Abstract Each year the Biochemical Society makes a series of prestigious awards that recognise excellence and achievement in both specific and general fields of science. In 2026, Dr Nick Riley, Assistant Professor at the University of Washington, USA, was a recipient of an Early Career Research Award recognising his innovative research into glycoproteome regulation and commitment to supporting the next generation of scientists.
Abstract For over a decade, the Biochemical Society has supported In2scienceUK through a donation to their programmes. The partnership was introduced in 2012 to provide an avenue for the Society to broaden their collaboration with others in the STEM space, supporting those early in their careers. This opportunity has allowed us to align and strengthen our commitments to creating a diverse and inclusive STEM workforce to demonstrate the positive impact of collaboration in the sector. Since the beginning of the partnership, the Society has contributed over £29,000 to In2scienceUK to fund their work with the community and support their outreach and engagement projects.
Abstract We’re delighted to share with you this August the exciting developments that have been taking place within the Society.
Abstract Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most serious threats to global public health, undermining decades of progress in the treatment of infectious diseases. The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens, particularly in hospital-associated infections, has outpaced the development of new antibiotics with unique chemical structures. Thus, the need for alternative strategies that do not solely rely on discovering novel compounds is required. But is this possible? One such approach is the use of non-antibiotic drugs, in which agents originally developed for unrelated clinical purposes are repurposed to enhance the activity of existing antibiotics.
Abstract Antibiotics have transformed modern life. They help us treat bacterial infections that were once deadly, make surgery and cancer care safer, support transplantation, protect animal health, and contribute to food production. Antimicrobials more broadly also help us manage infections across people, animals, plants, and the environment. But every time these medicines are used, microorganisms are given a chance to adapt. Over time, some bacteria, fungi, and other microbes can stop responding to the treatments that once controlled them. This is antimicrobial resistance. Because resistant microbes and resistance genes can move between humans, animals, plants, and the shared environment, antimicrobial resistance is a One Health challenge. It is a shared risk, and tackling it requires shared responsibility. This article explores how we can all contribute through stewardship, infection prevention, surveillance, and better diagnostics, which can help protect the medicines we already have. It also looks to nature for new answers, including microbiome-derived antimicrobial peptides such as Lynronnes. By working together across One Health, and by learning from nature’s own molecular toolkit, we can help keep antibiotics working for the future.
Abstract Recent advances in biomedical research have increased demand for experimental systems capable of capturing human biological processes with greater physiological relevance than traditional approaches. However, direct investigation of cellular dynamics remains constrained by the invasive nature of many methodologies, the limited viability of human tissue samples, and the translational shortcomings of animal models. Organoid technology has emerged as a powerful alternative, enabling the generation of three-dimensional tissue-like structures from pluripotent or adult stem cells that reproduce key structural and functional characteristics of native organs. Through self-organisation and preservation of donor-specific genetic information, organoids provide physiologically representative platforms for studying disease mechanisms, host–pathogen interactions, therapeutic responses, and interindividual variation. The present narrative review outlines the scientific foundations underpinning organoid development, tracing their emergence from advances in tissue engineering and three-dimensional culture systems. The limitations of conventional in vitro and in vivo models are examined alongside the advantages offered by organoid platforms for long-term investigation of human physiology and pathology. Particular emphasis is placed on their growing role in precision medicine, including disease modelling, drug discovery, toxicity assessment, and patient stratification. Emerging applications in regenerative medicine and transplantation are also discussed, together with current technical challenges such as vascularisation and tissue integration. Collectively, organoid systems represent a transformative tool for biomedical research, offering new opportunities to improve and personalise therapeutic strategies, ultimately advancing translational medicine.
Abstract For many students eager to pursue a career within the life sciences, the transition from education to employment is marked by uncertainty and fragmentation. This comes as a result of a lack of guidance on how to navigate the overwhelming number of career opportunities and information across many platforms. This challenge is exacerbated for those already facing structural barriers, which create unequal access to opportunities. While the sector continues to grow and diversify, access to early career pathways often depends less on ability and more on awareness, networks and timing. In the present article, we reflect on our experiences as undergraduate students navigating this landscape and explore the systemic barriers that shape early career outcomes. Drawing on first-hand insights, market research and engagement with a variety of students, universities and professional bodies, we examine how current systems for discovering and applying for opportunities fall short. We also highlight the growing importance of accessibility and transparency in widening the talent pool and how tailored and personalised recruitment solutions such as Vitae can shape a more equitable future for early-career talent. Finally, we reflect on the role our student-led project (Vitae) can play in addressing these challenges and outline how technology-driven solutions can support a more inclusive and efficient early careers ecosystem. By rethinking how opportunities are surfaced and accessed, there is the potential to unlock talent that might otherwise remain overlooked.
Abstract U.K. higher education is facing growing financial strain driven by the compounding impact of frozen tuition fees, rising costs, and restrictions to international student recruitment. Chronic underfunding has been forcing universities to enact drastic cost-cutting measures such as institutional restructures, cuts to teaching and research budgets, staff redundancies, and increased workloads. These pressures particularly affect biosciences courses due to their requirement for specialist facilities, dedicated technical staff, and ongoing investment in equipment and consumables. The present article reflects on how budgetary and staffing strains are affecting teaching, learning, and student experience in the biosciences. In particular, it highlights the impact of staff cuts and overwork on students’ skills development, training opportunities, and sense of belonging. Finally, the present article argues that staff retention and development underpin not only student experience in the short term but also the long-term sustainability of research and innovation at the national level; it therefore recommends that political and educational leaders should reframe staff support not as one of the costs to be cut but as a profitable investment in the future of the higher education sector.
