Neuroscience

How Women and Men Differ in Bed: It’s Complicated. – menshealth.com

Dean MitchellGetty Images

An important starting point for understanding sexual desire is to appreciate that hormones play a key role in motivating our sexual appetites and behaviors. In fact the operation of our sexual systems depends on a cascade of hormones that affect us at two critical points during our life cycleinitially during the course of embryonic development (these are called organizing effects, which establish the architecture of the brain/body) and later on, when we hit puberty (these are the activating effects, which turn on the wired-in systems).

Most people dont know that the masculinization of the brain and body happen during embryonic development at two distinct and separate points, facilitated by two different hormones, which has huge potential in clarifying some issues involving sexual orientation, gender identification, and transgenderism (in which the sex of the brain does not apparently match that of the body). As far as the activating effects of the hormones, we know that the hormone testosterone is responsible for the sex drive in both male and female mammals and people.

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What is not usually discussed (but has been well established) is that testosterone has more impact on the male mammalian brain. While it might be considered politically incorrect to call attention to fundamental differences in how male and female brains are wired, modern neuroscience has provided tons of evidence to support that there are indeed significant differences. Although it is true that the brain of each sex has some feminine and some masculine networks or circuits, if all goes according to plan in the process of embryological development, male brains simply have more places for the testosterone (and another hormone related to testosterone, vasopressin) to workby connecting with structures called receptors activated by the hormones. The receptive fields or places for testosterone to have influence are plentiful in the male brain. This feature explains the general finding that males tend to report having sex on the mind more frequently than females.

On the other hand, if all goes well during embryonic development, the female brain comes equipped with sufficient receptors sensitive to the hormone oxytocinthe hormone that is associated with decreased anxiety, increased trust, and social bonding. Oxytocin affects male brains similarly but there are substantially fewer oxytocin circuits in the male brain. Interestingly enough, the female sex hormone estrogen turns up the activity of the oxytocin circuits in the brain, while testosterone in the male brain fires up the vasopressin circuits, fueling competition and sexual interest.

Another fascinating aspect of female sexuality is that womens interest in the erotic can wax and wane in response to cyclical changes in brain chemistry. At peak fertility, when estrogen and progesterone levels are high, some women report more sexual thoughts and fantasies. Studies have also shown that women engage in more sexual behavior during their fertile periods (with rates of intercourse rising by 24 percent during the six days flanking ovulation). But way more than biology affects female sexuality. One need only read the fascinating research done by Dr. Meredith Chivers, a colleague from Queens University in Ontario, who has demonstrated that, in women, arousal of the genitals (as measured by blood flow in response to audiovisual erotic stimuli) simply doesnt translate into subjective sexual arousal or feeling turned on. In other words, blood flow to female genitals tends to be a nonspecific response to all sorts of erotic stimuli, regardless of the female participants sexual orientation, which doesnt necessarily correlate with feeling turned on. Blood flow to the womens genitals increases when the participants watched males with females, males with males, females with females, and even bonobos (those randy pygmy chimpanzees) getting it on.

This type of arousal is keenly different from how male arousal works: mens genitals only rise to the occasion, so to speak, in response to stimuli matching their own sexual orientation. And for men, increased blood flow to the penis in this type of study usually translates into increased subjective turn on. This explains why Viagra-type drugs dont work for women. With these drugs, you can indeed increase blood flow to the female genitals, but it doesnt do much for the ladies in terms of either subjective (experienced) arousal or desire. Suffice it to say that sexuality for women appears to have more complex underpinnings, which are not as well understood.

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Men and women also experience some aspects of sex differently. At first, in the early days, sexuality research by Masters and Johnson (1966), Kaplan (1979), and Lief (1977) described the sexual response cycle as a linear process that begins with desire/arousal, moves to a plateau or middle stage of intensified arousal or excitement, and then on to a third stage of orgasm and/or ejaculation. We have moved beyond this model not only because women dont fit neatly into it but also because we know so much more about the varying ways that humans in general become aroused and experience desire.

