It is controversial whether viruses are alive, but they do evolve like all living things. This fact has become abundantly clear during the pandemic, as new variants of concern have emerged every few months.

Some of these variants have been better at spreading from person to person, eventually becoming dominant as they out-compete slower versions of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This improved spreading ability has been ascribed to mutations in the spike protein the mushroom-shaped projections on the surface of the virus that allow it to bind more strongly to ACE2 receptors.

ACE2 are receptors on the surface of our cells, such as those that line our airways, that the virus attaches to in order to gain entry and start replicating. These mutations allowed the alpha variant, and then the delta variant, to become globally dominant. And scientists expect the same thing to happen with omicron.

The virus cannot, however, improve indefinitely. The laws of biochemistry mean that the virus will eventually evolve a spike protein that binds to ACE2 as strongly as possible. By that point, the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to spread between people will not be limited by how well the virus can stick to the outside of cells. Other factors will limit virus spread, such as how fast the genome can replicate, how quickly the virus can enter the cell via the protein TMPRSS2, and how much virus an infected human can shed. In principle, all of these should eventually evolve to peak performance.

Has omicron reached this peak? There is no good reason to assume that it has. So-called gain-of-function studies, which look at what mutations SARS-CoV-2 needs to spread more efficiently, have identified plenty of mutations that improve the spike proteins ability to bind to human cells that omicron does not have. Besides this, improvements could be made to other aspects of the virus life cycle, such as genome replication, as I mentioned above.

But assume for a second that omicron is the variant with maximized spreading ability. Perhaps omicron will not get any better because it is limited by genetic probability. In the same way that zebras have not evolved eyes at the back of their heads to avoid predators, it is plausible that SARS-CoV-2 cannot pick up the mutations required to reach a theoretical maximum as those mutations need to occur all at once, and that is just too unlikely to emerge. Even in a scenario where omicron is the best variant at spreading between humans, new variants will emerge to handle the human immune system.

After infection with any virus, the immune system adapts by making antibodies that stick to the virus to neutralize it, and killer T-cells that destroy infected cells. Antibodies are pieces of protein that stick to the specific molecular shape of the virus, and killer T-cells recognize infected cells via molecular shape as well. SARS-CoV-2 can therefore evade the immune system by mutating sufficiently that its molecular shape changes beyond the immune systems recognition.

This is why omicron is so apparently successful at infecting people with previous immunity, either from vaccines or infections with other variants the mutations that allow the spike to bind to ACE2 more strongly also reduce the ability of antibodies to bind to the virus and neutralize it. Pfizers data suggests that T-cells should respond similarly to omicron as to previous variants, which aligns with the observation that omicron has a lower fatality rate in South Africa, where most people have immunity.

Importantly for humanity, past exposure still seems to protect against severe disease and death, leaving us with a compromise where the virus can replicate and reinfect, but we do not get as severely sick as the first time.

Probable future

Herein lies the most probable future for this virus. Even if it behaves like a professional gamer and eventually maxes out all its stats, there is no reason to think that it will not be controlled and cleared by the immune system. The mutations that improve its spreading ability do not greatly increase deaths. This maxed-out virus would then simply mutate randomly, changing enough over time to become unrecognizable to the immune systems adapted defenses, allowing waves of reinfection.

We might have COVID season each winter in the same way we have flu season now. Influenza viruses can also have a similar pattern of mutation over time, known as antigenic drift, leading to reinfections. Each years new flu viruses are not necessarily better than last years, just sufficiently different. Perhaps the best evidence for this eventuality for SARS-CoV-2 is that 229E, a coronavirus that causes the common cold, does this already.

Omicron will therefore not be the final variant, but it may be the final variant of concern. If we are lucky, and the course of this pandemic is hard to predict, SARS-CoV-2 will probably become an endemic virus that slowly mutates over time.

The disease might very likely be mild as some past exposure creates immunity that reduces the likelihood of hospitalization and death. Most people will get infected the first time as a child, which could occur before or after a vaccine, and subsequent reinfections will barely be noticed. Only a small group of scientists will track SARS-CoV-2s genetic changes over time, and the variants of concern will become a thing of the past at least until the next virus jumps the species barrier.

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Beyond Omicron: The laws of biochemistry mean that COVID-19 variants cannot improve indefinitely - Milwaukee Independent

The biochemistry of vision is a complex process. The molecules supporting the visual pigments that allow us to see our surrounding reality have remained essentially invisible for scientists for a long time. The team led by Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski from the International Centre for Translational Eye Research (ICTER) has changed that, thanks to an innovative state-of-the art imaging device that they have developed.

It is commonly said that eyes are the mirror of the soul; however, they are undoubtedly our window on the world. The retina of the eye represents the first and very important processing station for the path of light as it is converted into an image. Molecular reactions occurring in the retina are crucial for the perception of visual stimuli from the environment.

For many years scientists and doctors have not been able to observe molecules present in the natural milieu of the retinal photosensitive cellsin vivo. The team of scientists led by Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski from ICTER at theInstitute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences(IPC PAS) have developed a two-photon excited fluorescence scanning laser ophthalmoscope (TPEF-SLO). It is an instrument that remarkably allows viewing the biochemistry of vision in the living eye in real time. Prof. Wojtkowski points out that thanks to close collaborations with biochemist Prof. Kris Palczewski from the University of California Irvine and the laser group of Prof. Grzegorz Sobo from the Wrocaw University of Science and Technology, we can quickly and effectively demonstrate the capabilities of the new imaging method and validate its utility for diagnosing disease progression and treatment, leading to its use in clinical practice.

The human eye is one of the most precise organs of our body, capable of distinguishing about 200 pure colors. Mixing these colors produces about 17,000 different hues, and taking into account our ability to distinguish about 300 intensities of color associated with light intensity, we get a staggering 5 million perceived colors.

The retina, the part of the eye that receives visual stimuli, contains photosensitive cells, cones and rods. The cones enable us to see and distinguish colors in bright light, while the rods are sensitive to single pulses of visible light at dusk or night. Visual impressions are transmittedviathe optic nerve to the primary visual cortex in the brain, but the signals that carry the visual impressions are the result of biochemical processes that occur in the photoreceptors. Simplifying, we can say that the human eye is a biochemical factory whose activity depends on biochemical transformations of a single molecule, retinal. This molecule is indispensable for the function of the visual pigments, namely rhodopsin in rods says Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski.

Rhodopsin, the visual pigment in rods is a light sensitive G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). Absorption of a quantum of radiation causes isomerization of 11-cis-retinal within the rhodopsin binding pocket and subsequent hyperpolarization of the photoreceptor membranes. In this manner the visual impulse is initiated and transmitted to the brain. A deficiency of vitamin A, precursor of retinal, reduces the ability to see at night, known as night blindness or nyctalopia.

Unfortunately, the molecules indispensable for sustaining visual pigments are undetectable by scientific instruments during virtually the entire visual cycle in living humans. However, there is one instant in the visual cycle when the molecules can be seen; we cant detect them with UV light, but we can observe them thanks to so-called fluorescence with two-photon excitation, adds Dr. Jakub Boguslawski, a main researcher on the project.

Ophthalmic imaging techniques are fundamental in diagnosing retinal pathologies. With optical tomography (OCT), scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), and fundus autofluorescence, we have made advances in understanding mechanisms of eye diseases. This collection of advanced technologies, however, is an insufficient arsenal for full insight into the chemistry of vision. Non-invasive assessment of metabolic processes occurring in retinal cells (visual pigment regeneration) is essential for the development of future therapies. In the case of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is one of the most common diseases causing blindness, cells within a disease-altered retina cannot be distinguished at an early stage from cells of a normal healthy retina. However, the differences can be picked up by biochemical markers, if these markers can be fluorescently induced.

This is the idea behind two-photon fluorescence imaging (TPE). It is an advanced technique for measuring compounds that support the function of visual pigments and are not visible in other tests.

