Centre for Inflammation Research

Science Summaries – 2017

Science summaries from 2017

Glowing probe allows scientists to see reactions inside cells

December 2017: A chemical probe that glows when it binds to magnesium will help scientists view processes that occur inside cells.

Study looks into health-related quality of life after intensive care

November 2017: A research team has shown that chronic illness present before arrival into intensive care can have a large impact on quality of life after discharge.

Carbon nanotubes may pose asbestos-style cancer risk

November 2017: A study led by the Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, and supported by researches from the Medical Research Council Centre for Inflammation Research, has provided strong evidence that certain carbon nanotubes used in manufacturing could pose the same cancer risk as asbestos. 

Cystic fibrosis study offers new therapy hope for patients

October 2017: Fresh insights into how cystic fibrosis affects immune cells could pave the way for new treatments for the condition

Heart failure therapy hope as drug blocks deadly muscle scarring

October 2017: A potential treatment to prevent deadly muscle scarring that contributes to chronic heart failure has been uncovered by scientists.

Worms aid quest for asthma therapies

October 2017: Worms could prevent asthma and offer the hope of a cure to the 5.4 million people in the UK with the condition, according to a breakthrough study funded by Asthma UK

Drug targeting technique could aid therapies for immune diseases

September 2017: A new technique that targets drugs to specific cells could lead to improved therapies for diseases caused by an overactive immune response.

Eczema therapy hopes raised by study of sun’s effects on skin

June 2017: Exposure to sunlight releases a compound from the skin that can alleviate symptoms of eczema

Immune study points to new ways to treat lung disease

August 2017: Fresh insight into how the immune system keeps itself in check could lead to new ways of fighting chronic lung disease

Women drive quest for insights into painful infertility condition

May 2017: Colleagues from the MRC Centres for Reproductive Health and Inflammation Research publish findings in The Lancet of a major consultation process into endometriosis

Lung study points to new therapies to treat critical illness

May 2017: David Dorward and colleagues from the Rossi group publish a study in Thorax delineating the role of mitochondrial proteins and their signalling in driving lung inflammation.

'Faulty cellular batteries' and leaky gut – a new potential cause of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

April 2017: Gwo-tzer Ho publishes recent study in Mucosal Immunology highlighting the importance of damaged mitochondria and gut inflammation

Lung probe that spots infections aims to cut antibiotic overuse

March 2017: A new imaging tool that rapidly diagnoses bacterial lung infections could help prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics in intensive care units

Imaging study seeks to boost care for liver cancer patients

February 2017: Patients facing surgery to remove liver cancers could benefit from advanced imaging technology

Study prompts rethink on fighting infections

February 2017: Fresh insights into how immune cells are regulated could signal a new approach to tackling infections

Technology developed to measure pH in lung alveoli

January 2017: Team develops a new miniaturised technology to sense areas of the lung that have never been explored before

The body’s defence army can amplify the danger signals when it senses DNA from bacteria as an intruder

January 2017: Study shows that the body’s defence army can amplify the danger signals when it senses DNA from bacteria as an intruder