COVID-19 Archives

Improved formulations of nicotinamide riboside: A promising treatment for age-related disorders

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an array of samples of nicotinamide riboside

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a co-enzyme involved in fundamental metabolic roles. Its levels decrease with aging, causing the development of age-related pathologies. NAD+ levels can be replenished by the intake of nicotinamide riboside (NR), a vitamin B3 analogue, which is naturally converted to NAD+. Regular use of NR supplementation is associated with improved outcomes in several cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and […]

Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund: Cutting-edge regenerative medicine

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The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MCSRF) is devoted to developing and supporting innovative research into all aspects of stem-cell-based technologies. Through its diverse program structure, the MSCRF is intimately involved in every stage of the stem cell journey – from pre-clinical lab discovery to clinical patient trials. Importantly, it remains forward thinking, ensuring the next generation of researchers have […]

Aerosolised medicines may reduce the high risk of coronavirus infection

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Rapid development of vaccines and other preventative measures has been vital in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Michael Dubina, full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, explores a novel method to reduce coronavirus infection risk. His pilot study explored the effects of an aerosolised combination medication in healthcare workers who had not previously been infected with the […]

Integrating social media and CSR into strategic planning for a competitive advantage

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The current theory for strategic planning involves assessing the business environment and identifying key assets within an organisation. Social media and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are currently considered unnecessary in strategy formulation. However, research conducted by Dr Gordon Bowen, associate lecturer at Northumbria University amongst other institutions, indicates that incorporating social media and CSR into an organisation’s strategy can allow […]

Lateral flow test detects SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies

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Novodiax Inc., under the guidance of Dr Jianfu Wang, has produced a novel lateral flow device called CoNAb. The device detects neutralising antibodies (NAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for COVID-19). Measuring NAbs is important to help us determine whether vaccination programmes are effective by measuring the level of immunity of vaccine recipients. They are also a vital tool for […]

The Winton Centre: A vital time for nuanced risk communication

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The Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication, based at the University of Cambridge, UK, was established with a simple belief: that everyone deserves to hear accurate evidence concerning matters which are important to their lives. Never has this core tenet been so vital, or so widely scrutinised, as during the COVID-19 pandemic. We spoke with the Centre’s Executive Director, […]

Scientific communication: Learning from the COVID-19 ‘Infodemic’

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The COVID-19 pandemic has taken place in an age of rapid digital communication. Scientific voices can become lost in the noise. Worse, some were not accessible to the general public in the first place. On 7th December 2020, Project ECHO held a Global Series webinar: “COVID-19 global learning collaborative – science and the response to the COVID-19 ‘infodemic’”. The goal […]

Statistics in the era of COVID-19: Measuring lockdowns with doubling time

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The key to understanding SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) transmission is understanding the exponential growth of viral transmissions. The problem is that the concept of exponential growth is challenging for many to understand and interpret, including policymakers who need to make quick and informed decisions. Dr Biljana Stangeland, Executive Director/Chief Scientific Officer at Alv B, Norway, has been using doubling time – the […]

Encephalitis – when viral infections attack the brain

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Professor Clayton Wiley from the University of Pittsburgh studies the emergence of new brain viral infections and their link to dementia. He examines encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain tissue that disrupts brain function and causes symptoms of variable severity, such as headache, fever, confusion, altered consciousness, loss of a sense, memory problems, trouble focusing or speaking, or even seizures. […]

To Test, Or Not To Test – The COVID-19 Question

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The research showed that countries with a higher health expenditure identify more positive cases and deaths.

Dr Cristina Isabel Ibarra-Armenta is a lecturer at the Autonomous University of Sinaloa and UNICAF University. Dr Moisés Alejandro Alarcon-Osuna is a lecturer at the University of Guadalajara, and a member of the Mexican System of National Researchers from CONACYT (National Council for Science and Technology). Their research focuses on econometrics, regional analysis, and policy and technology change. In a […]