Latest SoLS news
Gene Discovery Influences Snail Shell Handedness
October 2026
Angus Davison in SoLS and cpllaborators at Tohoku University, Japan have made a groundbreaking discovery in the world of genetics, shedding light on the intricate mechanisms that govern the development of snail shells. The study - described in - is focused on wild Euhadra snails in Japan, has revealed a gene that plays a pivotal role in determining whether these snails develop shells that coil to the left or right. This finding not only provides valuable insights into the fascinating world of snail biology but also has broader implications for understanding the underlying mechanisms of handedness in living organisms, including humans.
The research team embarked on a comprehensive investigation to unravel the mystery behind the striking variability in shell coiling patterns observed in Euhadra snails. By conducting detailed genetic analyses and experimental studies, they identified a specific gene that is responsible for dictating the direction of shell coiling in these snails. Through meticulous observation and manipulation of this gene, the researchers were able to demonstrate its profound influence on the development of snail shells, ultimately determining whether a snail's shell would coil to the left or right.
Alumni, Alex Hyde, nominated for Wildlife Photographer of the Year
October 2026
an alumni of the School of Life Science and now a professional wildlife photographer has been nominated in the Natural History Museum's '' exhibition (Oct 26-July 27). His entitled 'Dressed in Ice' shows a huddle of ladybirds hibernating on a fence post during a deep frost in Derbyshire. Alex studied for his MSc in Biological Photography in SoLS and has since collaborated with Sarah Goodacre's 'Spider Lab' photographing spiders "sailing" on a water's surface, and has delivered workshops and seminars on macro photography.
Smoking may affect fertility in both men and women, new study finds
October 2026
New research led by Lucy Fairclough for SoLS has shed light on how exposure to cigarette smoke could affect reproductive health in both men and women, identifying changes in biological processes involved in ovarian function and sperm production.The study, working in collaboration with colleagues from Sheffield and published in , provides new insight into potential mechanisms linking smoking with reproductive health.
In this new study, researchers used a mouse model to examine the effects of different levels of cigarette-smoke exposure on the ovaries and testes, focusing on changes to reproductive tissues and the activity of genes involved in their normal function. The findings provide insight into biological processes that could help explain how smoking may affect reproductive health in humans. In females, the number and structure of ovarian follicles — the structures in which eggs develop — showed relatively little change following exposure, even at higher levels. However, researchers identified clear changes in the activity of numerous genes.
Genes involved in cell division and metabolism became less active, while genes associated with protein production became more active. The pattern of gene activity showed similarities with biological processes previously associated with ovarian ageing and reduced ovarian function.
In males, higher levels of smoke exposure were associated with changes to structures within the testes, including enlargement of the seminiferous tubules, where sperm develop. Researchers also identified changes in the activity of genes involved in sperm production, immune responses and cell signalling.
Some genes associated with sperm production became more active, while others involved in immune function became less active. The findings suggest that cigarette-smoke exposure may alter biological processes important for normal testicular function and sperm development. Lucy highlights that the study has identified potential biological mechanisms that could help explain the link between smoking and reproductive health in both men and women. In females, we identified changes in gene activity associated with biological processes that have previously been linked to ovarian ageing and reduced ovarian function. In males, we found changes in genes involved in sperm production and testicular function. These findings are important because they help us understand how exposure to cigarette smoke could affect reproductive health. Further research will be needed to establish how these biological changes relate to fertility in humans.”
Chemistry Nobel awarded for solving mystery of life's asymmetry
October 2026
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to French scientist Henri B. Kagan and Japan's Kenso Soai for providing a solution to the chemical mystery of life's asymmetry. The researchers discovered how nature exclusively makes the correct version of a molecule - rather than its mirror image.
For example, amino acid molecules, the building blocks of proteins, exist as two forms that are each other's mirror image. But living organisms on Earth only function with one of those forms. The Nobel laureates answered the question: why does life favour just one of these mirror image molecules over the other? And while nature almost exclusively produces the version it requires to function, chemical reactions in a lab usually create a 50-50 mix of both left- and right-handed molecules.
Professor Angus Davison, from the School of Life Sciences, studies the biology of chirality and said that the Nobel-winning chemistry could help reveal how and why life favours "one-handedness". "In ways that we don't yet quite understand, the chirality of the basic building blocks of life ends up making bodies that are themselves also chiral," he told . This was the foundation, he explained, of our hearts being on the left-hand side of our bodies and snail shells that coil to the right.
