Media releases: 2008

December
- 24 December 2008 - Mothers pass on disease clues
  When there is a threat of disease during pregnancy, mothers produce less aggressive sons with more efficient immune systems…
- 17 December 2008 - 'More Cavalier' plants could counter effects of climate change
  A leading UK plant scientist has called for the application of new in-depth data analysis of plants' regulatory…
- 17 December 2008 - Largest ever stem cell ‘dialogue’ provides insight into public attitudes
  Results of the largest ever public dialogue on stem cell research in the UK have revealed high levels…
- 16 December 2008 - UK commercial expertise to be embedded in academic departments
  The UK's biggest funder of research across life sciences has today announced plans to bring industrial…
- 13 December 2008 - Discovery could improve the lives of premature babies
  Scientists…have identified a potential new avenue for altering lung development in the embryo…
- 10 December 2008 - Antisocial, invasive cells are the basis of cancer
  Scientists…have discovered the mechanism by which cells normally repel each other - a process sidestepped…
- 10 December 2008 - Statin warning for pregnant women
  Pregnant women or those hoping to start or extend a family should avoid using the cholesterol-lowering…
- 9 December 2008 - Exceptional entrepreneurial skills win omega-3 team best young entrepreneur title
  A team of bioscientists from the University of Reading were last night rewarded for their exceptional…
- 8 December 2008 - Unique transatlantic tie-up to understand the ageing process
  Increased life expectancy in the developed world is forecast to lead to a dramatically older population…
- 5 December 2008 - BBSRC Fellow wins NW start up of the year
  Dr Andrew Almond, a recent BBSRC David Phillips Fellow and a current BBSRC/RSE Enterprise Fellow…
November
- 28 November 2008 - Advice system for farmers improves water quality through better manure recycling
  Researchers funded by the cross-Council Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) programme and led by…
- 20 November 2008 - £20 million to fight virtual crime and treat our ageing population
  Fighting virtual crime, treating an ageing population, and turning research into commercial enterprises, will be…
- 17 November 2008 - Scientists gain insight into the cause and possible treatment of motor neurone disease
  BBSRC-funded researchers…have identified a molecule that could be the key to understanding the cause of…
- 17 November 2008 - BBSRC backs UK team at 2009 International Biology Olympiad
  BBSRC, the UK's principal public funder of bioscience research and training, has announced that it is…
- 5 November 2008 - UK Research Councils recommend changes to the European Commission’s draft revised animals Directive
  MRC, NERC, and BBSRC have expressed concern over proposed changes to the EU's animals Directive…
- 4 November 2008 - Next generation of bioscience talent gathering in Newcastle
  A cross-section of early-career bioscientists will gather in Newcastle later this week to gain advice from leading…
October
- 20 October 2008 - BBSRC changes peer review, priorities and Institute funding arrangements
  BBSRC has today announced changes to the way its peer review committees are organised, the way new research…
- 10 October 2008 - Opening a can of worms: serendipitous discovery reveals earthworms more diverse than first thought
  Scientists have found that the UK's common or garden earthworms are far more diverse than previously…
- 9 October 2008 - Researchers discover how infectious bacteria can switch species
  Scientists from the Universities of Bath and Exeter have developed a rapid new way of checking for toxic genes…
- 8 October 2008 - Ground-breaking, lifesaving TB vaccine a step closer
  Researchers at Aberystwyth University, following a number of years of investment by BBSRC, have licensed…
- 1 October 2008 - New Chief Executive joins UK’s leading bioscience funder
  Professor Douglas Kell has today started as the new Chief Executive of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences…
- 1 October 2008 - Ecologists allay fears for farmland birds from wind turbines
  Scientists observing how rats come to dislike certain flavours have developed techniques that could lead…
- 1 October 2008 - Innovative study could lead to new anti-obesity treatments and insight into why exercise puts you off your food