Abstract Jen Adcott joined the Henry Royce Institute in 2022 and is a technical specialist working with Biomaterials at the University of Manchester in the Royce Hub building. With over 15 years of experience in technical roles, Jen provides valuable insight and support for a varied technical role in a shared research facility. With a background in molecular biology and imaging, at Royce Jen is the main technical specialist supporting three key areas: the Bioprinting Technology Platform; the Dynamic 3D stimulus, bioreactor, and microfluidics (DsBM) technology platform; and SEM imaging and EDS analysis.
Abstract Each year, the Biochemical Society presents a series of prestigious awards that recognise excellence and achievement in both specific and general fields of science. Candidates are nominated by their peers, and the winners are agreed upon by a judging panel of respected scientists from across a range of different scientific backgrounds.
Abstract Vaccine hesitancy remains one of the World Health Organization’s top global health threats, and anti-vaccine narratives continue to be among the most enduring and prominent forms of medical misinformation. Historically and in more recent public rhetoric, misleading and unfounded claims questioning the necessity, efficacy, and safety of vaccines have shaped public perceptions of vaccination and placed those who develop and deliver vaccines under intense scrutiny. This is not a new phenomenon: resistance to vaccination has been documented for centuries, from opposition to smallpox inoculation in 19th-century Europe to early 20th-century debates over polio vaccines. Across these different contexts, public responses to vaccination have rarely been shaped by evidence alone.
Abstract The transition from linear, manual-heavy lab instruction to interactive, nonlinear storytelling offers several advantages for biochemistry education. Traditional training models for beginners often fail to capture the decision-driven reality of recombinant protein production, where each protein has unique behaviors and properties that cannot always be addressed using standard protocols. The present article explores the implementation of the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ (CYOA) model within the Biochemical Society’s Engineering Recombinant Proteins (ERP) national training course. With Twine, an open-source digital tool, we have developed an approach that allows researchers to navigate bespoke experimental pathways and experience ‘low-risk failure.’ This interactive framework lays the foundation for using more advanced technical resources and handbooks. Our approach has allowed us to have increased delegate engagement and confidence, providing long-term resource access with iterative content updates. The present article introduces and explores interactive storytelling for teaching protein expression and purification, and we hope this tool will help equip the next generation of researchers to master the complexities of recombinant protein production. The links and files for the most recent CYOA versions can be found through our Zenodo page, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18712788.
Abstract Geoff Gibbons died in March at the age of 83. He was a metabolic biochemist whose early grounding in steroid chemistry laid the path for a research career that later led to his appointment as Professor of Human Metabolism at the University of Oxford. He will be fondly remembered by the many people who worked with him, cycled with him and drank beer with him, as well as by his loving family. Never a stuffy academic, Geoff always gave the appearance of a laid-back, affable friend, an appearance that belied his deep knowledge of lipids and their metabolism.
Abstract Non-invasive vaccine delivery is rapidly emerging as one of the most promising ways to improve global immunisation. While most current vaccines require needles, trained professionals, and strict waste-management processes, alternatives such as mucosal and transdermal systems aim to make vaccination more accessible and patient friendly. Among these, microarray patches stand out for their ability to deliver vaccines directly into the skin, a large tissue rich in immune cells, without causing pain or bleeding. Coated microneedle technologies have already demonstrated strong immune responses and dose-sparing potential, while dissolving microneedle patches eliminates sharp waste entirely. Recent clinical breakthroughs, including the first phase 1/2 trial of a dissolving measles–rubella patch in infants and toddlers, show that these technologies can match the performance of injected vaccines while offering easier administration and reduced cold-chain dependence. Key challenges remain, including large-scale manufacturing, ensuring antigen stability through fabrication and distribution, and navigating regulatory pathways, but microneedle-based vaccines are now closer than ever to clinical reality and could reshape how the world delivers immunisation.
Abstract Live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) are microorganisms intended to prevent and treat diseases, and there is a growing interest in genetically engineering LBPs to deliver therapeutics to their hosts. LBPs have shown preclinical effectiveness in diagnosing and treating multiple diseases, including in clinical trials. Bacterial LBPs that persist in the gut show potential for more consistent and prolonged drug delivery, which can be especially important for neuromodulatory drugs, whose activity can be highly concentration-dependent. For example, treatment of Parkinson’s disease, a debilitating neurodegenerative disease that affects movement, requires external dopamine supplementation in the form of levodopa (L-DOPA) to improve symptoms. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of L-DOPA wanes as a patient’s tolerance narrows with disease progression. Continuous L-DOPA delivery is needed to maintain motor control in late-stage PD. To determine whether LBPs could be a solution, the probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 was engineered to produce L-DOPA. Pre-clinical results showed promise, as oral delivery yielded sufficient levels of L-DOPA to improve motor function in both sexes of a mouse model of PD, without the side effects of chemical L-DOPA. Given the safety and efficacy of this approach, we propose that LBPs may yield new treatment options for other neurodegenerative diseases.
