Articles
Thinking through livelihood: How a peasantry of princely Rājpuţāna became educated and activist rural citizens of Rajasthan, India
R. Thomas Rosin, Professor Emeritus, explores how folk knowledge and partnerships among tenant farmers in the desert region of Rajasthan, India supported peasant activism and rebellion in the decades around Indian Independence. Demanding livelihoods involving computation and ethno-hydrology prepared them for formal education. Gandhi’s Satyagraha (non-violent resistance) campaigns in British India inspired them as citizens to overturn their domination as […]
Off-the-shelf immunotherapy could lead to more accessible cancer treatment
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that harnesses the immune system to destroy cancerous cells. Dr Li Zhang and colleagues at Toronto General Hospital Research Institute and the University of Toronto, are pioneering a new type of “off-the-shelf” treatment using a type of immune cell—a double negative T (DNT) cell. Dr Zhang‘s work shows that DNT cells are a […]
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Post-quantum secure encryption and cybersecurity education
Encryption systems that are capable of surviving quantum computer attacks are urgently required, but the cybersecurity talent gap militates against securing cyberinfrastructure. Dr Aydin Aysu, Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University, is advancing the research and teaching of post-quantum secure encryption. He has developed a quantum-secure encryption system together with a new graduate program on hardware security and is […]
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How treatment epidemiology can shape future healthcare research
Dr Aisling Caffrey is an Associate Professor of Health Outcomes at the College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island. For over a decade, Dr Caffrey has been studying the treatment of diseases in real-world clinical practice, an area Dr Caffrey has termed ‘treatment epidemiology’. Dr Caffrey’s expertise is in comparative effectiveness and safety research, where she studies the benefits and harms of healthcare interventions, […]
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The role of CD83: Autoimmunity, transplantation and beyond
Professor Alexander Steinkasserer is based at the Department of Immune Modulation, University Hospital, Erlangen. His research interests are focused on the immune system, with the long-term aim to develop new therapeutic strategies for patients suffering from autoimmune disorders or in need of transplantation. Along with his colleagues at the department of Immune Modulation, Professor Steinkasserer has shed much light on […]
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Proteomics reveals new possibilities in the fight against infection
The work of Dr Jennifer Geddes-McAlister at the University of Guelph investigates the interactions between hosts and pathogens to uncover new treatment options to combat infections. Her lab uses a range of techniques centered around proteomics, the study of proteins, to progress knowledge of fungal and bacterial infections in humans and agricultural crops. The results of this research can be […]
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Subcellular dissection of plant immunity towards bacteria
In the plant kingdom, disease is an exception rather than a rule. That is because plants have an immune system. A plants’ immune system consists of several signalling pathways that act together to counteract microbial pathogens. However, there is not enough known about the subcellular pathways that allow proteins to move within and out of the plant cell and ward […]
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A Foundation for the future: How the Medical Research Foundation is looking long-term in its medical research funding
The Medical Research Foundation (the Medical Research Council’s charitable foundation) believes that investing in long-term research projects – research that will not just be valuable now but also beneficial later – is the key to effective medical advancement. The Foundation steps in to fund the most promising health research that will make the biggest difference, filling gaps left by institutions […]
Save Frankincense: Overharvesting of a precious commodity and approaches to ensure sustainability
In Somaliland, a northern area of Somalia that operates as an independent country, many of the population rely on frankincense for income. Frankincense is a resin derived from the Boswellia tree. However, the trees are being overharvested, and locals have found themselves in a poverty trap. Despite a huge increase in the price of frankincense on the global market, harvesters […]
Psychedelic psychotherapy: The answer to addiction?
The use of psychedelics as a tool to aid psychotherapy is controversial, even in 2020. But some psychiatrists think psychedelics could be used effectively and safely to enhance the treatment of patients with a range of mental health issues. Consultant psychiatrist Ben Sessa is one such doctor, and he has been conducting research and gathering evidence in this area since […]
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