On Aug. 12, 2026, the Medical Research Council (MRC) announced a £20 million investment in a new Pre-clinical Translational Models Hub, led by the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute (CSCI), which will transform the development and testing of new medicines by advancing the use of human-based models and artificial intelligence (AI).

The Hub will bring together expertise in advanced human in vitro models, including organoids and other stem cell-derived systems, AI-powered approaches, bioengineering and clinical research to create more accurate and predictive ways of studying human disease and evaluating potential treatments before they reach patients.

Working with hospitals, research institutes and industry partners across Cambridge and the UK, they will establish a national network dedicated to developing, validating and accelerating the adoption of next-generation preclinical models. The Hub will enable researchers, clinicians and companies across the UK to access human-based platforms that better reflect human biology and improve the development of new therapies.

Organoids and other advanced human models have become a major focus of stem cell biology since the field emerged in 2009, and CSCI has played a leading role in developing this area. Researchers across the Institute have contributed to advances in organoid technology, stem cell biology and disease modelling.

By combining expertise across stem cell biology, organoids, bioengineering, artificial intelligence, computational modelling and pharmaceutical collaboration, the Hub aims to become a national resource for academia, the National Health Service and industry, supporting the development of more effective and safer treatments for patients.