This International Day of Women and Girls in Science we want to recognise: ALL contributions that turn scientific ideas into real-world impact. ALL the roles that support our research. ALL of them matter. Thank you to them all! #IDWGS2026 #womeninscience

Researchers in the Willis lab have found that the loss of the PDCD4 protein affects cell adhesion, which could make it easier for cancer cells to detach and metastasise. Find out more about the findings on our website:

Wonderful news that the @kiranrpatil.bsky.social Lab's research on removing PFAS 'forever chemicals' from the human body has been developed into a probiotic and can be clinically tested through this investment. 👏 👏 👏

We're hiring! This role might be for you if you: ✔️ Have experience in building services/maintenance ✔️ Like fixing problems properly, not patching them ✔️ Want long-term value from your work 💷 £33,951–£39,906 + excellent benefits ⏳️ Apply by 18th Feb 👉 Learn more & apply: buff.ly/HvLRnZZ

Congratulations to joint winners of our Judges Prizes of our 2025 science art competition: Dr Simran Aulakh and Dr Kadri Seppa 🏆️ 🎨 Audience Prize winner announcement coming next week 👀 Learn more about their entries on our website: buff.ly/gOeA1lg

Registrations are now OPEN! Join us in Newcastle for the “RNA in Physiology and Disease” conference, an international meeting bringing together world-leading RNA biologists and emerging researchers. Early bird deadline: 1 May Abstract deadline: 30 June Register now: genetics.org.uk/events/rna-i...

Congratulations to Veronica, the Willis lab & their collaborators on their most recent publication! 🎉

Our new book "Self-Doubt" is written by scientists for scientists. You might think you are alone when you doubt your ability or suitability for science - you aren't. We all question ourselves and carry doubt with us daily. www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Doubt-A...

📣 Applications are open for work experience 🧪🔬 Aimed at local Y12 students from underrepresented backgrounds interested in science 🗓️ 27/07 – 31/07 Eligibility and selection criteria apply Applications by 01/03 More info: mrclmb.ac.uk/careers-and-... #STEM #WorkExperience #BiologyCareers

MRC Toxicology Unit and Cambridge University spin out Cambiotics has successfully closed a Seed investment round of EUR ~4 million with an international consortium. Read more: buff.ly/8tGF6j9 @cam.ac.uk @cambiochem.bsky.social

We are delighted to share that we have been awarded Silver Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) accreditation. This is a significant achievement in the MRC Toxicology Unit’s journey to conduct research more sustainably. Read more about the award: www.mrc-tox.cam.ac.uk/news/unit-re...

Congratulations to Dr Ritwick Sawarkar and Dr Kadri Seppa who have been awarded €150,000 to develop a novel mRNA therapeutic approach to treat Alzheimer's disease. Read more about the award: buff.ly/Tfk9Na7 #ERCPoC #mRNAtherapeutics #alzheimersdisease

Applications are only open for the MRC Toxicology Unit MPhil programme until this Friday (30th January)! There are four funded studentships for people from underrepresented groups, with self-funded places available to everyone. Learn more & apply here: buff.ly/Yw1w4Lr

Congratulations to Dr Sarah Aitken, former investigator at the MRC Toxicology Unit, who has been awarded the Wyllie Medal.

Tickets are still available for our 2026 Rare Diseases Conference, taking place on Monday 23 February. 📝 Abstract submission deadline: 12th Jan. 🎟️ Registration deadline: 16th Feb. Learn more and book tickets 👇 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/5th-crick-...

