Parasitic genome sequenced in the battle to save honey bees
The genome of a parasitic mite that infects honey bee colonies and causes wide-spread destruction has been sequenced by scientists at the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (University of Liverpool, 2017). Although there are many potential causes for the decline in honey bee colonies, pathogens and parasites of the honey bee, particularly mites, … Continue reading Parasitic genome sequenced in the battle to save honey bees
People with Addison’s disease lack natural killer immune cells
Research led by University of Birmingham scientists has found that people with Addison’s disease have an immune system defect which makes them prone to potentially deadly respiratory infections (University of Birmingham, 2017). The study, published online in European Journal of Endocrinology, shows for the first time that patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) have natural … Continue reading People with Addison’s disease lack natural killer immune cells
MoU between Cardiff University and Monash University
Cardiff University’s Systems Immunity Research Institute and the Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University have signed a memorandum of understanding (Cardiff University, 2017). The five year mutual agreement recognises highly productive joint projects already being conducted around inflammation and immunity, and provides a mechanism for enabling additional projects in the areas of research collaboration, exchange … Continue reading MoU between Cardiff University and Monash University
Acerchem International opening new R&D centre at Swansea University
Acerchem International, a leading Chinese health and nutraceutical group, is to establish its European HQ and R&D and manufacturing centre at the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) at Swansea University (Welsh Government, 2017). The news was announced by Welsh Economy Secretary Ken Skates who is in China on a trade mission and has met with … Continue reading Acerchem International opening new R&D centre at Swansea University
Cardiff University announce partnership with Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research
Cardiff University has announced its scientists will develop new treatments, technologies and techniques with the charity-based Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research (NPIMR) (Cardiff University, 2017). They will develop pre-clinical medical research across areas including medical device technologies, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Initial projects with NPIMR, based in Harrow, Middlesex, will focus on work … Continue reading Cardiff University announce partnership with Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research
Brain imaging identifies different types of depression
Biological markers could enable tailored therapies that target individual differences in the symptoms of depression (Scientific American, 2017). New research, published in Nature Medicine, by Conor Liston, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist at Weill Cornell Medical College, and his colleagues seems to point toward a long-sought goal in psychiatry, biological markers to distinguish different kinds of … Continue reading Brain imaging identifies different types of depression
B vitamins reduce schizophrenia symptoms
A review of worldwide studies has found that add-on treatment with high dose B vitamins, including B6, B8 and B12, can significantly reduce symptoms of schizophrenia more than standard treatments alone (University of Manchester, 2017). The research, on the effect of vitamin and mineral supplements on symptoms of schizophrenia, is funded by the MRC and … Continue reading B vitamins reduce schizophrenia symptoms
Research undertaken to discover genetic cause of epilepsy
The University of Liverpool has received a £390,000 grant from the MRC to conduct research into how mutations in genes can cause epilepsy (University of Liverpool, 2017) . Epilepsy is estimated to affect more than 500,000 people in the UK. This means that around one in every hundred people has the condition. Cells in the … Continue reading Research undertaken to discover genetic cause of epilepsy
New nano approach could cut dose of leading HIV treatment in half
Successful results of a trial led by the University of Liverpool which utilised nanotechnology to improve drug therapies for HIV patients has been presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Seattle, a leading annual conference of HIV research, clinical practice and progress (University of Liverpool, 2017). The healthy volunteer trial, conducted … Continue reading New nano approach could cut dose of leading HIV treatment in half
Cardiff University’s new way of making drug compounds
Researchers at Cardiff University have developed a new “highly-efficient” method of making disease-fighting compounds, including for an anti-malaria drug (BBC News, 2017). Sesquiterpenes can be found in spicy foods, plants and beer, and are used to battle colds, cancer and malaria. A Cardiff University team said it could synthesise them more quickly and cost-effectively than … Continue reading Cardiff University’s new way of making drug compounds
