Research

University of Exeter Research Helps to Increases Early Diabetes Diagnoses

Funded by Diabetes UK, innovative research has developed a diabetes risk score test which operates with higher efficacy for the diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. Carried out by the University of Exeter and the Pacific Northwest Research Institute in Seattle, the new T1DGRS2 risk score test can be used to increase the accuracy of diabetes diagnoses. The test is capable of determining between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, as well predicting the development of Type 1 diabetes in later life.

The new research, has produced a test which is nearly twice as efficient in identifying the conditions in babies as existing methods.

For those who suffer from Type 1 diabetes, their body’s own immune system starts attacking beta-cells which are responsible for the production of insulin. However, this can occur up to several years before symptoms are perceivable, thus signifying the need for a predictive test such as the T1DGRS2. The new research, which relied on analysis of key regions of the genome of both afflicted participants and a control group, has produced a test which is nearly twice as efficient in identifying the conditions in babies as existing methods, which are far less advanced.

Anna Morris, Assistant Director of Research Strategy and Partnership at Diabetes UK has voiced her excitement for the research and her hopes that ‘In the future, this research could also open up new insights into what could be done to stop Type 1 diabetes from progressing’.

Exeter Professor Calls for Policy to Reduce Plastic Pollution

The University of Exeter’s Professor Tamara Galloway has spoken at the Houses of Parliament in support of the Zero Plastic Waste Report, which calls for a renewed anti-plastic policy.

The new report is titled Plastic Packaging Plan: Achieving Net Zero Waste Exports and was produced by Policy Connect. Supported by a collective group of 12 political parties, the report contains 18 policy recommendations that aim to establish a national Plastic Packaging Plan before 2030.

Professor Galloway’s research into the environment impacts of microplastic pollution on the wellbeing of humans and marine wildlife has received several national awards.

Speaking to Exeposé, Professor Galloway said “it was fantastic to speak at this exciting event and to get such great feedback from so many people about our research. The event was attended by all sorts of people, including businesses working on recycling solutions, sustainable packaging manufacturers, environmental NGOs and many politicians. It was such a positive experience and let’s hope it has a good outcome in reducing ocean plastics”.

“It was fantastic to speak at this exciting event and to get such great feedback from so many people […] let’s hope it has a good outcome in reducing ocean plastics”.

– Professor Tamara Galloway, University of Exeter

According to a press release published on the University of Exeter’s website, the report reveals that the UK uses 3.3m tonnes of plastic packaging every year, which is above the EU average. It is hence recommended that the Government institutes radical policies to cut use of virgin plastics.

the UK uses 3.3m tonnes of plastic packaging every year.

These policies are intended to help the UK’s recycling industry overcome the challenge of a Chinese ban on imports of plastic waste. Until January 2018, Britain shipped 500,000 tonnes of plastic for recycling in China every year. Without a significant change in policy, UK recycling association are adamant that the UK will be unable to deal with the majority of the waste.

Reindeers Can’t See Red, Study Reveals

University of Exeter scientists have discovered that it is unlikely that Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was bullied because of his nose colour, as reindeer lack the colour-detecting cells that allow their eyes to see the colour red.

With the same reasoning applying for the colour orange, the research, conducted by Exeter MSc student Maria Watson and Penryn’s Professor Martin Stevens, also means that reindeer would not be able to see the colour of carrots, as “reindeer can’t see red light or tell the difference between red, orange and green”.

“It is unlikely that Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was bullied because of his nose colour”.

Whilst reindeer lack these crucial colour-detecting cells, they do, however, have ultraviolet vision, which is used, as Professor Stevens explained, “to see lichen hidden in the snow in the arctic, and potentially even spot white wolves or other predators because fur absorbs UV light whereas snow reflects UV light.” The newly-discovered visual abilities of reindeer were explained at Falmouth’s annual Science of Christmas event.

Drink Your Marrows Away: Exeter Study Reveals Impact of Pollination on Courgettes

A PhD study by Dr Jessica Knapp at the University of Exeter has discovered the impact of pollination to courgettes. Dr Knapp found that courgette crop yields were 39% higher when honeybees, buff-tailed bumblebees and other pollinators were present. This boost in yield would have added an estimated £3.6 million to the 2017 courgette crop.

Not only did it find the value of pollination, but that this increase is specific to natural pollinators. Human pollination made no real difference and added unnecessary labour cost.

This boost in yield would have added an estimated £3.6 million to the 2017 courgette crop.

These findings are predicted to also translate to other crops within the cucurbit family, including watermelons and cucumbers.

Dr Knapp’s study also discovered that more bumblebees were found in fields containing many wildflowers. Thus, wildflower field margins enhanced pollination services and contributes to the conservation of the bees. While courgette nectar improved population, this only aided the bees in cohesion with other pollen services to fulfil the bees’ nutritional needs. The bees did not take courgette pollen back to their colonies.

This study hopes to be valuable in helping growers plant accordingly to boost both crop yield and bee population levels.