How is RNA regulation shaped across tissues and species? Join us for two exciting talks by Roberto Campalastri (tRNA gene regulation) @mrc-tu.bsky.social and Meenu Bhati @meenubhati.bsky.social (lncRNA discovery in the bovine genome) Don’t miss it! Thursday 22nd 16:30h Zoom @cambiochem.bsky.social

As we mark the start of another year, our mission remains the same: to make our medicines and environment safer & have a lasting impact on your health. Hear from our scientists and discover more about our ground-breaking work in this longer video: buff.ly/Ph7sk8C #research #science #medicine

In 2025, we shared research into how common pollutants affect our gut bacteria, how the mitochondria are involved in the side effects of the antipsychotic aripiprazole and how targeting translation elongation could help us developing new cancer treatments. Find out more here: buff.ly/M3KfNbW

On the 16th June the Cambridge Alliance on Medicines Safety (CAMS) and the British Toxicology Society (BTS) will host a one day DiscoTox event on Mechanistic and Discovery Toxicology in the era of AI and NAMs. Register your interest here buff.ly/0qIdPkZ.

Researchers in the Willis group have found that stopping translation elongation, a key step in protein production, can slow the growth of cancer cells. They identified that this works by reducing the energy producing capability of the mitochondria. Find out more: buff.ly/XVH5Q2O

Merry Christmas from all of us at the MRC Toxicology Unit. In this artwork by Marguerite, is a cardiac spheroid, a tiny, 3D cluster of heart cells that mimic how heart tissue behaves. These spheroids allow us to test how RNA medicines affect cells in a more realistic mini heart environment.

Researchers have found that the antipsychotic aripiprazole impairs fertility in male fruit flies. Aripiprazole damages the mitochondria in the testes, resulting in increased levels of reactive oxygen species and loss of the precursor cells that give rise to sperm. Find out more: buff.ly/3ge7tpf

We recently gathered in the Biochemistry Department café for mulled wine, mince pies, panettone and sing along carols. As the Old Addenbrooke's Neighbourhood, we try to meet regularly to build connections between departments, and singing carols (acapella) definitely brought us together!

Don't miss tomorrow's RNA Club session by ZOOM at 16:30!! @uni-hamburg.de @dmitry-kretov.bsky.social @ulaval.ca @cambiochem.bsky.social

Congratulations to Kiran Patil who has been given the Clarivate Web of Science Highly Cited Award for 2025. Kiran said "All credit to the amazing team members - past and present - and collaborative colleagues!" Find out more: buff.ly/6S0W5cm @kiranrpatil.bsky.social

See below for exciting job opportunities in the Department of Pharmacology www.phar.cam.ac.uk/jobs

Our new academic-industry partnership has received a £3.4 million MRC Prosperity Partnership award to fund research into understanding the safety of nucleic acid therapies (NAT). Read more: buff.ly/Hr1NoOu @mrcharwell.bsky.social @astra-zeneca.bsky.social @cruk-si.bsky.social @cam.ac.uk @ukri.org

Excited to share our latest research in @natmicrobiol.nature.com . We uncover hundreds of inhibitory interactions between common chemical pollutants and human gut bacteria. A thread🧵 (1/10) #microbiomesky #microsky @kiranrpatil.bsky.social lab @mrc-tu.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The Patil Lab have found that common pollutant chemicals such as pesticides and flame retardants can suppress the growth of healthy bacteria found in our gut. This data will help us predict the affects of new chemicals on our gut bacteria in future.

We recently came together for another successful Unit Science Day to celebrate our science and achievements from the past year. This featured a keynote talk from Professor Eric Miska, Unit research theme talks, and our Unit Recognition Scheme prizes. Read more here: buff.ly/BOzSBWC

PhD student in the Willis Lab, Alex Chalk will be sharing his work on a new laboratory method called CLEAR-Time ddPCR that measures exactly what happens to DNA after gene editing.

The UK Government have announced plans to phase out animals in research (buff.ly/beHhBbM). We are delighted to be involved by working to develop alternative methods to test cancer treatments. Find out more: buff.ly/wRpQROa

Join the Cambridge RNA club this Thursday 20th November to hear Xiaoteng Jiang, a postdoctoral researcher in the Patil Lab, share mechanistic insights into duloxetine–microbiome interactions

We're excited to share that we're part of an ambitious new project that aims to redefine human-based research models for greater understanding of disease and the acceleration of new medicines.