Several sexologists, including Beverly Whipple and K. B. Brash-McGeer and Rosemary Basson, distinguish the female sexual response cycle as being more circular than linear because there are so many more dimensions to what drives female desire and arousal. Basson shifted the nonlinear model farther by emphasizing that women are not necessarily motivated by sex for the release of orgasm but rather personal satisfaction, which may come through the emotional experience of intimacy with a partner. Essentially, for women, as compared with men, sexual desire might not be as driven by physically experienced horninessbut rather more motivated and accessed by and through the warm, intimate, and fuzzy partnership pathway.

Why are these models helpful or significant? Because they underscore that the pleasure of sex comes at different stages and in different forms: in the turn-on level of stimuli; in the predicted expectation that sex is going to happen; in the body-focused build-up of increased blood flow and muscle tension of the excitement and plateau stages; and ultimately in the release of the orgasm. If pleasure is experienced all along the way and is naturally variable, and the brains involvement is paramount, then how we think about solving our sexual problems needs to consider these realities.

Nan Wise, Ph.D., is AASECT certified sex therapist, neuroscientist, certified relationship expert. This piece is an excerpt from her new book, Why Good Sex Matters: Understanding the Neuroscience of Pleasure for a Smarter, Happier, and More Purpose-Filled Life, out Jan. 28, 2020. Follow her @AskDoctorNan.

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How Women and Men Differ in Bed: It's Complicated. - menshealth.com

Neuroscience

Alum Embarks on Search For True Happiness, and Finds It All Across the USA – UConn Today

She should have been on top of the world.

Alumna Michelle Wax 12 (BUS), was in her mid-20s and already the owner of two successful companies in the food industry. Business was great, yet something was amiss.

I wasnt in a dark, dark place, but I found myself stressed out easily and with lots of self-doubt, Wax said. Thus began her search for greater happiness and fulfillment.

She isnt alone. A report released in March by the United Nations found that Americans are, overall, an unhappy lot. In fact, our international happiness ranking dropped for the third year in a row to No. 19 in the world. Americans have never been in the Top 10 since the report began in 2012.

Happiness is everyones ultimate goal, but how do we get there? Wax said. We think that well be happy when we reach that accomplishment or buy the house, or start the company, or meet the perfect person. Its always in the future.

But happiness today is easier to reach than you might think. Its a matter of taking control of your happiness and your life, regardless of outside people or circumstances. You dont need to accomplish a grand thing to feel fulfilled. It starts with small steps, if you know what they are.

Wax, a three-time entrepreneur, author, documentary maker and happy-life advocate, has created the American Happiness Project, consisting of workshops and programs designed to make participants feel more energetic and increase their personal sense of fulfillment. She presents at universities and corporations throughout the country. She has two presentations planned for UConn alumni, including one on Jan. 28 in Boston.

To develop her expertise, Wax spent months visiting all 50 states and creating a documentary from the conversations she had and the insights she got from truly happy people. Her subjects ranged from teenagers to people in their late 60s, from a variety of occupations and economic circumstances.

She spoke with people who were happy despite being diagnosed with late-stage cancer or whose homes had been destroyed in natural disasters. She also interviewed people with more routine struggles, such as disliking a job, feeling stuck in life, or experiencing stress and anxiety.

She has combined their wisdom with research on the neuroscience of how our brains are wired and how that ties into happiness. She studied how shifts in ones mindset can lead to greater tranquility.

The latest in neuroscience research ties directly into a persons happiness, she said. We can learn more about how our brains are wired and how we can use that to our advantage. There are easy steps you can start doing that impact your confidence, your belief in yourself, and your happiness, that can lead to a more fulfilling life.

During the course of her work, Wax found some common themes among people who are discontent.

Ive talked to a lot of people and what they seem to struggle with are questions such as Do I matter? and Am I making an impact on the world? she said. For many of these people, they are OK, theyre doing fine, but they dont have a strong sense of fulfillment and consistent happiness day to day.

Waxs program goes beyond work satisfaction to address life in a holistic way.

I have three goals in my workshops, she said. First, I want to connect people. Ive found that people are craving real connection. I want them to talk, get someones contact information, and follow up after the workshop to build a friendship. A lot of times we meet someone once at an event and have a great connection and never talk to them again.

