Medical & Health Sciences

Douglas M. Bowden – Dwight C. German | How the Brain Gives Colour to Our Emotional Life

Douglas M. Bowden – Dwight C. German | How the Brain Gives Colour to Our Emotional Life

Dr Douglas Bowden (University of Washington School of Medicine) and Dr Dwight German (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) recently published an important study shedding new light on the role of dopamine in emotional experience. Placing their intriguing findings into the context of what was already known about dopamine and the primate brain, they proposed a new conceptual framework – the brain as a neurobehavioural control system. This extensive integration of their findings in the monkey with a wealth of neuroscientific knowledge regarding neural mechanisms of human psychological processes provides new insights into the spectrum of emotional experience.

Dr Sangya Agarwal | Improving Treatment for Blood Cancers

Dr Sangya Agarwal | Improving Treatment for Blood Cancers

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy can be highly effective in treating different types of blood cancer, but unfortunately, it does not work for all patients. Dr Sangya Agarwal worked in Dr Carl H June’s laboratory at the Univer-sity of Pennsylvania to improve the efficacy of CAR T cell therapy to maximise the success of this personalised cancer treatment for the benefit of a greater number of patients.

Dr Chantal Thibert – Dr Sakina Torch – Dr Marc Billaud | Novel Discoveries in Neural Crest Stem Cell Development

Dr Chantal Thibert – Dr Sakina Torch – Dr Marc Billaud | Novel Discoveries in Neural Crest Stem Cell Development

Neural Crest Cells (NCCs) are a population of embryonic stem cells from which a wide range of cell types are generated, including those associated with the development of facial bones, skin pigmentation, and nerves. Drs Chantal Thibert, Sakina Torch, and Marc Billaud have investigated the regulation of NCC formation and differentiation at the Institute for Advanced Biosciences at the University Grenoble Alpes, describing the recently discovered underlying mechanistic processes and how this knowledge can inform the development of novel therapeutic interventions.

Evaluating Age-Related Macular Degeneration Outcomes with Novel Therapies

Evaluating Age-Related Macular Degeneration Outcomes with Novel Therapies

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a global health concern which can severely impact the quality of life(QoL) of patients. Extensive research has focussed on managing AMD, but there is a marked disparity in the treatment outcomes achieved in stringently controlled clinical trials and real-world settings. Members of the Translational Asian Age-related Macular Degeneration Program (TAAP) at the Singapore Eye Research Institute are continuing their vital work investigating the impact of different treatment regimens on patient outcomes.

Dr Joseph Butner – Dr Zhihui Wang | Creating a Mathematical Model to Help the Fight Against Cancer

Dr Joseph Butner – Dr Zhihui Wang | Creating a Mathematical Model to Help the Fight Against Cancer

Developing new ways to tackle cancer is an ongoing challenge for scientists. Recently developed immunotherapy treatments can use the patient’s own immune system against the cancer, but unfortunately, these are not effective for all patients. Dr Joseph Butner from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Dr Zhihui Wang from the Houston Methodist Research Institute have created a mathematical model to help doctors predict patient outcomes with these treatments and, in turn, offer personalised cancer therapies.

Arthur Schwartz | Mechanistic Insights into the Therapeutic Potential of Dehydroepiandrosterone Analogues

Arthur Schwartz | Mechanistic Insights into the Therapeutic Potential of Dehydroepiandrosterone Analogues

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the most abundant steroid hormone in the bloodstream, although it declines significantly with age. DHEA therapeutics could have a role in the development of anti-ageing preventative medicine. Professor Emeritus Arthur Schwartz of Temple University and his colleagues at Sterotherapeutics LLC, are developing a DHEA analogue, fluasterone, which is far more potent than native DHEA and lacks DHEA’s androgenic and estrogenic side effects. Professor Schwartz is working to explain the mechanistic underpinnings of DHEA’s health benefits.

Dr Mary Lee Barron | Future-Proofing the Fertility Health of Young Adults

Dr Mary Lee Barron | Future-Proofing the Fertility Health of Young Adults

While the long-term health risks posed by poor lifestyle choices are widely recognised, the specific effects of modifiable and non-modifiable behaviours on reproductive health have been less well explored. Moreover, a gender-specific knowledge gap reportedly exists concerning fertility health. To investigate this, Dr Mary Lee Barron and her colleagues in the School of Nursing at Southern Illinois University, USA, utilised a survey-based evaluation tool to determine the current public fertility health knowledge level with a particular focus on university-aged males.

