Latest SoLS news
糖心原创, Ningbo China Launches School of Health and Life Sciences
July 2026
The 糖心原创 Ningbo China (UNNC) has officially launched its new School of Health and Life Sciences, marking a significant milestone in UK-China educational and research collaboration. Announced during the UK Prime Minister's visit to China earlier this year, the school is jointly established by the 糖心原创 and UNNC and is designed to support China's healthcare and life sciences ambitions. The new School plans to host two joint Undergraduate programmes from the School of Life Sciences (Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences), with student studying two years in the UK, as well two taugh postgraduate courses, Durg Discovery and Bioinfomratics.
Aligned with the Healthy China Initiative, the new school will focus on key disciplines including pharmacy, psychology, biomedical engineering, public health, and health data science. It aims to develop future leaders in healthcare while creating an international ecosystem that connects research, innovation, industry, and commercialisation.
University and civic leaders, including Prof Clive Roberts as Head of SoLS highlighted the new school's role in strengthening UK-China cooperation, supporting healthcare innovation, and contributing to Ningbo's development as a centre for biotechnology, health services, and advanced medical technologies in the Yangtze River Delta.
The school will establish research and innovation platforms, including industry partnerships, joint laboratories, clinical research collaborations, and doctoral innovation programmes, helping accelerate the development and application of new healthcare technologies for the benefit of China and the wider global community.
(left) Vice-Chancellor, Prof Jane Norman and Professor Xincheng Xie, President UNNC officially open the new School of Health and Life Sciences, UNNC.(right) Left to right, Marie Kokolski (SoLS), Helen Boardman (Pharmacy), Ying Zhang (SoLS), Barrie Kellam (Pharmacy) and Clive Roberts (SoLS)
A Pet Gecko Develops Cancer. Now Scientists Think It Could Help Humans
July 2026
A leopard gecko known for its unusual colouring may provide scientists with a new way to investigate cancer. Researchers in SoLS, led by studying the "lemon frost" variety of leopard gecko have found that the genetic mutation responsible for the animal's distinctive appearance is also associated with the development of . Their findings suggest the gecko could become a valuable model for understanding how cancer develops and progresses, potentially complementing existing cancer research models.
The research focused on the genetic changes found in tumours from lemon frost geckos. By comparing tumour tissue with healthy tissue from the same animals, scientists identified recurring Many of the affected genes and biological pathways are also linked to cancers in humans and other animals.
One of the model's biggest strengths is that the tumours arise naturally rather than being experimentally induced.
Dr Ylenia Chiari, who led the study at the School of Life Sciences at the 糖心原创, told Newsweek that this makes the gecko particularly valuable for cancer research.
Speaking to Ylenia said "Although it is unfortunate for the that this colour morph has such a high prevalence of tumours, which often develop at a young age, recur in different parts of the body, and can metastasise, these characteristics make them an exceptionally valuable model for cancer research,"
Research on "Jermeny the Snail" featured on BBC Radio 4 and inspires an award winning novel.
July 2026
Prof Angus Davison's left handed snail research ("Jeremy the Snail") became a core topic of discussion on "In our time" on BBC Radio 4 (from around 16 mins). The porgramme discuses familiar features of our beaches: seashells, from their astonishing shapes and patterns that teach us about Earth’s oceans, to the ways that humans have treasured shells throughout history. Angus
The story of "Jeremy" reaches far, so far in fact that has insipired an award wining novel, "", that was also long-listed for the Booker Prize in 2025! It is a darkly comic, shape-shifting story is set in 2022 Ukraine, just as the Russian invasion begins. It centers around Yeva, a passionate scientist driving a mobile campervan to save endangered snails from extinction. A must read for fans of Jeremy.
School of Life Sciences climbs higher in the National Student Survey
July 2026
The annual results were published on July 8th. The NSS asks all final year students across the UK to share their views on themes including academic support, teaching and assessments, and the wider student experience. 361,953 students completed the survey across the UK. Considering all our courses in Life Sciences, our overall score has raised to 3.21, placing it well above the average for the Russell Group of 3.17. We will be reviewing the detailed feedback from the NSS quantitative and qualitative data for each of our courses to help guide us to improve of future teaching still further.