Then we talk about neuroscience and how the mind is wired. If youre feeling stressed and are riddled with self-doubt, you can change that. My goal is to make that science more relatable and approachable and easy to understand, she said. Lastly, I give the audience immediate steps that they can take to improve their lives.

When I learned this knowledge and was able to change my mindset, it made such an impact on my entire life, she said. It had a trickle effect to the people in my life I truly care about, and hundreds of people since then.

Wax grew up in Dover, Mass., and her older brother Justin attended UConn. Michelle visited frequently and fell in love with the university.

She majored in management, with a concentration in entrepreneurship. One of her formative experiences was serving as vice president of event planning for the Student Entrepreneurship Organization. Meeting successful entrepreneurs, and hearing their encouraging messages, gave her the confidence to envision herself as her own boss.

During her junior year she interned at a tech startup, which eventually became LevelUp, a mobile ordering and payment platform that was acquired by Grubhub. She accepted a job there after graduation.

Within a year she was also running her own business, a cookie catering company called Kitchen Millie.

I started on the small side, doing it after work. I was able to build it up to a very successful business with prominent clients, she said. Kitchen Millie was named after my grandma. She was a good baker, but, more importantly, she instilled in me the importance of going after what you want and making it happen. So I did use some of her recipes, but it was more her character and attitude toward life that was the foundation of the business.

Having learned the ropes of entering the food industry, Wax started a second business, called The Local Fare, which helped coach and guide startups and growing food companies to leverage their success and avoid common mistakes. Last year she sold both businesses to devote all her time to American Happiness.

During her travels, from February to May of last year, Wax visited some of the countrys most beautiful locations. Through a LinkedIn posting, she was able to connect with people across the nation who were happy and content, despite having had some misfortunes in life.

I wanted to capture a broad range of people and discover how they had built happiness on a deep level, she said. One thing they all had in common was that they were excited about their lives, contributing to their communities, and living life with purpose.

New Englanders, she noted, tend to be more reserved in friendly conversation than people in other parts of the country. Shes a proponent of people taking a chance to reach out to others.

I got really good at talking to random people. Most people are open and honest and enjoy conversation once theyre approached, she said. I cant count how many amazing conversations I had just by saying, Hi. Hows it going?

Another lesson she learned is that people with a positive attitude are almost universally liked.

Positive people make a real impact. People like those who lift them higher, who are encouraging, who send a text that says, Youre amazing! she said. I found that those small gestures were so powerful.

Wax will share her American Happiness discoveries at a UConn alumni event in Boston on Jan. 28. A second presentation is tentatively planned for the Fall in Hartford. For more information, please visit alumni.business.uconn.edu or contact the Alumni Relations Office at (860) 486-2240.

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Alum Embarks on Search For True Happiness, and Finds It All Across the USA - UConn Today

Neuroscience

New insights into globular glial tauopathy could aid in the design of better drugs – News-Medical.net

Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the accumulation of phospho-tau, in other words tau associated to phosphate groups. Globular Glial Tauopathy, as well as Alzheimer's, are members of this large group. It is characterized by the accumulation of phospho-tau in neurons and by the formation of protein inclusions in glial cells astrocytes or oligodendrocytes. The majority of this kind of tauopathy is spontaneous, but some of them are caused by specific mutations.

This study published at Acta Neuropathologica journal, was led by Dr. Isidre Ferrer, from Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Medicine and Health Science Faculty from Barcelona University (UB) and Bellvitge Hospital (HUB), with the collaboration of Dr. Jos Antonio del Ro from Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and Biology Faculty from UB, both of them are members of Neuroscience Institute (UBNeuro) from UB. They studied several cases of patients with kind of tauopathy, genetic or spontaneous. The study shows that the addition of phosphate groups, is not specific to tau many other proteins are abnormally phosphorylated. This hyperphosphorylation induces protein disfunction and accumulation, which generates cell damage. Navarra Hospital also participates in these observations performing the proteomic and phosphorylation analysis.

Another relevant aspect of the study is that protein accumulation not only affects neurons, glial cells associated to them are also impaired, specifically astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Glial cell affectation could promote the loss of some neural connections. Moreover, these inclusions can travel neuron to neuron or glial cell to glial cell, which facilitates the damage spreading to other cerebral regions.

