Come and find out all about the amazing world of stem cells. Look after your own flask of stem cells in our stem cell pet experiment; race to the finish line in our stem cell board game; view some short stem cell films and talk to researchers working in the field about the latest advances. Adults can also win a tour of the Stem Cell Institute, led by one of our top researchers. Event: 76
Don’t just be a statistic, be informed Come and learn how we collect medical data and analyse it using statistics to improve public health. Join the MRC Biostatistics Unit to test your reaction time, see how random you are and weigh up the evidence. Event: 77
Our immune system decides Micro-organisms like bacteria are everywhere! Our immune system protects us from harmful invaders, for example by making antibodies. However we rely on beneficial microorganisms living on the surfaces of our bodies. Scientists from the Babraham Institute explain how our immune system responds appropriately and distinguishes from ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria and how lifestyle influences this. Event: 78
Fat, fitness and metabolism...how you can take part in clinical research Clinical research comes in many forms from cancer drug trials to a simple blood test. At the NIHR/Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility within Addenbrooke’s Hospital we do exactly this, but we also need healthy adults and children to help us find out about normal body fat, fitness and metabolism. This helps us to understand, recognise and treat metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. Event: 79
SATURDAY ONLY
From EPIC Patterns to better health Looking at patterns in the population allows us to understand the links between diet, lifestyle and health. Help us build Lego® graphs of grip-strength to see patterns in the Science Festival 2014 population! Explore balanced diets on our giant EPIC plate and experience for yourself the eye conditions we’ve been investigating in the EPIC project in the Department of Public Health and Primary Care. Event: 80 SATURDAY ONLY (11AM – 3PM)
Bottle your genes Students from Long Road Sixth Form College and the Faculty of Education will help you to extract DNA from your own cheek cells. You will be able to see your own DNA – the molecule that makes you who you are – and take it home with you! Event: 81 SATURDAY ONLY
Antibody angling: discovery of new medicines using phage display Join MedImmune scientists and learn how we find new antibody medicines by using viruses which grow only in bacteria. We make huge libraries of these viruses containing DNA coding for antibody proteins displayed on the surface and find those that bind to disease target molecules. Our activity involves building a model of a virus displaying an antibody and showing binding to a ‘therapeutic’ target. Event: 82 SUNDAY ONLY
Making medicines from A to Z Learn how Astrazeneca scientists discover and develop new medicines. In this interactive experience, explore how chemistry and 3D modelling are used in the design and build of new drugs then explore how these drugs, alone or in combination, are tested in humans to treat diseases such as cancer. As our drug discovery train shows however, the path to success can be complicated. Event: 83
Booking line open 10am – 4.30pm, Mon – Fri. Bookings close 24 hours before the event
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Science on Saturday
Stem cell discoveries