A team led by UCL and Cardiff University researchers has developed a novel measure of disease progression for Huntington’s disease, which enabled them to identify a genetic modifier associated with how rapidly the disease progresses (CheckOrphan, 2017). “We’ve identified a gene that could be a target for treating Huntington’s disease. While there’s currently no cure … Continue reading Genetic modifier for Huntington’s disease progression identified

A Cardiff University scientist is to explore whether viruses can be “trained” to tackle ovarian cancer after being given a £250,000 Cancer Research UK grant (BBC News, 2017). Dr Alan Parker, a senior lecturer at Cardiff University, will lead a team to examine and alter the Ad5 virus. In its original form it can can … Continue reading Cardiff University scientist to train virus to fight ovarian cancer

The GW4 Alliance will open a £2.3m shared facility for cryo-microscopy on September 1st 2017 at the University of Bristol (Cardiff University, 2017). The facility will provide researchers across the Great West region with a suite of state of the art microscopy and analysis tools, enabling them to better understand the molecular processes responsible for … Continue reading GW4 Alliance to open new microscopy facility

Research by Cardiff University has found that community-led regeneration in deprived areas can improve the mental health of residents (Cardiff University, 2017). The study, one of the first of its kind worldwide, found a small but measurable improvement in the mental health of residents in areas of Caerphilly County Borough that underwent community-led regeneration compared … Continue reading Regeneration of deprived areas can improve residents’ mental health

Professor Gary F Baxter will take over responsibility for Cardiff University’s College of Biomedical and Life Sciences from Professor Dylan Jones who is standing down to focus on his research (Cardiff University, 2017). For the past seven years Gary Baxter has been Head of the Cardiff University’s School of Pharmacy. Cardiff University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin … Continue reading New Pro Vice-Chancellor for Cardiff University’s College of Biomedical and Life Sciences

Lyndon Wood, one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs, is helping to fund new research into the prevention of bowel cancer (Cardiff University, 2017). The innovative research, which focuses on the link between diet and cancer, is taking place at the European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, one of Cardiff University’s flagship research centres. Established … Continue reading Cardiff University receives funding for research to prevent bowel cancer

Cardiff University has announced plans to conduct a stem cell transplantation procedure that could benefit people affected by Huntington’s disease in Wales (Cardiff University, 2017). The Brain Repair and Intracranial Neurotherapeutics (BRAIN) Unit kicked off Huntington’s Disease Awareness Week (May 15th – 21st) by unveiling its intention to perform the first of its pioneering procedures … Continue reading Stem cell transplants to help treat Huntington’s disease

A new test that could hold the key to predicting blood cancer patients’ survival has been developed by Cardiff University (BBC News, 2017). Researchers said the length of the telomeres gave an “accurate indicator” of disease progression. Shorter telomeres can leave chromosome ends exposed, accelerating cancer progression and drug resistance. The team believe the study … Continue reading New test for blood cancer progression

Older people who have been newly prescribed sleeping pills like benzodiazepines and Z-drugs are more than as likely to have a hip fracture in the first two weeks compared with non-users, according to a new study by researchers at Cardiff University and King’s College London (Cardiff University, 2017). Dr Ben Carter, who works at Cardiff … Continue reading Sleeping pills linked to hip fractures

Cardiff University will be playing a major role in the UK’s biggest dementia research initiative with the launch of a £13m dementia research centre (Cardiff University, 2017). With the potential to be awarded a further £17m in research funding over the next five years, the UK DRI at Cardiff University is set to become the … Continue reading Launch of £13m dementia research centre at Cardiff University