̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge - Babraham Institute

̽��ֱ��Cambridge Awards 2024 for Research Impact and Engagement

zs332 — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 10:27:01 +0000

Meet the winner of the Cambridge Awards 2024 for Research Impact and Engagement and learn more about their projects.

Pioneering Code of Practice released for use of stem cell-based embryo models in research

jg533 — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 08:17:57 +0000

̽��ֱ�� ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, in partnership with the Progress Educational Trust, has led work to create the first ever UK guidelines for the generation and use of stem cell-based embryo models in research.

Heal thyself

skbf2 — Mon, 24 May 2021 13:28:20 +0000

Three companies, Astex Pharmaceuticals, Eisai Ltd and Eli Lilly and Company, are joining forces with research scientists across Cambridge to explore promising new approaches to the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.

̽��ֱ��Academy of Medical Sciences announces election of new Fellows 2021

cg605 — Wed, 12 May 2021 09:39:48 +0000

̽��ֱ��Academy of Medical Sciences has elected 50 prominent biomedical and health scientists to its respected and influential Fellowship. ̽��ֱ��new Fellows have been selected for their exceptional contributions to the advancement of medical science through innovative research discoveries and translating scientific developments into benefits for patients and the wider society.

Professor Dame Anne Johnson, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: “I am truly delighted to welcome these 50 new Fellows to the Academy’s Fellowship, and I offer my congratulations to each of them on their exceptional contribution to biomedical and health science. ̽��ֱ��knowledge, skill and influence that each brings to the Fellowship is the Academy’s most powerful asset.

“ ̽��ֱ��last year has clearly demonstrated the power and prowess of UK biomedical science, and I am proud of how many Fellows, new and old, have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 response in the UK and globally.

“Although it is hard to look beyond the pandemic right now, I want to stress how important it is that the Academy Fellowship represents the widest diversity of biomedical and health sciences. ̽��ֱ��greatest health advances rely on the findings of many types of research, and on multidisciplinary teams and cross-sector and global collaboration.”

Professor Franklin Aigbirhio FRSC

Professor of Molecular Imaging Chemistry, Department of Clinical Neurosciences and the Department of Chemistry, Senior Research Fellow, Magdalene College

Professor Aigbirhio’s research focuses on the development and application of new biomedical imaging technologies for clinical research in areas such as dementia, acute brain injury and hypertension. His research seeks to enable earlier detection and a greater understanding of the disorders, thereby aiding the development of new treatments. A further objective of Professor Aigbirhio’s work is to enable these new imaging technologies to be more accessible and widely applied throughout the NHS.

“It’s a pleasure and honour to be elected to this Fellowship, which I recognise is an outcome of the collaborations with many talented colleagues at Cambridge and further afield, for which I give my sincere thanks,” said Aigbirhio.

“Going forward my election to the Fellowship provides a platform to highlight the role of black researchers and participants in biomedical and health research and to increase their involvement.”

Professor Ravindra Gupta

Professor of Clinical Microbiology at the Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Fellow, Homerton College

Professor Gupta has worked extensively in HIV, both at molecular and population levels, and his work demonstrating escalating global resistance led to change in WHO treatment guidelines for HIV. He led the team that demonstrated HIV cure in the ‘London Patient’ – only the second in history.

In 2020 he was named as one of the 100 most influential people worldwide by TIME Magazine. Gupta deployed his expertise in RNA virus genetics and biology during the COVID-19 pandemic to report the first evidence for immune escape of SARS-CoV-2 within an individual, defining the process by which new variants likely arise, and also reporting the first data on Pfizer BioNTech vaccine-induced antibody responses against the B.1.1.7 ‘Kent UK’ variant.

“I am honoured to have been elected to Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences,” said Gupta. “ ̽��ֱ��COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of cross-disciplinary science. Research excellence across medical sciences and translation to health improvements has been at the centre of the Academy’s mission and I am very pleased to now be able to contribute to fulfilling this aim as a Fellow.”

Professor Brian Huntly

Head of the Department of Haematology and Professor of Leukaemia Stem Cell Biology, Group Leader at the Wellcome – MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute

Professor Huntly’s research focuses on the stem cell aspects of the evolution of haematological malignancies, in particular acute myeloid leukaemia and lymphoma. His election recognises his many contributions to the understanding and treatment of blood cancers.

