Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the fluid that is found in the spinal cord and surrounding the brain that affects thousands of people – usually children or young people – every year and can result in brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disability. In about 10% of cases the infection is fatal. One of … Continue reading Universal Meningitis B vaccine nears approval by European regulators – thank the mice (and the scientists)!
Category: Science News
Paralysed dogs walk again thanks to nasal cell transplants…and Professor Raisman’s rats.
This morning the BBC News carried a report on a medical breakthrough – and it is not a term I use lightly – that has enormous implications for people who have been paralysed following spinal cord injuries. A team at the University of Cambridge led by Professor Robin Franklin Department of Veterinary Medicine, along with colleagues … Continue reading Paralysed dogs walk again thanks to nasal cell transplants…and Professor Raisman’s rats.
BBC Science Club Puts Animal Research in the Spotlight
The BBC recently launched a new TV show called Dara O Briain's Science Club. Dara O Briain is a popular Irish comedian and has been pursuing his interest in science by hosting a show discussing science (on BBC2). UK viewers can watch the full episode on iPlayer for free. In episode 1 Dara O Briain … Continue reading BBC Science Club Puts Animal Research in the Spotlight
Lasker Awards 2012: How animal research empowered the pioneers of liver transplantation
As a medical student in 1950 one of my patients was a boy of my age dying of kidney failure and I was instructed to make him comfortable for he would be dead in two weeks. I asked if he could have a graft of a kidney and I was told "no" and then when … Continue reading Lasker Awards 2012: How animal research empowered the pioneers of liver transplantation
Why do we use Genetically Modified animals?
This excellent 3 minute video, produced by Understanding Animal Research, shows how the use of genetically modified animals can benefit modern medicine - in this instance, to create a method of screening for certain bacteria. We look forward to more videos from UAR. p.s. please give the video a "thumbs up" so that it can … Continue reading Why do we use Genetically Modified animals?
Hope for young cancer victims as stem cell transplantation restores functioning sperm in monkeys.
Chemotherapy plays a crucial role in treating many cancers, but unfortunately some chemotherapy has a side effect of destroying the spermatogonial stem cells that are responsible for producing sperm. Adult men who need to undergo chemotherapy have the option of cryopreserving their sperm in order to give themselves the option of having children in the … Continue reading Hope for young cancer victims as stem cell transplantation restores functioning sperm in monkeys.
New gene therapy for mitochondrial diseases a step closer thanks to ONPRC
Mitochondria are fascinating. These tiny organelles that reside within almost all of the cells in our bodies (mature red blood cells being an exception) generate the supply of a molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is the principle source of energy that cells, and ultimately ourselves, need to survive. They also have an intriguing evolutionary … Continue reading New gene therapy for mitochondrial diseases a step closer thanks to ONPRC
Public Opinion and the Importance of Transparency in the UK
The UK has a long history of animal rights activism and many might expect the public to be a difficult crowd to win over. However over the years the British public have expressed overwhelming support for the use of animal experiments for medical purposes. In 2010 90% were conditional acceptors (that is agreeing with medical … Continue reading Public Opinion and the Importance of Transparency in the UK
Speaking of Research 