Author: Callaway, Ewen
Title: Revolutionary Microscopy Technique Sees Individual Atoms
Reference Nature 4 June 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Science
Subject: Sjors Scheres’ and Radu Aricescu’s groups have pushed the boundaries of cryo-EM, allowing the technique to detect individual atoms in a protein for the first time
Keywords: cryo-EM; Sjors Scheres; Radu Aricescu; X-ray crystallography; histamine; 3D
Photographs:Author: Vienna BioCenter
Title: Researchers develop “quick and easy” Covid-19 test for population screening with simple means
Reference Vienna BioCenter 24 June 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Science
Subject: Max Kellner, a PhD student in Madeline Lancaster’s group, was stranded in Vienna as much of Europe went into lockdown at the start of the pandemic, but was able to join the Vienna COVID-19 Diagnostics Initiative
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; Vienna BioCenter; Covid-19; Max Kellner; test; RT-LAMP; lockdown; VCDI (Vienna Covid-19 Diagnostics Initiative); rapid; screening
Photographs: Max Kellner with researchers from other institutes who joined together to develop the testAuthor: Keane, Sarah
Title: Dr. Kelly Nguyen
Reference RNA Society 3 July 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Career Structure
Subject: RNA Society Spotlight has a feature on Kelly Nguyen, a Group Leader in the Structural Studies Division. Kelly describes the inspirations that led to her working in RNA structural biology, her experience of starting her group, and her advice for younger scientists
Keywords: Kelly Nguyen; Tom Steitz; Kiyoshi Nagai; Jade Li; cryo-EM; telomerase structure; mentor; Davos; RNA Society
Photographs: Kelly in the lab (MRC LMB)Author: Brackley, Paul
Title: The origin of life on Earth explored at MRC LMB in Cambridge using a flask and a lamp
Reference Cambridge Independent 3 July 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Science
Subject: Nicholas Green is interviewed in the Cambridge Independent about John Sutherland’s group’s recent research suggesting that DNA and RNA building blocks might have co-existed at the dawn of life
Keywords: UV lamp; primordial soup; Nicholas Green; Jianfeng Xu; Václav Chmela; David Russell; John Sutherland; amino acids; RNA; flasks; Earth; synthetic biology; artificial life
Photographs: John Sutherland’s group outside the from of the buildingAuthor: Chalmers, Vanessa
Title: Scientists create a drug that ‘repairs damage to the brain and spinal cord’ in potential breakthrough for paralysed patients and Alzheimer’s sufferers
Reference Mail Online 28 August 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Science
Subject: A team led by Radu Aricescu’s group created a synthetic compound that acts like a ‘bridge’ where connections have been lost due to damage or illness, offering hope of new therapies for a range of devastating conditions, from Alzheimer’s disease to epilepsy
Keywords: Cerebellin-1, CPTX; Alzheimer’s disease; Radu Aricescu; brain; neuronal cells; neurodegeneration; synaptic; spinal cord; regenerate; ‘cut and paste’; epilepsy
Photographs:Author: Ferro, Diana
Title: Dr. Jailson Brito Querido
Reference RNA Society 22 September 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Career Structure
Subject: RNA Society Spotlight features Jailson Brito Querido, a postdoctoral researcher in Venki Ramakrishnan’s group. Jailson describes how he became interested in RNA biology, why he wanted to come to the LMB, and who his scientific hero is
Keywords: Jailson Brito Querido; Venki Ramakrishnan; RNA Society; Marie Curie; helcases; translation; elF4A; career
Photographs: Jailson Brito Querido in Lab (MRC LMB)Author: Biochemical Society
Title: Professor Kim Nasmyth awarded the 2021 Centenary Award by Biochemical Society
Reference Biochemical Society 25 March 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Alumni - Awards & Prizes
Subject: Kim, who is currently the Whitley Chair at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford and a fellow of Trinity College is a former member of LMB, has made hugely valuable contributions to the life sciences. He has been awarded the Biochemistry Society Centenary Award for 2021.