Dr Priya Sriskandarajah | Blood Clotting Risk in Haemato-Oncology Patients: Impact of Catheter Selection

Dr Priya Sriskandarajah | Blood Clotting Risk in Haemato-Oncology Patients: Impact of Catheter Selection

Dr Patriann Smith, at the University of South Florida, is challenging the norms of literacy research, practice, and policy. Her mission seeks to shift literacy standards from monolingual, monoracial, and monocultural perspectives to embrace multilingual, multiracial, and multicultural diversity. She uses a transdisciplinary approach steeped in quantum physics and racialised entanglements referred to as ‘transraciolinguistics’ to redesign literacy and language practices to be more inclusive and accessible and redefine what it means to be literate. She is the author of the book, ‘Black Immigrant Literacies: Intersections of Race, Language, and Culture in the Classroom’ (2023) and Co-Founder of the RISE Caribbean Educational Research Center.

Professor Cleo Goyvaerts | New Models to Explore Lung Cancer and Develop More Effective Treatments

Professor Cleo Goyvaerts | New Models to Explore Lung Cancer and Develop More Effective Treatments

Lung cancer is a complex disease that remains extremely difficult to treat. Unfortunately, the conventional methods used to study it in mice have limitations when testing potential treatments. Professor Cleo Goyvaerts and Professor Hélène Salmon from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium and Institut Curie, France, respectively, worked with colleagues to develop small 3D models of lung tumours using mouse and human cells to help develop new and more effective treatments.

Dr Ibrahim Javed | Alzheimer’s Disease: A Culprit from the Gut

Dr Ibrahim Javed | Alzheimer’s Disease: A Culprit from the Gut

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that affects memory and thinking, and worsens over time. Sadly, it is currently without a cure. Dr Ibrahim Javed from the University of South Australia researches the potential causes of the disease and how it progresses with time, with the aim of developing better treatments. His research focuses on the gut-brain axis, particularly the link between gut bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease, and the fascinating interplay of a molecule called amyloid-ß.

Professor Robert Brunham | Chlamydia trachomatis Through the Lens of Epidemiology, Immunology, and Genomics

Professor Robert Brunham | Chlamydia trachomatis Through the Lens of Epidemiology, Immunology, and Genomics

Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of both sexually transmitted bacterial disease and infectious blindness around the world. Professor Robert Brunham from the University of British Columbia and the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, is an expert in the biology, prevention, and control of infectious diseases. He and his research team are using the epidemiology, immunology, and genomics of Chlamydia trachomatis in the context of evolutionary medicine to design and develop an effective vaccine.

Dr Antonius VanDongen | Unlocking the Mysteries of Alzheimer’s Disease with the Arc Gene

Dr Antonius VanDongen | Unlocking the Mysteries of Alzheimer’s Disease with the Arc Gene

Our vulnerability to developing diseases and conditions depends upon a complex interaction between our genes, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Alzheimer’s disease is no exception to this, and sadly, it remains without a cure. Dr Antonius VanDongen and his team from Duke University are studying the mechanisms underlying learning and memory, specifically focusing on the activity-regulated cytoskeletal memory gene Arc. Their work is driving forward our understanding of the memory problems that characterise Alzheimer’s disease.

Professor Christopher Carlin | Using Technology to Transform Care for Patients with Respiratory Diseases

Professor Christopher Carlin | Using Technology to Transform Care for Patients with Respiratory Diseases

Managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a global healthcare challenge. Professor Christopher Carlin, Consultant Physician and Clinical Lead for Respiratory Medicine at the National Health Service Greater Glasgow & Clyde, is tackling this issue head-on using digital tools, including artificial intelligence-based care and remote-managed technology. He is improving patients’ quality of life by developing more proactive approaches to preventative management to reduce hospital admissions and improve clinical outcomes.

Dr Andrew King | Exploring New Surgical Approaches For Treating Back Pain In Adolescents

Dr Andrew King | Exploring New Surgical Approaches For Treating Back Pain In Adolescents

Back problems can occur at any age, and children and adolescents are no exception. A particular back condition known as spondylolisthesis can require surgery, but unfortunately, there is little agreement between specialists on the best type of procedure to fix it. Dr Andrew King from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center pioneers new surgical approaches to treat this painful and debilitating spinal condition in younger patients.

Dr Christopher Jayne | Eliminating Serious Surgical Complications with the Novel C-Clamp Technique

Dr Christopher Jayne | Eliminating Serious Surgical Complications with the Novel C-Clamp Technique

Surgical procedures to treat urinary incontinence come with risks, and complications can include injury to the bladder, urethra, intestines, haemorrhage (bleeding), and urinary retention. Dr Christopher Jayne, founder of Greater Houston Urogyn in Houston, Texas, specialises in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery and is an expert in the surgical management of stress urinary incontinence in women. He works tirelessly to optimise the safety and efficacy of these surgical procedures by pioneering novel surgical techniques.