Compared to traditional imaging methods based on single-photon fluorescence, TPE allows the metabolites of vitamin A that are involved in vision, such as retinol or retinol esters, to be viewed. The eye is an ideal organ for multiphoton imaging, says Prof. Wojtkowski, whose team is responsible for the discovery. Eye tissues such as the sclera, cornea, and lens are highly transparent to near-infrared light. This, in turn, penetrates retinal tissues in a non-invasive way.

Images obtained with TPEF-SLO have confirmed that this is an effective way to view the molecules that sustain visual function. Comparison of data from humans with retinal degeneration with mouse models of the disease revealed a similar rapid accumulationof bisretinoid condensation products. We believe that visual cycle intermediates and toxic byproducts of this metabolic pathway could be measured and quantified using TPE imaging, says Dr. Grazyna Palczewska, one of the projects main investigators.

This new age instrument, enabling non-invasive assessment of the metabolic state of the human retina, opens numerous therapeutic possibilities for degenerative diseases of the retina, including the testing of new drugs. By understanding the biochemistry of vision and the alterations that occur in disease, physicians will be able to pinpoint precise locations of the lesions and assess the impact of therapy. The research on TPEF-SLO was published inThe Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Reference:Boguslawski J, Palczewska G, Tomczewski S, et al. In vivo imaging of the human eye using a two-photon excited fluorescence scanning laser ophthalmoscope. J Clin Invest. 2021. doi:10.1172/JCI154218

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Seeing the Chemistry of Vision - Technology Networks

Despite presenting with high-risk disease, Black patients with prostate cancer who enrolled on radiation therapy clinical trials were reported to have better rates of biochemical recurrence, distant metastases, and prostate cancerspecific mortality than White patients.

Although Black patients with prostate cancer who enrolled on radiation therapy clinical trials had more aggressive disease, they had better rates of biochemical recurrence, distant metastases, and prostate cancerspecific mortality vs White patients, suggesting that other factors such as access to care may be important in achieving equity, according to findings from a meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open.1

Findings from the trial, which had a median follow up of 10.6 months, indicated that Black patients, although more likely to have high-risk disease features, were less likely to experience biochemical recurrence (sHR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.58-0.91), distant metastases (sHR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.58-0.91), or prostate cancerspecific mortality (sHR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.54-0.97). Moreover, no significant differences in all-cause mortality were observed (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.92-1.07). Even after adjusting, investigators reported that Black race continued to be significantly associated with improvements in biochemical recurrence (adjusted sHR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.72-0.88; P <.001), distant metastases (adjust sHR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.55-0.87; P = .002), and prostate cancerspecific mortality (adjusted sHR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.50-0.93; P = .01).

These results do not suggest that there are no biological differences that might be associated with differences in prostate cancer incidence between racial groups, the study authors wrote. It is possible that the association with differential treatment response might be, at least in part, explained by differences in underlying biologic factors. Studies have reported distinct characteristics of prostate cancer in Black and White men at the genetic, epigenetic, and immunological level. These differences may have contributed to improved efficacy of multiple lines of systemic therapy in Black men compared with non-Black men with locally advanced or metastatic disease.

Investigators conducted a literature search in order to identify relevant, randomized studies that were conducted via NRG Oncology or Radiation Therapy Oncology Group from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2010; this was significant as both groups have historically included a significant population of Black patients within its clinical research. The trial's primary end points were biochemical recurrence, distant metastases, and prostate cancerspecific mortality, with the key secondary end point being all-cause mortality.

Investigators included a total of 8814 patients, 18.5% of whom were Black and 81.5% of whom were White. The mean patient age was 69.1 years in the overall study cohort and most patients were considered to be low- (19.8%) and intermediate-risk (48.4%) with a smaller group of high-risk patients (31.8%).

Investigators observed that Black patients presented at a significantly lower median age compared with White patients (68 years vs 71 years). Additionally, the population was more likely to present with high-risk prostate cancer (38.2% vs 30.4%; P <.001), higher prostate-specific antigen levels (10.3 vs 8.4; P <.001), and Gleason scores ranging between 8 and 10 (16.3% vs 14.1%; P = .03) vs White patients.

The 10-year cumulative incidences of biochemical recurrence, distant metastases, and prostatecancer specific mortality in White and Black patients, respectively were 40.5% and 44.6% (P = .006), 8.4% and 11.6% (P = .005), and 4.5% and 6.4% (P = .03). The 10-year rate of all-cause mortality was comparable between White and Black patients (37.2% vs 36.6%; P = .50). Investigators clarified that prostate cancerspecific mortality rather than other cause mortality was responsible for the low rate of mortality events overall (6.5% vs 10.2%), in patients who were under 65 years of age (7.6% vs 14.9%), and older than 65 years (6.0% vs 9.2%). The same could be applied to patients with high-risk disease (6.4% vs 12.7%).

These results provide high-level evidence challenging the common belief that Black men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer will necessarily have a worse prognosis than White men, co-senior author Amar Kishan, MD, an associate professor and vice chair of clinical and translational research in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and a researcher at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, said in a press release.2 This is especially important because an unfounded belief can inadvertently contribute to cancer injustice, leading to the use of more aggressive treatments than might be necessarypotentially reducing quality of lifeand diverting attention away from other important factors that can influence outcome, including access to more comprehensive healthcare.

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Meta-Analysis Indicates Black Individuals With Prostate Cancer May Have Better Outcomes in Radiation Therapy Clinical Trials vs White Patients -...

Haematology and biochemistry results in equines: Interpretation and significance will cover the standard haematology and biochemistry tests performed at most laboratories.

The latest free webinar hosted by the Webinar Vet will take a look at equine blood tests and what the results mean.

Haematology and biochemistry results in equines: Interpretation and significancewill look at the standard haematology and biochemistry tests performed at most UK laboratories and discuss interpretation with regards to organ systems and significance. Factors affecting certain parameters will be indicated as appropriate.

Haematology and biochemistry results in equines: Interpretation and significance is being presented by veterinary clinical pathologist Dr Stacey A Newton, an internal medicine and equine neurology expert. It is sponsored by Nationwide Labs.

Register for the webinar, on Wednesday, February 9, at 12.30pm (GMT).

Dr Stacey Newton, BVSc Cert EM (Int Med) PhD FRCPath MRCVS, qualified from the University of Bristol 1993. She obtained her certificate in equine medicine (internal medicine) at the University of Liverpool, and went on to do a PhD in equine neurology. This was mainly based on headshaking in horses and working with Dr Derek Knottenbelt. Part of the work was with Paul Eldridge, a Neurosurgeon at The Walton Hospital, Liverpool, and a specialist in trigeminal neuralgia. Newton obtained her Diplomat of the Royal College of pathologists in 2008 and then went on to do become a Fellow of the Royal College of pathologists in 2010. Newton is currently working at Nationwide as a senior veterinary clinical pathologist.

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Webinar to explore equine blood tests and what the results mean - Horsetalk.co.nz - Horsetalk

From Doe v. Regents, decided Tuesday by the Ninth Circuit, in an opinion by Judge Consuelo Callahan, joined by Judge Danielle J. Forrest and District Judge and Carol Bagley Amon:

Based on a former student's bare allegations of misconduct, and before beginning a formal Title IX investigation, the University of California, Los Angeles (the "University" or "UCLA") issued an immediate interim suspension of John Doe, a Chinese national graduate student just months away from completing his Ph.D. in chemistry/biochemistry. Over five months later, the University suspended Doe for two years after finding he violated the University's dating violence policy by placing Jane Roe "in fear of bodily injury," just one of the thirteen charges the University brought against him. As a result, Doe lost his housing, his job as a teaching assistant on campus, his ability to complete his Ph.D., and his student visa.