Keywords: Kim Nasmyth; Biochemistry Society Centenary Award; alumni; cell biology
Photographs: Head shot of Kim NasmythAuthor: University of Cambridge News
Title: Tackling COVID-19: Dr Sarah Caddy
Reference University of Cambridge 26 June 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Alumni - Science
Subject: Sarah Caddy is interviewed about her work on COVID-19 during the pandemic and extending her work with Leo James’ group on how antibodies neutralise rotavirus and influenza to include coronaviruses
Keywords: Sarah Caddy; Alumni; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; antibody; vaccines; pets; Ebola; Leo James
Photographs: Sarah Caddy in the labAuthor: National Academy of Sciences News
Title: National Academy of Sciences Elects New Members
Reference National Academy of Sciences 27 April 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Alumni - Awards & Prizes
Subject: The National Academy of Sciences of the USA recognises distinguished and continuing achievements in original scientific research by election to membership and has recently elected 120 members and 26 international members including Anthony Hyman
Keywords: Anthony Hyman; alumni; Nation Academy of Sciences USA; Newly elected; award; Director; Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics; member
Photographs:Author: Royal Microscopical Society
Title: Yanlan Mao is awarded the 2021 Royal Microscopical Society Medal for Life Sciences
Reference Royal Microscopical Society 6 August 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Alumni - Awards & Prizes
Subject: Yanlan Mao, who did her PhD with Matthew Freeman’s group in Cell Biology Division, has been awarded the RMS Medal for Life Sciences in recognition of her important contribution to our understanding of how cells and tissues are shaped and organised during the developmental process
Keywords: Yanlan Mao; Royal Microscopical Society Medal; alumni; award; Matthew Freeman; winner; Life Sciences
Photographs: Head Shot of YanlanAuthor: The Lister Institute of Preventative Medicine of
Title: Hayley Sharpe wins a 2020 Lister Institute Research Prize
Reference The Lister Institute 13 August 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Alumni - Awards & Prizes
Subject: Hayley Sharpe, a former PhD student with Sean Munro’s group in the Cell Biology Division, is one of four researchers to be awarded a 2020 Lister Institute Research Prize
Keywords: Hayley Sharpe; alumni; Lister Institute Research Prize; The Babraham Institute; tyrosine; phosphatase signalling; research
Photographs: Head shot of HayleyAuthor: White, John; Bretscher Mark S.
Title: Sydney Brenner. 13 January 1927-5 April 2019
Reference Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society
Year: 2020
Type: Alumni - Obituary
Subject: Memoir for Sydney Brenner written by John White and Mark Bretscher for the Royal Society
Keywords: Sydney Brenner; obituary; alumni; Francis Crick; James Watson; Fred Sanger; phages; genetics; mutation; Leslie Barnett; Alice Orgel; C. elegans; Muriel Wigby; nematode; John Sulston; Bob Horvitz; Director; genomics
Photographs:Author: Brackley, Paul
Title: Consortium including MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology to provide Covid-19 protein reagents
Reference Cambridge Independent 21 May 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Science
Subject: The LMB is part of a consortium helping to provide vital reagents for free to enable Covid-19 research
Keywords: Covid-19; reagents; Protein Portal; SARS-CoV-2; Jan Löwe; CPPC; virus; antibodies
Photographs: Director Jan Löwe (Cambridge Independent Picture)Author: Quested, Tony
Title: New molecule to repair and restore brain and spinal cord function
Reference Business Weekly 1 September 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Science
Subject: A molecule created by a team of researchers lead by Radu Aricescu, can restore lost connections in the spinal cord and brain of mice with neurological disorders including cerebellar ataxia, Alzheimer’s disease and spinal cord injury.
Keywords: Radu Aricescu; cerebellin-1; ‘molecular bridge’; CPTX; spinal cord; brain; Alzheimer’s disease; epilepsy; cerebellar ataxia; neuronal cells
Photographs: Radu Aricescu in lab (MRC LMB)Author: Brackley, Paul
Title: Lost connections in the brains of mice with Alzheimer’s restored by MRC LMB in Cambridge
Reference Cambridge Independent 11 September 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Science
Subject: The astonishing work by scientists at the LMB and their international collaborators offers long-term hope of helping patients with a range of conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, spinal injury and epilepsy
Keywords: Radu Aricescu; spinal cord; brain; neurological disorders; Alzheimer’s disease; epilepsy; ‘molecular bridge’; repair; cerebellin-1; CPTX; Jonathan Elegheert; Amber Clayton; cerebellar ataxia; neuronal cells; synapses
Photographs: Radu Aricescu in lab (MRC LMB)Author: UKRI
Title: New molecule to repair and restore brain and spinal cord function
Reference UKRI News 28 August 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Science
Subject: A molecule created by researchers can restore lost connections in the spinal cord and brain of mice with neurological disorders including cerebellar ataxia, Alzheimer’s disease and spinal cord injury
Keywords: Radu Aricescu; spinal cord; brain; repair; Alzheimer’s disease; cerebellar ataxia; “molecular bridge”; cerebellin-1; epilepsy; synapses; CPTX
Photographs:Author: Brackley, Paul
Title: Tributes paid to ‘talented experimental scientist’ Chris Oubridge, of MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Reference Cambridge Independent 18 September 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Obituary
Subject: Tributes have been paid to talented experimental scientist Chris Oubridge by colleagues at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, following his death
Keywords: Chris Oubridge; obituary; Kiyoshi Nagai; spliceosome; cryo-EM, snRNA; skit; ‘talented experimental scientist’; Jan Löwe; pre-mRNA; eukaryotic cells
Photographs: Chris Oubridge in office (MRC LMB)Author: Science Daily
Title: Structure of mRNA initiation complex could give insight into cancer and other diseases
Reference Science Daily 3 September 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Science
Subject: Researchers have solved the the structure of the complex formed when mRNA is being scanned to find the starting point for translating RNA into a protein
Keywords: mRNA; Venki Ramakrishnan; Jailson Brito Querido; Sebastian Kraatz; Yuliya Gordiyenko; Mark Skehel; ribosome; cancer
Photographs:Author: Brackley, Paul
Title: Astronomers find possible sign of life in clouds above Venus
Reference Cambridge Independent 16 September 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Science
Subject: An international team of scientists, including the LMBs Paul Rimmer, have announced the discovery of a rare molecule in the planet’s atmosphere called phosphine that could indicate the presence of microbes.