Research survey documents rise in Scottish beaver population

A survey of the beaver population of the Scottish region of Tayside has shown an increase when compared to a previous study from 2012.

Carried out by the University of Exeter on behalf of Scottish National Heritage (SNH), estimated numbers increased from 150 in 40 active beaver regions in the 2012 survey, to 430 in 100 regions in 2017-8.

The survey, whose purpose was to document Scotland’s largest beaver population, will also inform the management of the effects of beavers. According to SNH’s Director of Sustainable Growth Nick Halfhide, the dams they build can “improve local water quality and help nurture wildlife”, while being able to “cause problems, particularly in areas with prime agricultural land.”

The findings will allow the development and trialling of new techniques to allow management of the population. The University of Exeter’s Professor Richard Brazier notes the survey’s “wide ranging value for informing policy and management strategies surrounding beaver reintroduction”.

The survey as a whole provides a “wealth of information” into free-living beaver populations, in Scotland and beyond.

Ketamine Used in Alcoholism Treatment Trial

A University of Exeter psychology trial for the treatment of alcoholism has attracted attention for its unconventional methods. The Ketamine for Reduction of Alcoholic Relapse (KARE) trial employs the use of Ketamine, a sedative and part-time recreational drug, alongside psychological therapy in order to assist with people suffering from alcoholism.

KARE aims to find out whether or not small doses of the drug can help prevent recovering alcoholics from descending back into excessive consumption. Funded by the Medical Research Council, KARE is the product of very recent experimental research and studies. The science behind such a trial builds on research which had previously done regarding ketamine, the results of which determined that the class B drug can facilitate in the creation of new neural paths within the brain. In turn, these changes to the human brain can aid in learning new behaviours. As far as KARE is concerned, an effect like this may be the key for some people to finally kick booze. Ketamine has also recently proven useful in combatting symptoms of depression.

THE trial builds on research which had previously determined that the class B drug can facilitate in the creation of new neural paths within the brain.

Ketamine, despite its known recreational use, is not known to be addictive. For patients taking part in KARE, a small dose of the drug is injected to the hand over 40 minutes. This is opposed to the large, faster, dosage which those abusing Ketamine would be taking for its sense-numbing effects.

In 2016/17, hospital admissions in which the main factor was alcohol were down by 1% from 2015/16, according to the NHS. However, the NHS also reports that in 2016/17 around 80,000 people were in treatment for ‘problematic drinking’ and KARE claims that alcohol abuse ‘affects nearly 4 million people in the UK’.

the NHS reports that in 2016/17 around 80,000 people were in treatment for ‘problematic drinking’.

The experts in charge of KARE are motivated by what they suggest are currently-insufficient alcoholism treatment programmes: ‘treatments to help people stop drinking alcohol have been shown to be limited in their effectiveness’, reads the KARE web page. ‘People often return to drinking after only a short time of being sober.’

16 to 24 Year Olds Found to be ‘Loneliest’ Age Group

New research into loneliness developed by academics at a number of universities, including the University of Exeter, has revealed that 16 to 24 year olds experience the most loneliness compared to any other age group.

BBC Radio 4 conducted the survey and released the results which claims that 40% of 16 to 24 year olds often experience intense loneliness. More than 55,000 people over 16 completed the survey which is the largest to explore the issue of loneliness so far. 29% of 65 to 74 year olds and 27% of over 75’s reported high levels of loneliness, which was typically associated with older generations.

40% of 16 to 24 year olds often experience intense loneliness.

The study looked into how loneliness is experienced and gave valuable insights into when it strikes most, revealing that there are strong links between loneliness and responsibilities, employability, and discrimination. The study also found that those who feel high levels of loneliness tend to have more Facebook friends and that dating and pursuing romantic relationships is not helpful in overcoming these feelings. However, 41% of individuals believe that loneliness isn’t always a negative experience and is often productive and positive.

The study will be able to be useful for understanding and tackling feelings of loneliness, and will be essential for young people who are at the highest risk. The study looked into ways in which people overcome loneliness which have been compiled into what Professor Pamela Qualter of the University of Manchester has called “a whole toolkit of potential solutions that we can try”.

41% of individuals believe that loneliness isn’t always a negative experience and is often productive and positive.

BBC Radio 4 is working with Welcome Collection on All in the Mind, with a series exploring loneliness based on the results from this study. The episodes will discuss why 16 to 24 year olds are experiencing the highest levels of loneliness compared to other age groups, how social media and relationships impact loneliness, and how long term loneliness can lead to health problems and poor sleep. Additionally, there is a discussion on genetic factors associated with loneliness, as well as child bullying and personality.

These findings will hopefully be utilised across the country in schools and universities and will lead to further resources to combat loneliness amongst young people.

Threat Posed to Exeter Research Funding From a ‘No Deal’ Brexit

The University of Exeter could lose millions of pounds of European Union research funding as a result of Brexit, new analysis reveals.

A key fund which could be cut includes the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, which supports many projects in the region, including research into sustainable energy and lung disease prevention. With £1 billion in research funding pledged for the South West, £13.4 million of the fund has been put toward Exeter’s five-year project (as of August 2018), which will test a new wave energy converter on Cornwall’s North coast.

