Wellcome Sanger Institute

Congratulations to Sanger scientists recognised by EMBO https://lnkd.in/e-468uGU

Certain antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are endemic to the UK, Norway and the USA have not taken over in Pakistan despite the widespread use of antibiotics in this region. 💊 In-depth genomic surveillance of E. coli in the Punjab region of Pakistan also revealed that none of the strains responsible for many urinary tract infections, and common in countries including the UK, are present in this region. 🗺 The study, from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Helsinki, the University of Oslo, the University of the Punjab, was the first time that researchers have been able to track the impact of antibiotics on treatment-resistant bacteria in Pakistan. 🔎 They found that while antibiotic use increased the prevalence of certain resistant strains by over 200 per cent, these were generally outcompeted by other strains of E. coli in the surrounding environment. This highlights how E. coli distribution can vary greatly depending on an area's environmental factors. 💬 “It’s incredibly difficult to predict the success of strains without local data. Therefore, conducting ongoing holistic and worldwide genomic surveillance of E. coli is essential to capturing the full picture of what strains are circulating, how they spread, and what could help stop them.” Professor Jukka Corander, from the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Read the full story, here ⤵ https://lnkd.in/eQMVdPTk #antibiotics #genomicsurveillance

🎥 Meet Georgia, our amazing ex-HR apprentice at Sanger Institute! She's here to share her journey and how our HR Apprenticeship shaped her career. 💼 Ready to step ahead of your peers in HR? Join us to gain hands-on experience and be part of life-changing science. From Learning & Engagement to HR Services, Recruitment, and more, you'll support and grow with our dynamic team. 🔗 Apply now to make your mark: https://lnkd.in/eKTyp4Y9 #HRApprenticeship 📅 Closing Date: 26th July 2024

Scientists have mapped the spread and evolution of a bacterium behind pneumonia and meningitis 🦠 The new method combines genomics and anonymised mobile phone travel data 📱🧬 Pneumococcus, a leading cause of pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis exists in many strains that co-circulate globally. This diversity hampers control efforts, as vaccines targeting major strains leave room for others to fill the gaps. Pneumonia alone kills around 740,000 children under five each year 🌍 By analysing genome sequences from 6,910 pneumococcus samples and combining them with anonymised human travel data, researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, University of the Witwatersrand and National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), South Africa, and the University of Cambridge developed computational models revealing just how these various strains evolve and spread over a 14-year period in South Africa. 🗨 “The pneumococcus's diversity has obscured our view on how any given strain spreads from one region to the next. This integrated approach using bacterial genome and human travel data finally allows us to cut through that complexity, uncovering hidden migratory paths in high-definition for the first time. This could allow researchers to anticipate where emerging high-risk strains may take hold next, putting us a step ahead of potential outbreaks.” Prof. Stephen Bentley, author of the study at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Published today in Nature Portfolio, this is the first time scientists have been able to precisely quantify which strains are the most trouble, providing insights that could lead to better vaccines. The method may be applicable to other pathogens. ⬇ Read more https://lnkd.in/e8MV7RGA #pneumococcus #pneumonia #AntibioticResistance #PublicHealth #InfectiousDisease #GlobalHealth

Cell lines generated by Sanger Institute scientists are underpinning translational research. One of the biggest resources available is the HipSci platform containing multiple sets of high-quality human induced pluripotent #stem cell lines available worldwide. Now available in a newer, user friendly platform, it can be used for a wide variety of research applications, including large-scale experiments that require multiple cell lines. What makes these #cell lines stand out? ·      Quantity - over 700 induced pluripotent stem cell lines ·       Standardisation - all cell lines were created following a standardised process. ·       Samples from two cohorts of donors: individuals with an inherited genetic disease and another set who were healthy at the time. ·      Extensive characterisation - quality control data, assay data and proteomics analysis. This adds to the reliability and utility of the experiments undertaken with these cells. Talent, scientific collaboration and the vision to develop science at scale were key to making it happen. Learn how ⬇ https://lnkd.in/eGNcenag #Genomics #Innovation #StemCells