Keywords: Paul Rimmer; phosphine; Venus; life; James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT); “biosignature”; gas of life; oxygen; PH3; Cavendish Astrophysics; Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA)
Photographs:Author: Cartwright, Jon
Title: The Nobel that never was
Reference ESRF June 2020
Year: 2020
Type: History - Reminiscences
Subject: The centenary of Rosalind Franklin’s birth reignite the debate about her involvement in the discovery of the structure of DNA.
Keywords: Rosalind Franklin; X-ray diffraction; Maurice Wilkins; crystallography; Francis Crick; James Watson; “photo 51”; Nobel Prize; helical structure
Photographs: Rosalind Franklin at work at Birkbeck collegeAuthor: Brackley, Paul
Title: Meet the 10 brilliant Cambridge scientists elected as fellows of the Royal Society in 2020
Reference Cambridge Independent 30 April 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Awards & Prizes
Subject: An extraordinary 10 out of the 62 newly-elected fellows of the Royal Society are Cambridge scientists. This included Bill Schafer a group leader in Neurobiology.
Keywords: William Schafer; Royal Society; Fellow; C. elegans; nematode worm; Denise Walker; genetic mutations; neurons; Venki Ramakrishnan
Photographs: Bill Schafer in his office (MRC LMB)Author: Brackley, Paul
Title: Missing link in puzzle of how hearing work found by MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Reference Cambridge Independent 7 May 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Science
Subject: Missing pieces to the puzzle of how hearing works at the basic molecular level have been identified by scientists at the LMB
Keywords: William Schafer; hearing loss; sensory neurons; UNC-44; CALM-1; worm; ankyrins; cytoskeleton; C. elegans; gating spring
Photographs: Bill Schafer in his office (MRC LMB)Author: Pellegrini, Laura
Title: From mysterious cysts to CSF-in-a-dish
Reference The Company of Biologists, The Node 21 September 2020
Year: 2020
Type: Science
Subject: Laura Pellegrini posted about the importance of looking closer if something unusual happens to your experiments. There may be something new to be learned from these results.
Keywords: Laura Pellegrini; cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); brain; choroid plexus (ChP); Madeline Lancaster; cerebral organoids; dorsal cortex; cysts; Serpin Family F Member 1 (SERPINF1); clusterin (CLU); Claudia Bonfio; NMR; L-dopa; dopamine; Sephin 1; circadian cycle regulation
Photographs:Author: Grens, Kerry
Title: Sydney Brenner, mRNA Discoverer, Dies
Reference The Scientist 4 April 2019
Year: 2019
Type: Alumni - Obituary
Subject: Sydney Brenner obituary in The Scientist magazine
Keywords: Sydney Brenner; C. elegans; mRNA; Francis Crick; obituary; alumni; Salk Institute; Jonathan Hodgkin; nematode; genetics; codons
Photographs: Portrait shot of Sydney; Francis Crick and Sydney signing chalkboard (MRC LMB)Author: Powell, Harold R.
Title: From then till now: changing data collection method in single crystal X-ray crystallography since 1912
Reference Crystallography Reviews 14 June 2019
Year: 2019
Type: History - General
Subject: Over the century or so that X-ray crystallography has existed, various different ways of collecting data have been explored; each offered advantages at the time they were used, but most have been superseded by developing technologies
Keywords: X-ray crystallography; W.H. Bragg; spectrometer; Laue method; Weissenberg camera; Olga Kennard; Arndt-Wonacott rotation camera; Dectris Pilatus 12M; Oxford cryostream; macromolecular
Photographs: Prototype Arndt–Wonacott rotation camera, (MRC-LMB)