Sanger Life Archives - Wellcome Sanger Institute Blog

Science at scale, sustainability in action

2026-04-29T16:25:21+01:0029 April 2026|

Our research changes the world for the better, and so should the way we do it. Explore how the Wellcome Sanger Institute embeds sustainability and care for the environment at the heart of its scientific work.

Driving research through lab automation

2026-04-23T13:42:24+01:0023 April 2026|

What do robots, genomics and a lot of very precise pipetting have in common? At the Wellcome Sanger Institute, they are all part of a normal day’s work for Shelly-Ann Coutts, Advanced Laboratory Automation Specialist, who helps keep the science moving by automating tasks within the lab.

Slicing and dicing samples to unlock what is beneath

2026-03-02T17:12:28+00:003 March 2026|

Histologists are the people who make the invisible visible. While their work often happens quietly behind the scenes, it is essential to everything from basic biology to scientific breakthroughs. These are the unsung heroes of the lab – and Yvette Hooks, Senior Technical Specialist at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, is no exception.

“I am reborn as a wannabe population geneticist”: Jukka Corander on modelling bacterial dynamics, keeping an open mind and over 40s raves

2026-02-23T11:21:13+00:0024 February 2026|

Step inside the world of Professor Jukka Corander, Associate Faculty at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. From exploring the wonders of nature to investigating the tiny organisms that inhabit it, Jukka is guided by an insatiable curiosity.

Exonerating the exon: what happens when the genome loses its instructions?

2026-02-19T17:13:27+00:0020 February 2026|

Dr Britt Hanson, Postdoctoral Fellow, tells us about hitting the “delete all” button on the blueprint of life as she works at the forefront of generative and synthetic genomics.

Building a resource to trace early human development

2026-01-19T10:21:27+00:0021 January 2026|

From looking at the human body down the microscope to writing code; Manas Dave is using his range of skills to create a resource that will help inform our understanding of the origins of human development.

Growing tiny placentas to unlock the mysteries of pregnancy

2026-01-02T11:10:36+00:0016 December 2025|

Scientist by day, nature-lover by weekend – in Alisha Dordi’s hands, stem cells become organoids, and the lab becomes a window into life itself.

How to get grant funding: Expert advice for a successful application

2025-11-24T14:05:50+00:0026 November 2025|

Securing grant funding can feel like a maze. We share practical tips drawn from successful applications to help you turn a great idea into a funded project.

Unravelling the mysteries of the worm through bioinformatics

2025-11-19T15:46:00+00:0020 November 2025|

Meet the next generation of genomic scientists who are benefiting from the Wellcome Sanger Institute founder, John Sulston's legacy. Beatriz Rodrigues Estevam was awarded the Sanger Prize in 2024, and joined the Tree of Life Programme to work alongside Mark Blaxter’s research group. During her three-month Sanger Prize placement, she is building data pipelines while learning and adapting new techniques for researchers to study the fascinating biology of nematode worms.