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Three-year project culminates in new molecules for targeted imaging and drug delivery

Gonçalo Bernardes, courtesy Nathan Pitt, ©University of Cambridge

As part of NOVA-MRI (Novel Applications in 19F Magnetic Resonance Imaging), scientists have designed new molecules that identify particular cells accurately, for example, identifying cancer cells instead of healthy cells.


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New biomarker for Parkinson’s disease

David Klenerman taken by Michael Webb ©University of Cambridge

Researchers in the Klenerman group have developed a new biomarker for Parkinson’s disease that paves the way to an early-diagnosis blood test and more effective treatment.


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Stable peptides for medical breakthroughs

Sona Krajkovicova for Chem@Cam taken by Nathan Pitt ©University of Cambridge

Sona Krajcovicova, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Spring group, works on stabilising peptides for safe and stable drug delivery.


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Nano insights: exploring the quantum forces between water and carbon

Stephen Cox and Anna Bui in the botanical gardens

It has been one year since Dr Stephen Cox became a Royal Society University Research Fellow. Since then, he and his growing team have been busy figuring out the fundamentals of friction between individual atoms.


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Crossword Winter 2023 solutions and winner

University of Cambridge travel mugs courtesy Caroline Reid ©University of Cambridge

Try your hand at our chemistry cryptic crossword, check your answers, and congratulations to Evert Ditzel who won the prize draw.


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As easy as counting to ten – a new rule for catalysts’ design

Dehydrogenation of propane (black) on a single-atom alloy (purple) which is diluted in an inert metal (red) made by Michail Stamatakis from Julia Schumann's figures courtesy University of Cambridge.

The ‘ten electron’ rule provides guidance for the design of single-atom alloy catalysts for targeted chemical reactions.


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National Inventors Hall of Fame honours DNA sequencing pioneers

Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman outside the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry taken by Nathan Pitt ©University of Cambridge

Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian and Professor Sir David Klenerman were honoured in the 2024 class of National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees.


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Atmospheric science awarded grant to advance climate models

Luke Abraham taken by Michael Webb and Maria Russo, both ©University of Cambridge

A climate science project, led by Dr Luke Abraham, has been awarded a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) grant.


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Lambda Agri wins a Santander X start up award

Lambda Agri with Tinie Tempah, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Monica Saavedra and Mike Regnier

A crop yield improvement technology company, embedded in Professor Dominic Wright’s research group, has been awarded a Santander X prize.


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New discovery contradicts textbook models

Graphic representation of the liquid/air interface in a sodium chloride solution, courtesy Yair Litman

Textbook models will need to be re-drawn after a team of researchers found that water molecules at the surface of salt water are organised differently than previously thought.


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Field trip unfolds DNA mysteries

Chromatin Consortium courtesy of the Marine Biological Laboratory at the University of Chicago.

Members of the Collepardo lab took part in a month-long ’Chromatin Consortium’ to help unfold the mysteries of the material that makes up our chromosomes.


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Herchel Smith Fellowship extended application deadline

Herchel Smith Fellow in the Gaunt Group Dr Alexander Fawcett (middle row, far right) is now a Senior Scientist at a local pharma company.

We have extended the application deadline for a three-year Herchel Smith Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Organic or Biological Chemistry to 31 December 2023.


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Department entrepreneurs garner recognition

Finalists in the competition, Mark Carrington (left) and Dr Kamil Sokowlowski (right) at the awards ceremony, courtesy Cambridge Enterprise

Two members of our department made it to the finals of the Chris Abell Postdoc Business Plan competition in November.


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Academics share their research

Professor Angelos Michaelides, courtesy Chemistry Photography

1968 Professor of Theoretical Chemistry Angelos Michaelides FRS has given the first talk in a lecture series which will give academics the opportunity to share their research with other department members.


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Alumnus recognised for rare disease treatments

James Harrison is announced as UK Changemaker 2023

Congratulations to department alumnus and supporter James Harrison, who has been named UK Changemaker in the 2023 EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.