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.
First trial of vaccine to prevent Lynch syndrome-associated cancers approved to start in Oxford
9 June 2026
Phase 1 of the INTERCEPT-Lynch trial, which is funded by Moderna, sponsored by the University of Oxford and run by the University's Oncology Clinical Trials Office with support from Oxford Cancer, has received authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and is expected to begin recruiting participants this summer.
Oxford joins major new Educational Neuroscience centre to shape government policy
8 June 2026
Professor Gaia Scerif from the Department of Experimental Psychology is a key partner in a newly announced research centre that will help shape education policy across England.
Recent changes in caesarean birth rates in England
8 June 2026
Professor Marian Knight, Director of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU), appeared on BBC Breakfast on 5th June to discuss new NPEU research examining recent changes in caesarean birth rates in England.
Protection for newborns: new treatment aims to prevent meningitis without antibiotics
8 June 2026
Professor Emma Slack, Professor of Molecular Immunology, at the Dunn School and collaborators have developed a preventive approach that stops harmful bacteria in their tracks before transmission even occurs.
Exosomes are more diverse than we previously thought: implications for disease diagnosis and management
5 June 2026
A new opinion article published in Trends in Cell Biology explores how tiny packages released by cells, known as exosomes, could help researchers better understand disease and may one day support new approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
Pioneering study sets out to answer and address why osteoarthritis impacts patients differently
3 June 2026
Researchers from the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS) are playing leading roles in a major new UK-wide research consortium aiming to improve treatment and outcomes for people living with osteoarthritis.
New type of inhibitor could help tackle resistance against ‘last-resort’ antibiotics
3 June 2026
Researchers from the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) have identified a new class of molecule that could help protect ‘last-resort’ antibiotics from bacterial resistance, and reduce the amount of antibiotics needed to treat infections by up to 32 times.
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.
New study shows the brain uses brief, slow rhythms to organise how memories are formed, stored, and later recalled
1 June 2026
A new study from the University of Oxford and le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) has shown that the brain uses rhythms for brain cell impulses to coordinate activity across memory-related regions in the brain during learning and help reactivate those experiences afterwards, strengthening what we remember.
Oxford Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate receives CEPI backing
1 June 2026
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has announced today that it will urgently accelerate the development of three investigational vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo ebolavirus that has caused a rapidly spreading epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Uganda, including one being developed by the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford.
UK and France launch landmark biomedical and AI health alliance to accelerate research into major diseases
29 May 2026
A new partnership will unite expertise, infrastructure and data across borders to accelerate diagnosis, treatment and ultimately prevention of major diseases – starting with women’s health, infectious diseases and pandemic preparedness.
University of Oxford launches new public awareness campaign for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
28 May 2026
The Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford today announces the launch of Genes, Brains, and Breakthroughs, a new educational campaign designed to raise public awareness and understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders through a series of accessible, family-informed video resources.