Health and Medicine
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Taher Saif | Dr Andrew Holle – Mechanobiology – Exploring the Mechanics of Cell Behaviour
Extracellular biophysical cues have a profound influence on a wide range of cell behaviors, including growth, motility, differentiation, apoptosis, gene expression, adhesion, and signal transduction. Cells not only respond to definitively mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM) but can also sometimes alter the mechanical properties of the matrix and hence influence subsequent matrix-based cues in both physiological and pathological processes. Interactions between cells and materials in vitro can modify cell phenotype and ECM structure, whether intentionally or inadvertently. Interactions between cell and matrix mechanics in vivo are of particular importance in a wide variety of disorders, including cancer, central nervous system injury, fibrotic diseases, and myocardial infarction. Both the in vitro and in vivo effects of this coupling between mechanics and biology hold important implications for clinical applications.
Dr Adam Lauver | Improving the Measurement of Drug-induced Cardiovascular Effects
In the early stages of drug development, an important focus for researchers is the risk of drug-induced cardiovascular effects. More commonly known as an abnormal heart rhythm, arrhythmia is a term used to describe when the heart is beating too quickly, too slowly or irregularly. The consequences of arrhythmia can be fatal.
Dr Xiushan Yin | Developing Accurate and Rapid COVID Tests for People with Colour Blindness
Diagnosing viral infections, such as COVID-19, can be challenging. The most accurate way to identify a virus is by detecting its genetic information, but viruses are merely a tiny packet of genes encased in a protein shell. When a virus has infected a host, such as a human body, identifying viral genes amongst the host’s genes is like finding a needle in a haystack. However, scientists have a trick – to make copies of the needle, until needles outnumber the hay straws. This is called nuclear acid amplification, which forms the basis for the gold-standard PCR test for COVID-19. Dr Xiushan Yin and his colleagues at the Shenyang University of Chemical Technology have been further refining this amazing technology to help tackle COVID-19.
Dr Jacob Barhak | The Reference Model for Disease Progression: Explaining COVID-19
Computational modelling allows researchers to simulate and study complex systems – including disease – at multiple levels, powered by significant achievements in computing power and software. Dr Jacob Barhak is an independent Computational Disease Modeller. He draws on his multidisciplinary expertise to help machines comprehend healthcare.
Dr Raymond Palmer | An Introduction to Using Self-assessment Tools to Help Identify Chemical, Food and Drug Intolerances
Over the last decade, we have learnt a lot about how exposures to chemicals, foods, and drugs can result in a wide range of health-related symptoms. For physicians and patients, understanding this connection between exposures and symptoms is critical for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of chemical intolerance.
Exploring How Focused Support Groups Can Help Patients with Oncogene-Driven Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, accounts for approximately 85% of lung cancer cases worldwide. Although NSCLC typically progresses at a slower rate than other types of lung cancer, by the time it is diagnosed it has often spread beyond the lungs, making it harder to treat. About a quarter of NSCLC cases are driven by so-called ‘oncogenes’. Such oncogene-driven cancers develop due to the extreme and uncontrolled expression of a gene that transforms normal cells into tumour cells.
Debra Klages | Post-traumatic Growth in Health Professionals Who are Mothers of Adult Children with Schizophrenia
For young people with schizophrenia, their first experience of psychosis is often highly traumatic. Because of the close, nurturing relationships mothers typically have with their children, they too can experience trauma while witnessing their children’s disturbing psychotic episodes. As a result, mothers of adult children with schizophrenia often experience negative impacts on their physical and psychological health. Debra Klages takes a unique perspective by shedding light on how the traumatic experiences of health professionals with dual roles as mothers can lead to personal and professional growth and resilience.
The Multi-theory Model of Health Behavior Change: Understanding Meditation, or ‘Dhyana’ | Professor Manoj Sharma
Meditation is the regular, purposeful practice of becoming aware of one’s bodily sensations, thoughts, or other points of focus. Professor Manoj Sharma, a global health promotion leader and Chair of the Social and Behavioral Health department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, wished to test whether a health behavioral model that he developed could explain why adults begin and maintain a meditation practice. While this multi-theory model – or ‘MTM’ – has been applied to many health-related behaviors, two domains are core to the model: initiation of a health behavior and sustenance of this behavior.
Professor John Moses | Shapeshifting Antibiotics – Overcoming Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats currently facing public health. Professor John Moses, based at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, along with a team of international collaborators, has proposed a conceptually unique way to extend the life of clinically used antibiotic drugs.
Dr Maggie O’Haire | Dr Kerri Rodriguez – Service Dogs: Understanding Their Impact on Military Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that can develop after experiencing a traumatic event, such as being part of military combat. Dr Maggie O’Haire and Dr Kerri Rodriguez at Purdue University in the USA and their colleagues are working to better understand why and how PTSD service dogs may improve PTSD symptoms among military veterans.
Professor Manoj Sharma | The Multi-theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change: Understanding the Determinants of Breast Cancer Screening
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting women overall but there are stark differences in breast cancer risk and survival rates between racial and ethnic groups. Breast cancers must be detected at an early stage to ensure timely treatment and the reduction of premature mortality. Professor Manoj Sharma from the School of Public Health at the University of Nevada, USA, is working with colleagues to gain an in-depth understanding of the determinants of undertaking mammogram screening in typically under-represented groups with a view to improving health through behaviour change.
Access to Human Tissue for Collaborative Research
The Collaborative Biorepository for Translational Medicine (CBTM) is based at the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke’s Hospital in the Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. Professor Kourosh Saeb-Parsy and the team work to provide reliable access to fresh tissue for collaborative research and to ensure the generously donated tissue has the best chance to make a positive impact.
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