Latest University of Cambridge Stories
Findings could one day lead to improved treatment of spinal cord injuriesScientists have discovered the origin of a unique type of cell known for its ability to support regeneration in the central nervous system. Their findings, published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (PNAS), raise the possibility of obtaining a more reliable source of these cells for use in cell transplantation therapy for spinal cord injuries.Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs),...
British university scientists have discovered a species of bushcricket that boasts the largest testicles in the animal kingdom, representing 14 percent of their total body weight, according to a new study published Wednesday in the journal Biology Letters.In the study, biologists at the University of Derby and the University of Cambridge noted that the sizable testes of the Tuberous Bushcricket (Platycleis affinis)--the largest in relation to body weight in the world--point towards rampant...
New research could lead to improved vaccines for cancerous tumorsResearchers at the University of Cambridge hope to revolutionise cancer therapy after discovering one of the reasons why many previous attempts to harness the immune system to treat cancerous tumours have failed.New research, published today in the journal Science, reveals that a type of stromal cell found in many cancers which expresses fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP), plays a major role in suppressing the immune...
Study on effects of anti-obesity drug on the brain paves way for more effective treatmentsScientists have revealed that an anti-obesity drug changes the way the brain responds to appetising, high-calorie foods in obese individuals. This insight may aid the development of new anti-obesity drugs which reduce the activity in the regions of the brain stimulated by the sight of tasty foods.Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that the anti-obesity drug sibutramine reduced brain...
New research by scientists at the University of Cambridge in England gives insight into how sloths, one of the few mammals with more than seven neck vertebrae, evolved their uniquely long necks.The mystery of how the three-toed sloth came to have as many as 10 neck vertebrae has long puzzled scientists, given that most of the 5,000 mammal species have exactly seven vertebrae in their necks.Other animals, such as birds and lizards, vary greatly in the number of vertebrae in their neck.  ...
Scientists have discovered a mechanism which raises blood pressure in pre-eclampsia, a potentially deadly condition which occurs during pregnancy.After 20 years of research, scientists from the University of Cambridge have now cracked the first step in the main process that controls blood pressure. Their findings, published today in the journal Nature, are likely to have significant implications for the treatment of pre-eclampsia as well as high blood pressure (also known as...
LONDON, September 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambridge becomes the first non-US university ever to head the QS World University Rankings(R), in the 7th annual edition published today. The Top 200 results and methodology is available on http://www.topuniversities.com. - Harvard, which has topped the table since 2004 drops to 2nd place - MIT jumps to 5th from 9th, reflecting a strong performance by technology universities - There are 22 countries represented in the...
'Mindfulness', the process of learning to become more aware of our ongoing experiences, increases well-being in adolescent boys, a new study reports.Researchers from the University of Cambridge analyzed 155 boys from two independent UK schools, Tonbridge and Hampton, before and after a four-week crash course in mindfulness. After the trial period, the 14 and 15 year-old boys were found to have increased well-being, defined as the combination of feeling good (including positive emotions such...
Research paves way for new liver disease research and possibly cell-based therapyBy creating diseased liver cells from a small sample of human skin, scientists have for the first time shown that stem cells can be used to model a diverse range of inherited disorders. The University of Cambridge researchers' findings, which will hopefully lead to new treatments for those suffering from liver diseases, were published today in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.Because liver cells...
Scientists outline a 20-year master plan for the global renaissance of nuclear energyScientists outline a 20-year master plan for the global renaissance of nuclear energy that could see nuclear reactors with replaceable parts, portable mini-reactors, and ship-borne reactors supplying countries with clean energy, in research published today in the journal Science.The scientists, from Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge, suggest a two-stage plan in their review paper that...