The UK stands as one of the biggest beneficiaries of EU research funding. The country contributed £4.3 billion for EU research projects from 2007 to 2013, but received nearly £7 billion back over the same period. According to the People’s Vote campaign body, who conducted the analysis, UK universities received 20% of the EU funding grant agreement – the highest share, ahead of Germany, Spain, Italy and France.

UK universities received 20% of the EU funding grant agreement – the highest share, ahead of Germany, Spain, Italy and France.

UK universities have been given no guarantee that funding will continue after Britain leaves the EU. The Lords Science and Technology Committee warned that substantial EU investment into UK research will likely not be covered by future governments under current Brexit proposals.

The likelihood that EU money would not be replaced by UK government investment was emphasized by Jo Johnson, the former Universities and Science minister, who told the committee: “It would be rash to pretend that it would be easy to replace it in the event of Brexit.”

a recent YouGov poll found that voters in the South West of England would back a second referendum on the Brexit deal by a margin of 42% to 35%.

These findings come after a recent YouGov poll found that voters in the South West of England would back a second referendum on the Brexit deal by a margin of 42% to 35%, despite voters backing the Leave campaign in 2016.

Grow a Brain

How do you make a mini-brain? Methods vary, but you want to start with some human pluripotent stem cells, stem cells that can split into multiple cells when you put them in the right environment – for some other organs, you can use adult stem cells too – and let them multiply. This means that you could take cells from your arm. Unlike in the past, when you had to form two-dimensional chains of cells, scientists have started raising stem cells free-floating in broth, where they aggregate and grow. They will start to form tiny balls, which you can look at through a microscope, and see… a teeny tiny brain! (roughly the size of a 14-week-old foetus’ brain) How do you maintain a brain without a body? Instead of blood, you give it oxygen, either via broth or by cutting them up and letting them multiply again.

lentil-sized organoids can help understand organs’ structures

These miniature brains are called organoids. Researchers have been using them to replicate human organs; we can’t produce full organs this way, and they lack certain important components, but lentil-sized organoids can help understand organs’ structures. Indeed, where they aren’t researching brains, scientists have been building tiny organs of all sorts: kidneys, lungs… Using organoids is simply easier than invasively dissecting a human and could help us understand diseases such as Epilepsy or Alzheimer’s, or, some imagine, to help regenerate damaged organs.

Brain organoids have already been used to research drugs for ‘Timothy Syndrome’, a rare illness linked to heart issues, malformations, Autism spectrum disorders. It is caused by an overactive calcium ion channel: organoids have allowed scientists to experiment with drugs that block this channel. It’s helped us figure out how ‘Zika’ viral infections work, and to find several compounds that can block infection. Those were tested, in a first instance, in two dimensions, and then a selection was tested in a 3D environment, on organoids.

The zika virus capsid (shell) protects genetic material. Source: wiki media

Another use for organoid brains is assembling models of mini brains. A research team at Stanford University used two separate dishes to grow tiny models of two separate, but adjacent, parts of the brain. They then put them into the same tube and, just like a full-size brain, the two parts knew to find each other and build enough connections to practically fuse overnight. Video recordings showed that elongated cells started jumping from one small part of the brain to the other! This still leaves the idea of tiny brains developing in labs feeling slightly Frankenstein-like.

However, the disadvantage of using organoids is that they’re much simpler than ‘real’, in-vivo, organs, but that they are still more complicated than the in-vitro systems used by scientists. This means that researchers are still finding out how accurately their findings transfer onto humans. Organoids lack important elements– such as immune cells– that would allow them to grow more, and that would allow them to mature past the age of cells found in foetuses.

That’s why the term ‘mini-brain’ is contested: science writer Philip Ball, whose stem cells were used to make a brain organoid, writes that “one can fairly say that the neurons “want” to make a brain but, lacking proper guidance, don’t quite know how to go about it”.

Study Find Link Between Blue Light and Increased Cancer Risk

A study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, involving researchers from the University of Exeter, has discovered a link between the ‘blue light’ emitted by LED streetlights in many large cities and increased risk of breast and prostate cancer.

The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, utilised data from more than 4,000 people in 11 regions of Spain. Whilst lighting is used to create ‘orange’ emissions, modern lighting emits a bright ‘blue’ colour. Participants exposed to more blue light were found to have double the risk of prostate cancer and 1.5 times more likelihood of developing breast cancer.The study was conducted using images taken from the International Space Station to evaluate light levels, the first of its kind to use this method.

Participants exposed to more blue light were found to have double the risk of prostate cancer and 1.5 times more likelihood of developing breast cancer.

Dr Alejandro Sánchez de Miguel, of the University of Exeter, stated: “Humans have evolved to need light during the day and darkness at night. As towns and cities replace older lighting, we’re all exposed to higher levels of “blue” lights, which can disrupt our biological clocks. It’s imperative that we know for sure whether this increases our risk of cancer.”