MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London
Science for Health
NIMR research featured in MRC Annual Review 2011-12
03 October 2012
The latest MRC Annual Review gives an insight into MRC scientists’ research achievements from the past year. The review, covering 2011-12, focuses on the impact that MRC-funded science makes on health, the economy and society. It features the work of Robin Lovell-Badge, from NIMR's Division of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, Ian Taylor and Steve Gamblin, both from the Division of Molecular Structure.
Boosting brain repair
Robin Lovell-Badge led research that showed a protein produced by blood
vessels in the brain could be used to help the brain to repair itself
after conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury and dementia.
The protein, called betacellulin (BTC), was found to boost brain
regeneration in mice by stimulating brain stem cells to multiply and
form new nerve cells (neurons). See page 9 of the MRC Annual Review for more.
A spanner in the works for HIV?
Ian Taylor collaborated with scientists at the University of
Manchester to figure out how a protein
called SAMDH1 is able to prevent HIV from replicating inside a group of immune system cells called
myeloid cells. The researchers discovered that SAMHD1 is able to degrade one of the key building blocks
needed for making new copies of the virus: deoxyribonucleotides. This opens up the possibility of
creating new drugs – or perhaps even a vaccine - which imitate this biological process and stop the
virus from replicating inside myeloid cells. See page 14 of the MRC Annual Review for more.
Towards a universal flu vaccine
Steve Gamblin led research in collaboration with colleagues in Switzerland and found an antibody
called FI6 which can bind to and inactivate all known types of the
influenza A virus – the most common culprit behind flu in humans and
animals. The antibody targets a region of the virus that does not readily
mutate, suggesting that that region could be used to create a long-lasting
universal vaccine. See page 14 of the MRC Annual Review for more.
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