BRC News

A new ‘Rare Diseases Translational Research Collaboration’ (RD-TRC) has been set up by the NIHR.    Image courtesy of Wellcome Images

Professor Derek Yellon has been appointed as the new Cardiometabolic Programme Director for the BRC.

The first sets of twins have now been tested at the Namche Bazaar laboratory in north-eastern Nepal in the first leg of the Xtreme Everest 2 scientific expedition, which includes UCL, UCLH, and BRC-supported researchers. The first set of Sherpa subjects have completed all of their testing and are on the way back from base camp.

Aggressive brain tumours may be treatable using experimental stem cell reprogramming techniques, according to a study published in ‘Genes & Development’. Image courtesy of Wellcome Images

The 15th meeting of the famous international conference “Cardiology and Diabetes at the Limits” opened today in Cape Town.

UCL investigators have identified a new mechanism which may explain the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis, the second most common type of arthritis in the UK.

A UCL research team has been awarded over £500,000 funding from the British Heart Foundation to investigate gene sequencing associated with cardiovascular diseases and processes.

UCLH clinicians and UCL researchers have started an international academic-industrial collaboration – EpiFemCare – to develop new methods for screening, diagnosing and personalising treatment of breast and ovarian cancers.

UCL scientists are on the team which has just determined the first full pig genome sequence. Determining the full pig genome sequence represents a breakthrough because of the human clinical implicationsand paves the way for experimental medicine studies in the BRC. Image courtesy of Michele Studer, Wellcome Images

Current testing strategies for the families of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) may not be an efficient use of health resources, suggest results published in The Lancet.  Image courtesy of NHS Photo Library

Researchers have carried out the first extensive analysis of genetic variants associated with Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common cause of sudden cardiac death. Their work will enable the development of new risk prediction tools to guide medical intervention.

Staff from across UCLH were honoured at a special awards ceremony last night which included for the first time a ‘Contribution to World Class Research’ category.

Researchers have calculated that the cost of the rare disease Friedreich's Ataxia is between £11,000 and £19,000 per person per year. Their work has shown that the costs of rare diseases need to be worked out rather than basing estimates on the costs of other conditions.

UCL researchers have revealed how cancers build resistance to treatment through genetic diversity. Image courtesy of stevedepolo on Flickr

Applications are now open for two Clinical Research Training Fellowships (CRTFs) at the Francis Crick Institute Clinical Research Training. Closing date for expressions of interest is 8 April 2013 and the deadline for applications is 5pm on 17 May 2013.