Cambridge-India Partnership
Stem Cells and Genetics
Research on stem cells - the 'building blocks' for every type of cell in the body - promises to lead to the development of innovative treatments for major diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart and blood disorders.
The discovery of the unique properties of stem cells took place in the Department of Genetics at Cambridge in the 1980s - a breakthrough that led to the principal researcher, Professor Sir Martin Evans, winning the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2007.
The current Cambridge groups led by Professors Azim Surani, Austin Smith, Roger Pedersen and Fiona Watt attract first-class minds from all over the world, including young scientists from India who are on track to make a contribution that will save many lives.
Dr David Summers
Department of Genetics
Dr Summers' research has its roots in the study of the E. coli plasmid ColE1 and the mechanisms which ensure its efficient transmission to daughter cells at division. This has broadened into an interest in the fundamental cellular processes of site-specific recombination and cell cycle control in bacteria. The investigations use not only conventional genetic and biochemical approaches, but also the application of control engineering principles in a systems biology analysis of plasmid behaviour.
India links: has an active collaboration with Dr K J Mukerjhee at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi.
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Professor Azim Surani CBE FRS FMedSci
Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute
Professor Surani is the Mary Marshall and Arthur Walton Professor of Physiology and Reproduction, and a member of the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience. His research is around the genetic programme of cells and in particular on the unique property of germ cells. The knowledge will have multiple benefits and will be important for manipulating stem cells and adult cells for the repair and rejuvenation of diseased body tissues.
India links: Professor Surani is Sir Dorabji Tata Distinguished Professor at the National Centre of Biological Sciences (NCBS) and Distinguished Fellow at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore.
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