The School remembers Prof David Walsh
September 2026
We are very sad to announce that Professor David Walsh died on 3rd September 2026. David was a long-serving and internationally respected pain researcher and rheumatologist. He also had a strong commitment to supporting open, team science. David grew up in Leeds before studying Medicine at Cambridge University and completing a PhD in London. He joined the 糖心原创 in 1998 and in 2011 he was appointed Professor of Rheumatology and Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist.
In 1999, David established the Back Pain Unit at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, staffed by a multidisciplinary team, to provide patient-centred pain management programmes. He also established a tissue bank collaboration between the Trust and University, which supported his neurovascular research and has also contributed to numerous external research projects to this day.
David assembled a multidisciplinary team in Nottingham that secured funding from Arthritis UK as a Centre of Excellence in Pain Research (2010). The Arthritis UK Pain Centre, continues to engage in a programme of linked studies in the laboratory, clinic and community investigating mechanisms and treatments for arthritis pain.
In 2019, David was appointed as Director of the Advanced Pain Discovery Platform (APDP). He directed a 5 year £25M programme supporting UK pain researchers to pursue multi-disciplinary team science and build networks and future capacity.
David had a strong focus on scientific rigor was a valued mentor for many within the research community. He significantly shaped academic understanding and clinical approaches to pain management and his research will continue to do so in the future.
Major breakthrough in rapid brain tumour typing in the NHS highlighted in national news
September 2026
Professor Matt Loose from Life Sciences along with Dr Stuart Smith, School of Medicine, 糖心原创 and Nottingham University Hospitals Trust already nominated for a for the development of an ultra-rapid method to genetically diagnose brain tumours, reducing classification times from six to eight weeks to as little as two hours has received major coverage on the iplayer and .
The new approach uses portable nanopore sequencing technology and specialised software to rapidly developed by matt Loose and the team to analyse DNA changes. The approach streamlines testing, reduces delays and improves access to advanced diagnostics. Already being adopted across multiple centres, it also supports faster treatment decisions and increases opportunities for patients to access clinical trials.
Sports and Excercise course achives highest ranking to date in Times Good University Guide
September 2026
Sports and Excercise Science (SES) has risen to joint 3rd in The Times Good University Guide for Sports Science. A record high in these . This is the joint top ranking of any course at the 糖心原创.
A sustained excellence in NSS with SESTeaching Quality being the highest inside the Top 10, and also having excellent scores in Student Experience and Graduate Prospects has helped the course continue to follow a trend of continious improvement over a number of years.
Why spiders overrun homes in September and what to do
September 2026
To help anyone who’s scared of our creepy-crawly friends, instant home improvement booking service, , has launched a ’Spiders Out Squad’ (SOS) service. Consumers can book a local, vetted tradesperson to handle the eight-legged eviction for them. Whether it's the odd stray spider or a full-on takeover, there's now a way to deal with it without lifting a finger or a shoe.
With the onset of autumn, adult male house spiders become increasingly active in their search for a mate. Giant house spiders can have a leg span of 10cm, while the cardinal spider, another house-dwelling species, can have a leg span of a whopping 12cm. For anyone of a nervous disposition, the idea of tangling with a palm-sized spider is unthinkable.
Professor Sara Goodacre, Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Genetics in the School of Life Sciences, speaking to the said: “September is naturally the time of year when house spiders become much more noticeable, but it’s not necessarily because there are suddenly more of them. Adult males are reaching maturity and setting out in search of a mate, which means they spend far more time wandering rather than remaining hidden in their webs.
"That wandering behaviour brings them into contact with people more often – and sometimes leads them indoors. We’re seeing more of the spiders that were already there, at the point in their lifecycle when they are most active and conspicuous, so it definitely makes sense that Britons are starting to see more and more of our creepy-crawly companions.”
Brighton Sea Life turtles released after months of care
September 2026
. The turtles were cared for at SEA LIFE centres in Weymouth and Brighton before being flown 1,600 miles to the Azores, where they were returned to the ocean. The SEA LIFE teams worked with Dr Ylenia Chiari and Mr Liaque Latif in the School of Life Sciences on genetic testing to ensure the turtles were released in the correct location.
New genetic test can diagnose brain tumours in as little as two hours nominated for a Times Higher Award
September 2026
Professor Matt Loose and PhD student Simon Deacon, School of Life Sciences, along with Dr Stuart Smith, School of Medicine, 糖心原创 and Nottingham University Hospitals Trust and Dr Simon Paine, Nottingham University Hospitals Trust have been nominated for a in the STEM Research project catagory.
