神马福利影片

Congratulations to and the team on their bid to lead a European consortium to build the first platform capable of coordinating Europe's response to devastating agricultural and forest pest invasions.

Each year, plant pests destroy up to 40% of agricultural yields worldwide and threaten to devastate forest ecosystems, yet Europe still lacks the tools to coordinate an effective, system-wide response. A major new 鈧�6 million EU Horizon project is set to change that.

brings together 15 research institutions and stakeholders across eight countries, positioning the UK at the forefront of a coordinated European response to transboundary plant health threats. The project will give plant health authorities, for the first time, the ability to model and optimise pest control strategies across the entire agri-value chain, from preventing pest entry to long-term management.

Dr. Stephen Parnell said 鈥淧hytoPRISM brings together the best of modern epidemiological modelling with the real-world knowledge of the people on the frontline, giving them, for the first time, the tools to make smarter, faster, and more cost-effective decisions

Image Credit: M J Richardson

Forests were growing on the now-submerged landmass of Doggerland thousands of years earlier than previously believed, according to a major new sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) study led by Professor Robin Allaby

The findings suggest that Doggerland may have provided a surprisingly hospitable refuge for plants, animals, and potentially humans, thousands of years before forests became widespread across Britain and northern Europe.

Published in , the research reveals that temperate trees such as oak, elm, and hazel were present more than 16,000 years ago, and even detected DNA from a tree genus thought to have vanished from the region 400,000 years ago. The findings also show that parts of Doggerland survived major flooding events, including thearound 8,150 years ago, and parts of the landscape remained above water as late as 7,000 years ago.

Plants mobilise their immune defences far earlier than scientists have believed for decades—and through a previously overlooked early signalling mechanism—according to a new study published in

Professor Murray Grant and his team, including Emily Breeze and Erin Stroud have discovered a rapid, jasmonate-driven, early immune response in plants. A breakthrough live-imaging tool has allowed them to visualise immune signals moving out of infected leaves and across into uninfected leaves in real time.

(Image shows Temporal spatial dynamics of luciferase activity in JISS1:LUC plants following DCavrRpm1 challenge, initiating at 3 hpi. 3.20 hpi, 3.50 hpi and 4.30 hpi images capture the systemic spread of the signal over time. Credit: Gaikwad, T., Breen, S., Breeze, E., Stroud, E. et al. Nature Plants (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-025-02178-4)

As part of a four-part miniseries, , Dr Dave Chandler, a crop researcher and agricultural scientist based at the 神马福利影片, Warwick Crop Centre tells the podcast how current global food production practices are one of the most significant drivers of environmental damage and biodiversity loss, how climate change is threatening our ability to grow fresh produce to put on our plates and details some of the current thinking on how we can ensure the future of food production worldwide.

Recent UN data tells us that currently 670 million people around the world are going hungry. There鈥檚 little doubt that food security is one of the most serious problems that the human race is facing. How have we reached this point of crisis and what solutions can we put in place to make sure everyone on the planet has enough nutritious food to eat without causing further harm to the environment?

As part of our four-part miniseries, Future of Food, we鈥檙e joined by Dr Dave Chandler, a crop researcher and agricultural scientist based at the 神马福利影片.

He tells us how current global food production practices are one of the most significant drivers of environmental damage and biodiversity loss, how climate change is threatening our ability to grow fresh produce to put on our plates and details some of the current thinking on how we can ensure the future of food production worldwide.

Prof Chris Corre, Prof Greg Challis and Dr. Lona Alkhalaf from the 神马福利影片 and Professor David Lupton rfrom Monash University have discovered a promising new antibiotic that shows activity against drug-resistant bacterial pathogens, including MRSA and VRE.

In a new study published in the , researchers from the Monash Warwick Alliance Combatting Emerging Superbug Threats Initiative have discovered a promising new antibiotic - pre-methylenomycin C lactone. The new antibiotic was found 鈥榟iding in plain sight鈥� as an intermediate chemical in the natural process that produces the well-known antibiotic methylenomycin A. When tested for antimicrobial activity, one of the intermediates, pre-methylenomycin C lactone, was shown to be over 100 times more active against diverse Gram-positive bacteria than the original antibiotic methylenomycin A. Specifically, it was shown to be effective against S. aureus and E. faecium, the bacterial species behind Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) respectively.

