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News

Scientists uncover new way to boost the innate defence against respiratory viruses

A new study by researchers at the CAMS Oxford Institute, the University of Liverpool and the University of Zurich has identified a promising strategy to strengthen the body’s antiviral response to respiratory viruses. Published in PNAS, the study shows that activating a key cellular oxygen-sensing pathway can enhance antiviral immunity and limit viral replication.

COI CDF Dr Pramila Rijal Awarded Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard Grant

This year’s programme has invested £6.7 million in early-career researchers, supporting scientists across the UK to develop solutions to major health challenges. Dr Pramila Rijal, Career Development Fellow and Group Leader at the CAMS Oxford Institute (COI), is among the recipients of the award.

COI delegation visits CAMS/PUMC to strengthen collaborative ties

A delegation from the CAMS Oxford Institute (COI), led by Professor Tao Dong, Co-Director of COI, visited the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS/PUMC) between 19 and 28 March 2026, strengthening long-standing collaboration and exploring opportunities to broaden future areas of activities and training. The visit, which took place in Suzhou, Beijing and Tianjin, brought together researchers and academics from both institutions.

Sixty Seconds with Professor Fadi Issa, COI Principal Investigator

COI Principal Investigator, Professor Fadi Issa recently took up the divisional role of Academic Lead for Research Funding. In this interview, Fadi reflects on the importance of resilience and clarity of thinking, shares what the role involves, what is changing in the funding landscape, and offers practical advice for early career researchers navigating competition, rejection and the realities of grant writing.

The Wing Lab receives BBSRC New Investigator Award to investigate how cells sensing oxygen can impact zoonotic viral disease in bats

The awarded project, titled 'Understanding the role of oxygen sensing in effective control of high-consequence viral pathogens', has been funded by a BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) New Investigator Award. This funding will be used to investigate how divergent aspects of the cellular oxygen sensing pathway in bats impacts their ability to harbour pathogenic viral infections. This award expands the WIng Lab and their interests in molecular virology to understanding viral zoonosis in an important reservoir species.

COI Principal Investigators, Professor Marian Knight and Professor Julian Knight, Visit IMI, CAMS/PUMC

On 28 November 2025, at the invitation of the Institute of Medical Information and Library (IMI, CAMS/PUMC), Professor Marian Knight and Professor Julian Knight, Principal Investigators at the CAMS–Oxford Institute (COI), visited the Institute and took part in the CAMS/PUMC Master Forum.

COI Delegation Led by Prof. Tao Dong Visited ILAS, CAMS/PUMC

On 27 November 2025, a delegation from the CAMS Oxford Institute, led by Professor Tao Dong, visited the Institute of Laboratory Animals Science (ILAS, CAMS/PUMC) at the invitation of the institute.

Professor Jianwei Wang, COI Principal Investigator (China), elected as Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering

21 November 2025, Professor Jianwei Wang, COI Principal Investigator (China), has been elected as an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in the Academy’s 2025 election.

Oxford VC meets new CAMS President

On 26 November 2025, during her recent visit to China, the University of Oxford Vice-Chancellor, Professor Irene Tracey, met with the new CAMS President, Professor Xunming Ji, at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS)/Peking Union Medical College (PUMC).

COI PI, Professor Julian Knight has been appointed as the new Associate Head (Education), Medical Sciences Division

The Medical Sciences Division is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Julian Knight as the new Associate Head of Division (Education).

COI Researcher Christina Heroven Wins Best Talk at the NDM Research and Innovation Symposium

Christina Heroven, a postdoctoral researcher at the CAMS Oxford Institute (Fernandes Group), was awarded Best Talk at the NDM Research and Innovation Symposium, which marked the conclusion of Postdoc Appreciation Week across the department.

Long-persisting SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells associated with mild disease and increased cytotoxicity 4 years post COVID-19

A new study, led by researchers at the CAMS Oxford Institute in the Nuffield Department of Medicine and TIDU in the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, was published in Nature Communications, finding that dominant T cell responses found in many individuals 4yrs after infection are associated with mild COVID-19 disease, and likely play important protective roles to subsequent viral infection events.

NDM research teams shortlisted for Cancer Grand Challenges

Two research teams in the Nuffield Department of Medicine have been selected for the final stages of the Cancer Grand Challenges. This includes Professor Xin Lu at Ludwig Oxford in the Cancer Antibody Atlas team and Dr Ricardo Fernandes at the CAMS Oxford Institute as a co-investigator in a team led by the Weizmann Institute.

Dr. Nikolaos Kanellakis Lab Gets Funding to Investigate the Role of Neutrophils in Pleural Infection

Dr. Nikolaos Kanellakis was awarded funding to investigate the biological role of neutrophils in patients with pleural infection.

Dr. Yi-Ling Chen, COI Career Development Fellow, awarded a prestigious ERC Starting Grant to Investigate the Role of CD1c-reactive T Cells in Post-streptococcal Disease

The ERC Starting Grant supports early-career researchers with 2-7 years of experience since completion of their PhD, providing up to €1.5 million over five years to establish independent research teams and pursue high-risk, high-reward science.

New Study Links Cancer Stage to Strength of Antitumoral Immune Response in HR+ Breast Cancer

Dong Group’s latest study was published in Cell Reports Medicine.

COI Awarded Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) Gold

In recognition of exemplary actions undertaken to improve the sustainability practices as part of the laboratory efficiency assessment framework (LEAF), 2025 Gold awarded to CAMS Oxford Institute.

John Fell Fund Supports New Study Exploring Skin Immunity in Kidney Disease Patients

Dr Matthew Bottomley’s Research Group has received a University of Oxford John Fell Fund award to study how chronic kidney disease affects skin immunity.

Unveiling the mystery: Scientists Reveal the Determinants That Control the Nuclear Import of HIV-1

Published in Nature Microbiology, a groundbreaking study reveals how HIV-1 breaches the cell’s most guarded barrier.

Visualising the SARS-CoV-2 Fusion Process and Its Inhibition Under Near-Native Conditions Using Cryo-Electron Tomography

Researchers at the Division of Structural Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine have visualised the full membrane fusion process of SARS-CoV-2 under near-native conditions, capturing elusive intermediate states that occur as the virus enters host cells. Published in Nature Communications, the study presents a comprehensive structural timeline of how the viral spike protein drives fusion and how this process can be blocked by S2-targeting neutralising antibodies.

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