Latest News
Best Paper Award 2013
A paper authored by members of DPM and the Schools of Physics and Chemistry has been awarded the "International Journal of Molecular Science Best Paper Award" for 2013.
Flourescence Lifetime Imaging of Quantum Dot Labeled DNA Microarrays has been selected from 174 papers published in 2009 as "the most outstanding".
Full citation:
Giraud G, Schulze H, Bachmann TT, Campbell CJ, Mount AR, Ghazal P, Khondoker MR, Ross AJ, Ember SW, Ciani I, Tlili C, Walton AJ, Terry JG, Crain J, Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging of Quantum Dot Labeled DNA Microarrays. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2009, 10(4), 1930-1941.
DPM Paper published in JACS
The following paper has been accepted for publication in the Journal of the American Chemical Society:
J Am Chem Soc. 2013 Mar 6.
Cyclic denaturation and renaturation of double stranded DNA by redox- state switching of DNA intercalators.
Syed SN, Schulze H, Macdonald D, Crain J, Mount AR, Bachmann TT.
First Minister learns about DPM collaboration
On Tuesday 5th February 2013 Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, visited the Edinburgh Bioquarter to see the work being carried out there and to announce the opening of three new specialist research companies - Science Squared, R-Biomedical and Marks and Clerks - at the research campus.
The First Minister heard from Dr Till Bachmann, DPM, working for Mölnlycke Health Care on a consultancy basis as Scientific Program Director, about the potential of a point of care test originally developed as part of the Scottish Enterprise Chronic Wound Care project led by DPM and conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian.
Further development is now taking place as part of a collaboration between Mölnlycke Health Care and the University of Edinburgh.
Follow the link for more information about the collaboration and links to an article in The Scotsman and to footage of Dr Bachmann, Russell McCraith, MD of MHC Scotland, and the First Minister.
IMMUNITY publish new cholesterol studies
Intimate connections between the workings of the immune system and cholesterol metabolism in fighting against infection.
A multinational collaborative effort, including researchers from UK, USA, Singapore, Germany, and Spain, and led by Professor Peter Ghazal and co-workers Mathieu Blanc and Wei Yuan Hsieh in the Division of Pathway Medicine, have found that in response to infection, white blood cells secrete a copious amount of a specifically modified cholesterol metabolite that acts as a potent inhibiter of viral growth. This metabolite (an oxysterol) lowers cholesterol level in the cell that is essential for viral growth.
The work uncovers a direct link between the workings of the immune system and cholesterol metabolism. Armed with this information researchers are pursuing this as a powerful new way of controlling cholesterol levels to fight against infection and heart disease.
University to host networking event for German academics
As part of a series of events for German-speaking academics, the German Consulate in Edinburgh will co-host a networking event with Dr Till Bachmann, DPM, in the Playfair Library, Old College, on Thursday 7th February 2013.
The objective is to encourage closer ties between the many German academics working at further and higher education institutes within the consular district, as well as increase contact with the Consulate.
The Consulate would like to give German academics the opportunity to get to know one another and exchange experiences and best practices. In addition to academic topics, this could include more general questions about living and working in Scotland/Northern Ireland as a German academic, as well as Children's education, finding work for your partner and consular queries.
Please note the date in your diary. Invitations will follow in due course. Naturally, German speaking academics from other countries are also warmly invited.
Till Bachmann appointed to BDI Scientific Advisory Board
Dr Till Bachmann, DPM, has been appointed to the Scientific Advisory Board of the BDI - Biomedical Diagnostics Institute - in Dublin.
The inaugural meeting of the Board took place in Dublin City University on 11th and 12th of October 2012.
KPC Microarray Paper Published
Members of DPM and the Robert Koch Institue have published their research on the combination of a new KPC-microarray with commercial sample preparation for the detection and genotyping of microbial pathogens directly from clinical specimen.
Peter H, Berggrav K, Thomas P, Pfeifer Y, Witte W, Templeton K, Bachmann TT. Direct Detection and Genotyping of KPC Carbapenemases from Urine using a new DNA Microarray Test. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 2012. 10.1128/JCM.00990-12
PLoS Pathogens publish CMV research
These studies provide, for the irst time, evidence for a role of IE1 as a regulator of the pro-inflammatory response and demonstrate a specific pathogen gene capable of moderating the host production of TNFα in vivo.
31August2012
Cholesterol study aids quest for new treatments
New studies published in Biochimie today provide fresh discoveries about how our bodies regulate cholesterol levels. This paper shows that the immune system tunes down cholesterol production in order to fight viral infection, which leads us to ask whether we can manipulate the way that cells produce cholesterol to help fight the spread of viral infections.
Faster MRSA Diagnosis
A simple test to identify MRSA in wounds could identify the superbug quickly and help prevent infection from spreading.
Researchers from the Division of Pathway Medicine and the Schools of Physics and Chemistry have developed the test to show whether wounds or lesions are infected with bacteria and if MRSA is present.
DPM Nominated for 2012 Teaching Award
Congratulations to Dr Douglas Roy, as the Division of Pathway Medicine has again been nominated for an Edinburgh University Student's Association Teaching Award 2011/12.
Professor Sue Welburn appointed Assistant Principal Global Health
Congratulations to Professor Susan Welburn on her appointment as Assistant Principal Global Health, responsible for progressing the University's strategic objectives and developing University policy.
Health check for cells could help monitor progress of disease
Scientists led by Dr Colin Campbell, Division of Pathway Medicine & School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, have created a sensor that measures tiny electronic signals in cells that help keep the cell functioning and are a key indication of health.
This article was published on May 2, 2013