Two of the CMR's research group leaders are volunteering their time and expertise to help the government ramp up COVID-19 diagnostics. Dr James Whiteford and Dr Neil Dufton are both assisting in the Milton Keynes diagnostic 'Lighthouse Lab'. This specialist lab has been set up in three weeks through the support of volunteer scientists, the Ministry of Defence, and equipment loaned by the local scientific community. Dr Whiteford and Dr Dufton can be spotted in an ITV News piece, explaining how the lab aims to push diagnostic capacity up to 100,000 tests per day.

The latest research from the Nourshargh lab has been published, which demonstrates that increased microvascular leakage reverses the localization of directional cues across venular walls, thus causing neutrophils engaged in diapedesis to reenter the systemic circulation. This offers a mechanism to explain how local tissue inflammation and vascular permeability can induce downstream pathological effects in remote organs.

We are thrilled to celebrate Dr Anna Barkaway's graduation! Anna received her doctorate for her work in Prof. Sussan Nourshargh's team researching the mechanisms behind neutrophil migration.