  Wind farms pose less of a threat to farmland birds than previously feared, new BBSRC-funded research has…
September
- 30 September 2008 - Public-private research partnership announces £5M of projects to accelerate biopharmaceutical drug development
  Bioprocessing research in the UK has received a £5M boost following today's announcement of nine projects…
- 18 September 2008 - Development of a new class of antibiotics to treat MRSA
  A new class of drugs that kill MRSA in the lab has been discovered and could form the basis of new treatments…
- 17 September 2008 - UK and Japan forge agreement for systems biology cooperation
  The leading science funding bodies in systems biology in the UK and Japan have signed a new agreement this…
- 13 September 2008 - BBSRC congratulates 2008 Lasker Prize winner Prof David Baulcombe
  BBSRC extends its warmest congratulations to David Baulcombe FRS, Professor of Botany at the University of…
- 10 September 2008 - New national competitions will honour UK’s bioscience innovators
  Two new competitions are being launched today to honour the UK bioscientists who are best at turning…
- 11 September 2008 - Investment in alternatives to animal research rises for fifth consecutive year
  The NC3Rs announced funding of £2.6 million for ten new projects that aim to replace, reduce or refine the use of…
- 11 September 2008 - Small changes to transport systems could mean big benefits for older people
  A new study has pinpointed how simple, low-cost measures could revolutionise older people's ability…
- 11 September 2008 - Easier-to-hit 'targets' could help older people make the most of computers
  Older people could make better use of computers if icons, links and menu headings automatically grew bigger…
- 11 September 2008 - New research could hold the key to keeping older people fit for longer
  A carefully framed combination of moderate exercise and nutritional supplements could help older people…
- 11 September 2008 - Harnessing new technology to keep older people behind the wheel for longer
  A new study has highlighted the key role technology could play in extending the age at which people can drive…
- 5 September 2008 - BBSRC-funded scientist to receive prestigious honour for work on deadly disease
  Professor Mandy MacLean, a BBSRC-funded scientist at the University of Glasgow, is the first woman…
- 3 September 2008 - New stem cell tools to aid drug development
  Scientist have designed, developed and tested new molecular tools for stem cell research to direct the…
August
- 28 August 2008 - Scientists discover new link in pathway to cancer: hope for drug design
  University of Manchester scientists have identified an exciting connection between a cell's extracellular…
- 13 August 2008 - Scientists overcome nanotech hurdle
  When you make a new material on a nanoscale how can you see what you have made? A team lead by a BBSRC…
- 7 August 2008 - Midge-hunting scientists tackle spread of devastating bluetongue virus
  Scientists at the BBSRC-funded Institute for Animal Health (IAH) are stepping up the battle against the devastating…
- 7 August 2008 - New public-private initiative to develop cleaner, greener chemicals
  A new research initiative, bringing together the UK's main public funder of bioscience research with 10 companies…
- 7 August 2008 - Structural biology spin-out tackles major diseases
  A spin out company from basic structural biology, Asterion Ltd., has led to new technology that provides a way of…
- 6 August 2008 - Broccoli could reverse the heart damaging effects of diabetes
  Researchers have discovered eating broccoli could undo the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels…
- 6 August 2008 - Aphids, protein therapies and using mathematics to beat epidemics - latest BBSRC research news
  The following stories feature in the latest issue of BBSRC Business, the quarterly research highlights magazine…
- 6 August 2008 - Aphids are sentinels of climate change
  Aphids are emerging as sentinels of climate change, researchers at BBSRC-supported Rothamsted Research…
- 6 August 2008 - Public-private research partnership announces £4M of projects to improve UK diet and health
  A unique public-private partnership between 3 Research Councils and 15 food and drink companies has today…
- 5 August 2008 - New step forward in search for solution to infection puzzle
  Scientists at the University of Manchester have helped to reveal more about the way bacteria can attach…