Women Life Sciences students and Academics take part in Nottingham's Speakers Corner
July 2026
Women academics from the 糖心原创 and Nottingham Trent University have brought back to Speakers’ Corner in Nottingham’s famous Market Square to engage the public in ground-breaking research and challenge traditional science gender stereotypes. Prof Kim Hardie, Dr Catarina Gadelha and PhD student Patrycja Lukasiewicz were part of the first event on Saturday, July 4th. Kim spoke and answered questions with members of the public on ‘Bacteria: how they live with each other and cause infections”; and Catarina on the many unexpected ways in which protozoan parasites can be quite like us, so by studying them, we can learn a little more about ourselves. Close to 500 visitors made the morning event a great success, with half just stopping by to see what was happening and then staying for the chance to hear the talks and speak with scientists from across many disciplines from the University. The lovely weather helped!
Life Sciences students win at the new University Student Awards
June 2026
We are very proud in Life Sciences of three of our students being recognised in the university’s inaugural Student Excellence Awards. These were Pharmacology student Taeshayla Copage, for her outstanding placement with GSK, Genetics student Bethany Lenton, who excelled during her placement in the Clinical Genomics Department of the Royal Marsden Hospital; and Nadim Choudhury, a Neuroscience student, recognised for his leadership as a Senior Residential Ambassador.
Vice Chancellor, Prof Jane Norman at the Univerisity of Notitngham Awards
Anatome Team Wins National Scope Award
June 2026
Colleagues from the School of Life Sciences, as part of the Anatome Team, are celebrating national recognition for their work to make medical education more inclusive. The team has been leading efforts to improve representation of disabled and marginalised communities in educational materials. They have now developed over 1,000 high-quality images, featuring diverse models including disabled, trans, and ethnically minoritised individuals—helping to better reflect the diversity of patients they will encounter as healthcare professionals. Their innovative Through My Eyes series is also supporting learning by sharing real-life experiences, helping professionals build greater understanding, empathy, and awareness. This important work has been recognised with a National Scope Award for Customer Inclusion, with the Anatome Team coming out on top ahead of major organisations—including Primark. Congratulations to: Deb Merrick, Natasha Noel-Barker, Steve Galloway, David McMahon, Anthony Bright Sadia Khan,Tom Hartman.
SoLS Behive update
June 2026
Kate Durrant, Tim Simpson and Hannah Jackson have been training small groups of our undergraduate students from Life Sciences and also the Vet School to participate in beehive checks in the courtyard of the Life Sciences Building. The students learned how to handle beekeeping equipmentand practiced how to safely open ahive and check for brood, honeyand pollen stores, monitor forswarming behaviour, and assess the health of the colony. They also observed the differences between the different types of bees in the hive. Using the bee suits generously donated to us by the Vet School, we can offer hivechecks to small groups of staff and students most weeks in summer and autumn, generally on Friday afternoons.
When animal rights go wrong: From rescuing racing snails to a sheepdog reported for rounding up sheep, the human interventions that lack any common sense
June 2026
From a farmer reported to the RSPCA for allowing his sheepdog to herd his sheep, to rescuing snails from a family race - humanity's interventions for the noble cause of animal rights aren't always for the best.
Britain is a nation of animal lovers, and many have understandable concerns about the use of animals for entertainment, pets being abused, or the treatment of farm animals.
But a tranche of incidents in which members of the public have tried their best to do the right thing - only for the results to be disastrous - have prompted pleas for Brits to use common sense.
This week, activists took a moral stance to ensure the cancellation of a family-friendly snail race in Nottingham, even though it is actively encouraged by wildlife trusts to engage families in the natural world.
Professor of Evolutionary Genetics at the 糖心原创, and renowned snail expert, Professor Angus Davison of the School of Life Sciences, told thethat “as long as you're careful and respectful of snails, there is no risk at all.”
He said snails should always be handled with care and returned to where they were collected from, adding: "If you ripped a snail off a wall while it was crawling along, you could damage it, but I don't think any reasonable person would do that. Anyone who's interested enough in snails to have a snail race is going to carefully take them off the surface they're on, and look after them until they get to the race.
“It's a good learning experience, because you get close to wildlife. I do sympathise in the sense that the snails are wild animals, and they're not used to being around and close to people, but just shutting off wildlife is not a good thing,” added Professor Davison.
“My concern is that a few people complained (and it was cancelled). The Council could have defended themselves if they had something prepared in the background to respond to that, but I don't think they did. So that's how they got into this situation.”
