News
Empowering Futures in Research: Reflections on the Henrietta Lacks Studentship
18 June 2025
As part of the University of Bristol’s ongoing commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in science, researchers in the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine recently hosted two students, Ozioma Onyeama (Cellular and Molecular Medicine BSc) and Shemaiah Morris-Springer (Virology and Immunology MSci), for a six-week rotation programme under the Henrietta Lacks Studentship. This initiative provides undergraduate students of Black or Black mixed heritage with the opportunity to explore the world of academic research through immersive lab placements and mentorship.
In this article, Ozioma and Shemaiah share their personal reflections on the experience, the impact it had on their aspirations, and the importance of initiatives that address representation in science.
- Empowering Futures in Research: Reflections on the Henrietta Lacks Studentship 18 June 2025 As part of the University of Bristol’s ongoing commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in science, researchers in the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine recently hosted two students, Ozioma Onyeama (Cellular and Molecular Medicine BSc) and Shemaiah Morris-Springer (Virology and Immunology MSci), for a six-week rotation programme under the Henrietta Lacks Studentship. This initiative provides undergraduate students of Black or Black mixed heritage with the opportunity to explore the world of academic research through immersive lab placements and mentorship. In this article, Ozioma and Shemaiah share their personal reflections on the experience, the impact it had on their aspirations, and the importance of initiatives that address representation in science.
- Professor Eugenia Piddini has been elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowship 24 May 2024 Professor Eugenia Piddini has been elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences’ respected and influential Fellowship. She joins 58 exceptional biomedical and health scientists selected for their exceptional contributions to the advancement of medical science.
- Professor Sir Anthony Epstein CBE FRS, 1921-2024 22 February 2024 Professor Sir Anthony Epstein has passed away aged 102. Dr Darryl Hill, Head of the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, offers a remembrance.
- University of Bristol stem cell spinout secures £7.6m seed funding 18 January 2024 CellVoyant, an AI-first biotechnology spin-out from the University of Bristol accelerating the development of new stem cell therapies, has announced a £7.6 million seed round.
- Henrietta Lacks Studentship 4 January 2024 The School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine was delighted to host two undergraduate students in November and December 2023 as part of the Henrietta Lacks Studentship programme. The programme is part of the University of Bristol’s Henrietta Lacks statue project and was supported by a philanthropic donation. It aims to address the lack of representation of the Black community at postgraduate level by supporting undergraduate students of Black heritage to gain paid experience in labs as they consider pursuing a career in research.
- Wellcome Trust Awards £3.1 Million to Bristol Researcher for Stem Cell Biology Research 4 January 2024 Dr. Bethan Lloyd-Lewis, a Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow at the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (CMM), has been awarded a £3.1 million fellowship from the Wellcome Trust to lead research into the regulatory mechanisms influencing stem cell fate decisions during organ development and cancer.
- Sir Paul Nurse OM CH FRS presents CMM Sir Anthony Epstein Lecture 2023 18 December 2023 The School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine welcomed Sir Paul Nurse OM CH FRS for the Annual Sir Anthony Epstein Lecture.
- Feeding dogs raw meat increases the risk of antibiotic-resistant E. coli 21 November 2023 Feeding dogs raw (uncooked) meat increases their risk of excreting E. coli that cannot be killed by a widely used antibiotic - ciprofloxacin - researchers at the University of Bristol have found from a study of 600 healthy pet dogs.
- Pioneering new childhood cancer research projects announced by The Little Princess Trust 28 September 2023 The Little Princess Trust has announced funding of three ground breaking childhood cancer research projects including a new University of Bristol-led study that will investigate how protein production is changed in childhood cancer cells.
- Spotlight Series: Dr Parthive Patel 18 September 2023 As part of our CMM Spotlight Series, PhD students' Dora Bonini and Michaela Gregorova interview Dr Parthive Patel - a Sir Henry Dale Research Fellow in CMM.