As we clarified in Schwake v. Arizona Board of Regents (9th Cir. 2020), the relevant inquiry on a motion to dismiss a Title IX claim in this context is whether the alleged facts, if true, raise a plausible inference that the university discriminated against the plaintiff on the basis of sex. Doe's First Amended Complaint ("FAC") meets this standard.

At all relevant times herein, Doe was a Chinese national graduate student at UCLA on a student visa pursuing his Ph.D. in chemistry/biochemistry. He first met then-UCLA student Jane Roe in a chemistry class during the spring quarter of 2014, and the two began dating that summer. Their long-term romantic relationship continued, and the couple became engaged in December 2016. They planned to marry after Doe was scheduled to graduate with his doctorate in June 2017.

However, the relationship ended abruptly in February 2017, after Doe learned that Roe had been unfaithful to him throughout their relationship. On February 12, Doe sought to break off his engagement with Roe and the two met briefly outside Roe's home. The next morning, by text message, the pair agreed to meet on campus after Doe completed teaching his course and after Roe got off work on February 13, to exchange property that each had in their possession. Sometime thereafter, Doe learned that Roe had withdrawn the entire balance of approximately $8,000 from their joint bank account.

At about 9:45 a.m. on February 13, Roe showed up unannounced to Doe's teaching assistant office on campus, before he was scheduled to teach, to confront him. Roe was not an active student enrolled at UCLA at the time. Roe pounded on the door repeatedly, without announcing herself, until Doe answered. Doe, who was meeting with another graduate student at the time, refused to let Roe into his office. Roe demanded that Doe return her Social Security card which she claimed Doe had in his possession. When Doe asked for his engagement ring back, Roe said she had thrown it into the ocean.

Doe explained that he needed to leave to teach his class and asked Roe to wait until he was finished, but Roe refused to let him leave his office. Roe attempted to block Doe's doorway with her arms stretched out and threatened to call the police to have Doe arrested. Eventually, Doe was able to get around Roe to get to his class. Roe followed him and unsuccessfully tried to prevent him from entering his classroom.

While Doe taught his class, Roe called the University police to report that Doe had pushed her in the upper torso area and grabbed her wrist and forearm. Based on this report, University police arrested Doe for misdemeanor domestic battery after he completed teaching his class.

Two months after the incident, on April 13, Roe lodged a Title IX complaint with the University against Doe, alleging thirteen instances of misconduct, some dating back to the Fall of 2014. Although she was no longer a student at UCLA at the time of the February incident (or at the time she filed her Title IX complaint), she represented to the University that she was. UCLA did not verify Roe's status as a student. Roe also reported as part of her Title IX complaint that she had suffered a rib fracture from her encounter with Doe on February 13. The University ultimately found this to be untrue.

On May 10, 2017, the University's Title IX Office and the Office of Student Conduct issued a joint Notice of Charges to Doe, charging him with violations of policies relating to dating violence, conduct that threatens health or safety, stalking, sexual harassment, terrorizing conduct, and sexual assault. Pending resolution of the investigation of these charges, and without a hearing, the Office of the Dean of Students immediately suspended Doe on an interim basis, banned him from UCLA property, and evicted him from student housing. {Doe appealed the interim suspension, and following a special hearing held on May 22, 2017, the University modified the interim suspension to allow Doe to participate in certain activities on campus.}

On February 13, 2018, Doe filed a petition for writ of mandamus against the Regents in Los Angeles Superior Court, in which he challenged the disciplinary proceedings and decision rendered by the University. On April 3, 2018, Judge Chalfant granted Doe's motion to stay the decision and sanction, finding in relevant part that the evidence did not support the University's findings. Not long thereafter, on May 22, 2018, the Regents filed a Confession of Judgment stating that the Regents believed that Doe's petition should be granted. The court therefore entered judgment in Doe's favor, the Regents' decision and sanction were vacated and set aside, and the matter was remanded for the Regents to reconsider its action.

But this relief came too late, and Doe lost his student visa status.

The court allowed Doe's sex discrimination against UCLA to go forward:

Doe's [Complaint] divides his relevant allegations into three categories: (1) allegations of external pressures, (2) allegations of an internal pattern and practice of bias, and (3) allegations of specific instances of bias in his case. We consider each of these categories of allegations in turn. We conclude that these allegations, when combined, raise a plausible inference of discrimination on the basis of sex sufficient to withstand dismissal at this stage.

In the interests of space, I'll skip items 1 and 2 (though you can read them in the opinion), and focus on item 3:

The above allegations taken together sufficiently allege background indicia of sex discrimination. However, to survive a motion to dismiss, Doe "must combine [those allegations] with facts particular to his case." We hold that Doe has sufficiently done so.

First, the [Complaint] alleges that Jason Zeck, UCLA's Respondent Coordinator, advised Doe in July 2017, during the pending Title IX investigation, that "no female has ever fabricated allegations against an ex-boyfriend in a Title IX setting." The Regents' position that Mr. Zeck's alleged statement cannot possibly be true because Doe was only found responsible for one of the thirteen alleged incidents of misconduct brought against him by Roe is simply untenable. {An alternative explanation might be that, when confronted by a claim that lacked merit, the University rushed to judgment in issuing the two-year interim suspension and then sought out a way to find the accused responsible for something in order to justify its earlier actions.}

Instead, as we must accept this well-pleaded allegation as true, Mr. Zeck's statement suggests that UCLA's Title IX officials held biased assumptions against male respondents during the course of Doe's disciplinary proceeding. Particularly given the ultimate findings of Roe's numerous fabrications, Mr. Zeck's statement plausibly supports an inference that the Regents prejudged Roe's allegations (and Doe's defenses thereto) during its investigation on the basis of their respective genders.

Contrary to the Regents' argument, "statements by 'pertinent university officials,' not just decisionmakers, can support an inference of gender bias." Mr. Zeck's comments are relevant because he served as the "Respondent Coordinator" throughout the Title IX investigation. So while not a decisionmaker, Mr. Zeck was familiar with UCLA's Title IX process and the facts underlying Doe's case. It is therefore reasonable to infer that Mr. Zeck's statement reflects the broader gender assumptions within UCLA's Title IX office during its investigation of Doe.

Second, the [Complaint] alleges that Associate Dean Rush, the ultimate decisionmaker here, advised Doe that if she were in his shoes, she would have invited Roe into her office during the February 2017 incident. Associate Dean Rush's comment suggests that she did not view Roe as an aggressor, and at the very least raises the question of whether, if the gender roles were reversed, Associate Dean Rush would have made the same recommendation to a female approached by her angry, male ex-fianc when he showed up unannounced to confront her at her place of employment.

The [Complaint] further alleges several additional facts which, if assumed to be true, demonstrate irregularities in Doe's proceedings that, while not dispositive on their own, support an inference of gender bias.

For example, the [Complaint] alleges that the University demonstrated its disparate treatment of Doe as a male during its investigation by failing to investigate his claim that Roe was not a student at the time of the incident and not discrediting Roe when it became apparent that Roe had misrepresented her status as a student and falsely stated that she fractured a rib on February 13. {Roe's status as a non-student at the time of the incident would not preclude the University from proceeding with investigating her complaint under Title IX because her complaint also included allegations of misconduct dating back to 2014, when she was a student at UCLA.} The [Complaint] also alleges other irregularities in the investigation including the fact that Ms. Shakoori made findings of violations of policy not included in the Joint Notice or Amended Joint Notice of Charges.

The [Complaint] enumerates several other allegations of irregular proceedings during the appeal hearing itself, including that (1) the burden was placed on Doe, not the University; (2) Doe was not permitted to speak at the appeal hearing; (3) fact witness testimony supporting Doe's account of the events was discounted, while witness testimony supporting Roe's account was accepted without the need for an independent interview by the appeal panel; (4) Associate Dean Rush evidenced gender bias when she falsely stated that the two-year suspension was required by SVSH Policy for any type of dating violence; and (5) the appeal panel only found that Roe was in fear of "bodily injury," not "serious bodily injury" as required by the policy. Additionally, the [Complaint] referenced the state court's ruling on the motion for stay in the writ proceeding, wherein the court found that the evidence did not support the Regents' findings.