These findings provide new information for the design of new drugs that stop disease progression. Firstly, new drugs must act in other proteins apart from tau since tau is not the only protein with increased phosphorylation. On the other hand, a new player has emerged in the scene, glial cells that not only are interfering in the cerebral damage, but they also participate in the spreading of protein inclusions. Finally, new drugs that stop cellular transmission of protein inclusions could be an interesting target for this disease.

Source:

Journal reference:

Ferrer, I., et al. (2020) Familial globular glial tauopathy linked to MAPT mutations: molecular neuropathology and seeding capacity of a prototypical mixed neuronal and glial tauopathy. Acta Neuropathologica. doi.org/10.1007/s00401-019-02122-9.

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New insights into globular glial tauopathy could aid in the design of better drugs - News-Medical.net

Embryology

Fr O’Neill’s bold witness on behalf of the unborn child will bear fruit – The Irish News

Niall Meehan (January 17) will recognise physics and metaphysics colliding when the ethics of abortion is discussed. Einstein said: Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.As a 1980s atheist teenager I favoured the pro-abortion position with a now discredited scientific theory, called Haeckels embryos, seeming to support early abortion. The study of human embryology as a medical student made me start to question the legitimacy of unrestricted abortion beyond a couple of months. The developing human form from two to three months into pregnancy cannot be denied.

Working in an obstetrics department involved scanning unborn humans; and gave me opportunity to see the developing foetus on ultrasound scan, with an obvious beating heartbeat separate from the mothers. The depth of emotional distress experienced by women suffering early pregnancy miscarriages informed me of a meaningful relationship between mother and child. A devout Catholic junior doctor housemate discussed in depth and detail the moral and scientific arguments against abortion. Donal sowed spiritual seeds which further sprouted when I went to work in the Scottish Gaeltacht as a GP.

Studying the science and ethics of abortion drew me to religious faith, and I decided to cease making NHS referrals for abortion. Many HSE GPs in the south wisely abstain from abortion involvement. NHS GPs in the north should do likewise. Amazing modern colour images on the CBRUK website instantly reveal a range of disturbing truths that pro-abortion politicians are too terrified to ever discuss. The clamour to fix exclusion zones outside abortion centres bears witnesses to the need for censorship. A CBRUK website section, The Facts-Human Development, equips ordinary people to oppose abortion using social media platforms. Knowledge is power, and we should share it.

Fr Eugene ONeill in Coalisland can have every confidence that his bold witness on behalf of the unborn child will bear fruit. St Paul tells us: Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. My friend Donal, who introduced me to the pro-life world view in depth, went on to have a very distinguished career in Irish medicine and completed Masters level degree study in medical ethics.Niall Meehan is wrong when he says: The words of men, however eminent, should be secondary to those who are pregnant.Knowledge of medicine and ethics, not a persons gender, determines their ability to give an expert opinion on the morality of abortion.

TJ HARDYBelfast BT5

Termination of children in the womb not justifiable under any circumstances

Responding to my letter Niall Meehan cites the X case and the tragedy of Savita Hallapanavar in a further attempt to justify abortion (December 27).

It is vital to this debate to bear in mind that we are dealing with real human lives, both born and unborn.

The X case concerns an act of abuse, perpetrated against an innocent child that resulted in her becoming pregnant. So you are dealing now with two children a 13-year-old girl and an unborn boy or girl.

There were two child victims in the X case both equally innocent.

In the case of Savita Hallapanavar, the law as it stood then in Ireland provided for an abortion in her particular circumstances to save her life. Inexplicably the hospital failed her.

Pro-abortion forces have shamelessly and cynically manipulated the sad case of Savita for their purposes of the liberal abortion regime in Ireland they were demanding and have now obtained, through the repeal of the 8th amendment.

The unborn child is now entirely at the mercy of so-called choice.Let me assure Niall Meehan not just I personally but very many people in Ireland, north and south that we will never accept the deliberate termination of children in the womb as justifiable under any circumstances.

We will work ceaselessly to oppose abortion and to persuade society that intentional abortion is never a solution, never an action that should be advocated by a humane and just society.

