Enda O'Connell 2014 Research Article

Vision, by Dr. Kieran Ryan of VISICORT

In the fourth of our weekly series of articles by NUI Galway researchers, Dr. Kieran Ryan, VISICORT Project Manager, writes about ‘Vision‘ and VISICORT’s research into improving corneal transplant outcomes by preventing rejection.

Eyes
Eyes from around the animal kingdom. From L-R: Hoverfly compound eye; Jumping spider anterior eyes; Cat’s eyes with distinctive slit-like iris. (Images from Wikimedia Commons)

Eyes are the organs of vision, detecting light and converting it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons. Eyes come in ten different forms, with the simplest types of ‘eyes’, merely eyespots, detecting whether the immediate surroundings are light or dark (photoreception).

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Enda O'Connell 2014 Research Article

Physics in Real Life, by Dr. Rebekah D’Arcy

In the second in our series of articles by NUI Galway researchers, School of Physics Lecturer Dr. Rebekah D’Arcy, writes about the ever evolving world of Medical Physics.

Physics in Real Life – Medical Physics

Hippocrates (460-377 BC), who is known as the “Father of Western Medicine”, may have been the first medical physicist. Over two thousand years ago, in order to locate where an infection was located, he would smear mud over a patient’s back, knowing that infected tissue is warmer and would therefore dry the mud faster. Technology has improved a lot since then and modern thermography, which looks at heat coming from the body using an infrared camera, is very different from Hippocrates’ methods.

In fact modern medical physics uses techniques which sound like they come straight from a science fiction movie.

Computer model of the Siemens Oncor linear accelerator used in the treatment of cancer patients, generated by simulation on a supercomputer (Image credit: Dr. Mark Foley)
Computer model of the Siemens Oncor linear accelerator (and selection of electron and photon tracks) used in the treatment of cancer patients, generated by simulation on a supercomputer (Image credit: Dr. Mark Foley)

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reellifescience 2013 Competition, Uncategorized

Irish Scientific Achievements

Ireland: you may have read works by some of our writers. Perhaps you’ve seen some of our dancers perform. Maybe you’ve grown up listening to some of our bands. But do you know our scientists?

This short film on Irish scientific achievements was produced by Dervalomedia on behalf of the Irish staff of the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy. It was first shown at the JRC open day on May 4th, 2013 which was attended by Máire Geoghegan Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science.

The film is based on “The Little Book of Irish Science” produced by Science Foundation Ireland. Images contained in the book were produced by Duffy Design in Dublin. Music is by Ronan Hardiman.

The NUI Galway led REDDSTAR project features from 4.10 in the video. The REDDSTAR project aims to use adult stem cell to treat diabetes and its associated complications and more details can be found here:  http://www.reddstar.eu/