Although the Regents contends that these allegations of procedural irregularities do not suggest that gender was the reason for the supposed errors, this Circuit, as well as the Seventh and Sixth Circuits, have found similar irregularities support an inference of gender bias, particularly when considered in combination with allegations of other specific instances of bias and background indicia of sex discrimination.

The fact that the Regents ultimately found Doe not responsible for twelve of the thirteen allegations made against him does not make the allegations of irregularities in the proceedings any less relevant to our inquiry. Rather, at some point an accumulation of procedural irregularities all disfavoring a male respondent begins to look like a biased proceeding despite the Regents' protests otherwise.

Taken together, Doe's allegations of external pressures and an internal pattern and practice of bias, along with allegations concerning his particular disciplinary case, give rise to a plausible inference that the University discriminated against Doe on the basis of sex. The fact that sex discrimination is "a plausible explanation" for the University's handling of the disciplinary case against Doe is sufficient for his Title IX claim to survive a motion to dismiss. While Doe "may face problems of proof, and the factfinder might not buy the inferences that he's selling," his Title IX claim makes it past the pleading stage.

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Sex Discrimination Lawsuit Over Alleged Wrongful Title IX Suspension Against UCLA Can Go Forward - Reason

UK College of Medicineresearchers will enroll more than 80 adult participants from Kentucky: some who have had COVID-19 and others who have not. Participants will be followed for up to four years to identify risk factors and occurrences of long COVID, medically known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC).

This study is part of the National Institutes of HealthResearching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative. The NIH awarded the $470 million RECOVER parent award to more than 100 researchers at more than 30 institutions, creating a large-scale, national study population of diverse research volunteers, that is being coordinated by the RECOVER Clinical Science Core located at New York University Langone Health.

Together, these studies are expected to provide insights over the coming months into many important questions including the incidence and prevalence of long-term effects from SARS-CoV-2 infection, the range of symptoms, underlying causes, risk factors, outcomes, and potential strategies for treatment and prevention.

UK has partnered with West Virginia University and nine other institutions to form the IDeA States Consortium for Clinical Research (ISCORE) network, which ensures that the unique needs of the rural and medically underserved communities of Kentucky will be represented in the RECOVER study.

We get to help tell the story of the impact of COVID-19 on our state and better understand how to help our citizens recover from it, said Zach Porterfield, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the UK Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, who is co-leading the study.

Of the 45 million COVID-19 cases in the U.S., it is estimated that 10-30%are long haulers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people commonly report prolonged symptoms including difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, tiredness or fatigue, cough, difficulty thinking or concentrating (brain-fog), chest or stomach pain, headache and cardiovascular complications including thrombosis.

This project draws multidisciplinary expertise from across the UK College of Medicine including the Departments of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics; Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry; and Internal Medicine (Cardiology and Infectious Disease Divisions). The project is made possible by the support from UKs Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) and the Virus Induced Thrombosis Alliance (VITAL). The VITAL team, funded through the College of Medicines Research Alliance Initiative, investigates why viral infections cause an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. VITAL research early in the COVID-19 pandemic suggested the risk of thrombosis could persist after the SARS-CoV-2 infection clears.

This important study is a wonderful example of how teams of clinicians, basic scientists, and support staff at UK work together to address health care problems in the Commonwealth and the nation, said the studys co-principal investigatorSidney Whiteheart, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry.

For those interested in learning more about this study or participating, please emailKITE@uky.edu.

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UK part of national collaboration to study long COVID-19 - ABC 36 News - WTVQ

In the quest for new treatments for COVID-19, a team led by researchers at UC San Francisco has identified a new potential drug target that may block infection by SARS-CoV-2. The protein, called BRD2, regulates the ACE2 receptor, which the novel coronavirus relies on to gain entry to its hosts cells.

In their new study,published January 13 inNature Cell Biology, the researchers found that blocking production of BRD2 prevents the virus from infecting a variety of human cell types.

Weve known that BRD2 regulates expression of other genes, including those that help promote tumor growth in some cancers, saidMartin Kampmann, PhD, an associate professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics and senior author on the study. Having discovered how the protein regulates ACE2 means that pathway could potentially be manipulated to make it harder for SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells.

Unlike many of the proteins being studied as potential targets against COVID-19, BRD2 isnt produced by the virus, but by the cells of its human host. The protein and others related to it are currently being investigated in clinical trials as targets for cancer drugs.

Focusing on ACE2s Gatekeeper

The researchers discovered that BRD2 regulates ACE2 while searching for human host proteins that affect the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to attach to various cell types grown in lab cultures, including cells from lungs, heart, and nasal cavitytissues especially susceptible to infection and long-lasting damage due to COVID-19

The scientists screened 2,325 cellular proteins that they thought might affect COVID-19 infection by influencing the viruss interaction with human cells. They determined that existing drugs targeting BRD2 can thwart COVID-19 infection in susceptible cell types, as well as in hamsters.

We were amazed to see that knocking down BRD2 has almost the same effect on inhibiting ACE2 production and COVID-19 infectivity as directly knocking down ACE2 itself, Kampmann said.

The research team also includedAvi Samelson, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in Kampmanns lab, and Ruilin Tian, PhD, a former graduate student in the lab who is now an assistant professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China. They, along with other members of the Kampmann lab, which is usually focused on neuroscience, proposed the study out of a desire to contribute to a better understanding of COVID-19. Working with members of theCoronavirus Research Groupof UCSFs Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) and collaborators recruited from around the world, the team identified several other cellular proteins that are potent enhancers and inhibitors of ACE2 production.

However, the researchers caution that this new study is only a first step, and many more studies will be required to prove the safety and efficacy of any drug directed at BRD2 or other newly identified targets.

For example, the team found that inhibiting BRD2 also inhibited the production of interferon, a key protein in the bodys inflammation response.

Its important to learn more about these potential side effects, said Samelson. We dont know whether this impact on the immune system would be harmful or beneficial for an infected patient, and under what circumstances.

CRISPR Aids the Search for Drug Targets

Kampmann is known for inventing innovative new lab techniques based on the powerful gene-editing technology, CRISPR, which was engineered from unique biochemical machinery used by bacteria to fight viruses that infect them.

Scientists first used CRISPR less than a decade ago, to direct the cutting of DNA at specific sites along the genome and now employ the technique to edit DNA in a wide range of organisms.

Kampmann and his colleagues have modified the original bacterial enzyme used in CRISPR so that rather than cutting DNA, it ferries regulatory molecules to specific sites within the genome. Once there, these regulatory molecules can activate or repress genes, overriding normal gene expression.

This ability to fine-tune the gene expression up or down is a useful approach for identifying drug targets, Kampmann said. Repressing genes and their products with CRISPR can mimic their inhibition by drugs and uncover which drug targets may be therapeutically beneficial.

Another benefit is that these CRISPR screenings are unbiased, meaning that the researchers arent looking for a particular outcome, but methodically testing each protein to see which ones have the desired effect, said Tian, who aims to continue studying COVID-19 in China.

Using this powerful approach helps us to find many potential targets that we might otherwise not see, he said. In doing so, this screening helps facilitate new strategies to fend off infection by SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

This research was supported by NIH grant F32AG063487 and fellowships.

Authors:For additional authors, please see the study.

About UCSF:The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is exclusively focused on the health sciences and is dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care.UCSF Health, which serves as UCSF's primary academic medical center,includestop-ranked specialty hospitalsand other clinical programs, and has affiliations throughout the Bay Area. Learn more athttps://www.ucsf.edu, or see ourFact Sheet.

