New tool uncovers covid-19 susceptibility mechanism
Researchers have discovered a mechanism for COVID-19 susceptibility using a newly created tool. The tool, GASPACHO, captures dynamic changes in gene expression along the innate immune response, allowing researchers to identify genes and molecular pathways associated with disease risk that have previously been too complex to detect or interpret.
Cambridge students team up with Sanger Institute to develop a hub of biodiversity
A team of learners at Cambridge Regional College has been busy creating a centre of biodiversity at the college’s site in Cambridge. The Darwin Tree of Life community project, launched in collaboration with the Wellcome Sanger Institute in September 2022, has been working to measure the variety of plants, animals and insects present on the campus.
Genomics campus expansion to boost science in UK and health globally
Wellcome announces major investment in phase one of Cambridgeshire development which will deliver new lab space, homes, amenities, and unlock future development across 315-acre campus expansion site.
New tool tracks individual immune cell development
A new tool that can uncover the developmental history of certain immune cells is now freely available worldwide. The tool provides insights into the stages that immune cells go through in a healthy individual and how this can be impacted in disease.
Cell mapping and ‘mini placentas’ give new insights into human pregnancy
For the first time, researchers have mapped the complete trajectory of placental development, helping shed new light on why pregnancy disorders happen.
Machine learning helps determine success of advanced genome editing
A new tool to predict the chances of successfully inserting a gene-edited sequence of DNA into the genome of a cell, using a technique known as prime editing, has been developed by researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
Professor Matt Hurles appointed Director of the Wellcome Sanger Institute
Following a comprehensive global search process, which began in February 2022, the Genome Research Limited Board announces the appointment of Professor Matt Hurles as the new Director of the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
Bowel cancer mutations that impact immunotherapy identified
A new library documenting hundreds of mutations can help to explain why some cancers don’t respond to immunotherapies, and highlights potential pathways that could be drug targets in the future.
Human respiratory pathogens will be tracked in new initiative
Wellcome Sanger Institute launches new initiative to better understand respiratory viruses.
Spatial lung cell atlas offers insights into disease and immune function
The most comprehensive lung cell atlas to date, from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and collaborators, has revealed 11 new lung cell types and offers detailed insight into an immune process involved in fighting lung infections.
Healthy newborns in the UK are not colonised by multi-drug-resistant hospital bacteria
Newborn babies are not at higher risk of getting colonised by antimicrobial-resistant gut bacteria than adults, despite these bacteria being frequently present in hospitals.
New hope for kidney cancer treatment using existing drugs
The most comprehensive study of kidney cancer at single-cell level has discovered a potential drug target to treat renal cell carcinoma, a cancer with a high mortality rate that is hard to detect. Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals identified immune cells known as macrophages that express the gene IL1B as crucial to…
Breast cancer spread uncovered by new molecular microscopy
New technology can trace which populations of breast cancer cells are responsible for the spread of the disease, and for the first time highlights how the location of cancer cells could be as important as mutations in tumour growth.
Sepsis and Covid-19 patients most at risk predicted with genetic model
A new model for understanding which patients with sepsis, Covid-19 and influenza have immune dysfunction and are more likely to suffer poor outcomes has been developed by researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Oxford, Queen Mary University, Imperial College and their collaborators.
Wellcome Sanger Institute announces three inaugural Excellence Fellows
The first three Sanger Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows will join the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the coming months, with all in place by the end of January 2023.
College celebrates environment and sustainability funding success
Cambridge Regional College (CRC) is celebrating a successful partnership bid for enabling funds from the Darwin Tree of Life Public Engagement Programme, supported by The Wellcome Sanger Institute.
Sanger researcher elected to U.S. National Academy Of Medicine
The Sanger Institute’s Dr Peter Campbell has been elected to the U.S National Academy of Medicine, in recognition of his contribution to the field of cancer genomics. Dr Campbell is Head of the Institute’s Cancer, Ageing and Somatic Mutation programme, having joined Sanger as a post-doctoral fellow in 2007.
Origins of germ cell tumours unravelled giving possible opportunities for future treatment
New research has detailed the origins of germ cell tumours, which are derived from the cells that give rise to sperm or eggs. The results shed light on how these tumours develop, and reveal possible future avenues for novel therapies.
Immune cells acquire genomic scars in a lifetime defending against infection
Immune cells have been genetically sequenced in higher resolution than ever before, giving insight into how and when they accumulate mutations, such as those linked to the development of certain cancers.
First map of immune system connections reveals new therapeutic opportunities
A first of its kind comprehensive map of the network of connections that make up the human immune system has been created, which could lead to new immunotherapies to treat cancer, infectious diseases, and other conditions where immune responses play a role.
New hub to help make global genomic surveillance of disease a reality
The Unit’s mission will be to accelerate the generation of genomic data on a large scale.
Mutation pathway to bowel cancer discovered
New research has found that inherited mutations in the MUTYH gene, which repairs oxidative DNA damage, are linked to an increased mutation rate in healthy tissues and a higher risk of developing bowel cancer.
First genetic map of one of humans oldest parasites
The largest genomic analysis of the whipworm Trichuris trichiura has been published, giving the most in-depth evolutionary insight about this human parasite to date.
Impact of DNA mutations on lifelong blood cell production uncovered
New research has uncovered how genetic mutations hijack the production of blood cells in different periods of life. Scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and collaborators show how these changes relate to ageing and the development of age-related diseases, including blood cancer.
Cellular secrets of ageing unlocked by researchers
New research has uncovered how genetic changes that accumulate slowly in blood stem cells throughout life are likely to be responsible for the dramatic change in blood production after the age of 70.