“I am delighted and honoured to be elected to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences,” said Huntly. “ ̽��ֱ��Academy’s aims of bringing the best minds in biomedical research together, supporting talent, asking challenging questions and sharing our work so that all can benefit from it mirror very much our own aims here in Cambridge. Biomedical research is a hugely collaborative endeavour and I see my election as recognition of the hard work of many people who have contributed to my research and also highlighting the tremendous work we are doing at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge Department of Haematology.”

Professor Adrian Liston

Senior Group Leader, Babraham Institute, Senior Research Fellow, Churchill College

Professor Adrian Liston works in the field of immunology, based around the question of the biological checkpoints that restrain immune activation. His research investigates the basis for pathological immune activation in the contexts of autoimmune diseases, primary immunodeficiencies and neuroinflammation. By understanding the genetic, molecular and cellular basis of immune checkpoint failure in these conditions, the rationale selection of therapeutics can help prevent or treat pathologies.

“This is a really wonderful recognition of the work from my team”, Liston said. “I’ve been lucky to work with an outstanding team of scientists, able to work on immune pathology from different angles – from the clinic or the lab, as an immunologist or a neuroscientist, in advanced techniques ranging from cytometry through to computational modelling. ̽��ֱ��curiosity and interdisciplinarity of the team are what has let us explore new fields and push the boundaries forwards.”

Professor Benjamin Simons FRS

Royal Society EP Abraham Professor, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics and Senior Group Leader of the Gurdon Institute, Group Leader at the Wellcome – MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Fellow, St John's College

As a theorist, Professor Simons has contributed to a diverse range of fields, from quantum condensed matter physics to developmental and cancer biology. His research translates concepts and approaches from statistical physics to gain predictive insights in the collective dynamics of complex systems. In biology, his studies have revealed common mechanisms of stem cell regulation, and how these programmes become subverted during the early phase of tumour growth.

Simons said: “As a theorist, and relative newcomer to the field of biomedical sciences, it is a great honour to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.”

Cambridge scientists are among the new Fellows announced today by the Academy of Medical Sciences.

̽��ֱ��greatest health advances rely on the findings of many types of research, and on multidisciplinary teams and cross-sector and global collaboration.

Professor Dame Anne Johnson, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences

̽��ֱ��text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright © ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – as here, on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.

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New report confirms Babraham Research Campus at forefront in supporting UK’s early-stage bioscience enterprises

jg533 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 07:00:00 +0000

The report, published today, quantifies the strong contribution the Babraham Research Campus makes to both the commercialisation of life science research and the life science knowledge base, enabling entrepreneur-driven businesses - including academic spin-outs - to form, and facilitating collaboration. It was commissioned by the Campus partners Babraham Bioscience Technologies (BBT) - the organisation which develops and manages the Babraham Research Campus, UKRI-BBSRC, and the Babraham Institute.

̽��ֱ��report’s key findings* include:

• Company fundraising for those based on Campus is accelerated by an average of 5.1 months.

• ̽��ֱ��market value of the top 14 companies on Campus is over £4 billion: an average 7.2 x return for investors.

• 47% of funds raised in the Cambridge region were to those ventures located at the Babraham Research Campus.

• ̽��ֱ��number of people employed on-site increased by over 90% from approximately 900 employees in 2011/12 to 1,700 employees in 2017/18.

• Campus based companies are 20% larger by headcount than they otherwise would be if the Campus did not exist.

• ̽��ֱ��total gross value added (GVA) impact of the Campus on the UK economy is £285 million.

In addition, over 75% of companies based on Campus who were surveyed as part of the research project considered their location on the Babraham Research Campus as either a very important or critically important factor in helping them access laboratory and office space on flexible and affordable terms. ̽��ֱ��ability to attract and retain talent was also highlighted as being greatly enhanced by being part of the Babraham Research Campus community.

“Investment in the Life Sciences Sector is clearly of fundamental importance to the growth of the UK economy and the well-being of its citizens," said Professor Pete Tyler at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge's Department of Land Economy, who led the report.

