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Department of Medicine

Read more at: Scientists identify ‘neural fingerprint’ of psychedelic drugs in the brain

Scientists identify ‘neural fingerprint’ of psychedelic drugs in the brain

7 April 2026

Dr Emmanuel Stamatakis (Medicine/Queens’ College) speaks to the Guardian about a study he has co-authored which identified a hallmark signature produced by psychedelic drugs in the human brain when users experience their mind-altering effects.


Read more at: New vulnerability identified in common kidney cancer could open door to new treatments

New vulnerability identified in common kidney cancer could open door to new treatments

13 March 2026

Published now in Nature Communications , the study led by James Bertlin , a CRUK-funded MBPhD student, and Professor James Nathan ( CITIID ) has uncovered a new target in the most common form of kidney cancer which offers a dual therapeutic benefit: selectively killing cancer cells while simultaneously activating the...


Read more at: Age-related blood cell mutations affect heart disease risk in different ways, study finds

Age-related blood cell mutations affect heart disease risk in different ways, study finds

11 March 2026

Cambridge researchers have revealed that different genetic changes in blood cells affect heart disease risk in sex-specific ways, highlighting the need for more targeted approaches to improve cardiovascular health. A study published in JCI Insight and led by Paul Carter, Lauren Kitt and Murray Clarke at the Department of...


Read more at: Women advancing medicine at Cambridge

Women advancing medicine at Cambridge

8 March 2026

On this International Women’s Day, we are celebrating some of the women across the Department of Medicine at Cambridge who are advancing research, improving patient care, and shaping the future of healthcare.


Read more at: Hydrogel-based airway-on-tube to advance drug development for lung diseases

Hydrogel-based airway-on-tube to advance drug development for lung diseases

3 March 2026

Published today in Advanced Materials, this study led by researchers from Cambridge and Germany introduces a hydrogel-based, tubular lung-on-chip that enables a perfusable, patient-derived lumenised endothelium alongside outward epithelialisation for dynamic air-liquid interface culture.


Read more at: Professor Yorgo Modis leads collaborative project on MORC2-related disorder

Professor Yorgo Modis leads collaborative project on MORC2-related disorder

24 February 2026

Professor Yorgo Modis (Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge) is leading a research project with MORCure , a patient-led global charity that leads research, innovation and best practice for individuals with MORC2-related disorder (M2RD), to generate new insights into how genetically inherited variants of the...


Read more at: Tetris gameplay treatment helps reduce traumatic flashbacks for frontline healthcare workers
Person playing Tetris on their smart phone

Tetris gameplay treatment helps reduce traumatic flashbacks for frontline healthcare workers

20 February 2026

A simple, digital intervention that includes mentally playing Tetris can dramatically reduce intrusive memories of trauma in a month, even to the point of being symptom-free after six months, new research has found. The findings, published in The Lancet Psychiatry , is co-authored by Charlotte Summers, Director of the...


Read more at: Brain cooling collar trial for head injury patients

Brain cooling collar trial for head injury patients

2 February 2026

Dr Andrea Lavinio (PACE) leads the world's first in-human study to assess whether a targeted cooling collar can improve patients' recovery from traumatic brain injuries.


Read more at: Cambridge joins global consortium to transform antibiotic discovery against AMR

Cambridge joins global consortium to transform antibiotic discovery against AMR

23 January 2026

Researchers at the University of Cambridge are part of a major international effort exploring novel approaches to antibiotic discovery to deal with the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). With a total of $60 million in new grant funding over the next three years from the Gates Foundation, Novo Nordisk...


Read more at: The neural correlates of shared and individual experience

The neural correlates of shared and individual experience

23 January 2026

Published today in Communications Biology, this research led by Peter Coppola, Lorina Naci & Emmanuel A. Stamatakis shows that default mode network dynamics diverge across individuals during awareness, supporting personal experience, while auditory and attention networks stay aligned, underpinning shared experience.


Researchers in the news

Ravi Gupta (Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease) talks to the Mirror about the new Covid-19 ‘Cicada’ variant, which appears to be better at evading the body’s immune defences.


Andrea Lavinio (Medicine) is to lead a trial to assess whether a targeted cooling collar can improve patients' recovery from traumatic brain injuries, according to BBC Online


Ian Wilkinson (Medicine) tells the Guardian that tackling high blood pressure earlier could give people many more years of healthy life. He argues that we should begin monitoring blood pressure in secondary school and encourage a reduction in people’s salt intake and obesity.


Ravi Gupta (CITIID) speaks to New Scientist about a person who was left HIV-free after a transplant of non-HIV resistant stem cells.


Miles Parkes and Nuru Noor (Medicine) led a study which showed that using biologic drugs soon after a diagnosis of Crohn's disease, rather than when symptoms worsen, is five times more effective at controlling the disease, as reported by the BBCRead more on the CUH website.


Clare Bryant (Medicine) spoke to the Financial Times about new research in which scientists have edited the genes of pigs to resist swine fever. She said that just as there is no will to vaccinate animals in some countries, there might also be reluctance to use gene editing.


Shuaib Nasser (Medicine) spoke to the Daily Mail about a new nasal spray developed to treat life-threatening allergic reactions that is now available in the UK, saying that its compactness and ease of use may make it more practical than current devices for administering adrenaline.


Sharon Peacock (PACE) appeared on the Naked Scientists Titans of Science podcast talking about her work on whole genome sequencing of pathogens such as MRSA and SARS CoV-2, and studies of antimicrobial resistance.


Mike Weekes (ImID) spoke to the Independent about the risks of warmer temperatures and altered rainfall patterns caused by climate change leading to a spread of tropical diseases to Europe and the UK.