23 Nov 2018
SLCU helps reveal another layer in the strigolactone signalling pathway
An interdisciplinary collaboration between structural biologists and plant scientists has revealed another layer in the signalling pathway of strigolactone – a plant hormone that plays a key role in shoot branching and other plant development processes.Published in Nature this week, researchers from the University of Washington and Sainsbury Labora…
15 Nov 2018
Circadian clock imparts continuous control over the timing of cell division
SLCU researchers have demonstrated that the circadian clock is more complex than a simple ‘on-off switch’ when it comes to controlling cell division.The ability of a cell to replicate itself is what defines cells as living things. This elegant process where a parent cell divides into two daughter cells hides an incredibly complex series of biochemi…
25 Oct 2018
Athena SWAN silver award
Sainsbury Lab awarded Silver Athena SWAN awardSainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU) has been recognised for its ongoing commitment to gender equality by achieving a Silver Award under the Athena SWAN Charter.This award recognises the progress that SLCU has made in addressing gender equality since its Bronze Award in 2014. SLCU Director …
18 Oct 2018
Current Biology Q&A with Giles Oldroyd
Current Biology recently interviewed Giles Oldroyd about his research and goals in science and life."It is particularly important for me to work in an environment where I feel supported both as a person and as a scientist. I want to be taken seriously whether I have a blue mohawk or I wear a dress."Giles joined SLCU in October last year. He is lead…
2 Oct 2018
SecretSanta: A new tool for deciphering the secret language of cell-to-cell communication
Plant biomathematicians at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU) have developed a new tool that enables them to listen in on cell-to-environment conversations. The tool’s wide-ranging application means it could help speed-up the development of strategies to combat plant and animal pathogens. SLCU plant biomathematicians, Dr Anna Gogl…
30 Jul 2018
Role of plants in farming future
SLCU's Director Ottoline Leyser & SLCU Group Leader Giles Oldroyd discuss opportunities plants will provide for the future of agriculture on BBC 4's Today programme.Listen to the programme (interview starts at 22:12).
28 Jul 2018
GM crop ruling shows why the EU's laws are wholly inadequate
SLCU Director Ottoline Leyser examines the European Court of Justice's recent ruling on genetically modified crops in her feature for The Conversation. Written by Professor Ottoline LeyserThe European Court of Justice has made an important ruling on genetically modified crops. Since 2003, new crop varieties produced by genetic modification have had…
19 Jul 2018
Behind the scenes with our researchers
Go behind the scenes with SLCU researcher Dr Annalisa Rizza to find out about her work. Inside Cambridge is a new video series produced by the University of Cambridge on life at the University.Go behind the scenes in this episode with two University of Cambridge researchers. What are they researching? How do they do it? What are their laboratories …
9 Jul 2018
SLCU Director presented OlChemIn Award 2018
SLCU Director, Professor Ottoline Leyser, was presented with the OlChemIn Award 2018 in recognition of her outstanding research on plant hormones. The award was presented at the Auxins and Cytokinins in Plant Development International Symposium (ACPD2018) in Prague on 4 July 2018.
24 May 2018
Edwige Moyroud awarded Linnean Society Bicentenary Medal
Dr Edwige Moyroud has been honoured by the Linnean Society of London with the 2018 Bicentenary Medal for her discoveries on the evolution and development of nanoscale architecture in flower petals. Dr Moyroud now leads a research group at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU), which is studying how flowers form patterns on their peta…
14 May 2018
Elliot Meyerowitz awarded prestigious Gruber Prize
Professor Elliot Meyerowitz has been awarded the 2018 Gruber Genetics Prize by the Gruber Foundation for his "groundbreaking work in identifying the basic regulatory and biochemical mechanisms underlying the development of plants."He shares the $500,000 award with Professor Joanne Chory, Director of the Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laborato…
11 Apr 2018
HFSP funding to investigate cellular growth and stresses in plants
HFSP funding to investigate cellular growth and stresses in plantsSLCU's Professor Henrik Jönsson is part of an international collaboration that has received funding from the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) to develop the first integrated model in plants investigating the effects from cellular growth and stresses on nuclear shape and genetic …
3 Apr 2018
Research shows first land plants were parasitised by microbes
Sainsbury Laboratory researchers have found that the relationship between plants and filamentous microbes not only dates back millions of years, but that modern plants have maintained this ancient mechanism to accommodate and respond to microbial invaders.Why do some plants welcome some microbes with open arms while giving others the cold-shoulder?…
5 Mar 2018
Rare mineral discovered in plants for first time
A rare mineral that holds enticing potential as a new material for industrial and medical applications has been discovered on alpine plants through a collaboration between Sainsbury Laboratory and Cambridge University Botanic Garden.Scientists at Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University have found that the mineral vaterite, a form (polymorph) of c…
13 Feb 2018
Plants feel the heat
Sainsbury Laboratory scientists have solved a 79-year-old mystery by discovering how plants vary their response to heat stress depending on the time of day.This understanding could help with breeding commercial crops able to produce higher yields in hotter climates as predicted under climate change.It’s not just humans and animals that suffer when …
