Research & medical benefits

Gene therapy repairs damaged lungs

Using outside-the-body gene therapy in pig and human lungs, researchers have repaired donated organs that were deemed too damaged to transplant.

Gene therapy promise for muscular dystrophy

Scientists have developed a new gene therapy successful in treating the most severe type of muscular dystrophy in mice.

High-protein diet shrinks brain

Past research has suggested that high protein diets, such as the Atkin's diet, can increase the risk of heart disease and kidney problems.

Dogma would deny dogs new cancer drug

Antivivisectionists have spoken out against giving dogs with cancer a new cancer drug.

Beating heart muscle engineered

Scientists have grown a thin strip of heart muscle, which is able to beat spontaneously, using stem cells from a mouse embryo.

Gene therapy treats Parkinson’s tremors

Researchers have used gene therapy to correct movement problems in macaque monkeys with Parkinson’s symptoms.

Cholesterol beneficial to brain cell development

Researchers have discovered that a derivative of cholesterol is necessary for forming brain cells.

Healing properties of stem cells improved

In a mouse study, scientists have engineered stem cells to enhance their healing properties.

Longer life for donated hearts

A discovery in pigs could increase the number of transplants that can be performed.

Longer, healthier lives for mice

Scientists have extended the lifespan of mice by manipulating their genomes.

Treating brain secondaries in mice with breast cancer

Scientists have shown that the drug vorinostat is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, and reduce the development of brain tumours in mice.

Lack of sleep linked to Alzheimer's

Studies using mice suggest that lack of sleep could increase the development of plaques in the brain, accelerating the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

White blood cells set the pace of wound repair

After more than 50 experiments in mice, scientists have mapped out how a set of white blood cells (lymphocytes) set the pace of recovery after serious lung injury.

'Master gene' for immune cells identified

Researchers have identified the master gene that causes blood stem cells to turn into natural killer (NK) immune cells.

Gene therapy for colour blindness

A team of scientists have restored colour vision to two colour blind squirrel monkeys using gene therapy.