2024 in the news from the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Welcome to the 2024 annual review from the biology, medicine and health beat. Yet again, our world leading researchers are making an impact right around the world, so here鈥檚 a taste of some of our most popular and interesting stories. Enjoy!
Kicking off our review in December, we celebrated a recognition of the University鈥檚 commitment to openness, with the presentation of a prestigious openness award to the organisers of the first Whitworth debate, called Culture of care or culture of concern - let鈥檚 debate animal research.
In November, November we highlighted how a genetic test for deafness in newborns was to be trialled across the UK. The ground-breaking test that could prevent critically ill newborn babies going deaf if treated with gentamicin, a commonly used antibiotic, is being trialled across 14 NHS specialist newborn units across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In October our researchers showed how most non-cancer pain opioid prescriptions are for musculoskeletal conditions. Nearly three quarters of new non-cancer pain opioid prescriptions were for patients with musculoskeletal conditions, despite limited evidence of the drug鈥檚 efficacy. The new , evaluated the specific clinical conditions that lead to the initiation of opioid prescriptions using data from nationally representative GP electronic health records.
In September, we the world witnessed the first human graphene-based brain computer interface procedure, human procedure performed at Salford Royal Hospital. The trial, sponsored by 91直播 and in collaboration with pharmaceutical company INBRAIN, represents a significant advancement in demonstrating the ability of graphene-based technology to become a reliable tool for use in precision surgery.
In August we told you how a sex worker study could bring an effective gonorrhoea vaccine a step closer. The ground-breaking involving Kenyan sex workers shone a light into the immune response to gonorrhoea, paving the way for more effective vaccines.
In July our Egyptologist used state of the art 3D imaging technology to piece together the life - and probable death - of a 2.2 metre-long crocodile mummified by the ancient Egyptians, unearthing the croc鈥檚 deadly last meal i
In June we told you how there was no evidence sperm counts are dropping . The widely held view that sperm counts in men are dropping around the world may be wrong according to the study which used data from 6,758 men from four cities in Denmark applying to be sperm donors at the world鈥檚 largest sperm bank, Cryos International.
In May it was, very possibly, a first for the University when worked with garden designers and others to unveil a Burmese and skin-themed garden at the Chelsea flower show .In a first for the world-famous, Dermatologists and specialist nurses will be welcoming visitors to the Burma Skincare Initiative鈥檚 鈥楽pirit of Partnership Garden鈥� during the week. The charity, was co-founded by Chris Griffiths OBE, emeritus professor at The University of Manchester.
In April we told how scientists grow human mini-lungs as animal alternative for nanomaterial safety testing. Though not expected to replace animal models completely, human organoids could soon lead to significant reductions in research animal numbers, the team led by cell biologist and nanotoxicologist Dr Sandra Vranic argues.
In March we heard how cells harvested from urine may have diagnostic potential for kidney disease. Genes expressed in human cells harvested from urine are remarkably similar to those of the kidney itself, suggesting they could be an important non-invasive source of information on the kidney.
In February, we reported how a class of molecules playing a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression and other cellular processes could restore normal skin structure rather than producing a scar. The New findings in The American Journal of Pathology, published by Elsevier, mean microRNA-29s, a class of small RNAs, could benefit patients affected by large-area or deep wounds prone to dysfunctional scarring.
And last but not least in January we told how the future benefits of water fluoridation not guaranteed. Existing drinking water fluoridation programmes in England still provide marginal savings for the NHS, but there is no guarantee new schemes would continue to do so, the researchers argued. It was the largest ever study of the effects of water fluoridation on the dental health of adults.