Professor Avital Schurr | Unravelling the Mysteries of Metabolism: The Interesting Case of Lactate

Professor Avital Schurr | Unravelling the Mysteries of Metabolism: The Interesting Case of Lactate

Understanding the biochemical processes that occur in human cells is vital for the development of treatments and the advancement of medicine more generally. Professor Avital Schurr at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky, is an expert in neurochemistry and neurophysiology. In recent work, he explored the role of a particular molecule called lactate in the metabolic processes of the central nervous system.

Dr Elise Van Breedam | Using Brain Models to Better Understand Stroke

Dr Elise Van Breedam | Using Brain Models to Better Understand Stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death. Despite extensive research and the huge burden on patients and healthcare systems, treatments are sadly limited and new treatments are slow to emerge. To better understand why so many promising drugs that have worked in animal and laboratory studies failed to show the same benefits in human clinical trials, Dr Elise Van Breedam from the University of Antwerp reviewed current research methods. Her review points to the potential for human-based 3D models to bridge the gap between animal studies and human patients.

Professor Michael Ryan | What the Ugandan Response to HIV/AIDS Can Teach Us About Collaborative Governance

Professor Michael Ryan | What the Ugandan Response to HIV/AIDS Can Teach Us About Collaborative Governance

Persistent problems such as poverty, disease and hunger are of critical interest to organisation and management scholars. Developing countries often struggle with intractable social issues, including susceptibility to epidemics. The complexity of these challenges means it can be difficult for leaders to organise governance and ensure that resources and capabilities are effectively coordinated. Professor Michael Ryan looks at the case study of the HIV/AIDS response in Uganda, and asks how this can contribute to our understanding of public organisation and state capacity. In particular, he explores how Uganda was successful in using collaborative governance to manage the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Professor Aaron Brown | Brown Adipose Tissue and Optogenetics – The Next Step in Obesity Treatment?

Professor Aaron Brown | Brown Adipose Tissue and Optogenetics – The Next Step in Obesity Treatment?

Adipose tissue is more commonly known as body fat. Unlike white adipose tissue, which is linked to negative cardiovascular outcomes such as metabolic syndrome, brown adipose tissue is positively related to health and may reduce the risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Professor Aaron Brown and his team at the MaineHealth Institute for Research are working to understand brown adipose tissue regulation and explore its therapeutic potential. They have already made significant advancements through the application of optogenetics, a cutting-edge technique that harnesses the power of light to precisely manipulate specific cellular processes.

Dr Simon Newstead | Professor Carolyn Wallace – The Splossary: Making Social Prescribing Understandable for Everyone

Dr Simon Newstead | Professor Carolyn Wallace – The Splossary: Making Social Prescribing Understandable for Everyone

Health and wellbeing is not only determined by the level of medical care received but can be affected by a range of environmental, economic, and social factors. Social prescribing aims to address these needs, using a holistic approach that helps empower individuals to be in control of their own health and wellbeing. Professor Carolyn Wallace and Dr Simon Newstead from the Wales School for Social Prescribing Research (WSSPR) at the University of South Wales, partnered with Public Health Wales (PHW) to develop a glossary of terms for social prescribing to clarify and standardise the associated terminology.

Empowering Families with the FRAIT: A Transformative Healthcare Tool

Empowering Families with the FRAIT: A Transformative Healthcare Tool

Families can be confronted with a multitude of challenges at any time, and those with newborn babies and young children are particularly vulnerable to stress. In the face of economic hardship, health crises, and other unforeseen adversities, it is remarkable to see families harnessing their resilience. Professor Carolyn Wallace, Emeritus Professor David Pontin, and Dr Michelle Thomas from the University of South Wales focus on understanding the social and environmental factors that enable families to navigate challenges successfully. Their vital work has led to the development of the Family Resilience Assessment Instrument and Tool (FRAIT).

Mr Anthony Keyes | Understanding and Improving Clinical Trial Compliance

Mr Anthony Keyes | Understanding and Improving Clinical Trial Compliance

Clinical trials are a cornerstone of modern medicine. Before drugs and other interventions can be prescribed to patients, their safety and efficacy must be established through rigorous, tightly regulated studies. Mr Anthony Keyes and a team of administrators from Johns Hopkins University have designed and implemented programmes and checklists to improve the regulatory compliance of trials at their institution. They have shared these resources through publications, national presentations and via the Clinical Trials Registration and Results Reporting Taskforce (Taskforce).

