Departmental news
Appetite can be increased by cells in the brain
Tanycytes are glial cells, which communicate with neurons in the brain to inform it of what we have eaten. Professor Nick Dale and colleagues have found when tanycytes are selectively stimulated appetite was increased.
New University of Warwick modelling supports cautious reopening of schools if other lockdown measures continue to control the coronavirus
The gradual reopening of schools, starting with primary schools, is unlikely to lead to a second wave of infection, according to new mathematical modelling of the COVID-19 outbreak from University of Warwick researchers, but we should be prepared to reintroduce lockdown measures should there be a significant rise in the number of new cases.
New technique for engineering living materials and patterns
A new method for engineering living materials called ‘MeniFluidics’, made by researchers from the departments of Life Sciences and Physics, could see a transformation in tissue engineering and bio-art, as well as new ways to research cellular interactions.
Dr Munehiro Asally comments:
“We hope MeniFluidics will be used widely by biophysics, microbiologists, engineers and also artists! As it is a simple and versatile method.”
Warwick scientists discover how cells respond to fasting
A team of researchers led by Professor Ioannis Nezis, discovered how cells activate autophagy genes during fasting.
A new understanding of everyday cellular processes
We use cells to breathe, to moderate body temperature, to grow and many other every day processes, however the cells in these processes are so complex its left scientists perplexed into how they develop in different environments. Professor Orkun Soyer and colleagues say future research needs to look into the bioelectrical composition of cells for answers.
The need for a measured approach for relaxation of lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic
New research, led by Professor Matt Keeling, finds the need for a measured approach to relaxing lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic - which may mean regional social distancing until mid-2021.
Press Release
Lockdown staff and students at University of Warwick to help with wildlife surveys
Members of the Warwick community who are living on campus during lockdown have the opportunity to help survey wildlife for a biodiversity project.
Minimum energy requirements for microbial communities to live predicted
A microbial community is a complex, dynamic system composed of hundreds of species and their interactions, they are found in oceans, soil, animal guts and plant roots. Each system feeds the Earth’s ecosystem and their own growth, as they each have their own metabolism that underpin biogeochemical cycles.
Professor Orkun Soyer and colleagues have produced a thermodynamic model for simulating the dynamics of microbial communities.
UKRI fellowships awarded to Life Sciences Academics
Two academics from Life Sciences have been awarded a UKRI Future Leader Fellowship.
- Dr Byron Carpenter for his project titled: Developing a synthetic signalling system capable of the precise spatial and temporal control of protein function in living cells.
- Dr Erin Connelly for her project: Datamining medieval medical texts for modern medicines.
The fellowship scheme is awarded to the best researchers in the UK, keeping research and innovation in the UK world class.
Warwick Researchers to provide COVID-19 Intervention Modelling for East Africa (CIMEA)
A £1m grant from the Wellcome Trust has enabled researchers to work with East African countries in their emergency preparations for COVID-19 as the pandemic spreads across Africa. Press Release
Professor James Nokes comments:
'We hope that by closely combining our efforts with in-country expertise in modelling, epidemiology, health economics and systems and vulnerability mapping we can develop models appropriate to each setting with results that will immediately feed into the policy making process to have the greatest impact.'