© Pint of Science, 2026. All rights reserved.
From precision proton beams targeting cancer at the level of DNA, to biobanks preserving vital samples that accelerate discovery, to the evolutionary arms race with antibiotic-resistant bacteria - your body is a site of constant, high-stakes biology. Join us for a closer look at the research helping us understand, intervene and keep pace with disease - where staying alive means staying one step ahead.
Access to the event space requires the use of stairs, we recognise this may limit attendance for some people and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Access to the event space requires the use of stairs, we recognise this may limit attendance for some people and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Improving Proton Beam Therapy for Eye Cancer by Targeting DNA Repair
Laura Hawkins
(PhD Student, University of Birmingham)
Although rare, eye cancer poses a serious threat to vision and life. Proton beam therapy offers a precise and effective way to target tumors whilst sparing healthy tissue, critical as there are multiple major delicate structures around the eye. This talk explores how we can further enhance its impact by inhibiting specific proteins that help cancer cells recover from the most damaging of radiation damage. By blocking this process, we increase DNA damage. As the cells struggle to repair this damage there is a decrease in cancer growth and an increase cell death in 3D tumour models.
Survival of the Smartest: How Superbugs Outsmart Us
Dr Kavita Gadar
(Research Fellow, University of Birmingham)
Most of the time, bacteria live peacefully in our gut, but some can become harmful. Enterococci are major causes of infections and can resist vancomycin, a last-resort antibiotic. Gaining resistance is usually pricey and slows bacteria down, but these strains have managed to avoid that cost. We study how resistance affects them and how they adapt. Using CRISPR made fluorescent strains, we track resistant and non-resistant bacteria competing in real time to measure fitness and then look at their genetic make-up to uncover hidden what weaknesses might be hiding under the surface.
Biobanking: Adding Extra Power to the Science
Gareth Bicknell
(Biobank General Manager, University of Birmingham)
"What is a biobank? What is involved? How does this help research?
This talk will introduce the audience to biobanking at the University of Birmingham, giving examples of the wide variety of biomedical research supported over the years, not only at Birmingham, but at other Universities and in the UK's medical industry. You name it, we've probably banked it or released it to biomedical research at some point! How do we ensure your anonymity is preserved? What have been the most humbling donations we've received? Could you be as a biobanker, if you were so inclined?"
This talk will introduce the audience to biobanking at the University of Birmingham, giving examples of the wide variety of biomedical research supported over the years, not only at Birmingham, but at other Universities and in the UK's medical industry. You name it, we've probably banked it or released it to biomedical research at some point! How do we ensure your anonymity is preserved? What have been the most humbling donations we've received? Could you be as a biobanker, if you were so inclined?"
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