A New Biological Pathway: Major Cause of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Discovered
Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute identified a key biological pathway in IBD involving the ETS2 protein, which can be targeted with already available MEK…
Francis Crick Institute News
The Francis Crick Institute is a leading biomedical research center located in London, UK. Established in 2015 through the partnership of six of the UK’s most successful scientific and academic organizations, including the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, and the Wellcome Trust, the institute is named after Francis Crick, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA. Its primary mission is to understand the fundamental biology underlying health and disease, fostering innovative research and technology to treat illnesses and understand human health better. The Crick hosts over 1,500 scientists and staff, focusing on diverse research areas such as cancer biology, neuroscience, and infectious diseases, with state-of-the-art facilities that promote collaboration across scientific disciplines.
Unlocking Vitamin D’s Hidden Role in Cancer Immunity
New research links vitamin D with improved cancer immunity in mice through enhancement of specific gut bacteria. Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute, the National…
Experts Warn: Vaccine Monitoring Crucial As COVID Variants Continue To Evolve
Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre at University College London Hospital stress the…
Breakthrough in Treatment for Childhood Genetic Epilepsy
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute, UCL, and MSD have identified a potential treatment target for a genetic type of epilepsy. Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies…
Riding the Wave: How Water and Salt Power Immune Cells Through the Body
Recent research reveals that the WNK1 protein’s role in controlling water and ion flow into T cells is key to their migration, offering new insights…
The Motherhood Makeover: How Pregnancy “Rewires” the Brain
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have shown that pregnancy hormones ‘rewire’ the brain to prepare mice for motherhood. Their findings, published on October 5…
Unintended Side Effect: Antiviral Drug Linked to Unusual COVID-19 Virus Mutations
A study found a connection between the antiviral drug molnupiravir and distinct SARS-CoV-2 mutations, emphasizing the need for careful assessment in drug development. Researchers at…
The Silent Whisper of Death: 4,000-Year-Old Plague DNA Found in Britain
In a significant discovery, researchers from the Francis Crick Institute, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, the Levens Local History Group, and the Wells…
Researchers Uncover the Genetics Driving Facial Changes in Down Syndrome
Scientists have identified the gene Dyrk1a and at least three other genes as responsible for facial and skull structural changes in a mouse model of…
New Study: Common Artificial Sweetener Has an “Unexpected Effect” on the Immune System
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered that consuming large amounts of the commonly used artificial sweetener, sucralose, decreases the activation of T-cells, a…
Ice Age Wolf DNA Reveals Dogs Trace Ancestry to Two Separate Populations of Ancient Wolves
An international group of geneticists and archaeologists has discovered that the ancestry of dogs can be traced to at least two populations of ancient wolves….
New Imaging Technique Generates Incredible Subcellular Maps of Entire Brain Networks
Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute have developed an imaging technique to capture information about the structure and function of brain tissue at subcellular level…
Scientists Discover Genetic Cause of Lupus, a Chronic Autoimmune Disease
An international team of researchers has discovered DNA mutations in a gene that senses viral RNA as a cause of the autoimmune disease lupus, paving…
Gene-Editing Used To Create Single Sex Mice Litters With 100% Efficiency
Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute, in collaboration with University of Kent, have used gene editing technology to create female-only and male-only mice litters with…
Analysis of Thousands of Drugs Reveals Potential New COVID-19 Antivirals
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and University of Dundee have screened thousands of drug and chemical molecules and identified a range of potential antivirals…
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID Vaccine Recipients Have Lower Antibody Levels Targeting the India (Delta / B.1.617.2) Variant
Levels of antibodies in the blood of vaccinated people that are able to recognize and fight the new SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant first discovered in India…
Pangolin Coronavirus Could Jump to Humans – Similarities Found Between SARS-CoV-2 and a Pangolin Coronavirus
Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute have found important structural similarities between SARS-CoV-2 and a pangolin coronavirus, suggesting that a pangolin coronavirus could infect humans. …
Some People – Mainly Children – Have Pre-existing Coronavirus Antibodies That Could Help Protect Against COVID-19
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and University College London have found that some antibodies, created by the immune system during infection with common cold…