Importantly, the researchers could not detect any emergence of resistance to pre-methylenomycin C lactone in Enterococcus bacteria under conditions where vancomycin resistance is observed. Vancomycin is a 鈥渓ast line鈥� treatment for Enterococcus infection, so this finding is especially promising for VRE, a WHO High Priority Pathogen.

With its simple structure, potent activity, difficult to resist profile, and scalable synthesis, pre-methylenomycin C lactone represents a promising new candidate that could potentially help to save some of the who are the victims of AMR every year.

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Dr. Fabrizio Alberti has written the article "How different mushrooms learned the same psychedelic trick" for on a new discovery that two different mushrooms have evolved the ability to make the psychedelic psilocybin, the first time that convergent evolution has been observed in two organisms from the fungal kingdom.

Dr Iqbal Dulloo, currently a molecular cell biologist at the University of Oxford, has been awarded a prestigious five-year Medical Research Council (MRC) Career Development Award. He will join the 神马福利影片鈥檚 School of Life Sciences in late September 2025 to launch his independent research group.

Dr Dulloo鈥檚 research explores how cells send and receive signals to maintain healthy function. When this communication breaks down, it can lead to diseases like cancer or neurodegenerative conditions. His recent discovery showed that an enzyme complex, previously thought to carry out a routine task, also plays a role in regulating gene activity by releasing a key messenger protein inside cells.

At Warwick, he will investigate how widespread this hidden signalling pathway is and how it may be exploited by viruses during infection.

Dr Dulloo said: 鈥�I am honoured to receive this award and delighted to be joining the 神马福利影片. Understanding how cells communicate could unlock new ways to tackle disease. This fellowship will allow me to pursue fundamental questions in an exciting area of cell biology that remains under-explored but full of promise. I look forward to building a collaborative team and contributing to the vibrant scientific community at Warwick.鈥�

Professor Miriam Gifford, Head of the School of Life Sciences, said: 鈥�We are delighted to welcome Dr Dulloo. His pioneering work will be a fantastic addition to our cell biology and host-pathogen research directions, and we are excited to support the next stage of his career.鈥�

Dr. Charlotte Allender, Head of the UK Vegetable Genebank at the School of Life Sciences, The 神马福利影片 has been awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) for her work conserving vegetable crop genetic diversity.

On her nomination, Charlotte said: "I am very grateful to the RHS for this award; to have such a prestigious organisation recognise the value of your work is wonderful.鈥�

This award recognises Dr. Allender鈥檚 research into conserving genetic variation of crop species and for her almost two decades-long service to the UK Vegetable Genebank. This work has been vital for food security by preserving these sources of genetic variation that are needed to develop new and robust crop varieties.

Charlotte added: 鈥淭he conservation of plant genetic resources is vital and underpins the research and breeding activity necessary to develop the new crop varieties needed for a food secure future. I would like to acknowledge that the work of the UK Vegetable Genebank is only possible with a team of skilled and dedicated staff and the support of the 神马福利影片 and Defra.鈥�

The UK Vegetable Genebank celebrates its 45th anniversary later this year. It currently stores around 14,000 vegetable seed samples, sourced from 128 different countries, making it a globally significant resource.

Press release

A research collaboration between The 神马福利影片, the Smithsonian Institution and Embrapa (Brazilian agricultural research), has shown that thousands of years of farming myths and cultural traditions have been key to the survival of the cassava crop (the source of tapioca).

Press release (7 March 2025)

Our next Science on the Hill event is on Tuesday 25 February, 6-8pm. We鈥檒l delve into how different biological systems combat attacks from other organisms - highlighting the human and plant immune systems. We鈥檒l also explore how these natural defences can inspire new therapeutics for treating patients.

Talks include 鈥楧efence in plants and its role in sustainability鈥� – Dr Emily Breeze

Dr Emily Lane-Hill and colleagues, as part of a global research study, have developed a new biomarker test that can detect Alzheimer鈥檚 disease years before symptoms show, opening the door for earlier, more-effective, treatment.

