MRC Toxicology Unit

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

Industrial and agricultural chemicals exhibit antimicrobial activity against human gut bacteria in vitro - Nature Microbiology Screening of 1,076 compounds reveals 168 chemical pollutants with inhibitory effects on gut bacteria and genetic screens indicate commonality between pollutant and antibiotic resistance.

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.

MRC Toxicology Unit members at Science Day 2025

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 co-chairs symposium on the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Toxicity | MRC Toxicology Unit Tiago Marques-Pedro is a PhD student in the MacFarlane lab who studies mitochondrial toxicity. Tiago had the opportunity to organise and co-chair a Gordon Research Symposium.

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

Visitors to the MRC Toxicology Unit's activity at big biology chat to volunteers, make lego characters, look at a hidden picture and read about the different structures inside the cell. Activities from other charities and institutes are also their including a giant colon from Guts UK.

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

Gut microbes could protect us from toxic ‘forever chemicals’ Scientists have discovered that certain species of microbe found in the human gut can absorb PFAS - the toxic and long-lasting ‘forever chemicals.’ They say boosting these species in our gut…

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

YouTube video by MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge Meet our researchers: Interview with John Whittaker

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!

MPhil Theraputic Sciences

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

Anfas laughs whilst turning towards the camera whilst working in a tissue culture hood. He wears a blue lab coat and gloves and holds a pipette boy.

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

Twelve members from the MRC Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Gurdon Institute standing in blue t-shirts with their race medals.

Members from the MRC Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacology and the Gurdon Institute took part in the Chariots of Fire event, a charity race that takes a scenic route through central Cambridge.

Read more about the event here: buff.ly/QgJr1DK

@phar.cam.ac.uk @gurdoninstitute.bsky.social

Working together on the same topics allows us to benefit from the expertise of our colleagues across the School of Biological Sciences. This theme focusses on the building blocks of life - cells and molecules. How they interact is key to understanding health and disease.

In this photo, a colony of a type of yeast called Yarrowia lipolytica is overlaid with a schematic of a metabolic network.

Did you know that around 20% of the world’s meat and fish is eaten by our pets?

The BioPet project aims to boost the ability of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica to produce lipids, creating sustainable alternatives for pet food.

View the 'Journey of Yarrowia' here: buff.ly/SL8yGEw

For Postdoc Appreciation Week 2025 we are recognising the substantial contribution postdocs make to research and research culture.

Thank you Postdocs, for all the ideas and hard work you bring to the MRC Toxicology Unit.

Find a PAW event near you: buff.ly/CkuJQ7L

#npaw2025

Four Tox Unit Researchers in blue Tox Unit t-shirts at the 2025 Cambridge Festival

We're excited to share that we will be coming to the Big Biology Day at Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge from 10-4pm on Saturday 11th October. Do share this event with your friends and family!

Watch this space to find out what activities the Tox Unit will be bringing this year...

Our latest comic from the Willis lab is about anti-sense oligonucleotide therapies and the challenge of getting them to their target.

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