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Human proteins behind COVID-19 infection reve - EurekAlert

The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) has named Margarita L. Dubocovich, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, the recipient of the 2022 Julius Axelrod Award in Pharmacology.

Dubocovich is receiving the award in recognition of her seminal work in understanding the physiological role of melatonin and its receptors on neuroendocrine function and circadian rhythms, and for her extraordinary contributions to the training of future pharmacologists, according to ASPET.

The Axelrod award was established in 1991 to honor the eminent American pharmacologist who shaped the fields of neuroscience, drug metabolism and biochemistry, and who served as a mentor for numerous world-renowned pharmacologists.

It is quite fitting that Dr. Dubocovich receives this honor, as her groundbreaking research on melatonin neuropharmacology builds upon the earlier work of Julius Axelrod, says Allison Brashear, vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School. I am pleased this award also recognizes her exceptional dedication to mentoring the next generation of pharmacologists.

Dubocovich is an international scholar on the brain hormone melatonin and its receptors. Her pioneering work has revealed melatonins impact on circadian rhythms, sleep disorders, depression, reproduction, body weight and torpor, an energy-conserving state similar to short-term hibernation.

It is a distinct privilege to receive an award honoring the memory of such an eminent Nobel laureate, pharmacologist, neuroscientist and mentor, whose scientific contributions still impact the discovery of medicines to treat psychiatric disorders today, Dubocovich says.

She first met Axelrod while she was completing her doctoral degree at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina.

He visited a few years after hewon a share of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1970, along with eminent pharmacologists Sir Bernard Katz and Ulf von Euler, for their discoverieson the release and reuptake of catecholamine neurotransmitters.

Our team, working on the modulation of catecholamine release by presynaptic receptors at the time, gathered for a conversation with Dr. Axelrod where we all had the opportunity to discuss our experiments and ask questions, Dubocovich recalls. This meeting shaped the course of my career and influences me to this day.

Dubocovich takes great pride in how her own work has contributed to the field of melatonin receptor pharmacology and physiology initiated by Axelrod.

Dr. Axelrods forthrightness and ability to define concise hypotheses were the foundation upon which he developed novel experimental methodologies and discoveries, she says. His philosophy of science was something which has remained with me throughout my career, and one that I hope to continue to impart onto future scientists in the legacy of Dr. Axelrod.

He emphasized the paramount importance of observation of biological effects over any complex analysis, Dubocovich adds. He used to say:If the effect is strong, then you do not need sophisticated analysisto recognize the experiment was successful to move forward with the project.

Building upon the early work of Axelrod, Dubocovich is credited with discovering and revolutionizing the field of functional melatonin receptors and pioneering the pharmacology of melatonin receptors agonists and antagonists.

Her seminal paper in the journal Nature in 1983 described the presynaptic regulation of dopamine release in the retina, and began her career-defining quest to understand melatonins role in physiological function and receptor pharmacology.

Dubocovich discovered luzindole, the first melatonin receptor antagonist, successfully demonstrating its antidepressant-like activity by blocking melatonin receptor types in mouse models.

She has continued to push the frontiers of neuropharmacology with studies of melatonin receptor-mediated effects on brain neurogenesis and drug design. Most recently, she broke new ground discovering that environmental agents impact the activity of melatonin receptors.

Dubocovich, who serves as senior associate dean for diversity and inclusion in the Jacobs School, is a passionate educator who has built culturally and intellectually diverse and academically inclusive communities of trainees, and instituted inaugural programs for trainee development at all levels.

After instituting the Collaborative Learning and Integrated Mentoring in the Biosciences (CLIMB) program at Northwestern University, she launched CLIMB programs at UB that now include professional development and mentoring programs for undergraduates, masters and doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty.

A National Institutes of Health (NIH) R25 grant has continuously funded her initiative for maximizing student development and has increased the number of underrepresented students in biomedical and behavioral research since 2012.

A dedicated mentor for research trainees, she has trained and provided research mentoring to 48 graduate and postdoctoral scholars. Her reputation as an outstanding research adviser is reflected in the fellowships that her trainees have received from NIH, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and others.

Her trainees currently hold academic positions and jobs in industry as pharmacologists, neuroscientists and toxicologists. Local and national mentoring awards have honored both her teaching and mentoring.

Dubocovich has been an ASPET member since 1983 and was named a fellow of the society in 2020.She was named a fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology in 2013.

Dubocovich says that over the years she had many opportunities to meet Axelrod at scientific conferences to listen to his talks and discuss their common interest in the pharmacology of melatonin receptors.

It is truly an honor to have had met him and to do what I can to carry his legacy forward, she says.

The award will be formally presented at the ASPET Business Meeting and Awards Presentation during the ASPET Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology 2022 on April 2 in Philadelphia.

The award includes invitations to deliver the Julius Axelrod Lecture and organize the Axelrod Symposium in 2023, and to deliver a less formal presentation at the 2022 annual dinner meeting of The Catecholamine Society, an international organization consisting of scientists interested in all aspects of catecholamine research, which was co-founded by Axelrod in 1969.

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Dubocovich to receive ASPET's Julius Axelrod Award in Pharmacology - UB Now: News and views for UB faculty and staff - University at Buffalo Reporter

AMHERST, Mass. Jianhan Chen, a University of Massachusetts Amherst chemistry and biochemistry and molecular biology professor, has received a five-year, $2 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to support research in his computational biophysics lab aimed at better understanding the role of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) in biology and human disease.

The grant falls under the National Institute of General Medical Sciences MIRA program, which stands for Maximizing Investigators Research Award. Its designed to give highly talented researchers more flexibility and stability to achieve important scientific advances in their labs.

The MIRA award enables us to continue working on several central problems regarding the study of disordered proteins and dynamic interactions. The flexibility of this funding mechanism also allows us to follow new research directions as they emerge, Chen says.

Until relatively recently, it was thought that proteins needed to adopt a well-defined structure to perform their biological function. But about two decades ago, Chen explains, IDPs were recognized as a new class of proteins that rely on a lack of stable structures to function. They make up about one-third of proteins that human bodies make, Chen explains, and two-thirds of cancer-associated proteins contain large, disordered segments or domains.

This disorder seems to provide some unique functional advantage, and thats why we have so much disorder in certain kinds of proteins, Chen says. These IDPs play really important roles in biology, and when something breaks down, they lead to very serious diseases, like cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.

In his lab, Chen and colleagues focus on using computer simulations to model the molecular structure and dynamics of proteins. IDPs are a mess; its difficult to determine the details of their properties because they are not amenable to traditional techniques that are designed to resolve stable protein structures, he says.

Because of their chaotic state, IDPs must be described using ensembles of structures, and computer simulations play a crucial role in the quantitative description of these disordered ensembles. Our goal is really trying to combine simulation and experiments in collaboration with other labs to tease out what are the hidden features of these disordered proteins that are crucial to their function, Chen says. Then we can look at how these specific features might be perturbed by disease-related mutations or conditions.

The next step would be to develop effective strategies for targeting disordered protein states. Toward that end, Chens lab will study the molecular basis of how the anti-cancer drug EGCG, an antioxidant found in green tea extract, and their derivatives interact with the p53 gene, a tumor suppressor and the most important protein involved in cancer.

The key, he says, is knowing how to design drug molecules to bind well enough to IDPs to achieve a therapeutic effect. Traditional, structure-based drug design strategies are faced with significant challenges, Chen says, because IDPs do not contain stable, druggable pockets.

We believe that targeting IDPs requires new strategies that explore the dynamic nature of IDP interactions, Chen says. If we can do this, it could really open up a whole class of drugs that were previously thought impossible.

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$2 Million NIH MIRA Grant Will Support Trailblazing Research in UMass Amherst Lab - UMass News and Media Relations

The new research report on the Floor-standing Biochemistry Analyzer market is a thorough analysis of this business sphere, and is inclusive of all the key parameters of the industry such as the profit estimations, periodic deliverables, market renumeration, industry share, and prevailing market trends.