Derek Jones, CEO, BBT commented: “I am delighted to see that the findings from this report confirms our own internal data and anecdotal evidence of the impact of the Campus. We have tried to ensure that the support we offer to life science companies, whether it be the provision of flexible lease structures; access to science capabilities; or the nurturing and engaging community, is impactful in terms of jobs, scientific progress and increased economic activity, both locally and for the UK as a whole. It appears in many respects that we have succeeded. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the BBT staff on Campus for the part they have played in making the Campus the success which from this evidence it is.”

Andy Richards, CBE, life science entrepreneur, investor and Chair of BBT added: “This impact report is based on a thorough quantitative and qualitative study. It provides an analysis that validates many of the hypotheses postulated as to why life-science companies in a concentrated and supportive ecosystem, such as that forged at the Babraham Research Campus within a vibrant cluster, have a differential advantage. New ventures are able to start-up and develop rapidly with access to science, technology, talent and capital with fewer barriers allowing them to get into the all-important scale-up phase. It is good to see that those on the Campus value the initiatives that have been adopted and the special culture that has been created. As an investor it is a great place to nurture innovative start-ups and a fruitful place to have fast growing scale-ups. A truly low risk environment for ambitious impactful Bioscience.”

Dr Karen Lewis, Executive Director, UKRI- BBSRC said: “I am very pleased to see publication of this report, which highlights the significant contribution the Babraham Research Campus makes to the local and national research and innovation ecosystem. UKRI-BBSRC is delighted that the report recognises the Campus as a dynamic place where institute researchers are able to deliver world leading bioscience, and life science companies can develop their science, build and scale-up their business, in a highly connected and collaborative community. ̽��ֱ��findings from this study highlight the vital role that long-term public and private investment has played in developing the Campus. ̽��ֱ��insights will help to ensure continued success in delivering economic growth and societal benefits.”

Professor Wolf Reik FRS, Acting Director, Babraham Institute said: "We are excited to see publication of this informative report, which highlights key impacts created by collaborations across the Babraham Research Campus. ̽��ֱ��Babraham Research Campus is unique in bringing together the world-leading academic research of the Babraham Institute and the vibrant and growing ecosystem of the Campus, with meaningful links existing at many different levels. These links are seen in collaborations, spin-out companies, joint funding, access to world class scientific facilities, training, and generally a better understanding of how fundamental science feeds into commercial developments with huge potential societal benefit."

Download a copy of the Executive Summary: ‘ ̽��ֱ��Economic Impact of the Babraham Research Campus: An exploration of key findings’, access the full report and view the Babraham Research Campus Impact film.

*Report data collated in 2019 covering the period 2011-2018.

Research led by the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge has demonstrated the benefits and outputs from the significant taxpayer investment into the Babraham Research Campus; evidencing the overall economic, social and scientific contribution the Campus makes to the UK economy.

̽��ֱ��evidence from this study shows how well-targeted public sector support over a sustained period of time can add real value by enhancing the creation of knowledge, driving innovation and enabling entrepreneur driven life science businesses to flourish.

Pete Tyler

Aerial view of Babraham Research Campus

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A BLUEPRINT for blood cells: Cambridge researchers play leading role in major release of epigenetic studies

cjb250 — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 17:00:15 +0000

̽��ֱ��studies are part of BLUEPRINT, a large-scale research project bringing together 42 leading European universities, research institutes and industry entrepreneurs, with close to €30 million of funding from the EU. BLUEPRINT scientists have this week released a collection of 26 publications, part of a package of 41 publications being released by the International Human Epigenome Consortium.

One of the great mysteries in biology is how the many different cell types that make up our bodies are derived from a single stem cell and how information encoded in different parts of our genome are made available to be used by different cell types. Scientists have learned a lot from studying the human genome, but have only partially unveiled the processes underlying cell determination. ̽��ֱ��identity of each cell type is largely defined by an instructive layer of molecular annotations on top of the genome – the epigenome – which acts as a blueprint unique to each cell type and developmental stage.

Unlike the genome, the epigenome changes as cells develop and in response to changes in the environment. Defects in the proteins that read, write and erase the epigenetic information are involved in many diseases. ̽��ֱ��comprehensive analysis of the epigenomes of healthy and abnormal cells will facilitate new ways to diagnose and treat various diseases, and ultimately lead to improved health outcomes.