FR PATRICK McCAFFERTYBelfast BT12

Romantic meandering

Patrick Murphy Dissident Sinn Fin, IRA of 1970 lost great Irish opportunity (January 11) focuses on the events of the 1970s. The split a peace loving republican movement and a civil rights movement that would transform the six counties and indeed Ireland.

Where Mr Murphys article falls very short (has he a selective memory?) is the period before the 1970s.May I remind him of partition, Gerrymandering and bigotry that went before the 1970s. May I remind him of Malvern Street and Silent Valley? May I remind him of the civil rights marches that were met by such ferocity.All Mr Murphys article reflects is a finger-pointing piece targeting republicans that said no to a two-state nation led by the likes of MacGiolla. They saw the sectarian state in the raw, not through some rose-tinted glasses. There was not going to be a great Irish opportunity. What we had was a festering mess that Bernadette Devlin would say it was not a question of if but when it needed confronted.Mr Murphys romantic meandering are just that.

MANUS McDAIDDerry City

In the spirit of compromise

I noticed in the details of the historical and wonderful new power sharing Assembly at Stormont the British union flag will be allotted three additional days on which it can be flown from public buildings. In the spirit of compromise and equality can anyone say how many new days will be allotted to the flying of the Tricolour from these same public buildings?

COLM LONGDunmurry, Co Antrim

Call time on this mess

How can one maintain a good working relationship with a partner without mutual respect?

The new agreement in a peace process which has outlived the Troubles here is built on sand. The two main parties remain hell-bent on mocking, insulting, humouring and ridiculing each other. Add the increasing foreign influences on our respective cultures to the mix and we have a society with no moral and political fabric. Call time on this mess.

DESMOND DEVLINArdboe, Co Tyrone

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Fr O'Neill's bold witness on behalf of the unborn child will bear fruit - The Irish News

Immunology

Richard Flavell Is Named a Distinguished Fellow by the American Association of Immunologists – Yale News

Richard A. Flavell, PhD, Sterling Professor of Immunobiology and aHoward Hughes Medical Institute investigator, has been named a Distinguished Fellowby the American Association of Immunologists (AAI), which calls this designation one of the highest honors that AAI bestows.

Flavell also is a fellow of the Royal Society and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, EMBO, and the National Academy of Medicine.His laboratoryuses transgenic and gene-targeted mice to study innate and adaptive immunity, T cell tolerance, and activation in immunity and autoimmunity, apoptosis, and regulation of T cell differentiation.

I am honored to be recognized in this way by the AAI, the premier immunology society, he says.

According to AAI, the honor recognizes "active, long-term members (25 or more years) who have demonstrated one or more of the following: excellence in research accomplishment in the field of immunology; exceptional leadership to the immunology community in academia, foundations, nonprofits, industry, or government at a national or international level; notable distinction as an educator."

Flavell is one of 20 scientists who have been designated Distinguished Fellowsfor 2020.

Submitted by Robert Forman on January 24, 2020

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Richard Flavell Is Named a Distinguished Fellow by the American Association of Immunologists - Yale News

Immunology

Deep Bench: Importance of flu shot for older adults and those with chronic conditions – WSAW

(WZAW) -- Flu season is far from over. In fact, most flu activity typically peaks between December and February, and activity can last as late as May.

While the CDC urges the public to get vaccinated by the end of October, experts agree that for those who havent gotten their flu shot by the holidays, it isnt too late to get a flu shot in the new year.

On Friday, Dr. Payel Gupta, an expert in immunology and respiratory health joined the Deep Bench, along with JoJo O'Neal, an asthma patient.

Dr. Gupta said for those who may have put it off, recent flu activity trends emphasize the need for late season flu vaccination, especially for groups who are at increased risk of flu and flu-related complications, like adults 50 years of age and older and people living with chronic medical conditions.

"It not only protects you, but protects those around you," Dr Gupta said. "We've already seen 6,660 deaths in the U.S. from the flu this year alone, so it's a big deal."

She added that bout 70 percent of adults 50 years of age and older have one or more chronic illnesses such as heart disease, asthma or other lung disease, diabetes and cancer. When combined with the flu, these chronic medical conditions can become worse and cause serious illness, hospitalizations and even death. Directly, flu can worsen symptoms of respiratory disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and can lead to pneumonia. Multiple studies have found an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in the first few days following a flu infection.

