The Secret Language of Cells

Cancer tumours can grow so quickly that there is not enough oxygen to go around, creating regions of low oxygen known as hypoxia. Hypoxia makes tumours harder to treat, but a better understanding of how it affects cancer cells could help us to fight it. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are long sugars located on the cell surface that are involved in many cell processes including cell division and movement. My project investigates the relationship between hypoxia and these sugars in cancer. Understanding this “sweet” response to suffocation may reveal new ways to detect and target cancer. 

The brain is a living network whose connections constantly grow, adapt, and sometimes disappear. In this talk, we explore how tiny molecules called small RNAs travel inside neurons to help control where connections grow, how they are maintained, and what happens when this system fails in ageing and neurological disease.

Pharmacology is the science of discovering new medicines. Many drugs work by targeting tiny receptor proteins on our cells – from the ethanol in your pint, to drugs like Ozempic. In this talk, we’ll explore some of our most intricate receptors: growth factor receptors. First studied in cancer, these receptors can also help us repair the body or control how we detect pain. From how these microscopic receptors whizz around cells to how AI can help tackle difficult drug targets, we’ll see how the beautiful complexity of cell biology is shaping future drug discovery.