“This huge release of research papers will help transform our understanding of blood-related and autoimmune diseases,” says Professor Willem H Ouwehand from the Department of Haematology at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, one of the Principal Investigators of BLUEPRINT. “BLUEPRINT shows the power of collaboration among scientists across Europe in making a difference to our knowledge of how epigenetic changes impact on our health.”

Among the papers led by Cambridge researchers, Professor Nicole Soranzo and Dr Adam Butterworth have co-led a study analysing the effect of genetic variants in our DNA sequence on our blood cells. Using a genome-wide association analysis, the team identified more than 2,700 variants that affect blood cells, including hundreds of rare genetic variants that have far larger effects on the formation of blood cells than the common ones. Interestingly, they found genetic links between the effects of these variants and autoimmune diseases, schizophrenia and coronary heart disease, thereby providing new insights into the causes of these diseases.

A second study led by Professor Soranzo looked at the contribution of genetic and epigenetic factors to different immune cell characteristics in the largest cohort of this kind created with blood donors from the NHS Blood and Transplant centre in Cambridge.

Dr Mattia Frontini and Dr Chris Wallace, together with scientists at the Babraham Institute, have jointly led a third study mapping the regions of the genome that interact with genes in 17 different blood cell types. By creating an atlas of links between genes and the remote regions that regulate them in each cell type, they have been able to uncover thousands of genes affected by DNA modifications, pointing to their roles in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and other types of autoimmune disease.

Dr Frontini has also co-led a study with BLUEPRINT colleagues from the ̽��ֱ�� of Vienna that has developed a reference map of how epigenetic changes to DNA can program haematopoietic stem cells – a particular type of ‘master cell’ – to develop into the different types of blood and immune cells.

Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, which helped fund the research, said: “Our genes are critical to our health and there’s still a wealth of information hidden in our genetic code. By taking advantage of a large scale international collaboration, involving the combined expertise of dozens of research groups, these unprecedented studies have uncovered potentially crucial knowledge for the development of new life saving treatments for heart disease and many other deadly conditions.

“Collaborations like this, which rely on funding from the public through charities and governments across the globe, are vital for analysing and understanding the secrets of our genetics. Research of this kind is helping us to beat disease and improve millions of lives.”

Departmental Affiliations

Professor Nicole Soranzo – Department of Haematology
Dr Adam Butterworth – Medical Research Council (MRC)/British Heart Foundation (BHF) Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit
Dr Mattia Frontini – Department of Haematology, and Senior Research Fellow for the BHF Cambridge Centre for Research Excellence
Dr Chris Wallace – Department of Medicine and MRC Biostatistics Unit

References

Astle, WJ et al. ̽��ֱ��allelic landscape of human blood cell trait variation. Cell; 17 Nov 2016; DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.10.042
Chen, L et al. Genetic drivers of epigenetic and transcriptional variation in human immune cells. Cell; 17 Nov 2016; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0000051
Javierre et al. Lineage-specific genome architecture links enhancers and non-coding disease variants to target gene promoters. Cell; 17 Nov 2016; DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.09.037
Farlik et al. Cell Stem Cell; 17 Nov 2016; DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2016.10.019

Cambridge researchers have played a leading role in several studies released today looking at how variation in and potentially heritable changes to our DNA, known as epigenetic modifications, affect blood and immune cells, and how this can lead to disease.

BLUEPRINT shows the power of collaboration among scientists across Europe in making a difference to our knowledge of how epigenetic changes impact on our health

Willem Ouwehand

haha_works

Detail of Epigenome

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Scientists develop very early stage human stem cell lines for first time

cjb250 — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 08:41:37 +0000

As well as a potential source of stem cells for use in regenerative medicine, the technique could open up new avenues of research into disorders such as Down’s syndrome.

̽��ֱ��ability to derive naïve stem cells has been possible for over thirty years from mouse embryos, using a technique developed by Sir Martin Evans and Professor Matthew Kaufman during their time at Cambridge, but this is the first time this has been possible from human embryos.