Thats why the American Lung Association and Sanofi Pasteur launched the MyShot campaign, empowering people ages 50 and older to take ownership of their health and ask their doctor about flu shot options that might be right for them.

ONeal is a 55-year-old radio personality living with asthma. In 2017, she became sick with the flu, and it took her over 10 days to recover. During that time, she passed the virus on to her sister and niece. Now, she is making an annual flu shot a priority and wishes to educate others older adults to do the same.

"Prior to getting the flu, I had not taken the flu shot, and I don't want other people to go through what I went through," O'Neal said.

For more information, visit getmyshot.org

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Deep Bench: Importance of flu shot for older adults and those with chronic conditions - WSAW

Immunology

Post Doctoral Researcher, Biology job with MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY | 194305 – Times Higher Education (THE)

Department : Biology

Closing Date : 05-Feb-2020

Applications are sought for position of Post-doctoral Researcher to conduct research within the Childhood Obesity Immunology research group of Dr. Andy Hogan. The successful candidate will join a programme of research investigating the impact of childhood obesity on the immune system.

This post is funded by the financial support of National Childrens Research Centre. Research in the research group aims to explore mechanisms of disease combining molecular, metabolic and cellular approaches utilizing well characterised patient cohorts.

More information on the research efforts of the Childhood Obesity Immunology group can be obtained from the following publications; Tobin et al, JCI insight 2017, Carolan et al, JI 2015, Carolan et al, JCEM 2013.

Post Doctoral Researcher Scale:37,874 - 40,221 per annum (3 Points)

Appointment will be made in accordance with the Department of Finance pay guidelines.

*New entrants to the public sector will be appointed on the first point of the above scale.

Closing Date:

23:30hrs (local Irish time) on Wednesday, 5th February 2020.

Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system.

Late applications will not be accepted.

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Post Doctoral Researcher, Biology job with MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY | 194305 - Times Higher Education (THE)

Immunology

William Petri – The Conversation UK

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William A. Petri, Jr., M.D., Ph.D. studies immunology and molecular pathogenesis of enteric infections and their consequences. The scope of research includes molecular parasitology of Entamoeba, innate immune host defense against Clostridium difficile, and in Bangladesh acquired immunity to Cryptosporidium. We study infections in mouse models, in humans (including clinical trials) and at the lab bench.Petri leads the PROVIDE study of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that is exploring in Bangladesh and India the pathogenesis of enteric environmental dysfunction (EED) and its association with oral poliovirus and rotavirus vaccine failures, malnutrition and neurocognitive developmental delay. Petri has received from Governor Terry McAuliffe both the Commonwealth of Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award (2014) and the Outstanding Scientist Award (2017). He has been recognized at UVa with the Kadner Award for Graduate Teaching, the All-University Teaching, and Inventor of the Year Awards. Petri has served as President of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and Editor of Infection and Immunity, and is currently Associate Editor for PLoS Pathogens, Clinical Infections Diseases and Trends in Molecular Medicine. He has received the Oswald Avery Award of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Burroughs Wellcome New Investigator and Scholar Awards in Molecular Parasitology, and the Lucille P. Markey Scholar Award in Biomedical Research. He has served continuously since 1993 on advisory committees for the NIH. Bill Petri received the MD and PhD (Microbiology) degrees from UVA, did medicine residency at Case Western and returned to UVA for infectious diseases fellowship. He spends 3 months of every year caring for patients on the general medicine and infectious diseases services and the remainder is focused on research on infectious diseases, especially the molecular pathogenesis of diarrheal infections in children living in poverty in Bangladesh and the immunology of C. difficile infection in a mouse model and in patients at UVA hospital.

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William Petri - The Conversation UK

Immunology

Dal researchers sending medical supplies to heart of coronavirus outbreak – CBC.ca

Researchers at Dalhousie University are working to send much-needed medical supplies to health-care workers in Wuhan, the Chinese cityat the centre of the new coronavirusoutbreak.

Members of the university's department of microbiology and immunology have started collecting respirator masks, coverall suitsand other protective gear that can help prevent health-care workers from being exposed to the virus.

