Health & Medicine
Alcohol overuse: cutting to the bone
Building on several decades of research, Dr Martin Ronis, a Professor at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans explores the effects of alcohol on bone turnover. His current research aims to better understand the molecular basis for the toxic effects of alcohol, particularly in women, with a view to uncovering vital therapeutic targets to prevent bone loss. As […]
The epigenetic effects of adverse early-life experiences
Environmental factors interact with genetics in driving living organisms’ development throughout life. Epigenetics is the field of study that explores this interaction, as well as its potential effects on individuals’ behaviour and health. Dr Tania Roth, working at the University of Delaware in Newark, USA, carried out extensive research exploring the impact of the environment, particularly stress factors, on individual […]
A new terahertz medical imaging tool could provide early detection of corneal disease
Recent research in medical imaging found that tools based on terahertz (THz) frequency illumination could help map the distribution and movement of water near the surface of body tissues. Dr Warren Grundfest and Dr Zachary Taylor, at The UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, are developing a new imaging tool for non-contact high-resolution measurements of corneal hydration. […]
Unveiling the neurobiological processes behind cognitive control
The biological underpinnings of human mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge, processing information and understanding experiences, have been substantially investigated throughout the years. Prof Christian Beste, working at University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, in Dresden, Germany, has carried out extensive research to try and understand the neural underpinnings of human goal-directed behaviour. His studies are based both on clinical and […]
Dual origins of tissue macrophages
Macrophages – large white blood cells that play a role in tissue homeostasis and immunity – have long been thought to derive solely from monocyte cells in the circulating blood. Accumulating evidence now shows that a large proportion of the macrophage populations ‘resident’ within tissues is in fact derived during embryonic development, independent of monocytes. Professor Christian Schulz from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat, […]
The dangers of sleep disordered breathing in pregnancy
Professor Ghada Bourjeily and her team from Brown University are focusing their research efforts on understanding the manifestation of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in pregnancy and the consequent impact on maternal and foetal health. We spend one third of our life sleeping. As we rest, damaged tissues are repaired and cognitive function and energy levels are restored in preparation for […]
New hope for muscular dystrophy treatment
Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a family of genetic diseases which cause muscular weakness. Their severity varies but all are progressive and many are ultimately terminal. Until now, therapy options have been purely palliative, treating only the symptoms of MD. Dr Ahlke Heydemann of the University of Illinois at Chicago is developing new and more effective treatments. Her current work focuses […]
A career in cancer
Dr Bruce Zetter is the Charles Nowiszewski Professor of Cancer Biology at Harvard Medical School. He is known internationally as an expert on cancer biology, diagnosis and treatment. He currently works to find treatments for highly aggressive, metastatic cancers and also serves as an advocate for young scientists and for improved relationships between academia and industry. Dr Bruce Zetter started […]
Helping patients put their best foot forward
Dr Gillian Hawker of the University of Toronto is helping potential knee replacement patients to make informed decisions about their health. As an increasing number of us require joint replacement, Dr Hawker seeks to make sure that only those who are best suited will undergo surgery. By developing standardised patient assessment criteria for knee surgery, Dr Hawker is striving to […]
Virtual navigation exposes the reality of Alzheimer’s disease onset
Prof Zahra Moussavi from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Manitoba in Canada has developed a novel method of assessing patients for Alzheimer’s disease. Using a virtual reality environment to measure spatial awareness, she has shown key differences between control and patient groups, leading to pilot studies for effective early treatment. Prof Zahra Moussavi became interested in early […]