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
‘Mini-placentas’ could provide a model for early pregnancy
PDN researchers say that new ‘mini-placentas’ – a cellular model of the early stages of the placenta – could provide a window into early pregnancy and help transform our understanding of reproductive disorders. Details of this new research are published today in the journal Nature.
Single-cell reconstruction of the early maternal–fetal interface in humans
Transcriptomes of about 70,000 single cells from first-trimester deciduas and placentas reveal subsets of perivascular, stromal and natural killer cells in the decidua, according to new research by CTR published on Nature
New mechanisms of action for platelet inhibition identified
Study by Gavin Jarvis on citalopram-induced platelet inhibition reports evidence for two novel and putative mechanisms of inhibition
Predatory flies use "homing missile" system to intercept preys mid-air
New study by Gonzalez-Bellido lab published on the Journal of the Royal Society Interface sheds light on the underlying system behind predation and navigation in insects
Sequential formation and resolution of multiple rosettes drive embryo remodelling after implantation
New study by Magda Zernicka-Goetz's lab on Nature Cell Biology examines the mechanisms of cavity formation during development for the correct formation of the embryo
PDN receives Green Impact Excellence Award
The Vice Chancellor has awarded our Department with the Green Impact Excellence Award for its commitment to waste reduction
A 3D cell shape that enables tube formation
New modelling and in vivo observations reveal that cells in tubes adopt an asymmetric cell shape dubbed scutoid, contrary to some previous assumptions
How flat sheets of cells become tubular organs
New research by Guy Blanchard in collaboration with the LMB Cell Biology Division gives new insight into how flat layers of cell tissue develop into 3D structures
Rapid Cue-Specific Remodeling of the Nascent Axonal Proteome
The Holt lab at PDN has developed a new method to identify newly synthesized axonal proteins in response to axon guidance cues. Axons stimulated by different guidance cues show distinct and common signatures.
PDN scientists generate key life event in artificial mouse ‘embryo’ created from stem cells
The creation of artificial embryos has moved a step forward after an international team lead by Magda Zernicka-Goetz used mouse stem cells to produce artificial embryo-like structures capable of ‘gastrulation’, a key step in the life of any embryo
Discovery of genetic variant could lead to personalised treatments for mood disorder
New work by PDN member Andrea Santagelo on serotonine transporter gene could identify targets for tailored therapies
CTR funded PhD student awarded prize for best medical engineering project
Romina Plitman, former PhD at CTR, received the Depuy Best Postgraduate Medical Engineering Project award
Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri awarded Lister Prize Fellowship
The Lister Institute provides research funding to outstanding early career scientists whose work shows excellent potential to make an impact in the field of biomedical sciences