This magazine celebrates our alumni community, showcases cutting‑edge medical and scientific work, and strengthens the connection between alumni, students, and the University.
We look forward to sharing new updated Oxford Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Magazine coming soon in 2026! If you would like to get involved please check out our volunteering opportunities or contact us at alumni@smbms.ox.ac.uk
Vice-Chancellor Awards recognise medical projects
Support for Students Award Nominee: Widening Methods of Medical Teaching, Dr. Gina Hadley (Harris Manchester)
Empowering People Award Nominee: Management In Medicine Programme, Green Templeton College
Latest News from Medical Sciences
New biomarker brings personalised Polθ inhibitor-radiotherapy treatment closer to the clinic
14 June 2026
A new study led by Professor Geoff Higgins at the Department of Oncology, in collaboration with Artios Pharma, has uncovered a genetic vulnerability that could help identify patients most likely to benefit from a promising radiotherapy combination treatment. Published today in Science Advances, the research identifies loss of SHLD2 as a predictive biomarker for treatment with DNA polymerase theta (Polθ) inhibitors, an emerging class of DNA repair-targeted drugs.
Scientists in the Department of Paediatrics discover antibody combinations that block over 90% of malaria parasite growth
12 June 2026
In an important discovery for the next-generation of malaria vaccines, University of Oxford researchers in the Department of Paediatrics, in collaboration with the Scripps Institute, have identified how antibodies can be over 90% effective at preventing malaria parasites from growing in certain combinations.
Medical Sciences celebrates success at Vice-Chancellor’s Awards 2026
12 June 2026
The winners of the 2026 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards were announced at a special ceremony hosted by the Vice-Chancellor in the Schwarzman’s Sohmen Concert Hall on Thursday 4 June.
New Lancet Series outlines roadmap to end preventable maternal deaths from postpartum haemorrhage
12 June 2026
Leading experts from the University of Oxford and the World Health Organization are calling on the global community to invest in affordable proven solutions and change policy to end preventable deaths from bleeding during childbirth.
Oxford researchers hunt for hidden protein clues to prevent prostate cancer
11 June 2026
A major new research programme, led by Professor Ruth Travis and Dr Karl Smith-Byrne (Nuffield Department of Population Health) and funded by Cancer Research UK, aims to uncover the biological causes of prostate cancer and identify ways to prevent the disease. The programme is being delivered through a collaboration between researchers in the Nuffield Department of Population Health and the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences (NDS).
Decades old puzzle solved as scientists uncover cause of inflammatory bowel disease
11 June 2026
Scientists have identified the missing link between a long-known genetic signal in inflammatory bowel disease and a damaging immune response that switches off the body’s natural control of inflammation - opening the door to faster diagnosis and targeted treatment.
Brain cells critical for mouse navigation found to be highly specialised
11 June 2026
Researchers from the Department of Pharmacology have found that the ‘neural compass’ that enables mice to navigate is formed of specialised brain cells that respond in different ways to stimuli such as light and sound.
Oxford researchers to test AI triage system that could cut urgent care waiting times
11 June 2026
Oxford researchers will test an AI-powered triage system that draws on patients' medical histories to help GP teams prioritise urgent same-day care. The project is funded by the NIHR as part of an £8.1 million investment in digital technologies to reduce NHS waiting times.