Dr Hassan Farah | The Complex Relationship between Gait and Balance in Cerebral Palsy

Dr Hassan Farah | The Complex Relationship between Gait and Balance in Cerebral Palsy

Dr Hassan Farah worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Using novel approaches, he explored the complex connection between gait and balance in children with a particular form of cerebral palsy. Understanding how these children coordinate and move is vital to discovering new rehabilitation targets that will improve their overall strength and mobility.

Professor Benjamin Lauzier – Dr Manon Denis – Dr Thomas Dupas | Protein Modification in Diseases: The Role of O-GlcNAcylation

Professor Benjamin Lauzier – Dr Manon Denis – Dr Thomas Dupas | Protein Modification in Diseases: The Role of O-GlcNAcylation

Professor Benjamin Lauzier, Dr Manon Denis, and Dr Thomas Dupas carry out their vital research at l’institut du thorax and the University of Nantes in France, working closely with different international partners such as the Sainte-Justine Research Center and the Montreal Heart Institute (both in Canada). Their work focuses on a particular type of protein modification called O-GlcNAcylation, which has been associated with a large number of health conditions. They are particularly interested in the role of O-GlcNAcylation with a focus on cardiac failure during sepsis.

Dr Susan Kennedy | Understanding Substance Abuse in College Students

Dr Susan Kennedy | Understanding Substance Abuse in College Students

Substance abuse in college students is a particular concern. Dr Susan Kennedy, Department of Psychology at Denison University in Ohio, USA, recently led a collaboration with colleagues from the Ohio State University and Kenyon College to explore alcohol and drug use in college students. More specifically, Dr Kennedy and the team wanted to identify at-risk groups and promote student well-being.

Dr Lisa Cooper | The Relationship Between COVID-19 Research Response and Trial Sponsor Type

Dr Lisa Cooper | The Relationship Between COVID-19 Research Response and Trial Sponsor Type

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted an explosion of clinical trials into preventative, therapeutic and diagnostic products. Dr Lisa Cooper and her colleagues at The State University of New Jersey in the USA recently investigated the relationship between the type of clinical trial sponsor (i.e., industry, academic or other) and research response time to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Abigail Raffner Basson | Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Influence of Our Microbiota and the Impact of Diet

Dr Abigail Raffner Basson | Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Influence of Our Microbiota and the Impact of Diet

Chronic inflammation within the digestive tract is known as inflammatory bowel disease. While the incidence is increasing, unfortunately, we do not yet fully understand what causes the condition or have a cure for it. Dr Abigail Raffner Basson from Case Western Reserve University is investigating the underlying mechanism of this disease and conducting clinical research into how diet can be used to control the debilitating, lifelong symptoms.

Dr Upasna Sharma | Understanding the Transfer of Non-genetic Information from Parents to Offspring

Dr Upasna Sharma | Understanding the Transfer of Non-genetic Information from Parents to Offspring

The transfer of genetic information from a parent to their offspring via deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is fundamental for the survival of a species. Evidence is emerging that epigenetic information – information independent of underlying DNA sequence – can also be transmitted to offspring and that parental environment can alter epigenetic information and influence the characteristics of future generations. Dr Upasna Sharma’s work as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School discovered a previously undescribed mode of epigenetic inheritance in sperm, and provides evidence that paternal diet can influence the descendants’ metabolic state via epigenetic mechanisms.

Changing the Brain Through Learning

Changing the Brain Through Learning

Attention allows us to plan and monitor our thoughts and, thus, is a critical step in the learning process. Learning can then change the physical structure of the brain. This is the reason why a team of scientists at the University of Oregon, led by Drs Michael Posner and Cristopher Niell, are exploring the effects of attention on learning and how learning changes the brain.

Dr Jean Pfau | A Novel Autoimmune Disease Linked to Asbestos Exposure

Dr Jean Pfau | A Novel Autoimmune Disease Linked to Asbestos Exposure

The health hazards associated with occupational asbestos exposure are widely acknowledged and extensively studied. However, emerging evidence suggests that prolonged exposure to environmental asbestos may trigger serious and debilitating autoimmune conditions, although the mechanistic actions remain poorly understood. Dr Jean Pfau and colleagues in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology at Montana State University, Bozeman, USA, have discovered a novel autoimmune disease linked to a specific type of asbestos, and have conducted extensive research regarding the causes, symptoms, and progression of this deadly condition.