Swansea University scientists take part in largest study into the genetics of common epilepsy
Despite progress in understanding the genetics of rare childhood epilepsies, the common adult forms of epilepsy have proven less amenable to traditional gene-discovery analyses (Swansea University, 2017). The Epi4K consortium of experts, which includes academics from Swansea University, decided to assess the contribution of genome-wide ultra rare genetic variation in the common epilepsies. The results … Continue reading Swansea University scientists take part in largest study into the genetics of common epilepsy
Barriers to taking up running revealed
Cardiff University researchers have revealed the biggest barriers to people taking up running as exercise (Cardiff University, 2017). Cardiff University’s School of Healthcare Sciences investigated what motivated people to run.The barriers include people simply being too busy, safety fears over running alone, particularly among women, and concerns about running on busy roads. Study participants were … Continue reading Barriers to taking up running revealed
Fish skin used to bandage burns
Doctors at the José Frota Institute in Fortazela, Brazil are testing the skin of the fish tilapia as a bandage for second and third degree burns (Scientific American, 2017). Animal skin has long been used in the treatment of burns in developed countries, but Brazil lacks human skin, pig skin, and artificial alternatives. The three … Continue reading Fish skin used to bandage burns
Aberystwyth University opens new unit to promote health and wellbeing
Aberystwyth University is launching a brand new Well-being and Health Assessment Research Unit (WARU) during an Open Day on March 15th (Aberystwyth University, 2017). The unit is located in Aberystwyth University’s IBERS (Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences) Carwyn James Building on the Penglais Campus, and scientists there will be undertaking research activity and … Continue reading Aberystwyth University opens new unit to promote health and wellbeing
Innovative new Health and Wellbeing Academy opens at Swansea University
A new Health and Wellbeing Academy which aims to give people more support to lead healthier lives is being officially opened today by Wales’ Health Secretary Vaughan Gething (WalesOnline, 2017). The academy offers a range of services, complementing those already being provided by the NHS. It includes an audiology department which provides hearing tests and … Continue reading Innovative new Health and Wellbeing Academy opens at Swansea University
Cryogenically frozen hearts could one day be used in transplants
Scientists have succeeded in cryogenically freezing and rewarming sections of heart tissue for the first time, in an advance that could pave the way for organs to be stored for months or years (The Guardian, 2017). If the technique scales up to work for entire organs, and scientists predict it will, it could save the … Continue reading Cryogenically frozen hearts could one day be used in transplants
Artificial mouse embryos created in the lab
Artificial mouse embryos grown from stem cells in a dish could help unlock secrets of early development and infertility (New Scientist, 2017). Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz at the University of Cambridge and her team made the embryos using embryonic stem cells, the type of cells found in embryos that can mature into any type of tissue in … Continue reading Artificial mouse embryos created in the lab
Sickle cell disease completely reversed in patient
A French teenager’s sickle cell disease has been reversed using a pioneering treatment to change his DNA (BBC News, 2017). The world first procedure at Hôpital Necker – Enfants Malades in Paris offers hope to millions of people with the blood disorder. Sickle cell is a lifelong condition caused by a faulty gene that affects … Continue reading Sickle cell disease completely reversed in patient
Major research study has the potential to transform the health of Wales
Wales’ Minister for Social Services and Public Health, Rebecca Evans, has said HealthWise Wales has the potential to transform the nation’s health and wellbeing (Welsh Government, 2017). HealthWise Wales is the largest research study of its kind ever to have been undertaken in Wales. The plan is to recruit 260,000 people aged sixteen and older. … Continue reading Major research study has the potential to transform the health of Wales
Dad designs and 3D prints arm for his son using XBox scanner
A father from Anglesey has designed a 3D printed arm for his two year old son, using a £20 XBox scanner (WalesOnline, 2017). Former psychology lecturer Ben Ryan developed his own patented hydraulic system to help his son, Sol, who lost most of his left arm following an injury at birth. The system, inspired by … Continue reading Dad designs and 3D prints arm for his son using XBox scanner