- 4 August 2008 - Why the slow paced world could make it difficult to catch a ball...
  Researchers at the University of Birmingham have uncovered new information about the way that we…
July
- 30 July 2008 - The buzz of the chase
  Scientists from Queen Mary, University of London are helping to perfect a technique used to catch serial killers…
- 24 July 2008 - Cell therapy research and development to receive £6 million funding injection
  Nine innovative research and development projects to receive investment…Total value of projects in excess…
- 23 July 2008 - BBSRC publishes review of 2007-08
  BBSRC has today published its Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08…
- 16 July 2008 - Pay attention - Scientists uncover basis of attention span
  Scientists have uncovered the chemical basis of attention span with new research published today…
- 14 July 2008 - BBSRC appoints three new members of senior management team
  BBSRC has appointed three new members of its senior management team…
- 7 July 2008 - New Chief Executive for BBSRC
  The Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills has today announced the appointment of…
June
- 30 June 2008 - Scientists at the Royal Society summer science exhibition challenge the public to predict the best way to control disease epidemics
  Scientists will be challenging the public this week to pit their powers of prediction against the latest…
- 23 June 2008 - Biosciences scoop over £7M from Government commercialisation fund
  BBSRC welcomes the announcement that four bids which it supported under the Public Sector Research…
- 13 June 2008 - Ancient antibody molecule offers clues to how humans evolved allergies
  Scientists…have discovered how evolution may have lumbered humans with allergy problems…
- 12 June 2008 - Renewed multi-million pound effort to prevent disease
  A partnership of government departments, research organisations and charities is offering up to £12M to…
- 9 June 2008 - Synthetic Biology: funders move to address social and ethical challenges
  The report of an independent review of social and ethical challenges associated with research into…
- 2 June 2008 - BBSRC highlights bioscientists for their contribution to UK economy
  BBSRC has highlighted nearly 50 top bioscience researchers and research groups for their contribution to…
May
- 29 May 2008 - New projects to raise UK profile in Synthetic Biology
  Four UK Research Councils have come together to announce funding for new projects designed to…
- 28 May 2008 - Parasites’ family planning strategy helps malaria spread
  Malaria parasites ensure the successful spread of the disease by being able to produce more sons…
- 21 May 2008 - How can we measure the emotional states of animals?
  Rats housed in standard conditions show a stronger response to the loss of an expected food reward…
- 12 May 2008 - Ancient protein offers clues to killer condition
  More than 600 million years of evolution has taken two unlikely distant cousins … turkeys and scallops…
- 12 May 2008 - Human ageing gene found in flies
  Scientists…have found a fast and effective way to investigate important aspects of human ageing…
- 8 May 2008 - £6.5M Cross-Channel link up for Systems Biology
  The leading public life science funding agencies in the UK and France have announced a unique…
- 6 May 2008 - BBSRC announces new make-up of its Council
  The Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham, has appointed five new…
- 1 May 2008 - New discovery linked to DNA repair and cancer
  BBSRC-funded scientists have discovered a new protein in humans that plays an important role in repairing DNA…
April
- 17 April 2008 - Tiny magnets offer breakthrough in gene therapy for cancer
  Soldiers on sentry duty in hostile territory keep in regular radio contact with their colleagues to assure them…
- 17 April 2008 - Birds announce their sentry duty to help comrades get a good meal
  A revolutionary cancer treatment using microscopic magnets to enable 'armed' human cells to target…
- 15 April 2008 - Athlete’s Foot, spin-outs and beating pig disease - latest BBSRC research news
  The following stories feature in the latest issue of BBSRC Business, the quarterly research highlights…
- 11 April 2008 - Plant scientists working on new cure for Athlete’s Foot
  A green-fingered approach is being taken by scientists to help the millions of people who suffer the discomfort…
- 9 April 2008 - Stem cells and cancer: Cancer pathways that also control the adult stem cell population
