By LifETIME CDT Student: Chloe Wallace (University of Glasgow) From jelly to contact lenses – hydrogels are all around us. In fact, with the exception of our teeth and bones, most of our body is composed of hydrogels. With that in mind, it seems obvious to explore the potential of these gels as biomaterials. In my …
By LifETIME CDT Student: Aoibhin Sheedy (NUI Galway) Immunotherapy is a promising approach for breakthrough therapies in the treatment of ovarian cancer, but there needs to be a robust investigation into suitable targets and delivery methods to solidify its true value for patients and clinicians. Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of death due …
By Emma Lardner and LifETIME CDT Student: Abigail Wright (University of Birmingham) Abigail Wright is a second year LifETIME CDT student studying the control of ECM organization and the mechanical environment in a ‘Joint on a chip’ device at the University of Birmingham. Abi recently signed up for the In2Science mentoring scheme, which provides students from …
By LifETIME CDT Student: Chanelle McGuinness (University of Glasgow) Bone marrow is a complex organ that is home to numerous cell populations. Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow are responsible for specialising and becoming all blood cell types – a process known as haematopoiesis. They are also the basis for HSC transplants for patients …
By LifETIME CDT Student: Antonia Molloy (Aston University) Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s leading cause of death by infectious disease. As a young researcher learning immunology, I was particularly fascinated by the ability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the causative agent of TB disease) to manipulate the hosts’ own immune system for its survival. Instead of …
By LifETIME CDT Student: Anna Maria Kapetanaki (University of Glasgow) Since the very beginning of life creation, sensation has played a determinant role in species evolution. We, as complex animals, experience the world around us using our senses (vision, hearing, olfaction). This ability has been vital for our species survival as it allows us to …