The Gurdon Institute

Nuclear membrane dysfunction underlying dementia

The Livesey and Jackson groups pooled expertise, studying patient-derived neurons in the lab to investigate how mutations in the tau gene cause frontotemporal dementia (FTD). They found that, in FTD neurons, microtubules deform the nuclear membrane and perturb nucleocytoplasmic transport, uncovering new links between different forms of dementia.

Location, location, location: how IMP controls egg follicle development

Drosophila egg chamber development is finely tuned by the interplay of genes and proteins including the RNA-binding protein IMP. The St Johnston lab show that IMP controls the localisation of a protease in the follicle's apical domain, which cleaves Notch and sets the follicle cells on a path to differentiation.

Cells lacking ATM gene offer insights into cancer drug resistance

The Jackson lab and collaborators have identified mechanisms by which drug sensitivities characteristic of ATM-deficient cells can be counteracted by changes in other genes. These results are important for both understanding cancer drug resistance in the context of sporadic cancers, as well as highlighting potential therapeutic targets for the genetic disease, ataxia-telangiectasia.

Causes of neuronal dysfunction in Alzheimer's

Christy Hung and Rick Livesey's latest research using human cortical neurons in vitro shows that gene mutations that are causal for early onset Alzheimer's Disease lead to major defects in lysosome function and autophagy in these neurons. These pathways may represent potential therapeutic targets for ameliorating the disease.

Rad53 recruited to replication complexes in budding yeast

The Zegerman lab show that the replication initiation and elongation factor Cdc45 targets Rad53 to inhibit origin firing and to stabilise stalled replication forks. This activity may be relevant to disease because a Cdc45 mutation found in patients with a rare genetic disorder also disrupts the functional interaction with Rad53 in yeast.

Stem cell density regulation in an open niche

By combining functional studies with molecular profiling and biophysical modelling, a collaboration between the Simons lab and colleagues in Japan shows that spermatogenic stem cell density homeostasis is regulated by active competition for growth factors. This model is proposed as a general mechanism to support stem cell homeostasis in open niche environments.

Bookings are open for our Science Festival events

You can now book online for our three events for the Cambridge Science Festival! Places are limited so don't delay. Hear from Eric Miska, Julie Ahringer and Andrea Brand as they describe their research projects, then continue with questions and discussions afterwards with the lab members, over a drink.

Book here

Cancer research prize for Steve Jackson

The 47th ARC Foundation Léopold Griffuel Award in Translational and Clinical Research has been won by Prof Steve Jackson. The award of Euro 150,000 is being given "for his work on DNA damage repair and his role in the development of medicines such as PARP1 and 2 inhibitors used [for] cancer treatment." The award ceremony will take place on 10th April in Paris.

Emma Rawlins featured in Cambridge Indy

Read this super overview of the research projects in Emma Rawlins' lab, where they have worked out how to culture developing lung organoids as a platform to provide new insights into embryonic, damaged and regenerating lung.

Read article

Discover what life in the lab is really like!

Thinking about a career in science? Ten labs at the Gurdon Institute are taking part in our Summer 2019 work experience programme for students in state (non-fee-paying) schools, aged 16+, who are currently pursuing A-level or IB qualifications in biology. Come and spend a week in July learning research techniques, attending workshops and meeting our friendly scientists and students.

How to apply

What do the Media Team do?

In our newest video you can hear from the head of our Media Team, Juanita Baker-Hay, about the essential service they provide to the Institute scientists, and watch the team as they go about their varied jobs. Our researchers are very fortunate to have this core service, which ensures consistent and high-quality supplies on which to base experiments.

Watch the video