons simulate decisions of social partners
Fabian Grabenhorst and Wolfram Schultz have identified special types of brain cells that may allow us to simulate the decision-making processes of others, thereby reconstructing their state of mind and predicting their intentions. Dysfunction in these ‘simulation neurons’ may help explain difficulties with social interactions in conditions such as autism and social anxiety.
Premature babies could benefit from changes to drugs administered to at-risk mothers
Research by Dino Giussani's group have suggested that subtle changes to the drugs administered to mothers threatened with preterm birth or to premature babies could further improve clinical treatment and help increase their safety
CTR members awarded prizes at SRI meeting
Several members of the Centre for Trophoblast research receive prizes during the 66th meeting of the Society for Reproductive Investigation in Paris
Cambridge University ranked No 1 for study of anatomy and physiology
According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, Cambridge tops the worldwide chart for the subjects of anatomy and physiology, increasing its score from the previous year
Noncanonical Modulation of the eIF2 Pathway Controls an Increase in Local Translation during Neural Wiring
New research by Christine Holt’s laboratory reveals a cue-induced noncanonical mechanism of translation regulation in axons, which is required for the development of the visual pathway.
Boosting glutamate reduces anxiety in monkeys
New study led by Hannah Clarke, published in JNeurosci, show that increasing levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate in the hippocampus normalizes anxious monkey’s “fight or flight” response
Heart disease risk begins in the womb, study in sheep suggests
Offspring whose mothers had a complicated pregnancy may be at greater risk of heart disease in later life, according to a new study in sheep by Dino Giussani's lab
Placentas adapt to help keep babies healthy when mothers have poor diets or low oxygen during pregnancy
CTR researchers have discovered the placenta regulates how much oxygen and nutrients it transports to babies during challenging pregnancies in a study using mice to model conditions in the womb
Former PDN student awarded Anatomical Society Best Image prize
Léa Wenger, a former part 2 student, has just been awarded the runner-up prize of the Anatomical Society Best Image competition
Mechanics paves the way for nerve cells
By tracking real-time changes in physical properties of the embryonic brain, researchers from the Franze lab have shown that changes in brain stiffness tell growing nerve cells which way to turn
Late endosomes serve as mRNA translation platforms and help to sustain mitochondrial health in axon
New research by Christine Holt and colleagues published in Cell shows that late endosomes serve as mRNA translation platforms and help to sustain mitochondrial health in the axons of neurons
Ewa Paluch receives 2019 Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists in the UK
Prof Paluch is the 2019 Laureate in Life Sciences and will receive the award and associated cash prize at the March Blavatnik Awards Ceremony to be held at the V&A.
PDN Part II students awarded BACA prize
Two of our Part II PDN students from last year who did anatomy projects with the Human Anatomy Teaching Group have been awarded the prize for best oral presentation at the BACA (British Association of Clinical Anatomists) and Anatomical Society meetings
CTR study on mini placentas makes Guardian 2018 science stories list
The miniature placenta study by Margherita Turco and her CTR colleagues has been featured in a list of science stories that shook 2018 by The Guardian
Using the marmoset brain to understand depression
Marmoset study by the Roberts lab shows how over-activity in a specific area of the brain’s frontal lobe blunts the anticipatory excitement and motivation for reward – core symptoms of depression.
Physical forces, not shape, identified as driving factor of cell division direction
Study by the Sanson Lab published in Developmental Cell sheds light on the driving mechanisms that determine the direction of the plane of division during development