Topic description and stories

Ancient migrations

Ancient DNA reveals reason for high MS and Alzheimer's rates in Europe

10 Jan 2024

Researchers have created the world’s largest ancient human gene bank, and used it to map the historical spread of genes – and diseases – over time as...

Read more
Mature Adult Female with Disability

Early-stage stem cell therapy trial shows promise for treating progressive MS

27 Nov 2023

An international team has shown that the injection of a type of stem cell into the brains of patients living with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS...

Read more
Woman with multiple sclerosis in a wheelchair using her phone

Scientists identify first genetic marker for MS severity

28 Jun 2023

A study of more than 22,000 people with multiple sclerosis has discovered the first genetic variant associated with faster disease progression, which...

Read more

Aged rat brain stem cells grown on a soft surface (right) show more healthy, vigorous growth than similar aged brain stem cells grown on a stiff surface (left)

Cambridge scientists reverse ageing process in rat brain stem cells

14 Aug 2019

New research reveals how increasing brain stiffness as we age causes brain stem cell dysfunction, and demonstrates new ways to reverse older stem...

Read more
Neuron with oligodendrocyte and myelin sheath (edited)

Study in mice suggests personalised stem cell treatment may offer relief for progressive MS

22 Feb 2018

Scientists have shown in mice that skin cells re-programmed into brain stem cells, transplanted into the central nervous system, help reduce...

Read more
Hand showing leprosy

Leprosy turns the immune system against itself, study finds

23 Aug 2017

Leprosy hijacks our immune system, turning an important repair mechanism into one that causes potentially irreparable damage to our nerve cells...

Read more

Vitamin D could repair nerve damage in multiple sclerosis, study suggests

07 Dec 2015

A protein activated by vitamin D could be involved in repairing damage to myelin in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to new research...

Read more
First Aid Kit (cropped)

Calling for help: damaged nerve cells communicate with stem cells

06 Oct 2015

Nerve cells damaged in diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), ‘talk’ to stem cells in the same way that they communicate with other nerve cells...

Read more
Conductor's baton

Orchestral manoeuvres: multiple sclerosis faces the music

03 Oct 2014

Like conducting an errant orchestra to play together, researchers are guiding processes that go awry in multiple sclerosis to repair themselves.

Read more

NICE approves MS drug developed by University of Cambridge researchers

28 May 2014

A new drug based on decades of research at the University of Cambridge has today been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care...

Read more

Researchers uncover 48 new genetic variants associated with multiple sclerosis

30 Sep 2013

Brings to 110 known risk factors and provides important insight into disease mechanism.

Read more

Drug developed in Cambridge approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis

17 Sep 2013

Approval concludes nearly 40-year epic journey from fundamental research to discovery of an effective treatment for active relapsing multiple...

Read more

Pages