The 2019novel coronavirus is aflu-like illnessthat can cause pneumonia and other severe respiratory symptoms.

"Whatwe want to do is help protect the people who are looking after people,"said Alyson Kelvin, a virologist and assistant professor in the department. "The masks and the Tyvek suits are going to keep those people safe from contracting the virus and let them do their job."

The group has also set up a GoFundMe page to round up more equipment to send over.

Kelvin said they already have a good supply of items ready to goand they've ordered more that should arrive by mid-week. Once the last of the gear arrives, the researchers will quickly pack up the supplies and ship them to Wuhan.

Zhenyu Cheng, an assistant professor in the department who was born and raised in Wuhan, said his parents, extended family and many friends still live in the city. Cheng said he was lucky and no one he knows was struck down by the virus.

"I don't have the feeling they're very anxious right now, because none of my friends or family members are infected. So they have to stay put at home most of the time, but they can go out for grocery shopping. So briefly, of course, wearing masks," he said Sunday.

"That's great news for me, but in the meanwhile I'm really worried about the citizens and the medical workers in Wuhan right now."

The Canadian Society of Virology is also helping in efforts to get supplies out. Cheng and other researchers at Dalhousie hope to contact the federal government to help co-ordinate their efforts and bring down some of their costs.

In the meantime, the researchers at Dal are working with the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology andVIDO-Intervac in Saskatoon to start developing and testing potential vaccines against coronavirus.

"We have lots of experience developing vaccines for coronaviruses due to the emergence of SARS and MERS, so we're looking at what was learned from those experiences where we can kind of springboard off of that," said Kelvin.

It generally takes years to get vaccines approved and onto the market, however Kelvin said given the situation, health officials could look at speeding up the process.

In 2003, more than 400 Canadians were diagnosed with SARS and 44 died as a result of the epidemic that killed almost 800 people worldwide that year.

Since that outbreak the Canadian medical community has put in place policies and procedures to safely deal with coronaviruses and prevent their spread, said Kelvin.

She doesn't worry too much about Canada's ability to cope with the virus. Instead, her main concern is the workers in Wuhan who don't have enough supplies to keep themselves safe.

"Always you're worried about the people who are looking after people. They're the ones that will keep the community safe, they'll keep the virus contained. So we want to make sure that those people are again able to do their jobs," she said.

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Dal researchers sending medical supplies to heart of coronavirus outbreak - CBC.ca

Immunology

Feds fund innovative health research happening at Dal, NSHA and IWK – Dal News

Dalhousie University is home to four of the newest recipients of funding from the Government of Canada for their innovative health research.

The $1,159,527 in funding is provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grants, which help researchers gather the kind of information they need to make real improvements to clinical practice, health service delivery, and public health policy.

The Project Grant competition is one of CIHRs flagship funding programs. They are multi-year grants that are designed to support researchers at various stages in their careers as they conduct health research and knowledge translation projects that cover the full range of health research topic. Project grant recipients are leaders in their fields and their projects tackle pressing health issues that matter to Canadians, such as chronic pain management, mental health literacy intervention for Indigenous youth, and harnessing mast cell responses to viral infections.

In addition, four clinician scientists affiliated with the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) and the IWK Health Centre also received funding, bring the total in new health research funding to $3.2 million.

The researchers receiving funding include:

Paul Gratzer, Associate Professor, Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, School of Biomedical EngineeringProject: Application of Advanced Wound Care Products and Techniques in the Northern Ontario First Nations Community

Noreen Kamal, Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial EngineeringProject: Atlantic Canada Together Enhancing Acute Stroke Treatment (ACTEAST): Improving Access and Efficiency of Treatment

Jean Marshall, Professor, Department of Microbiology & ImmunologyProject: Harnessing Mast Cell Responses to Viral Infections

Yifeng Wei, Assistant Professor, Department of PsychiatryProject: Developing, Evaluating, Disseminating and Sustaining a School-Based Mental Health Literacy Intervention for Indigenous Youth

Javeria Hashmi, Affiliated Scientist, Nova Scotia Health Authority and Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative MedicineProject: Strategy for Understanding How Expectations Interfere with Chronic Pain Management: A Multi-Modal Neuroimaging Study.