A new PhD student in the Willis Lab, Alexander Chalk has just had his masters/research assistant work published! Alex and his colleagues developed a new laboratory method called CLEAR-Time ddPCR that measures exactly what happens to DNA after gene editing. Find out more: buff.ly/wkfiI51

Tyler Myers, an MPhil student in the Patil Lab, is one of the speakers at the next Neurotalks. Hear more about our second brain in the latest edition of Neurotalks and learn about the pain of chillis, IBD, gut microbiome and drugs, and listening to the gut in action.

For Black History Month we are highlighting Jane C. Wright, a pioneering oncologist dedicated to making chemotherapy more accessible at a time when it was still considered a last resort. Read more here: buff.ly/df8be4E

Tiago Marques-Pedro, a PhD student in the MacFarlane lab, had the opportunity to organise and co-chair this years Gordon Research Symposium on the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Toxicity. Read more about how Tiago found the experience in our blog: buff.ly/NB5EJVw

🗓️ the deadline for our medal nominations is fast approaching! Send your nominations by 1st Nov For full details see bscb.org

We recently shared our research into Nucleic Acid Therapies (NATs) at the Big Biology Day. Our Operation NAT activity took visitors through the journey that scientists and NATs take to treat a disease. Find out more about the event here: buff.ly/7JUXHTe

Congratulations to Dr Alex Borodavka, for receiving the Lister Prize at the MRC Toxicology Unit this week. The award was presented by Lister Institute of Preventative Medicine Chair Professor Sir John Iredale. Read about his award here: buff.ly/d4jzNxS

This Thursday 16th October, we are honoured to host Dr Alexander Borodavka to present a seminar following his receipt of the 2024 Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine Prize Fellowship. More information on the seminar can be found here: buff.ly/eDJSY7g @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social

Could gut microbes protect us from toxic 'forever chemicals (PFAS)’? Kiran Patil discusses exciting findings from his group that certain species of human gut bacteria can take in and store PFAS. Boosting these species could help protect us from the harmful effects of PFAS. Watch:

Our next science comic, from the MacFarlane lab, is about macrophages, biopersistent fibres and how this is linked to mesothelioma. Each comic, created with @claudiaflandoli.bsky.social tells a story from the microworld and relates it to real world research. Find out more here: buff.ly/SWp8G4v

Our Director John Whittaker took part in a short video interview discussing; what motivated him to work in biostatistics, why he enjoys being Director, and his thoughts on the future of #Biostatistics. Watch here 👇 youtu.be/o3ArK999wgE

Professor Anne Willis, our Unit director, will be speaking alongside other experts at the Nature Conference, Cracking the Code: Nucleic Acid Medicines Coming of Age in Boston MA this December. Abstract submission and early bird registration closes on the 10th October: buff.ly/Iar2R7H

Welcome to our new PhD and MPhil students! We're excited for you to join our diverse group of researchers working to understand how chemicals in our environment and medicines affect our bodies. We look forward to seeing what new discoveries you will make!

Apply now for the #MPhil in Therapeutic Sciences at the University of #Cambridge, starting Oct 2026! 1-year full-time course with a 6-month research placement, combining world-class academic & industry training. Developed with the Cambridge Academy of Therapeutic Sciences. 🔗 bit.ly/3KdJrk9

With Anfas finishing his MPhil project in the Sawarkar Lab, we spoke to him about about his experience at the MRC Tox Unit, his research on the heat shock protein HSP90, and how HSP90 is linked to regulation of cellular stress. Read our interview with Anfas here: buff.ly/rGicEMw

We aim to carry out pioneering research which leads to safer medicines and environments. To support our work, we're looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic individual to join the Building Services Team as a Building Services Technician. Apply buff.ly/Ubp8X4C @cambridgebiosci.bsky.social