Dr Liz Carpenter talks about her research on membrane proteins and drug development. Membrane proteins are the gateways to our cells - with nutrients, waste products, and even DNA and proteins entering and leaving cells via these tightly controlled proteins. Drugs often target membrane proteins; therefore, understanding their molecular structure helps us design better drugs. Dr Liz Carpenter uses X-ray crystallography to solve membrane protein structures. This information is then used to improve...
Apr 29, 2013•5 min
Dr Alexander Finlayson tells us how MedicineAfrica aims to bring healthcare professionals around the world in a global expert network. Disparity in healthcare between the developed and developing world is a major global health problem. MedicineAfrica, an online health facility, aims to connect doctors and healthcare professionals in Africa to clinical support teams around the world. Dr Alexamder Finlayson established MedicineAfrica in 2008, and is now working to develop this platform for future ...
Apr 29, 2013•6 min
Professor Kay Grunewald tells us how structural cell biology can help us understand virus infection. Cells constitute the smallest autonomous units of life. The tightly regulated structural and functional organisation is currently only rudimentary understood. Professor Kay Grünewald uses electron cryotomography in combination with other techniques to analyse virus' 'life cycle' in situ, which requires an understanding of its transient structures at the molecular level. Imaging techniques allow u...
Apr 29, 2013•6 min
Dr Christian Eggeling tells us how new imaging methods help us understand immunology at the molecular level. To study complex biological and immunological systems, such as living cells, scientists rely on highly sensitive and non-invasive analysis techniques. Super-resolution optical microscopy allows us to study immunological processes on the molecular level. We can get new insights into how our body reacts to viral or bacterial attacks. Dr Christian Eggeling's research focuses on the applicati...
Apr 29, 2013•4 min
Professor David Jackson tells us about the role of the lymphatic system in immunity and cancer. The lymphatic system is a network of vessels collecting the fluids leaked from the blood vasculature. Its filtering function makes it an ideal compartment for the immune system. It is also a pipeline for metastasizing tumour cells to spread to distant tissues. Professor David Jackson studies how leukocytes and tumour cells enter the lymphatic vessels from the surrounding tissues. Professor Jackson's r...
Apr 29, 2013•7 min
Professor Graham Ogg talks about the role of our skin as a barrier against infection. Skin frequently represents the first point of contact with pathogens and allergens, but there is still very little known about the role of the surface immune system in fighting unwanted invaders. Barrier dysfunction can lead to the development of eczema. Understanding these mechanisms can help us develop new treatments targeting the skin, as well as the inflammatory response. Dr Graham Ogg aims to understand th...
Apr 29, 2013•6 min
Professor Fiona Powrie talks about the importance of our guts, and her research in gastroenterology.
Apr 29, 2013•4 min
Dr Simon Travis tells us how clinical trials bring tomorrows treatments to patients today. Before translating basic research into the clinic it is important first to undergo clinical trials in order to identify safe treatments and therapies for disease. Led by Dr Simon Travis the Gastroenterology Clinical Trials Facility at Oxford University works to translate basic research into clinical trials of novel therapies for gastrointestinal and liver diseases.
Mar 25, 2013•4 min
Professor Vincenzo Cerundolo tells us how research in immunology leads to the development of new cancer treatments. Immunotherapy stimulates the bodys immune system and can be a powerful treatment for cancer. With the aim of developing better treatment strategies for cancer patients, Professor Vincenzo Cerundolo is working to gain a better understanding of the cell-to-cell interplay required for optimal expansion and activation of tumour-specific T cell populations.
Mar 25, 2013•8 min
Professor Xin Lu talks about the links between cancer and regenerative medicine. Professor Xin Lu is the Director of the Oxford branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. Her lab works toward identifying molecular mechanisms that suppress tumour growth and metastasis and focuses on understanding the factors that lead to uncontrollable cell growth.
Mar 22, 2013•4 min
Dr Jan Rehwinkel talks about the role of our innate immune system in our fight against flu virus. Dr Jan Rehwinkel and his group study the bodys immune reaction to viruses such as flu and HIV 1 which affect millions of people worldwide. The aim is to impact on the management of infectious diseases and the development of vaccinations. This work also has an impact on auto-immune diseases such as Lupus.
Mar 22, 2013•8 min
Dr John Frater talks about his research into finding a cure for HIV. It is increasingly apparent that highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) may not be the long-term solution to the management of HIV infection, and that other avenues need to be explored. As a result of various recent cases, the idea of eradicating HIV altogether is becoming less unimaginable to some scientists.
Dec 12, 2012•6 min
Professor Sarah Gilbert talks about her work on viral vectored vaccines. Professor Sarah Gilbert has been making and testing vaccines designed to induce T cell responses for ten years, chiefly using antigens from malaria and influenza. Based at the Jenner Institute, several of the vaccines developed in Professor Gilberts laboratory have progressed into Clinical Trials.
Nov 14, 2012•4 min
Professor Lars Fugger talks about his research on multiple sclerosis. Professor Lars Fugger focuses on translational studies in multiple sclerosis and uses a multidisciplinary approach. He is seeking to understand the molecular basis for the MHC association in MS and how MHC genes interact with environmental factors such as viruses. Professor Fuggers group consists of both basic scientists and clinicians.
Oct 30, 2012•4 min
Dr Raghib Ali talks about INDOX, the cancer research network in India. Dr Raghib Ali is the Director of INDOX Cancer Research Network. His main interest is in colorectal (bowel) cancer and other chronic, non-communicable diseases. Incidence of colorectal cancer in India has been relatively low historically; understanding why may help us establish risk factors and also lead to new treatments.
