The following news articles were published in 2024. Research findings could guide treatment which minimises mutations Research investigates the strand specificity of DNA damage, repair and its subsequent mutagenicity: June 2024 Prestigious fellowships recognise talent of early career researchers Two early career researchers have been awarded Chancellor's Fellowships at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer: June 2024 Under the Skin public lectures IGC hosted inaugural lectures showcasing the work of three skin experts: May 2024 hEDS-START project recognised with research impact award The hEDS-START project from the Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine has been awarded the Responsible Engagement and Innovation Award at the University’s inaugural Impact Festival. Study shows how hormones and cancer drugs shape human genome New research shines a light on how hormones and cancer drugs sculpt 3D organisation of the human genome: June 2024 Welcoming Professor Vincenzo D’Angiolella in the Institute of Genetics and Cancer Professor Vincenzo D’Angiolella, expert in protein degradation processes and brain cancer, joins the Institute of Genetics and Cancer as the Charles and Ethel Barr Chair of Cancer Research. New Institute of Genetics and Cancer research facilities Building works have completed at the Western General Hospital campus and the new building has been handed over to the Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC), with users moving into the space in early May. Yanick Crow elected as Royal Society Fellow Professor Crow has been elected as a Royal Society Fellow in recognition of his work on human genetic disease: May 2024 Mutations to Medicine public lectures IGC hosted inaugural lectures spanning the origin of mutations, their role in genetic disease and cancer and cancer palliative medicine: April 2024 Welcome to our 2024 Cross-disciplinary fellows Maria Delgado Ortet, Rodrigo García-Tejera, Svitlana Braichenko and Luciana Luque join the institute: April 2024 New paper from Dr Kathy Evans’ research group describes a pilot drug screen for Alzheimer’s disease using human neural progenitor cells The recent publication in the journal Brain Communications uses a cell morphology-based imaging assay to classify hits in a pilot drug screen on a human neural progenitor cell model of Alzheimer’s disease: April 2024 Rare disease genetics reveals microtubule mechanism for ciliopathies Using patient cells, organoid and mouse models, Dodd et al reveal how cilia are key to how different mutations in a single tubulin gene can result in multiple rare diseases: April 2024 Adjuvant pembrolizumab improves survival in high-risk clear cell renal cell cancer Recent results from the KEYNOTE-564 trial, an international study with its UK component led from Edinburgh, support adjuvant pembrolizumab as a standard of care after surgery for patients with clear cell renal cell cancer (kidney cancer): April 2024 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award for University of Edinburgh and Nuvectis University of Edinburgh and Nuvectis Pharma win Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award Generation Scotland halfway to recruiting 20k new volunteers Generation Scotland, Scotland’s largest family health study, hit an incredible 10,000 new volunteer sign-ups at the end of February, marking the halfway point to their total recruitment target of 20,000. Research groups join forces to study the genetics of Parkinson’s disease The Grzegorz Kudla Research Group at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh will join forces with colleagues at the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, University of Dundee: March 2024 People living with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome share their experiences Kathryn Berg and Dervil Dockrell hosted the HSD/hEDS: Translating Research into Change event at the Institute on 8 February to hear from people living with the conditions and to share research developments. Report makes recommendations to remove interdisciplinary research barriers The X-Net project – a partnership between the Universities of Edinburgh, Dundee, and Oxford – publishes its recommendations following extensive consultation with the biomedical research community. Versus Arthritis Fellow Dr Erika Kague joins IGC Dr Kague will develop a research programme investigating the role of osteocytes in bone diseases Institute hosts Scotland Rare Disease Day Reception Rare Disease UK, a Genetic Alliance UK campaign to raise awareness of rare diseases, marked International Rare Disease Day 2024 at the Institute on Tuesday 27 February. Growing recognition for QuPath software led from the IGC QuPath’s importance for research highlighted by workshops, talks, announcements, downloads, and an awards ceremony at the House of Lords. Welcoming Dr Nezha Benabdallah to the Institute of Genetics and Cancer Dr Nezha Benabdallah, geneticist and cancer researcher, joins the Institute of Genetics and Cancer as a new principal investigator: February 2024 Carragher Lab honours Emily’s memory The family of a woman who died from a brain tumour aged just 31 have unveiled a plaque on the wall of the Neil Carragher Research Group lab, where the work they’ve helped to fund takes place: February 2024 Autophagy linked to enhanced oncogenic signalling and brain tumour development A study shows that autophagy regulates oncogenic signalling of platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) and that the absence of autophagy disrupts PDGFRA-driven brain tumour development: January 2024 First comprehensive molecular picture of ovarian carcinosarcoma A study led by our scientists provides the first comprehensive molecular picture of ovarian carcinosarcoma (OCS), an uncommon form of ovarian cancer: January 2024 LOCOME project awarded Innovate UK grant to improve diagnosis and treatment of ME/CFS and Long COVID The MRC Human Genetics Unit are collaborating with PrecisionLife and Action for M.E. in an innovative precision medicine project providing hope to millions in the UK: December 2023 DNA methylation rates linked to maximum lifespan in mammals Researchers from the MRC Human Genetics Unit show slower DNA methylation rates in longer lived mammals, such as whales, compared to shorter lived mammals, like rats: December 2023 Dervil Dockrell and Kathryn Berg named 2023 Ehlers-Danlos Support UK Community Champions The researchers were honoured at an award presentation at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer: November 2023 This article was published on 2024-06-21
