On Friday the New York Times reported that scientists at the University of Pittsburgh are ready to start clinical trials of two different brain implant systems, known as brain machine interfaces, that aim to give quadriplegic patients control over a prosthetic limb. In the main project a team led by Professor Andrew Schwartz and Professor … Continue reading Overcoming paralysis: From Monkey to Man at the University of Pittsburgh
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Advancing gene therapy, debunking AR propaganda.
The promise of curing genetic diseases by replacing damaged genes with healthy ones is slowly becoming a reality. One recent story is the development of therapy in humans to reverse a form of childhood blindness called Leber congenital amaurosis, or LCA. OregonLive reports on the story of Alexe Webb who, soon after birth, was diagnosed … Continue reading Advancing gene therapy, debunking AR propaganda.
A fish named Hope
If you have watched any British TV channels in the past week or two, you may have seen the excellent ads produced by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) as part of a major fundraising drive to support their new Mending Broken Hearts campaign. The Mending Broken Hearts campaign is a major new multidisciplinary initiative which … Continue reading A fish named Hope
Caring for Sick Babies: Science versus Animal Rights
There can be few areas of medicine that are as emotionally and ethically fraught as the treatment of babies born with life threatening or debilitating illness. Doctors must constantly weigh up potential benefits to the baby of any procedure against risk that the procedure may harm either the baby or mother. Nevertheless, it’s an area … Continue reading Caring for Sick Babies: Science versus Animal Rights
How to Build a Beating Heart
On Friday I discussed one of the recent developments in the science of tissue engineering, the development of artificial blood vessels for transplant by Dr. Laura Niklason of Yale University. Tonight National Geographic's Explores series is taking a more global look at how tissue engineering is delivering in the clinic and promising much for the future. You … Continue reading How to Build a Beating Heart
Is tissue engineering poised to transform heart bypass surgery?
Tissue engineering is one of the hottest fields in 21st century medicine, and last year I discussed how one leading scientist in this field, Professor Laura Niklason of Yale University, has made important strides in the development of artificial arteries. Now scientists led by Laura Niklason have announced another important milestone in the development of artificial blood vessels; blood vessels that she hopes … Continue reading Is tissue engineering poised to transform heart bypass surgery?
Albert Sabin and the monkeys who gave summer back to the children.
Albert Sabin has been called “the doctor who gave summer back to the children.”* Because of his decades of research to develop the oral polio vaccine, children today know nothing of the fear that polio brought to the United States every summer well into the 20th century. Swimming pools and movie theaters were closed and … Continue reading Albert Sabin and the monkeys who gave summer back to the children.
Animal studies point to clinical trial of hypothermia for stroke victims
On Monday Dr Malcolm Macleod, head of experimental neuroscience at the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, joined scientists from the European Stroke Research Network for Hypothermia (EuroHYP) in urging European governments to fund a trial of moderate hypothermia for the treatment of ischemic stroke victims. In ischemic stroke the blood … Continue reading Animal studies point to clinical trial of hypothermia for stroke victims
Speaking of Research 