Human pluripotent stem cells for use in regenerative medicine or biomedical research come from two sources: embryonic stem cells, derived from fertilised egg cells discarded from IVF procedures; and induced pluripotent stem cells, where skin cells are reprogrammed to a pluripotent form. However, these cells are already “primed” for differentiation into specific cell types. In contrast, all instructions have been erased in naïve cells, which may make it easier to direct them into any cell type of interest.

Recently naïve-like human induced pluripotent stem cells have been created by reprogramming but it has been unknown whether they can also be obtained directly from the human embryo.

When an egg cell is fertilised by a sperm, it begins to divide and replicate before the embryo takes shape. Around day five, the embryonic cells cluster together and form a structure called the ‘blastocyst’. This occurs before implantation into the uterus. ̽��ֱ��blastocyst comprises three cell types: cells that will develop into the placenta and allow the embryo to attach to the womb; and cells that form the ‘yolk sac’, which provides nutrients to the developing foetus; and the ‘epiblast’ comprising the naïve cells that will develop into the future body.

In research published today in the journal Stem Cell Reports, scientists from the Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute managed to remove cells from the blastocyst at around day six and grow them individually in culture. By separating the cells, the researchers in effect stopped them ‘talking’ to each other, preventing them from being steered down a particular path of development.

“Until now it hasn’t been possible to isolate these naïve stem cells, even though we’ve had the technology to do it in mice for thirty years – leading some people to doubt it would be possible,” explains Ge Guo, the study’s first author, “but we’ve managed to extract the cells and grow them individually in culture. Naïve stem cells have many potential applications, from regenerative medicine to modelling human disorders.”

Naïve pluripotent stem cells in principle have no restrictions on the types of adult tissue into which they can develop, which means they may have promising therapeutic uses in regenerative medicine to treat devastating conditions that affect various organs and tissues, particularly those that have poor regenerative capacity, such as the heart, brain and pancreas.

Dr Jenny Nichols, joint senior author of the study, says that one of the most exciting applications of their new technique would be to study disorders that arise from cells that contain an abnormal number of chromosomes. Ordinarily, the body contains 23 pairs of identical chromosomes (22 pairs and one pair of sex chromosomes), but some children are born with additional copies, which can cause problems – for example, children with Down’s syndrome are born with three copies of chromosome 21.

“Even in many ‘normal’ early-stage embryos, we find several cells with an abnormal number of chromosomes,” explains Dr Nichols. “Because we can separate the cells and culture them individually, we could potentially generate ‘healthy’ and ‘affected’ cell lines. This would allow us to generate and compare tissues of two models, one ‘healthy’ and one that is genetically-identical other than the surplus chromosome. This could provide new insights into conditions such as Down’s syndrome.”

̽��ֱ��research was supported by the Medical Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Swiss National Science Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.

Reference
Guo, G et al. Naïve pluripotent stem cells derived directly from isolated cells of the human inner cell mass; Stem Cell Reports; e-pub 3 March 2015. DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2016.02.005

Scientists at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge have for the first time shown that it is possible to derive from a human embryo so-called ‘naïve’ pluripotent stem cells – one of the most flexible types of stem cell, which can develop into all human tissue other than the placenta.

Until now it hasn’t been possible to isolate human naïve stem cells, even though we’ve had the technology to do it in mice for thirty years – leading some people to doubt it would be possible

Ge Guo

Colonies of human naïve embryonic stem cells grown on mouse feeder cells

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Cambridge researchers and pharma in innovative new consortium to develop and study early stage drugs

cjb250 — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:00:00 +0000

̽��ֱ��Therapeutics Consortium, announced today, will connect the intellectual know-how of several large academic institutions with the drug-developing potential of the pharmaceutical industry, to deliver better drugs to the clinic.

From early 2018, the Consortium will form a major constituent of the new Milner Therapeutics Institute, which has been made possible through a £5 million donation from Jonathan Milner and will be located in a new building at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the centrepiece of the largest biotech cluster outside the United States.

̽��ֱ��Consortium will connect academic and clinical researchers at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, the Babraham Institute and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute with pharmaceutical companies Astex Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). It will provide researchers with the potential to access novel therapeutic agents (including small molecules and antibodies) across the entire portfolio of drugs being developed by each of the companies, in order to investigate their mechanism, efficacy and potential. ̽��ֱ��terms of the Consortium allow for fast and easy access to these agents and information.

