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Achievements

Sir Richard Gregory In this section you can read summaries of achievements by MRC-funded researchers over the last decade, listed by year. These have been selected from more than 2,000 MRC research findings that are published each year in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001


Seeing samples in 3-D may speed medical diagnosis  - 2005
An innovative form of microscopy called optical projection tomography (OPT) can be used to scan small biological specimens such as tissue samples or embryos and construct three-dimensional images.

Reducing health inequalities  - 2005
The Whitehall II study has tracked the effects of stress, job security, work-life balance and a range of lifestyle factors on the health of civil servants working in central London, with the aim of reducing health inequalities in society.

Head injury treatment revelation  - 2005
Treating head injury patients with corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and brain swelling may actually do more harm than good.

Operation to relieve Parkinson’s  - 2005
MRC-funded research pioneered by a University of Oxford scientist has led to a surgical procedure that may relieve a crippling symptom of advanced Parkinson’s disease.

Genetic discovery sheds light on osteoporosis  - 2005
A defect in the growth hormone gene could have a strong influence on detection and treatment of the brittle bone disease osteoporosis, MRC study findings show.

Molecular motor insight  - 2005
A group of scientists working at the MRC Dunn Human Nutrition Unit and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology l has established the structure of the rotor from a molecular ‘motor’ found in cells.

All ears  - 2005
Scientists from the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the University of Hong Kong have isolated the gene responsible for sensory development in the inner ear.

AIDS epidemic origin may point to new treatments  - 2005
MRC research suggests that harnessing natural mechanisms of resistance to HIV infection might provide new methods for combating AIDS.

Gene explains cannabis psychosis link  - 2005
A genetic variation uncovered by MRC investigators helps explain why cannabis trigger spsychosis in some young users but not others.

Pneumococcus vaccine could save a million young lives  - 2005
The results of a trial show that vaccinating infants against pneumococcus could substantially reduce death and serious illness among children in the developing world.

Air pollution thickens the blood  - 2005
Scientists from the Colt Laboratory, University of Edinburgh have discovered that air pollution thickens the blood and boosts inflammation.

Brain cell death during stroke due to calcium removal  - 2005
MRC scientists, in collaboration with colleagues from British and Italian universities, have unveiled a mechanism that causes the death of brain cells (neurons) in stroke.

Smoking doubles visual disability risk  - 2005
part of the MRC Trial of Assessment and Management of Older People in the Community, researchers have shown that smoking doubles the risk of blindness or partial sight due to age-related macular degeneration.

Proteins team up to block cancer  - 2005
Scientists at the MRC Cancer Cell Unit, at the University of Cambridge, have revealed a new insight into how our body cells block the development of cancer.