Press Release (19 February 2025)

Today marks 10 years since the UN announced the first International Day of Women and Girls in Science to highlight the gender gap in STEM-related fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and the slow progress of women into senior positions. As of 2023, the number of women graduates in STEM had increased by 5% to just 35% since 2014, when the Awareness Day launched.

Dr Melissa Webby, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, has been featured in a series compiled by the 神马福利影片 to mark the day, sharing her experience of nurturing talent in girls and women in STEM.
Find out about Melissa's experiences

Dr Melissa Webby, a biochemist from the 神马福利影片, has been awarded a prestigious Wellcome Career Development Award, to undertake world class research into new approaches to combat antimicrobial drug resistance.
Press release (22 January 2025)

Professor Rosemary Collier, an entomologist and applied ecologist, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours List for her pioneering work in horticultural science.

The New Year鈥檚 Honours list recognises individuals across the UK for their exceptional contributions to society. The honours celebrate those who have made a significant impact in various fields, acknowledging their outstanding service.

Based at Warwick Crop Centre, Professor Collier's research focuses on sustainable pest management in horticultural crops, using methods that minimise ecological impact. This includes biological and physical strategies, host plant resistance, and novel technologies for pest monitoring, offering valuable insights to farmers, growers, and gardeners.

Professor Collier said, 鈥淚鈥檓 extremely pleased and proud to be awarded this honour. I consider myself very fortunate to work in an area that combines my personal and professional passions for animals, plants, the natural environment, and food.

鈥淭hroughout my career, I鈥檝e had the privilege to work with exceptional colleagues and engage with the UK鈥檚 fresh produce industry, which contributes significantly to national health and happiness鈥�.

Epidemiologist Dr Matt Combes was recently interviewed for the Guardian about Ash die-back in the UK and the scientific efforts to protect ash trees. The publication highlights Matt's review article on ash die-back and his more recent work at Warwick modelling the severity of the disease and how this may interact with the emerald ash borer beetle. The modelling is part of the (Surveillance and Management of multiple Risks to Treescapes: Integrating Epidemiology and Stakeholder behaviour) project.
(20 December 2024).
Photograph: Andy Soloman/Alamy

Two doctoral training programmes led and supported by the 神马福利影片 are to receive fresh funding from UK Research and Innovation:

• Midlands Integrative Bioscience Training Partnership (MIBTP)
• Central England NERC Training Alliance (CENTA)

The investments in both programmes are part of a 拢500 million investment package announced by UKRI to support doctoral students to develop their skills and experience across the biological and environmental sciences at their respective institutions.

Press Release (9 December 2024)

Master's student Ellie Cameron is one of four individuals across the UK who were selected to receive a postgraduate agricultural bursary for NFU Mutual鈥檚 2024 Centenary Award. The award will support Ellie in her MSc in Food Security.

The Centenary Award was launched by rural insurer NFU Mutual to celebrate its 100^th anniversary in 2010; to support agricultural leaders of the future, and champion research and innovation within the industry. It provides annual bursaries to pay up to 75% of course fees for selected postgraduate students in agriculture. To select the award recipients, the judging panel looked for applicants who are not only excellent academic performers, but also have a real passion for UK agriculture and demonstrate potential to become a future industry leader.

(December 2024).

'Communities within a Community - Life based on the Invisible' is a new artwork suspended above the lower ground floor of the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building at The 神马福利影片. The set of five canvases are the result of a collaboration between the sculptor Suse Stoisser and Emeritus Professor Elizabeth Wellington.

We are recruiting 3 full time, permanent Assistant or Associate Professors to join our dynamic research and teaching environment.

• Plant Sciences (x2)
• Host-Pathogen Interactions (x1)

Applications close on Sunday 15 December 2024.

Find out more and apply

Meet Dr Sarah Bennett from the School of Life Sciences - who's shortlisted for 'Outstanding Technician of the Year' in the Times Higher Education Awards! Sarah's been recognised for her exceptional leadership and innovation - so we caught up with her to find out more about her work.
See the interview (6 November 2024)