Mouse study shows that as few as 1 in 10 of the parasites that initially appear in the blood express this set of pir genes. But almost all the parasites found persisting in the body at later times express the genes. If the biological mechanisms involved can be targeted, long-lasting persistent malaria infection could be prevented, and prevent ongoing transmission.

Researchers have identified ADCY7, a genetic variant that heightens the risk of developing ulcerative colitis, one of the subtypes of a chronic disorder known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). They also uncover a further 25 novel genetic associations to IBD risk.

The genomes of the two least common species of human malaria parasites are revealed today (25 January 2017) in Nature by a team of scientists from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their international collaborators. These sequences will enable improved surveillance and diagnosis of these rarer parasites that still cause more than 10 million malaria cases every year.

The largest-ever genetic study of children with previously undiagnosed rare developmental disorders has discovered 14 new developmental disorders. Published today (25 January 2017) in Nature, the research led by scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute also provided diagnoses of rare conditions for over a thousand children and their families. These diagnoses allow families with the same genetic conditions to connect and access support, and help inform better clinical management.

Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have discovered ‘hotspots’ of mutations in breast cancer genomes, where mutations thought to be inactive ‘passengers’ in the genome have now been shown to possibly drive further cancerous changes.

Dr Sarah Teichmann is one of five scientists to receive this year's Helmholtz International Fellow Award, and the only researcher from the medical sector to be honoured. The awards ceremony is scheduled for the 5 May 2017 at the Helmholtz Campus in Neuherberg near Munich.

An international collaboration led by clinical researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute has shown proof-of-concept that truly personalised therapy will be possible in the future for people with cancer. Details of how a knowledge bank could be used to find the best treatment option for people with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are published today (16 January 2017) in Nature Genetics.

Research led by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute has discovered a new biological target for drugs to reduce the spread of tumours in cancer patients. Published in Nature today (11 January 2017), the study with genetically modified mice found 23 genes that are involved in regulating the spread of cancers. The researchers showed that targeting one of these genes – Spns2 – led to a three-quarters reduction in tumour spread.

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is a rare disease of the liver with no effective treatment. Researchers identify four regions of the genome associated with the disease, one of which is a potential drug target.

Microbiotica has been established to commercialise ground-breaking research, conducted in the Host-Microbiotica Interactions Laboratory (“HMIL”) at the Sanger Institute, into the role of the human microbiome in health and disease and its application to medicine. The HMIL is led by Dr Trevor Lawley and collaborates with the Professor Gordon Dougan research group.