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Floor-standing Biochemistry Analyzer Market to Witness an Outstanding Growth During 2021- 2026 - Northwest Diamond Notes

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. On a cold January day, a team of four Connecticut National Guard Soldiers make their way down a line of vehicles, helping local residents register for COVID-19 tests.

New Britain Stadium, home of a collegiate summer league baseball team and former minor league home to baseball stars like David Ortiz and Joe Mauer, has seen its parking lot converted into a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in response to the increase in cases associated with the omicron variant.

Among the soldiers supporting the civilian-led site is Pfc. Stefanie Charpentier, a combat medic assigned to the 141st Medical Company.

I joined the Guard because I always wanted to be in the military, and with the Guard, I could serve close to home while going to college, said Charpentier.

In addition to supporting the states response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Charpentier studies biochemistry at Central Connecticut State University also located in New Britain.

I wanted to be a medic in the Guard and be involved in the medical field on the civilian side as well, said Charpentier. I volunteered for this mission so I could help provide access to medical services that are so critical right now.

Charpentier was also activated in 2021 to help administer the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the Guards efforts at vaccination sites across the state.

As Connecticut grapples with the omicron variant, so far approximately 250 Guardsmen have volunteered to assist 24 testing sites and dispense test kits and masks at five regional points of distribution throughout the state. In addition, Connecticut Guardsmen support logistics operations at the states commodities warehouse in New Britain the hub for testing supplies and PPE distributed statewide.

We train to be ready at a moments notice, and throughout this response, weve used our skills to help the people of Connecticut, said Charpentier. It means a lot that Im able to help people in my state, including right here in New Britain, during this time of need.

Charpentier said she hopes the Guards efforts will help the state get tests for everybody who needs one, and that she is appreciative of the support shown by residents at these testing sites.

The Guard is ready to help, and well continue to do everything we can to support our neighbors here in Connecticut, said Charpentier.

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Connecticut Guardsman volunteers to support COVID-19 response | Article | The United States Army - United States Army

As a part of her research at the Korb Lab, Erica Korb, an assistant professor of genetics in the Perelman School of Medicine strives to understand mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in the brain. Epigenetic regulationmeaning how the world around us impacts gene expressionis essential to the function of neurons in the brain and aides with the creation of new memories, and more.

Using methods such as microscopy, bioinformatics, biochemistry, behavioral testing, and more, Korb and her lab also study the role of histoneswhich are a group of basic proteins found in chromatinin neuronal function and in neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Our lab works at the intersection of neuroscience and epigenetics. Epigenetics, in its broadest sense, explores how our environment can change the expression of our genes, Korb says. Epigenetics is incredibly important in the brain and contributes to the creation of new memories, our ability to adapt to our environment, and to the development of neurological disorders.

Korbs work is also collaborative, joining new technologies and different labs to bring individuals with very different skills and expertise together.

Ive been really fortunate to work with a group of Penn faculty on a SARS-CoV-2 related project. Were examining a poorly understood protein encoded by SARS-CoV-2 and its role in disrupting host-cell epigenetic regulation, she says. Weve gotten to work with Susan Weiss, Shelley Berger, Ben Garcia, and Ed Morrissey, and learned an incredible amount in the process. Its been challenging to learn a new field since we are primarily a neuroscience lab but its also been incredibly rewarding to have the chance to work with experts and contribute to our understanding of this virus.

This story is by Tristan Epps. Read more at Penn Medicine News.

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How one researcher is helping us better understand the brain through epigenetics | Penn Today - Penn Today

Two Yale seniors Megan He and Sarah Zhao and alumnus James Diao 18 are among the 18 recipients of prestigious Churchill Scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year.

The scholarships support one year of masters study at Churchill College in the University of Cambridge, funding full tuition, a competitive stipend, travel costs, and the chance to apply for a $4,000 research grant.

Yale is the first institution to have three Churchill Scholars in a single cohort.

Sarah Zhao is one of 16 students to be selected for a Churchill Scholarship in science, math, and engineering. Megan He and James Diao are the only two individuals who were named Kanders Churchill Scholars in science policy.

Established in 1963, the scholarship program was established at the request of Sir Winston Churchill as part of the founding of Churchill College, Cambridge, a predominantly science and technology college named in his honor. It seeks to deepen the U.S.-U.K. partnership in order to advance science and technology on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure future prosperity and security.

The Kanders Churchill Scholarships, created in 2017, are awarded to applicants for Cambridge Universitys masters program in public policy. Each college or university is limited to only two nominations for the Churchill Scholarships in science, math, and engineering.

Megan He 22

Megan He is majoring in environmental engineering and global affairs at Yale, where she will also receive a certificate in energy studies. Her undergraduate research in the laboratory of Drew Gentner, associate professor of chemical and environmental engineering, focuses on emissions of organic compounds to the atmosphere and their impact on air quality. She has also conducted research on atmospheric deposition at the cole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne in Switzerland. In 2021, she was awarded a Goldwater Scholarship.

At Yale, she is chair of the environmental engineering departmental club, an engineering tour guide and STEM representative in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and a peer tutor in the physics department. She is also active with the Goldwater Community Executive Council and the Evolutions After School Program at the Yale Peabody Museum. At Cambridge, she will delve into science policy as it relates to air pollution, climate, and energy. After Cambridge, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in environmental engineering.

Sarah Zhao 22

Sarah Zhao is pursuing a joint B.S./M.A. in statistics and data science at Yale, along with a double major in mathematics. Her main research interests are in the theory and development of novel data science methods for complex, real-world data, and she has worked on research in quantum information and computing, statistics theory, optimization, and geometrical and topological data science methods. She also won a 2021 Goldwater Scholarship and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Outside of research, she volunteers for the Yale Education Tutoring Initiative and dances in Yale Movement. At Cambridge, she will pursue a M.Phil. degree in advanced computer science with a focus on machine learning.

James Diao 18

James Diao graduated magna cum laude from Yale, majoring in statistics and data science and molecular biophysics and biochemistry. He is now a third-year medical student at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At Yale, he developed extracellular RNA analysis tools in the laboratory of Mark Gerstein, the Albert L. Williams Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Yale School of Medicine, and he performed with the Yale Ballroom Dance Team. He was also a peer counselor for the undergraduate-run Walden Peer Counseling. Diaos research has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA, profiled in Nature and Science, and cited in national recommendations for kidney care.

He is a 2021 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow and was named to the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the category of healthcare. As a Kanders Churchill Scholar, he will pursue a masters degree in public policy at Cambridge University.

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Two seniors and an alumnus are selected as Churchill Scholars - Yale News

The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica. Thursday, January 13, 2022 The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is pleased to announce its six newest Professors, that include a Legal Scholar, Political Scientist, Educational Psychologist, Natural Products Researcher, Microbiologist and Tourism Specialist.

The six were promoted to the regional universitys highest academic rank with effect from October 2021, following rigorous evaluation of the quality and quantity of their research, publications and other professional activities by internal and external assessors. The academics all received outstanding reviews in their respective areas of specialty; in addition to their academic distinctions, they emulate The UWIs mission: to advance learning, create knowledge and foster innovation for the positive transformation of the Caribbean and the wider world. They are:

Professor Shazeeda Ali, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Mona Campus; Professor Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Cave Hill Campus; Professor Loraine Cook, Professor in the Faculty of Humanities and Education at the Mona Campus; Professor Ruby L. Lindo, Head of the Biochemistry Section the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the Mona Campus; Professor Adesh Ramsubhag, Professor in the Faculty of Life Sciences at the St Augustine Campus; and Professor Andrew Spencer, Deputy Executive Director at the Mona School of Business and Management.