Oct 09, 2012•4 min
Dr Jay Berkley tells us about his work on childhood nutrition and immunity in East Africa. Dr Jay Berkley works in the KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Collaborative Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya. His research interests include tackling infection and inflammation to prevent mortality in malnourished children. He is also an expert advisor on severe acute malnutrition to the Ministries of Health, and the World Health Organisation.
Sep 25, 2012•7 min
Dr Holm Uhlig talks about the role of the immune system in our gastrointestinal tract. Dr Holm Uhlig is based at the Translational Gastroenterology Unit and studies defects in the immune response and regulation leading to immunopathology. Dr Uhlig is interested in children with inflammatory bowel disease, and aims to understand the complex puzzle of molecular mechanisms involved.
Sep 12, 2012•5 min
Professor Richard Cornall tells us about his research on autoimmunity. Professor Richard Cornall aims to understand the causes of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmunity occurs when the immune system which is normally designed to attack pathogens ends up attacking the body. Professor Cornall is also interested in how people differ in their inherited susceptibility and why these differences are sustained in human populations by natural selection.
Sep 12, 2012•9 min
Dr Simon Draper tells us about his progress in malaria vaccine research. Dr Simon Draper's research interests include studies of vaccine induced malaria immunity. His group focuses on translational medicine. They will take their most promising vaccine candidates and manufacture them as clinical grade material. The next step is proof of concept clinical trials in healthy volunteers.
Sep 11, 2012•7 min
Dr George Warimwe talks about his research on Rift Valley Fever. Dr George Warimwe is working with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) A Centre of Excellence in Africa, and the Jenner Institute to develop a vaccine against Rift Valley Fever in humans, that will also be useful as a vaccination against the disease in livestock.
Jul 31, 2012•5 min
Dr Katharine Owen talks about the different types of Diabetes in young adults. There are more forms of diabetes than the commonly known type 1 and type 2. Dr Katherine Owen investigates the different characteristics of monogenic diabetes with the aim of creating systematic diagnostics for aetiology of diabetes, and implementing that in clinical care. The ultimate aim is to promote personalized medicine for everybody with diabetes.
Jul 17, 2012•5 min
Dr Patrick Pollard tells us about his research on cancer metabolism. Cancer cells produce energy predominately by a high rate of glycolysis. It has been suggested that this change in metabolism is a fundamental cause of cancer. Dr Patrick Pollard aims to elucidate the alternative metabolic strategies used by cancer cells to proliferate, even under conditions of stress.
Jul 10, 2012•4 min
Professor Mark McCarthy tells us how genomics helps us understand diabetes. Professor Mark McCarthy (Robert Turner Professor of Diabetes) leads a multidisciplinary research team including clinicians, nurses and lab-based research staff. One of their major focuses lies in translating gene identification and genetic information into advances in functional understanding and clinical management.
Jul 03, 2012•8 min
Dr Richard Antrobus talks about his research in the development of a universal flu vaccine. Dr Antrobus has been conducting a Phase I study of a Universal Vaccine for Influenza. Progress so far indicates that this approach induces a potent T cell response, and Dr Antrobus is currently assessing whether this response is equally potent in the elderly - one of the 'at risk' groups of the Influenza virus.
Jun 26, 2012•7 min
Dr Arturo Reyes-Sandoval tells us about his research on a vaccine against Plasmodium vivax. Dr Reyes Sandoval aims to develop a novel malaria vaccine against Plasmodium vivax, one of the four malaria parasites that affect humans. P. vivax is found in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Western Pacific. 40 percent of the world's population is exposed to the disease that is responsible for around 130 to 350 million clinical cases every year.
Jun 19, 2012•7 min
Colin Baigent, Professor of Epidemiology, Clinical Trial Service Unit, Oxford, talks about why the drug Statin saves lives.
Jun 18, 2012•6 min
Dr Helen Fletcher talks about progress in the development of a vaccine against tuberculosis. Dr Helen Fletcher works on multi-partner projects to discover biomarkers of protection from TB disease, develop clinical trials capacity in Africa, and develop new vaccines for TB. Dr Fletcher has also developed her own research programme on transcriptional profiling of immune responses following both TB and malaria vaccination.
Jun 12, 2012•6 min
Dr Opher Gileadi tells us how cells maintain genome integrity and how we can use it in our fight against cancer. Dr Opher Gileadi studies the structure and chemical biology of proteins involved in DNA repair and in recovery from DNA damage. DNA damage can be both a cause of cancer and a tool in fighting cancer, and the work aims to uncover ways to better target and destroy cancer cells.
Jun 01, 2012•6 min
Dr Kerstin Luhn talks about her research on Dengue infection. Dr Luhn is investigating the effect of Dengue virus infection on innate immune cells to understand why Dengue, unlike other viral infections, is associated with high levels of immunopathology. An in vitro Dengue model is used and results are confirmed with Dengue patient samples from a cohort in Vietnam.
May 29, 2012•5 min
Professor Tomas Hanke tells us about his research on HIV vaccine development. The long term aim for Professor Tomáš Hanke is to develop a safe, effective and accessible HIV-1 vaccine. His group tests novel ideas and vaccine strategies, and focusses on a safe but rapid translation of the most promising laboratory results to phase I/II clinical trials in human volunteers.
May 22, 2012•6 min