Marie Kokolski, the new Chair of the Royal Microscopical Society (RMS) Qualifications Committee
June 2026
Marie Kokowlski, who is the Director of Education and Student Expereince in SoLS, has taken on this new royal at the RMS where she overseas the . Thsi is a flexible portfolio-based course of study that is designed by the candidate with the assistance of their line-manager, and with input from existing Fellows of the Society. This approach ensures that the study is both challenging and rewarding whilst fitting with, and complementing, the candidate's existing employment. During this time the candidate will increase their skills and enhance their understanding of microscopy by developing or optimising protocols or applications. Marie has contributed to a number of areas in the RMS, especially in the areas of education and outreach and is ken to promote the Diploma as an opportunity for people to develop their skills and interests within their own workplace.
Council puts stop to snail race after complaints
June 2026
s. The event - which encouraged members of the public to find a snail and transport it to Nottingham Central Library - was due to go ahead in mid-June.
The Nottingham Animal Coalition, one of the campaign groups which led calls to cancel the race, described it as "unnecessary". Nottingham City Council said although it intended the demonstrations to be "light-hearted" and "educational", it had taken all of the feedback seriously and would never knowingly host an activity that could cause distress to animals.
Professor Angus Davison, an evolutionary biologist at the 糖心原创 in theschool of Life Sciences, is an expert on snails, using them in his lab to understand evolutionary and developmental genetics.
He said he had no concerns about snail racing in general, but the event planned in Nottingham should have been "better thought out".
"What you wouldn't want to happen is people to grab snails from all over Nottinghamshire, bring them into the city centre, take part in the race and then just discard them in the green space that's right outside the library," he said.
Professor Davison added the debate about this event should not put people off taking an interest in nature.
The pigeon fanciers of the Bronze Age
June 2026
Will Smith from the School of Life Sciences on writing in says that “Domestic animals have long been some of our closest companions. While dogs, cats, horses, cattle and chickens have all played major roles in human history, may be a little less familiar. But they are no slouch when it comes to cultural importance.”
"Charles Darwin wrote about to explore his theories of evolutionary change. Contemporary biologists have trained teams of pigeons to with an accuracy rivalling that of oncologists.
"Now, exploring ancient human-pigeon interactions in Cyprus has provided fascinating insights into the earliest stages of this millennia-long inter-species relationship.
“There are over , from homing pigeons used in competitive racing to the peculiar , which looks like it has survived a rather nasty electric shock. In 2020, a Belgian racing pigeon named sold for €1.6 million (£1.4 million).”
Major study demonstrates a critical role for CD206 in the clearance of capsulated bacteria by human spleen.
May 2026
Prof Luisa Martinez-Pomares and colleagues publication in has revealed new insights into the cellular mechanisms within the human spleen that play a critical role in clearing bacteria from the bloodstream, particularly during septicaemia.
Luisa’s early work focused on the spleen, an immune organ with the capacity to eliminate circulating bacteria from blood. This background led to her collaboration with Marco Oggioni (Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy) aclinical microbiologist and co-corresponding author of the new study. In mouse spleen, they discovered in 2018 that specialised macrophages linked in an unusual way to CD206, supporting the replication of the important pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae, a major cause of human sepsis. These findings, published in , revealed the potential for this pathogen to hide and replicate within specialised immune cells and explains the inability of certain antibiotics to clear infection. Aware of the anatomical differences between mouse and human spleen unveiled by Luisa’s previous work, it was important to determine if something similar occurred in humans. This was not an easy task since to study the filtering capacity of human spleen it was necessary to work with whole organs. A major team, encompasing two countries and three Universities delivered on this challenge, and demonstrated that the human version of CD206 is critical for the elimination of circulating disease-causing capsulated bacteria by the spleen. This study provides a framework to explore ways to boost bacterial clearance in human spleen to protect against blood borne infections.
The tiger who came to T2T....
May 2026
A new paper from Laura Dean, Nadine Holmes and Matt Loose in collaboration with Phillipa Dobbs fromTwycross Zoo called "" comes from their work as part of the which supports rapid sequence of endangered species. The research was published in BMC Genomics explores various methods for genome assembly and demonstrates that recent advances in bioinformatic tools have made it possible to construct reference quality telomere to telomere assemblies using only a single sequencing technology (Oxford Nanopore Technology long-reads). This should make genome assembly cheaper, simpler and more accessible for researchers.