More about the new professors:

Professor Shazeeda Ali

Professor Shazeeda Ali is an eminent legal scholar and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Mona Campus. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from The UWI Cave Hill Campus in Barbados, a Legal Education Certificate from the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica; a Master of Laws degree from the University of Cambridge, as well as a PhD from the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies at the University of London in the UK.

Her distinguished contribution to the study of money laundering was well-known before the Financial Action Task Force, the international body that sets standards for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financial Terrorism (AML/CFT), came to prominence. She is also recognised regionally and internationally for her extensive knowledge and robust research on financial regulation, offshore financial centres, and legal profession ethics.

Professor Ali has published significant, high-quality scholarly research on financial crimes in the Caribbean over the past two decades. Her book, Money Laundering Control in the Caribbean, (2003), is a standard reference for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorist Finance in the region. It is one of her two authored books, in addition to two other edited books; twenty-one scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals; five book chapters; four non-refereed research-based scholarly publications and four technical reports. She is also a regular presenter at the annual University of Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime and other leading global conferences on Financial Crime.

Her accolades include an Emerald Literati Networks Award for Excellence for the Most Outstanding 2014 Journal Article; The UWI Mona Campus Principals Award in 2015 and 2016 for Most Outstanding Researcher, Faculty of Law, and the Best Research Publication in 2015 and 2017. Her book, The Ethical Lawyer: A Caribbean Perspective (2015) was featured among The UWIs 70th Anniversary Celebration of Books in 2018. She currently serves on the editorial boards of multiple regional and international journals and is the Editor of the Journal of Law, Governance & Society. She has served as a peer-reviewer for law book proposals including Routledge in 2016 and Springer in 2021. At The UWI, she serves on many Campus and University committees. She has been an Internal Examiner for the Master of Laws programme and is also an MPhil/PhD supervisor.

Commenting on her work, one external assessor noted Dr. Ali is one of the global pioneering scholars who identified that money laundering control will become highly significant for countries and regulated institutionsHer work contributes to global scholarship through its analysis of the complexities of financial crime in the regionDr. Alis scholarly output is original and distinctive in its focus on the Caribbean She has brought research-based knowledge of practices and realities of financial crime in the Caribbean into focus.

Professor Cynthia Barrow-Giles

Professor Cynthia Barrow-Giles lectures in the Faculty of Social Sciences at The UWI Cave Hill Campus. Throughout her career at The UWI, she has served as Deputy Dean of the Faculty twice, and Head of the Department of Government, Sociology and Social Work.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science, a Master of Science (General), and a Master of Philosophy from the Consortium Graduate School at The UWI.

The proud alumna and academic has published widely on political parties, election campaigns, political party financing, and womens political participation. Her publications include nine peer-reviewed journal articles; two authored books; one co-authored book; three co-edited books and fifteen book chapters. She has also written over seventy other academic publications.

In addition to her lecturing over the years, Professor Barrow-Giles developed four new undergraduate degree programmes in 2002 and four Masters degree programmes between 2004 and 2005. She has also supervised twelve MSc theses and four MPhil theses.

For decades, Professor Barrow-Giles has advocated for civic education among Caribbean people, particularly concerning the electoral machinery and political participation. She has served in several Caribbean countries with the OAS Electoral Observer Missions, on Commonwealth Electoral Observer Missions to Ghana, Sri Lanka, and The Gambia from 2005 to 2011 and was a member of the CARICOM High-Level Team for the recount of the Guyana vote in March 2020, and served as the CARICOM Team leader for the recount of the Guyana 2020 elections from May-June 2020. She also served on the Saint Lucia Constitution Reform Commission from 2006-2011, as Advisor to the RSTAC, Barbados, and is a founding member and Director of Transparency Institute of Barbados and Integrity Group Barbados.

Professor Barrow-Giles has received numerous awards for her dynamic work. These include a Vice-Chancellors Award for Excellence in Contribution to Public Service in 2021; the Cave Hill Campus Principals Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Service in 2020; the UWI CETL/Guild Recognition Award for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning in 2019; the 2017/2018 Faculty Award for Most Outstanding Researcher and the Barbados Community College Political Science Societys Service Award for Contribution to Political Science Education in 1998.

While reviewing her body of work, one external assessor observed, The Candidate is a recognised leader in her field of research, a voice for the values of constitutional democracy, a respected and trusted advisor to international organisations, and a prominent ambassador for the University. The University is fortunate to have the Candidate in its ranks.

Professor Loraine Cook

Professor Loraine Cook is an Educational Psychologist who lectures in the Department of Educational Studies in the Faculty of Humanities and Education at The UWI Mona Campus.

She holds a Bachelors degree in Urban Studies from the University of Concordia in Montreal, Canada; a Diploma in Education in Social Studies & Geography; a Masters (with distinction) and a PhD degree in Educational Psychology (with high commendation), all from The UWI Mona Campus. She has acted as Director of the School of Education at the Campus on a few occasions and held the position of Assistant Coordinator for the Graduate Studies Unit.

Professor Cook has focused her work on Educational Psychology in the Caribbean for over a decade, researching challenges and seeking to chart pathways to overcome these challenges in teaching and learning to maximise learning opportunities. Her research represents a direct positive contribution to knowledge within the discipline of educational psychology in the region.

She has published one book; four book chapters; twenty-five peer-reviewed articles; one monograph and three technical reports. She has also presented papers at thirty-eight academic conferences, contributed to the 2014 Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice, and edited two non-refereed, research-based scholarly publications. Between 2008 and 2020 she was a reviewer for several academic journals and is a founding Co-Editor of the Caribbean Journal of Mixed Methods Research and the Associate Editor of the International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches.

Professor Cooks awards include Most Outstanding PhD Thesis for the 2006/2007 academic year at The UWI Mona Campus. She also received the Deans Award for Excellence in 2007, the Campus Principals Award for Research Project Attracting the Most Research Funds in 2009 and 2015, as well as the Principals Award for the Best Publication in 2014 and 2016, Faculty of Humanities and Education.

She was a Fulbright Scholar which led to a Visiting Researcher Fellowship to New York University in 2011, and in 2018, was a Visiting Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Professor Cook has served the Mona Campus on many committees; designed several courses and supervised two PhD, and over forty Masters theses. She formally introduced the Mixed Methods Research approach to the School of Education, by developing and implementing a mixed-methods course that targeted postgraduate students in 2013 and has organised and chaired two Mixed Methods Research conferences in the Caribbean. Between 2013 and 2020 she consistently spearheaded collaborations to organise seminar series on academic writing, research methods, and research ethics to build capacity among students and staff at the Mona Campus.

In the review of her work for the promotion, one of her external assessors commented: A noteworthy perspective that was drawn from reading all ten of Dr Cooks articles was her facility in the use of unique methodologies in crafting her researchDr Cook is developing expertise around the areas of childrens mental health, teacher support, working with parents, and dealing with social inequality. She has a strong interest in research methodology associated with understanding these topics and this itself could make a significant contribution to the field of educational psychology and beyond. Her work is robust and thorough, and she has the potential to make an increasing impact on the field as her career progresses.

Professor Ruby L. Lindo

Professor Ruby L. Lindo is a Natural Products Researcher, and Head of the Biochemistry Section in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, who lectures at The UWI Mona Campus.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Pure and Applied Chemistry, an MPhil degree in Organic Chemistry, and a PhD degree in Biochemistry from the Mona Campus.

Professor Lindos extensive research in Natural Products has gained regional and international recognition. She has made extensive and impressive contributions to research the use of Jamaican indigenous herbs as possible treatments for various illnesses including diabetes. Her research has earned her a United States patent for work accomplished at The UWI, while she is also named as an inventor on two other United States patents.

Professor Lindo has a record of high scientific and distinguished original laboratory research. She has published thirty-two peer-reviewed journal articles in well-respected scientific journals; one book chapter; fifty-five abstracts and fifty-five posters.

