Centre for Genomic & Experimental Medicine
Centre for Genomic & Experimental Medicine

News 2015

An archive of Centre news from 2015

Stem cell transplantation does not lead to sustained improvement in Crohn's disease

Researchers, including CGEM’s Head of Gastroenterology Section Professor Jack Satsangi, have recently published results from the Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation International Crohn’s Disease (ASTIC): December 2015

BIOCYCLE and the SPARE trial at Edinburgh

Professor Jack Satsangi of CGEM is a co-applicant on a major new grant awarded as part of the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme to support the BIOCYCLE project: November 2015

UK Inflammatory Bowel Disease Investigator’s Day at IGMM

first UK Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Investigator’s Day was held at the IGMM building with the support of the Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit and the British Society of Gastroenterology: November 2015

Professor Ralston honoured by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine

Professor Stuart Ralston, Head of the Rheumatology and Bone Disease unit within CGEM, has been made an Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine: November 2015

Gene study pinpoints process that triggers painful bone disease

Researchers at the Universities of Edinburgh and Dundee have pinpointed the mechanism by which a key gene contributes to the development of a painful bone disease: November 2015

Nicholas Ventham wins the National Scholar Award

CGEM’s Mr Nicholas Ventham was awarded the 2015 National Scholar Award from amongst all UK abstracts for the presentation on Epigenome-wide DNA methylation profiling in inflammatory bowel disease (OP064): November 2015

Gene study prompts bowel disease rethink

An international team of researchers investigating genetic variation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease have identified that genetic factors affecting the specific location of the inflammation in the gut may have implications for diagnosis and treatment of patients: October 2015

Whole genome-sequencing uncovers new genetic cause for osteoporosis

The Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine’s Professor Stuart Ralston and Dr Nerea Alonso, have been involved in an important study which has identified a novel gene that is implicated in osteoporosis, offering a potential target for treatment: September 2015

Researchers identify new drug target for serious heart and lung condition

A team of researchers, including Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine Director Professor Tim Aitman, has identified a gene that sheds new light on a potentially fatal heart and lung condition and could lead to a new treatment: August 2015

MRC Molecular Pathology Node: Edinburgh-St Andrews Consortium for Molecular Pathology, Informatics and Genome Sciences - £2m

MRC Molecular Pathology Node: Edinburgh-St Andrews Consortium for Molecular Pathology, Informatics and Genome Sciences - £2m: July 2015

IPSEN Prize for Neuronal Plasticity awarded to Professor David Porteous

The Fondation IPSEN ‘Neuronal Plasticity Prize’ has been awarded annually since 1990. The Jury highlights a field of neuroscience and typically three Laureates are recognised: July 2015

Osteogenesis Imperfecta Trial

Researchers in the centre are running a clinical trial to study the effects of a new combination of treatments for osteogenesis imperfecta: July 2015

Gene therapy hope for CF patients

Gene therapy can improve lung function in cystic fibrosis patients, a clinical trial has found: July 2015

Improved lung function

One hundred and thirty six patients aged 12 and over received monthly doses of either the therapy or a dummy treatment for one year: July 2015

Cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis affects around 10,000 people in the UK and over 90,000 worldwide: July 2015

UK-wide trial

Patients from across England and Scotland participated in the trial and were treated in two centres, Royal Brompton Hospital in London and the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh: July 2015

CF Gene Therapy clinical trial news

The UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium has recently completed a Phase 2 study of gene therapy for the treatment of cystic fibrosis: May 2015

New CGEM Director

After 12 years as Director, Professor Porteous steps down in favour of Professor Tim Aitman with effect from 1st April 2015: April 2015