Search results (35)
« Back to NewsResearchers uncover hidden mechanism behind a major cancer therapy target
9 June 2026
Kennedy researchers have revealed how one of the immune system's most important regulatory pathways operates at the earliest moments of T cell activation, providing new insights that could help improve cancer immunotherapy.
Pioneering study sets out to answer and address why osteoarthritis impacts patients differently
3 June 2026
Researchers from NDORMS are playing leading roles in a major new UK-wide research consortium aiming to improve treatment and outcomes for people living with osteoarthritis.
Largest study of knee osteoarthritis tissue reveals the core biological pathways underlying osteoarthritis
2 June 2026
A major international study led by researchers at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology at the University of Oxford has found that osteoarthritis (OA) – the most common form of arthritis worldwide – is not a collection of separate diseases, as many scientists had previously speculated, but rather a single condition with common core underlying biological pathways.
Anchoring a key immune molecule boosts T cell responses
11 March 2026
Researchers at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology have found that physically resisting the formation of an immunological synapse actually promotes a stronger immune response. The findings could help explain how immune responses become weakened in cancer and chronic infection and inform the design of more effective vaccines.
Kennedy scientists join world-leading researchers in ‘pivotal’ study to help arthritis patients to live drug free
27 January 2026
The prospect of long-lasting drug-free remission for children and adults living with inflammatory arthritis is a step closer to becoming a reality, thanks to a new collaboration.
What determines the fate of a T cell?
14 January 2026
Research led by Dr Mariana Borsa at the Kennedy Institute has found that a cellular housekeeping mechanism called autophagy plays a major role in ensuring that T cells generate diverse progenies upon cell division. The findings, published in Nature Cell Biology, could help boost vaccine response in older adults.
Shaping immunity - the secrets behind the shape of neutrophils
14 November 2025
Researchers at the Kennedy Institute have provided the most comprehensive overview to date of how the distinctive segmented nucleus of neutrophils influences their function in health and disease.
First of its kind study for children with arthritis reveals possible new disease targets
4 July 2025
Researchers have been able to see what happens in the inflamed joints of children with arthritis, giving insight into why treatments affect children differently.
New insights into chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis
30 June 2025
Kennedy researchers have uncovered new clues about how immune memory exacerbates inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, which could lead to better ways to control the disease.
£1.4m awarded to investigate how tumour mechanics affect the immune response to cancer
24 June 2025
Professor Marco Fritzsche from the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, is co-leading a research project that has been awarded a £1.4 million Programme Foundation Award from Cancer Research UK, to investigate how physical forces within tumours affect the ability of a type of white blood cell to attack and eliminate cancer cells.
Designing better bispecific T-cell engagers for cancer immunotherapy
19 June 2025
Kennedy researchers have uncovered key design parameters for bispecific T-cell engagers (TcEs) - a class of cancer immunotherapy drugs. The findings may help unlock the full potential of TcEs and revolutionise cancer treatment for patients.
TCRs drive CARs
1 May 2025
Researchers have developed an innovative dual-receptor T-cell therapy that promises safer and more effective cancer treatments. This study, published in Cell, demonstrates that engineering T-cells to express both a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) and a T-cell Receptor (TCR) can improve their ability to distinguish between cancerous and healthy tissues—addressing a major challenge in current immunotherapy.
Common virus may improve skin cancer treatment outcomes, study finds
25 April 2025
A new study led by the University of Oxford has revealed that a common and usually harmless virus may positively influence how skin cancer patients respond to current treatments.
New research uncovers pathways to prevent premature cell death
28 March 2025
New research from the Kennedy Institute has revealed how two important proteins, TBK1 and IKKe, play a crucial role in preventing premature cell death, which can lead to serious inflammation in the body. The findings are particularly relevant for people with a mutation in the TBK1 gene who often develop multiorgan inflammation caused by excessive cell death even in the absence of any infection.
Decoding the interplay between genes and mechanics in tissues at single-cell resolution
17 March 2025
Researchers at the Kennedy Institute have developed a new computational framework that allows simultaneous analysis of gene expression and mechanical forces within cells and tissues, uncovering insights into how the interplay between transcriptional and mechanical signals guides processes such as cell fate decisions or the formation of spatially distinct tissue compartments.
Pancreatic cancer immune map provides clues for precision treatment targeting
7 February 2025
Study shows why there are differences in prognosis between different pancreatic tumours and identifies potential avenues for improved treatment approaches.
How an 'optional' amino acid is required for an optimal immune response
3 January 2025
A new study conducted by researchers at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology has uncovered a pivotal role of asparagine metabolism in regulating B cell homeostasis and immune response.
Cellular roadmap reveals new paths to treating inflammatory bowel disease
22 October 2024
In a world first, researchers at the Kennedy Institute, Oxford have mapped the cellular dynamics following treatment with the most commonly used advanced therapy in autoimmune diseases. They have discovered why some patients benefit from this therapy while others do not, potentially paving the way for new therapies.
The role of mechanical forces in T cell activation
9 October 2024
A perspectives piece published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) sheds light on the importance of mechanical forces in the early activation of T cells, a critical part of the immune response.
CRUK funding will help develop new targets for ovarian cancer
21 August 2024
Irina Udalova has received funding from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) to study the diverse role of neutrophils in ovarian cancer.