Rudolf Uher, Psychiatrist, Nova Scotia Health Authority and Professor, Department of PsychiatryProject: Sleep and Circadian Rhythm as Development Antecedents to Major Mood Disorders

Francesca Di Cara, Department of Pediatrics, IWK Health Centre and Assistant Professor, Departments of Pediatrics/Microbiology and Immunology Project: Defining the Peroxisome-Lipid Signaling Network in Innate Immunity

Souvik Mitra, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, IWK Health Centre and Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics.Project: Relative Effectiveness and Safety of Pharmacotherapeutic Agents for Treatment of Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA) in Preterm Infants: A National Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) Project.

Highlights of successfully funded projects:

Application of Advanced Wound Care Products and Techniques in the Northern Ontario First Nations Community

First Nations people living in Canada are among the highest risk population for diabetes and related complications. Community-based and culturally appropriate prevention strategies and monitoring of indications of diabetes among this high-risk population are essential to reducing health disparities.

With diabetes, minor abrasions and cuts on the feet can become chronic, infected wounds. Once the infection reaches the bone, amputation often becomes necessary. Canada currently spends $1.5 billion on direct costs for diabetic amputations, and in Ontarios North West Local Health Integration Network area alone, there were more than 100 amputations last year, which cost up to $43 million.

Paul Gratzer who has developed a new tissue engineered would care product called DermGEN, is working with Joanne Ogden, an award winning wound care nurse who has created a Wound Care Centre of Excellence in the Fort Frances area with a focus on limb preservation. DermGEN was created through research at Dalhousie and will be applied in a clinical study to assess the efficacy of this product in treating diabetic ulcers in the First Nations Communities of Northwest Ontario. DermGEN is unique in that it can be stored at room temperature, is easily transportable, and requires simple wound preparation and aftercare treatment which can be managed by patients at home.

"I am very excited to receive this funding as it enables my research to be used in helping a population who experience the highest rates in Canada of diabetic complications that lead to limb amputations, says Prof Gratzer. In partnership with the local First Nations communities, their Chiefs and Elders, and local wound care clinicians, we will bring advanced wound care technology directly to diabetic ulcer patients enabling them to heal faster and potentially eliminate the need for amputations.

Prof. Gratzers hope is that this research will significantly improve wound care in the First Nations communities at a lower cost.

Atlantic Canada Together Enhancing Acute Stroke Treatment (ACTEAST): Improving Access and Efficiency of Treatment

Stroke is a devastating disease, and the leading cause of severe physical disability. Ischemic stroke is the most common form of stroke; and is treatable with medical treatment and a new minimally invasive surgical procedure. These treatments can transform lives, but minutes matter for improving outcomes.

Dr. Noreen Kamals research is focused on increasing the proportion of ischemic stroke patients receiving treatment, and improving the efficiency of treatment. Her team will carry out this work across all of the Atlantic provinces, and employ an Improvement Collaborative intervention. This intervention uses the Model for Improvement adopted from Industrial Engineering, which employs alternatingface-to-face workshops and action periods to test and implement changes at local hospitals. The workshops involve sharing information with hospital teams and facilitation of cross-site learning.

It is anticipated that the potential benefit for patients experiencing ischemic stroke is profound. It is anticipated that 10-20% of ischemic stroke patients will have improved outcomes, which means that up to 550 more patients each year in Atlantic Canada can return to their homes with no or little disability, and use much less rehabilitation and long-term care services.

This funding means so much because ACTEAST is incredibly important to me for a number of reasons, says Dr. Kamal.The first reason is for the patients of course, who deserve the best possible outcomes that medical evidence has to offer. This brings me to my second reason, this is a cluster trial using a novel design to rigorously study the impact of an implementation, which will show its impact on being able to mobilize knowledge obtained from randomized clinical trial into practice. Finally, I have fallen in love with this region and its people; I look forward to working with the people from Atlantic Canada across four provinces and multiple health authorities to make it one of the best performing acute stroke systems in the world.

For more information about the CIHRs Project Grant program can be found on the CIHR website.

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Feds fund innovative health research happening at Dal, NSHA and IWK - Dal News