Each industry partner within the Therapeutics Consortium has committed funding to spend on collaborative projects and will collectively fund an executive manager to oversee the academic/industry interactions. Collaborative projects are expected to lead to joint publications, supporting a culture of more open innovation.

Professor Tony Kouzarides from the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, who will head the Therapeutics Consortium and the Milner Institute, is currently deputy director at the Gurdon Institute. He says: “ ̽��ֱ��Milner Institute will act as a ‘match-making’ service through the Therapeutics Consortium, connecting the world-leading research potential of the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and partner institutions with the drug development expertise and resources of the pharmaceutical industry. We hope many more pharmaceutical companies will join our consortium and believe this form of partnership is a model for how academic institutions and industry can work together to deliver better medicines.”

Dr Harren Jhoti, President and CEO of Cambridge-based company Astex Pharmaceuticals, now part of Japan’s Otsuka Group, said: “As a company that was founded right here in Cambridge we are delighted to support this new Consortium working together with leading Cambridge academic and clinical researchers to help us to research and develop ever better treatments for patients.”

Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, Innovative Medicines & Early Development at AstraZeneca said: “We are pleased to be part of this exciting new consortium that brings together world-leading science and technology into a dedicated multi-disciplinary institute focused on translational research. ̽��ֱ��proximity of the Institute to our new R&D centre and global headquarters in Cambridge will ensure our scientists can work closely with those at the Milner Institute.”

Professor Michael Wakelam, Director of the Babraham Institute, said: “ ̽��ֱ��Institute’s participation in the Therapeutics Consortium provides yet one more channel by which our excellence in basic biological research is built upon in partnership with industry-based collaborators. We know from experience that bringing together the best academics and the best pharmacological research is both efficient and enlightening and we look forward to making joint progress.”

Dr Rab Prinjha, Head of GSK’s Epigenetics Discovery Performance Unit, said: “Late-stage attrition is too high – very few investigational medicines entering human trials eventually become an approved treatment. As an industry, we must improve our success rate by understanding our molecules and targets better. This innovative institute which builds on GSK’s very successful collaboration with the Gurdon Institute and close links with many groups across Cambridge, aims to increase our knowledge of basic biological mechanisms to help us bring the right investigational medicines into human trials and ultimately to patients.”

̽��ֱ��Consortium will initially operate from the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, but will move into the Milner Institute in early 2018.

̽��ֱ��Milner Therapeutics Institute

One of the major aims of the Institute will be to help understand how drugs work and to push forward new ideas and technologies to improve the development of novel therapies. A major, but not exclusive, focus of the Institute will be cancer.

It is envisaged that the Milner Institute will be equipped with core facilities, such as high-throughput screening of small molecules against cell lines, organoids (‘mini organs’) and tumour biopsies, as well as bioinformatics support to help scientists deal with large datasets. Its facilities will be available to researchers working on collaborative projects within the Therapeutics Consortium and, capacity permitting, to other scientists and clinicians within the Cambridge community.

In addition, the Milner Institute will have space for senior and junior scientists to set up independent research groups. There will also be associated faculty positions, which will be taken up by scientists in different departments, whose research and expertise will benefit from a close association with the Milner Institute.

̽��ֱ��Milner Institute will be housed within the new Capella building, alongside the relocated Wellcome Trust/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, a new Centre for Blood & Leukaemia Research, and a new Centre for Immunology & Immunotherapeutics.

Jonathan Milner, whose donation has made the Milner Therapeutics Institute possible, is a former member of Tony Kouzarides’ research group and experienced entrepreneur. In 1998 they founded leading biotechnology company Abcam together with Professor David Cleevely, which has gone on to employ over 800 people and supply products to 64% of researchers globally.

An innovative new Consortium will act as a ‘match-making’ service between pharmaceutical companies and researchers in Cambridge with the aim of developing and studying precision medicines for some of the most globally devastating diseases.

We believe this form of partnership is a model for how academic institutions and industry can work together to deliver better medicines

Tony Kouzarides

Enzymlogic

Lab tubes (cropped)

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