ResearchPod

Cyclic glycine proline, or cGP,  is a very small molecule, but one with a profound impact on the body and mind, such as on the ageing brain and health.

Dr Jian Guan, Neuroscientist and Chief Scientific Officer at The cGP Lab, New Zealand, focuses on understanding the role of IGF-1 hormone and cGP in brain health and cognitive function, and improving the ageing process overall.

Read the original research: doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031021

Visit the cGP website: cgpmax.com

Active risks to children's health come in many shapes and sizes. While misinformation and bad advice won't turn up in a blood test, it can have just as damaging consequences as any infection.

Dr Christie del Castillo-Hegyi's research into child wellbeing and nutrition, in addition to her Fed Is Best Initiative, flies counter to a lot of the “received wisdom” new parents are given. Her cause is that babies get adequate care in their early development - a sentiment that is more controversial than it seems.

This episode includes discussion of maternal health, child malnutrition, medical trauma and child death. Listener discretion is advised.

Read the original research: https://doi.org/10.3390/children9091379

Pre-order the Fed Is Best book here: https://www.fedisbestbook.org/

Sir Paul Nurse, Director of the Francis Crick Institute in London, UK is a Nobel Prize winning geneticist and cell biologist whose research is recognised worldwide, particularly for his contributions to cell biology and cancer research. 

In this insightful interview with our sister publication, Research Features, Nurse discusses the institute’s creative ‘bottom up’ approach to research, his presidency of the Royal Society, science communication, and how he stays grounded despite a staggeringly successful career.

Read more in Research Features: doi.org/10.26904/RF-150-5477109273

Visit the Francis Crick Institute's website: crick.ac.uk

How could a chance discovery in cuttlefish biology help protect our sight? Join Professor Michele Barbour in conversation with Dr Shelby Temple, the CEO and Co-Founder of Azul Optics, a medical device company focused on using innovative screening technologies to improve eye health. Hear about Shelby’s transition from academia to entrepreneurship and the importance of building the right team.

⭐Highlights

§  Delve into the research on a unique eye pigment and the accidental discovery that led to the creation of Azul Optics’ ground-breaking technology.

§  Hear about Shelby’s move from academic to entrepreneur and the support he received from Bristol SETsquared and the Innovate UK ICURe programme.

§  Learn about the significance of building the right team and the dynamic interplay between business and scientific partners crucial for Azul Optics’ success.

§  Shelby discusses the company’s work to realise their full market potential, their goal of being acquired and their mission to educate and leave a lasting impact on eye health. 

🌐 About the Enterprise Sessions

The Enterprise Sessions bring together a diverse mix of company founders and researchers who talk openly about their personal experiences of forming spin-outs and start-ups, raising capital, academic-industry partnerships and the joys of translating research discoveries into real-world impact. 

The series aims to inform, inspire and challenge myths and stereotypes about research commercialisation and how businesses and universities can work together to tackle society's biggest challenges. 

👍 Like, Share, Subscribe, Explore

If you found this episode inspiring or informative, please don’t forget to like and share. Visit our website or subscribe to the University of Bristol’s YouTube channel for more Enterprise Sessions. 

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/enterprise-sessions 

🔗 Connect with Azul optics

Azul optics website: https://azuloptics.com/

Azul optics on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/azuloptics/

Azul optics on X: https://twitter.com/azuloptics

Azul optics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azul_optics

Commercialisation resources:

University of Bristol Commercialisation team: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/business/innovate-and-grow/research-commercialisation/ 

iCure program: https://www.icureprogramme.com/

SETsquared program: https://www.setsquared.co.uk/

With the exception of a few hereditary cancers, there is currently no accurate method to predict whether someone is going to get cancer. 

Dr Andrew Teschendorff from the Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, in collaboration with Dr Chen Wu from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, has created a computational method called CancerStemID that could help calculate a patient’s risk of cancer by analysing a vast amount of RNA data from precancerous cells.

Read the original research: doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-0668

Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States, and 80% of traumatic brain injuries are classified as ‘mild.’ But, these can have serious and long-lasting effects. 

Dr Jacyln Stephens, Associate Professor in Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University specialises in brain injury, rehabilitation, and neuroscience. She discusses her research into the injuries of student athletes who are particularly prone to mild traumatic brain injury, and how research is helping to improve both diagnosis and recovery. 

Read the original research: doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13101413

Find out more on Google Scholar and Pub Med

In the digitalised world, citizens – while having control over their personal information – are increasingly exposing their data, and there are plenty of online platforms ready to collect this.

Aigul Kaskina, in collaboration with the FMsquare Foundation, presents the concept of a fuzzy-based recommender system for user account privacy settings that can be used for citizen participation on online political platforms.

Read the original research: doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06021-2_1

Read more about the FMsquare Foundation in Research Outreach

Visit the FMsquare Foundation's website: fmsquare.org

What can we learn from our history to make positive changes for the future? Professor Michele Barbour investigates this question with Dr Joanna Burch-Brown, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Co-Chair of the Bristol Histories Commission, and Co-Director of Bridging Histories. Joanna talks about her work to celebrate diversity, empower people, and foster a sense of collective heritage.

⭐Highlights

• Learn how the Countering Colston campaign and the removal of Edward Colston’s statue during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 shaped Bridging Histories’ grassroots approach to community engagement.
• Joanna reflects on her background growing up in Virginia and the Appalachian Mountains, shaping her perspective on the importance of community and social change.
• Find out how you can take part in Bridging Histories signature activities. Submit poetry and recipes. Learn about your street’s history. Explore family histories. Discover the monuments and memorials in your area. Be a changemaker.

🌐 About the Enterprise Sessions

The Enterprise Sessions bring together a diverse mix of company founders and researchers who talk openly about their personal experiences of forming spin-outs and start-ups, raising capital, academic-industry partnerships and the joys of translating research discoveries into real-world impact.

The series aims to inform, inspire and challenge myths and stereotypes about research commercialisation and how businesses and universities can work together to tackle society's biggest challenges.

👍 Like, Share, Subscribe, Explore

If you found this episode inspiring or informative, please don’t forget to like and share. Visit our website or subscribe to the University of Bristol’s YouTube channel for more Enterprise Sessions.

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/enterprise-sessions

🔗 Connect with Bridging Histories and the University of Bristol

Bridging Histories website: https://bridginghistories.com/

Bridging Histories on X: https://twitter.com/HistoryBridging

University of Bristol’s Commercialisation team: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/business/innovate-and-grow/research-commercialisation/

The international monetary system is the unquestioned common ground for all economic activities.

Stefan Brunnhuber, trustee of the World Academy of Art and Science and member of the Club of Rome asks: how and why will an upgraded financial system be a game-changer? Are we ready to think and act outside the box? Do we need a new, green Bretton Woods 2.0?

Read the original research: springer/10.1007/978-3-031-23285-5

Read more in Research Outreach

Visit the World Academy of Art and Science website: worldacademy.org

How much of the plastic we generate in our cities every day ends up in natural water ecosystems? And what are the paths for pollution to enter these systems?

Using a combination of environmental monitoring, laboratory analysis, and computer modelling, a team led by Dr. Mauricio Arias and his Watershed Sustainability lab at the University of South Florida aim to unravel the complex mechanisms responsible for the transport and degradation of plastic once they enter the aquatic environment.


Read the original research: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121052


Read more from the team at watershedsustainability.org