Institute of Genetics and Cancer

News 2016

An archive of IGMM News from 2016

Study paves the way for better diagnosis and treatment for bowel disease patients

Blood samples
An international team – coordinated by researchers in the Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine at the University of Edinburgh – have detected DNA changes in blood samples, paving the way for simple tests to aid diagnosis of patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases: November 2016

Grzegorz Kudla selected for EMBO Young Investigator Programme

G.Kudla
Dr Grzegorz Kudla, of the MRC Human Genetics Unit, has been selected for the prestigious EMBO Young Investigator Programme: October 2016

IGMM student blog for NatureJobs: why scientists need to step out of their comfort zone

IGMM student blog for NatureJobs
IGMM PhD Student Réka Nagy, based within the MRC Human Genetics Unit, is unravelling how genetics shapes our health using large family-based datasets: September 2016

New perspectives on cancer evolution from genome sequencing

CRUK DNA
Researchers at the MRC Human Genetics Unit led by Professor Colin Semple have just published one of the largest studies of tumour WGS so far: August 2016

Diseases that run in families not all down to genes, study shows

Diseases that run in families not all down to genes, study shows
Family history of disease may be as much the result of shared lifestyle and surroundings as inherited genes, research has shown: July 2016

HRH The Princess Royal opens new IGMM Building

HRH The Princess Royal opens Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine East Building
On 7th July 2016, HRH The Princess Royal visited the MRC Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh (IGMM) to officially open the new East Building: July 2016

Election to Academia Europaea

J.Caceres news 2016
Professor Javier Caceres, Head of the Genome Regulation Section at MRC HGU, has been elected to the Academia Europaea: June 2016

Dr Patton tackling melanoma through new Team Science Award

L.Patton news
Dr Liz Patton has been awarded the L’Oréal Paris USA–MRA Team Science Award: May 2016

John Inglis prize, best student presentation

Student awards 2016
We are delighted that Reka Nagy and Jon Wells have won this year's John Inglis prize for the best student presentation: June 2016

ECRC scientists develop new Src inhibitor with unique properties

ECRC scientists develop new Src inhibitor with unique properties
Congratulations to members of the Edinburgh Cancer Discovery Unit (ECDU) at the centre: 23 May 2016

Holidays in the sun hold key to boosting vitamin D, study finds

key to boosting vitamin D
People who take foreign breaks have higher levels of vitamin D in their blood, which has been linked to wide-ranging health benefits, a study has found: 16 May 2016

Ovarian cancer research centre seeks to develop better treatments

Ovarian cancer research centre seeks to develop better treatments
Women with ovarian cancer will benefit from a new research centre: 16 May 2016

PhD Tooba Quidwai visit to Cold spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL)

Edinburgh Super Resolution Imaging Consortium (ESRIC) PhD Tooba Quidwai visit
1st year Edinburgh Super Resolution Imaging Consortium (ESRIC) student, Tooba Quidwai, attended the Quantitative Imaging: from Cells to Molecules course in the Cold spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), New York: May 2016

Genetic barcode could pave way to bespoke liver cancer therapies

thomson_news_Genetic barcode_2016
The study, with Dr John Thomson, sought to understand the chemical changes that take place in liver cells over time: May 2016

Flagging up new gene switches

Flagging up new gene switches: news 2016
The human genome contains barely more protein-coding genes than that of a fruit fly: May 2016

Yeast study charts survival impact of genetic mutations

Yeast study charts survival impact of genetic mutations: news 2016
Scientists from the MRC Human Genetics Unit have mapped how thousands of genetic mutations can affect a cell’s chances of survival: April 2016

Dr Wood awarded 2017 Balfour Lecture

Dr Andrew Wood awarded 2017 Balfour Lecture
The Genetics Society has announced that the 2017 Balfour Lecture will be awarded to Dr Andrew Wood: April 2016

Gene changes cut lifespan

Gene changes cut lifespan: news 2016
Scientists have identified DNA changes that can cut a person’s lifespan by up to three years. They have discovered two separate areas of the human genome where differences in the DNA code may affect how long a person lives: April 2016

Science writer Dr Kat Arney visits IGMM to discuss book on how our genes work

IGMM events
On Thursday 31st March IGMM hosted Dr Kat Arney, science writer and broadcaster. Dr Arney has just released a book, Herding Hemingway’s Cats: March 2016

Parent carer scientist

Parent carer scientist: news 2016
The Royal Society has launched Parent Carer Scientist, a book and project that celebrates people combining a career in science with a family life: March 2016

Couples' lifestyle choices impact on obesity risk

Couples' lifestyle choices impact on obesity risk: news 2016
The lifestyle a person shares with their partner has a greater influence on their chances of becoming obese than their upbringing, research suggests: March 2016

£6m investment in genomic medicine

DNA
People in Scotland with cancer and genetic diseases are to have their DNA mapped to better understand, diagnose and treat their conditions: March 2016

New award to reveal secrets of single cells

New award to reveal secrets of single cells: news 2016
On 15th February Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson announced £650,000 funding to the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University: February 2016

Dr Duncan Sproul received CRUK Career Development Fellowship

Dr Duncan Sproul
Dr Duncan Sproul was recently awarded a 6 year CRUK Career Development Fellowship, with £1.3M: 25 February 2016

Minister launches research drive to cut cancer drug side effects

Minister launches research  drive to cut cancer drug side effects
Minister for Life Sciences George Freeman visited laboratories in which researchers are developing new cancer treatments that have fewer side effects: February 2016

Physical attraction linked to genes that control height

Our choice of romantic partner can be determined by genetics more than we might expect, a study suggests: news 2016
Our choice of romantic partner can be determined by genetics more than we might expect, a study suggests: February 2016

Drug does little to ease bone cancer pain

Drug does little to ease bone cancer pain
Researchers had set out to test whether the drug could reduce bone pain in one in three patients – the threshold that would make it worth prescribing: January 2016

How two-tone cats get their patches comes to light in cell study

Scientists have discovered how the distinctive piebald patches seen in black and white cats and some horses are formed in the wo
Scientists have discovered how the distinctive piebald patches seen in black and white cats and some horses are formed in the womb: January 2016