The Milner Institute was delighted to take part in two Cambridge Festival events again this year. Held each spring, the Festival features a mix of online, on-demand, and in-person events, showcasing the groundbreaking research taking place across Cambridge.
On 22 March, we joined CRUK Cambridge Centre at their annual “Get hands-on with cancer research in Cambridge” event, where scientists and clinicians from across the Centre’s programmes and affiliated institutes ran a series of interactive learning activities.
Milner Head of Research, Nicola McCarthy – along with colleagues Li Ma and Anke Husmann – illustrated how artificial intelligence (AI) can search through thousands of DNA letters to identify data patterns that can be used to identify new treatments for cancer. Using an online game called “Quick, Draw!”, they explained how a neural network – an AI method where computers ‘learn’ in ways that mimic aspects of human learning – tries to guess what you’re drawing by looking back at a stored memory of previous drawings and trying to find a match. The game proved popular among children and adults alike, and was a fantastic way to demonstrate how AI is being used to identify new treatments for cancer.
We also enjoyed the opportunity to showcase our in-house research at a Cambridge Festival seminar on 27 March. Drs Erica Bello and Namshik Han, who lead the Milner Institute’s Target Discovery and Computational Biology and AI teams, respectively, presented talks to show how we can translate research into therapies using genetic approaches in human models of disease, computer science and AI. Erica and Namshik used case studies and examples of their current research collaborations to highlight the importance of academia and industry combining to accelerate the development of therapies. The talks were followed by lots of questions and discussion from the audience, and it was fantastic to make some new connections at the event.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the events a success – we look forward to taking part in the Cambridge Festival again next year!