  Speaking today (10 April) at the UK National Stem Cell Network Annual Science Meeting in Edinburgh…
- 10 April 2008 - Scientists ask whether micro-scaffolding can help stem cells rebuild brain after stroke damage
  Inserting tiny scaffolding into the brain could dramatically reduce damage caused by strokes the UK…
- 8 April 2008 - Heart disease predetermined by oxygen levels in the womb
  The amount of oxygen available to a baby in the womb can affect their susceptibility to developing…
- 1 April 2008 - Scientists, vets and farmers work to beat pig disease
  A virus that can cause economic devastation for pig farmers, welfare issues for animals and drive up…
March
- 17 March 2008 - First 'rule' of evolution suggests that life is destined to become more complex
  Scientists funded in part by BBSRC have revealed what may well be the first pervasive 'rule' of evolution…
- 13 March 2008 - Scientists discover how TB 'develops invincibility' against only available treatment for killer disease
  BBSRC-funded researchers at the University of Leicester have uncovered a dramatic new twist in the battle…
- 10 March 2008 - Scientists determine structure of brain receptor implicated in epilepsy and PMT
  Scientists funded by BBSRC have published new research in the journal Molecular Pharmacology identifying…
- 7 March 2008 - New interactive website to give public a say in evolution debate
  A new interactive website has been launched today that gives everyone the chance to consider Darwin's theories…
- 3 March 2008 - Scientists uncover a novel mechanism that regulates carbon dioxide fixation in plants
  A team of BBSRC-funded scientists at the University of Essex has discovered a new mechanism that slows the…
February
- 21 February 2008 - Major scientific push to tackle agricultural productivity and food security in developing world
  £7M of new research is being launched today to tackle some of the most damaging and widespread pests…
- 20 February 2008 - Masters of disguise: secrets of nature's 'great pretenders' revealed
  A gene which helps a harmless African butterfly ward off predators by giving it wing patterns like those of toxic…
- 19 February 2008 - ‘Invisible’ bacteria dupe the human immune system
  Scientists at the University of York have characterised an important new step in the mechanism used by bacteria…
- 15 February 2008 - BBSRC congratulates Institute of Biotechnology on Queen’s Anniversary Prize win
  BBSRC warmly congratulates the Institute of Biotechnology, University of Cambridge on…
- 15 February 2008 - Scientists move closer to developing a new class of asthma and allergy drugs
  A team of…funded scientists has moved a step closer to developing a new class of effective asthma and…
- 12 February 2008 - Do you care about evolution? Does Darwin matter today?
  With the news that scientists are on the brink of creating synthetic life, with stories of man-made extinctions…
- 7 February 2008 - Genes are a big influence in child obesity
  Nature is more important than nurture in determining whether a child will become overweight, a new study…
January
- 29 January 2008 - Taking ULTRA molecular fingerprints
  A new laser under development at the Science and Technology Facilities Council's Rutherford Appleton…
- 18 January 2008 - Understanding sound, defeating pest resistance and swapping fat for air - latest BBSRC research news
  The following stories feature in the latest issue of BBSRC Business, the quarterly research highlights…
- 15 January 2008 - Wildebeest or malaria parasite - same rules determine number of offspring
  Whether you are dealing with the number of wildebeest on the Serengeti or the number of malaria parasites in the…
- 14 January 2008 - Lend me your ears - and the world will sound very different
  Recognising people, objects or animals by the sound they make is an important survival skill and something most…
- 10 January 2008 - Why it pays to be choosy
  Cooperative behaviour is common in many species, including humans. Given that cooperative individuals can…
- 8 January 2008 - Diversionary tactics save crops from pests in developing countries
  Research published today…reveals the effectiveness of using 'push-pull' agricultural techniques in…

Bookmark this page:

Social bookmarking help

Search this site:

Site Navigation

You are in

Media, news and events:

Media releases: 2008

December

November

October

September

August

July

June

May

April

March

February

January

Site information