💬 “I always say that having a child with a cancer diagnosis feels like you’ve been standing on a trap door all these years without knowing. Then after the diagnosis, you are in freefall. Having access to whole genome sequencing gave us some sense of reassurance, it could have informed us about targeted treatments and gave us some insight into future risk.” Harri, mum of Eddie (pictured here). At six-years-old, Eddie was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). His treatment included whole genome sequencing, a single test that reads the entire genetic code of a tumour and identifies any cancer-causing changes. 🔎 On his seventh birthday, Eddie’s family received the call to say he was in remission and now at nine years old, he is doing well. 👏 Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was so important to Eddie's family that they helped fund a new study, published today, from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and others. This research shows how the test has improved clinical care of children with cancer in England. Researchers found that cancer sequencing gave new insights that improved the immediate clinical care of 7% of children by providing information that is not possible to get from other tests. They also found that WGS gave additional details that informed future care in 29% of cases while providing all the benefits of current standard tests. In England, every child with cancer can access this test free of charge through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service, however, this is not yet widespread practice. This latest study shows the benefits of WGS and researchers support efforts to provide this cutting-edge test to all children with cancer. 🧬 Read the full story here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ejfBqQ-h 📸 Images of Eddie provided by his family #cancer #genomics #childhoodcancer

📰 In our latest Newsletter for June 2024 we cover: - Immune response study explains why some people don't get COVID-19 - Targeted treatment of sepsis and profile on Emma Davenport - Ancient DNA will offer clues for climate-resilient crops - Mapping malaria genomes in West Africa and beyond - The secret lives of nematodes Stay in the loop 👉 Click 📰 Read 🖥 Subscribe ⬇ #latestgeneticresearch

Can AI help tackle biological problems? Our recent hackathon at the Wellcome Sanger Institute aimed to find out! 🔬 👩💻 Researchers explored the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in genomics and bioinformatics, creating pilot tools and forging professional connections.⤵️ https://lnkd.in/evDp8B7i The projects spanned AI-driven literature searches to personalised chatbots, and we even got to speak with one! “Thanks to everyone who took part in our recent AI/ML hackathon! You shared your passion for integrating the latest AI technology into your work. By exchanging ideas and building on each other's insights, you’ve produced innovative AI product ideas and tools”, said Priyanka Surana, BioDev Network Lead Interested in AI/ML? Want to take it further? Join us for our free Explainable AI in Biology conference (#XAIB24) from 15th–18th October 2024. 📅 🚀 https://lnkd.in/efTT64J4  #Genomics #AI #ML #Innovation #Bioinformatics The BioDev Network Priyanka Surana Ronnie Crawford

Congratulations to Elias R. Ruiz-Morales, PhD Student at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, who has been awarded a prestigious IBSA Foundation for scientific research Fellowship! 🎉 He won the Fellowship to investigate how the human placenta responds to malaria infection. 🧬🦟 The international award from the IBSA Foundation, based in Switzerland, is designed to support talented young researchers in projects that could change the future of medicine. Elias was one of 248 applicants to the scheme from 47 countries. Elias said: “Institutions like the IBSA Foundation play a crucial role in shaping the future of science by supporting early-career researchers. These fellowships not only back innovative research that aim to have a positive impact in society, but also help researchers like me to build our careers.” “My project investigates how infections impact the placenta and cause pregnancy complications. These infections can lead to miscarriages and developmental conditions, and are a major global health problem that affect millions of people around the world.” Find out more at https://lnkd.in/enwVEMSD

To fulfil the science at scale happening at the Institute, the Wellcome Sanger Institute has extended group leader posts from six to eight years. This work led by the Academic Programmes team at the Sanger Institute, in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust, aligns with Sanger’s mission of developing ambitious transformative research in #genomics.