Dr Youzhong Guo | Accelerating Our Understanding of Cell Membranes

Dr Youzhong Guo | Accelerating Our Understanding of Cell Membranes

Cell membranes are critical for life. Effectively extracting proteins with naturally associated lipids from cell membranes is necessary for research, but traditional methods may damage these membrane components and limit the accuracy of scientific data. Dr Youzhong Guo at Virginia Commonwealth University has recently developed a revolutionary method for extracting membrane components in the form of Native Cell Membrane Nanoparticles. His team’s exciting work advances our understanding of the structure, function and interactions of membrane proteins and lipids.

Clare Jensen | Can Dogs Improve the Mental Well-being of Paediatric Healthcare Professionals?

Clare Jensen | Can Dogs Improve the Mental Well-being of Paediatric Healthcare Professionals?

Paediatric healthcare workers often experience poor mental health and burnout. While specially trained facility dogs have been found to positively impact patient well-being, little research has focused on the benefits for professionals. Clare Jensen and her colleagues from Purdue University and the University of Arizona have undertaken a study demonstrating the positive impact these dogs can have on the mental health of paediatric healthcare workers.

Dr Raymond Palmer | Reducing Chemical Intolerance: Seven Steps to Creating a Clean Air Oasis

Dr Raymond Palmer | Reducing Chemical Intolerance: Seven Steps to Creating a Clean Air Oasis

Individuals with chemical intolerance may experience an array of symptoms following exposure to toxicants commonly found inside the home. Researchers at UT Health San Antonio, USA, have demonstrated that improving indoor air quality reduces the symptoms of chemical intolerance. One of their most important recommendations is to create a clean air oasis in your own home to ensure the air that you breathe is as free as possible from smoke, chemicals, fragrances, and other common indoor pollutants.

Dr Cynthia K. Thompson | Innovation in Promoting the Recovery of Language after Stroke

Dr Cynthia K. Thompson | Innovation in Promoting the Recovery of Language after Stroke

Stroke can impair a person’s ability to communicate, resulting in a disorder known as aphasia. To facilitate recovery, scientists must understand how language is processed normally as well as how a stroke may impact the language system in the brain. Dr Cynthia K. Thompson, Ralph and Jean Sundin Professor of Communication Science and Professor of Neurology at Northwestern University, has been researching normal and disordered language for over thirty years. Her focus is on understanding and supporting the recovery of language processes when the brain has been damaged.

Dr Jozina de Graaf | Improving Outcomes Following Lower Limb Amputation

Dr Jozina de Graaf | Improving Outcomes Following Lower Limb Amputation

After the amputation of a lower limb, amputees can learn to walk with an artificial replacement for that limb known as a prosthesis. However, this can be challenging due to the loss of somatosensory information such as the perception of touch and pressure. Dr Jozina de Graaf of Aix-Marseille University in France is working with colleagues to find a solution to this lack of somatosensory feedback and improve approaches to rehabilitation for lower limb amputees.

Dr Delphine Muriaux | Shining New Light on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Assembly Mechanisms

Dr Delphine Muriaux | Shining New Light on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Assembly Mechanisms

People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) now have very effective treatment options to allow them to live long lives but the need for new and improved therapeutics remains. Dr Delphine Muriaux from Le Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) in Montpellier, France, researches HIV infection and replication utilising advanced state-of-the-art microscopy. This super-resolution imaging has led to new findings on the importance of the HIV-1 Gag proteins and the cellular host co-factor IRSp53, a membrane curving protein, and how they interact with host cell membranes.