The 糖心原创 team have developed an ultra-rapid method to genetically diagnose brain tumours, reducing classification times from six to eight weeks to as little as two hours. This innovation could improve care for thousands of patients in the UK, where more than 12,000 cases are diagnosed annually and aggressive tumours often have poor survival rates. Currently, tumour samples are sent to centralised laboratories, delaying diagnosis and treatment. The new approach eliminates this delay and can provide results during surgery, aiding real-time decision-making. Tested in 50 surgeries, the method achieved a 100 per cent success rate, delivering diagnoses within two hours and detailed classifications within minutes. It uses portable nanopore sequencing technology and specialised software to rapidly analyse DNA changes. The approach streamlines testing, reduces delays and improves access to advanced diagnostics. Already being adopted across multiple centres, it also supports faster treatment decisions and increases opportunities for patients to access clinical trials.
Too much protein could send you to an early grave, major review finds - scientists comment on 'muscle-boosting' trend
August 2026
Having one too many protein powders could send you to an early grave, a has found as reported in the . Fitness gurus on TikTok and Instagram routinely urge followers to increase their protein intake to aid weight loss and build muscle.
Now, a review of more than 350 papers suggests that cutting back on protein could reduce weight, fight heart disease and, ultimately, extend lifespan. The authors, from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, said protein restriction could do this by improving metabolism, reducing inflammation and limiting the damage to cells that triggers fast ageing. Experts agree that protein is a crucial component of a healthy diet. The nutrient helps repair and build muscle fibres, organs and connective tissue.
However, previous studies have found that eating less of it can extend the lifespan of flies and rodents. Several recent clinical trials in humans have also shown that reducing protein intake can reduce weight and stabilise blood sugar levels. Interestingly, this was the case even though protein-restricted individuals tended to eat more total calories.
The highlighted review, published in the journal Cell Press Blue, identifies several potential explanations for why reducing protein intake may be associated with health benefits. However, not everyone is convinced by the findings. Paul Greenhaff, Professor of muscle metabolism in the School of Life Sciences, notes that the review is primarily based on rodent and insect research - not humans. “Rodents and insects are not representative models of human ageing,” he says, extending conclusions from such animal models to humans can be problematic and requires further work more closely related to impact on humans.
Congratulations to Dr Oliver Chukwuma Orji in recognition of your outstanding dedication and exceptional contribution to healthcare excellence
July 2026
Oliver received recognition at the Black Healthcare Awards presented on the 4th of July 2026 at the Royal Lancaster, Lancaster Terrace, London, by the Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN).The award recognises Oliver’s professional journey from clinical laboratory practice as a HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientist, continuous engagement with the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) as a Fellow of the Institute (FIBMS), and contribution to healthcare advancement through translational research.
Congratulations to Sally Wheatley and Matt Loose
July 2026
Congratulations to Sally Wheatley and Matt Loose who were honoured in the UoN Staff Excellence Awards. The Awards have been developed to recognise the individuals and teams whose work makes a lasting difference to our students, researchers, colleagues, campuses and wider communities.
Outstanding research supervisor – Sally Wheately and Outstanding contribution to research – Matt Loose
PhD student wins national conference prize
July 2026
Congratulations to Jonathan Heale on winning national conference prize. for best talk at the 2026 Nursten annual Food Science conference, held at Reading University. Jonathan’s talk theme was "From Bitter to Better: Exploring taste development in blue cheese". Jonathan is supervised by Paul Dyer and Matthias Brock.
Malaria research in Life Sciences highlighted in India's top newspaper
July 2026
The research into new approaches to treat Malaria by Prof Rita Tewari and her collobaorators has been highlighted in the "", India's top circulating paper with an estimated13.5 million daily readers and a digital portal that is among the most-visited news websites globally. The SoLS team have uncovered a crucial weakness in the malaria parasite when they identified a protein called Aurora-related kinase 1 (ARK1) that acts like a traffic controller during the parasite’s unusual cell division process, ensuring its genetic material is properly separated as it multiplies. When ARK1 is switched off in laboratory experiments, the parasite can no longer replicate correctly and fails to complete its life cycle in both humans and mosquitoes—effectively halting its ability to spread.
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 , 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 taught postgraduate courses, Durg Discovery and Bioinformatics.
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)
PhD student wins best poster at international conference
July 2026
Congratulations to Hayden Edwards, 2nd year PhD student with Ben Blount. Hayden has won the prize for best poster at the Applied Microbiology International Letters in Applied Microbiology Early Career Scientist Research Symposium 2026 in Manchester.
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 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,"