Professor Lindo is also an exceptional teacher and mentor to students and colleagues who have interacted with her. She has successfully supervised five PhD theses, seven MPhil theses; one MSc Forensic Science thesis as well as thirty (30) undergraduate research students.

Awards for Professor Lindos teaching and research include the 2007 Principals Award for the Best Research Publication, Faculty of Medical Sciences; the 2012 Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Innovator of the Year Award; the 2012 Minister of Health and Wellness Innovation Award for Health and Wellness and the 2016 UWI/Guardian Group Premium Outstanding Nominee Teaching Award.

In the review of her work for promotion to Professor, one external assessor stated: It is important to note that Dr Lindo has been inventive and this has been recognised by a US patent that was granted on work that was accomplished at The UWI she is creative, smart, and resilientDr Lindo has also been extremely active at presenting her work to the global scientific community in various conference venues across the world. This is extremely impressive! It is clear to me that Dr Lindo is an outstanding and distinguished member of the faculty at The UWI. There appear to be even greater accomplishments ahead as her momentum is increasing!

Professor Adesh Ramsubhag

Professor Adesh Ramsubhag specialises and lectures in Microbiology at The UWI, St Augustine Campus. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and a PhD in Microbiology, both from The UWI, St Augustine. He was Head of the Department of Life Sciences from 2015-2018; Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology from 2012-2015; and Microbiologist/Deputy Lab Manager, Caribbean Industrial Research Institute, St Augustine Campus from 1998-2001. He also gives of his time, serving on various university-wide and campus committees.

As an expert in Microbiology and Biotechnology, Professor Ramsubhag initiated the Microbiology MPhil and PhD programmes at the St Augustine Campus and also assisted in setting up the Biotechnology MSc, MPhil and PhD programmes, and course development related to the undergraduate programmes. He has also successfully supervised nine PhD theses; nine MPhil theses; twenty Master of Science research projects; and forty Undergraduate research projects.

Professor Ramsubhags research and publications focus on environmental microbiology, food safety, plant pathology, natural products, and antimicrobial resistance, among other areas. He has been very successful in gaining research funding from the USA, Europe, and Trinidad and Tobago and has led and participated in a wide range of research projects aimed at developing suitable management systems to avoid ill-health and disease; improve food security and the health of the natural environment. His work is of regional and international relevance and he is impressive in his collaborative and productive approach, as a lead investigator or as a team member. He works with a very strong team of local researchers and also collaborates with well-known scientists from Europe, Asia, and the USA. In 2018, he received the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence in Science and Technology and the UWI Vice-Chancellors Award for Excellence in Research in 2019.

Professor Ramsubhag is prolific in publications, producing on average, three to six publications each year. To date, he has produced a total of sixty-eight peer-reviewed articles; two book chapters; forty-one peer-reviewed conference presentations; two technical reports; fourteen conference abstracts published in peer-reviewed journals; and two conference proceedings in reputable international journals. He is known also for nurturing his students into co-authoring publications, positioning them to successfully build their careers.

In the review of his scholarship towards promotion to Professor, one external assessor noted, Dr. Ramsubhag has developed his research programme to the level of distinction. His national and especially international visibility has increased. His research is original and has provided novel insights and applications in microbiology.

Professor Andrew Spencer

Professor Andrew Spencer began his academic career at the Department of Management Studies, now the Mona School of Business and Management at The UWI Mona Campus in 2008, where he now serves as the Schools Deputy Executive Director.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Tourism Management and a Master of Science Degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management from The UWI Mona Campus and a PhD degree in Tourism Strategy from Bournemouth University, in the United Kingdom.

Professor Spencer has focused his scholarly output on Tourism Development and Management and is the first to be promoted to the rank of full professor in the substantive field of tourism at The UWI.

He has produced a volume of original work that fills a critical research gap in tourism and hospitality in the Caribbean and an underrepresented area in scholarly publications and international literature. He has published over fifty scholarly works, including three books for which he is the primary author. Professor Spencer has reviewed a wide range of regional and international publications, including the Tourism Management Journal, and currently serves on the editorial board of Tourism Review (ranked B on the ABDC journal ranking) the Journal of Business Research, and the Journal of Tourism Resilience.

One external assessor described his scholarship saying It is clearthat Dr Spencer has made a unique contribution to the development of the wider tourism academic community and has acquired strong leadership and management skills which are all vital for a Professorial role...One of the most noteworthy features of the candidates workis the focus on the Caribbean area with many of his research outputs related to tourism in Jamaica, the Bahamas, and other Caribbean Islands... His work also uses many innovative research methods.

In addition to lecturing, Professor Spencer has supervised PhD and MSc theses in Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Before his current role at the Mona School of Business and Management, he spent four years as Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo); served as Chairman of the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation Council; Chairman of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean Tourism and Hospitality Management Department Academic Advisory Board; Director of eGov Jamaica Limited; Managing Director of the Montego Bay Convention Centre Board; Director of Linkages Council, Jamaica; and Director of the Cruise Council of Jamaica. He is currently Chairman of the Governance Committee of the University Council of Jamaica and the Development Committee of the National Education Trust.

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Six new Professorial promotions at The UWI - SKNVibes.com

Reduced Glutathione (GSH) Market report focused on the comprehensive analysis of current and future prospects of the Reduced Glutathione (GSH) industry. This report is a consolidation of primary and secondary research, which provides market size, share, dynamics, and forecast for various segments and sub-segments considering the macro and micro environmental factors. An in-depth analysis of past trends, future trends, demographics, technological advancements, and regulatory requirements for the Reduced Glutathione (GSH) market has been done in order to calculate the growth rates for each segment and sub-segments.

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Top Key Vendors of this Market are:

Sigma-Aldrich, Kyowa Hakko Bio, Kaiping Genuine Biochemical Pharmaceutical, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Shandong Jincheng Biological Pharmaceutical, GSH World, Cayman Chemical.

Global Reduced Glutathione (GSH) Market Segmentation:

Market Segmentation: By Type

Food Grade, Cosmetic Grade, Pharmaceutical Grade

Market Segmentation: By Application

Pharmaceuticals, Food Industry, Health Care Products, Other

Various factors are responsible for the markets growth trajectory, which are studied at length in the report. In addition, the report lists down the restraints that are posing threat to the global Reduced Glutathione (GSH) market. This report is a consolidation of primary and secondary research, which provides market size, share, dynamics, and forecast for various segments and sub-segments considering the macro and micro environmental factors. It also gauges the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, threat from new entrants and product substitute, and the degree of competition prevailing in the market.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on the product portfolios of the top players in the Reduced Glutathione (GSH) market.

Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of the market strategies, geographic and business segments of the leading players in the market.

Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on the upcoming technologies, R&D activities, and product launches in the market.

Market Development: Comprehensive information about emerging markets. This report analyzes the market for various segments across geographies.

Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the Reduced Glutathione (GSH) market.

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The influence of the latest government guidelines is also analysed in detail in the report. It studies the Reduced Glutathione (GSH) markets trajectory between forecast periods. The cost analysis of the Global Reduced Glutathione (GSH) Market has been performed while keeping in view manufacturing expenses, labour cost, and raw materials and their market concentration rate, suppliers, and price trend.

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Table of Contents

Global Reduced Glutathione (GSH) Market Research Report 2022 2029

Chapter 1 Reduced Glutathione (GSH) Market Overview

Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry

Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers

Chapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by Region

Chapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions

Chapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

Chapter 7 Global Market Analysis by Application

Chapter 8 Manufacturing Cost Analysis

Chapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers

Chapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders

Chapter 11 Market Effect Factors Analysis

Chapter 12 Global Reduced Glutathione (GSH) Market Forecast

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Read more from the original source:
Reduced Glutathione (GSH) Market to Witness Robust Expansion by 2029 | Sigma-Aldrich, Kyowa Hakko Bio, Kaiping Genuine Biochemical Pharmaceutical ...