Latest news with #UniversityofDundee
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Glasgow Times
University Lecturer tells how he made images of missing Clydebank man
Dr Tobias Houlton, a lecturer in Craniofacial Identification and Forensic Imaging at the University of Dundee, was approached by Police Scotland in May to generate an idea of what a man who has been missing for 22 years would look like today. Receiving the brief from officers, Toby was presented with the case of David McCallum, who vanished at just 31 years old. Dr Tobias Houlton, University of Dundee. (Image: Supplied) Having worked on numerous missing person cases before, there was something unique about this case. Dr Houlton said: "In these sad events where people have gone missing for various reasons, we are contacted to develop images that could be used to assist an investigation. "There are various challenges. For example, we don't really know what their living circumstances are like. "The police mentioned that there was a chance that [David] might have been living homeless. "I think with this particular case, 22 years is a long time. It's certainly one of the longer spans of time that I've worked with. "These cases are invariably challenging, and the added issue is you never know if the individual actually wants to be identified or not." Images generated by Dr Houlton of David McCallum, 22 years on. (Image: Police Scotland) David McCallum was last seen at home with his girlfriend and two children before he was reported missing. His car, a black Ford Focus, was found abandoned two days later on Sunday, March 30, 2003. Officers have worked with various authorities, including workers involved with the homeless community in London. READ NEXT: Glasgow thug who stabbed nephew after he swiped his kebab sauce jailed READ NEXT: Rapist behind bars after police approach 5 victims to snare serial abuser Dr Houlton says he was conscious about using all the information he had to create the best possible likeness of him. He added: "There was a whole array of images that were produced to give an impression of how the same face can vary in appearance just by changes in the length of the hair presentation or a beard. "There were no details as to whether to anticipate androgenic alopecia, male pattern balding, other than there was some thinning around the temples. "I saw in one of the earlier images available of him that he had an earring, so chances are, with the amount of time that's gone by, he might have preserved it. "The emphasis of all these images is to help people realise that this person is still missing and we need to be observant and looking out for him, and give people an impression of how the individual may look today, bearing in mind that 22 years have gone by. "It is a tremendous ordeal for families and friends involved in trying to look for a loved one; it's very distressing." [[Police Scotland]] works in close partnership with the Missing People Charity. They can be contacted via telephone on free phone 116 000 or by visiting the [[Missing People]] website.
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Researchers warn of 'quiet crisis' facing NHS Scotland
This "lifeblood of future healthcare innovation" is "quietly being drained away," with a reported 30% drop in the most active cohort over the past decade. They cite a complex combination of factors, including a lack of ring-fenced funding to train and support clinical researchers, inequalities that lead to challenges for female and minority researchers, competitive disadvantages compared to English institutions, and extensive time commitments required to complete training and enter the profession. Despite the challenges, the authors highlight the important contributions of Scotland's clinical researchers and what is potentially at risk of the trend of decline continues. "In economic terms, investment in medical research pays dividends—every £1 spent returns around £1.25 annually to the wider economy. "Scotland has long punched above its weight in this field. From pioneering bowel cancer screening programmes using the faecal immunochemical test (FIT), now central to early detection efforts worldwide, to the EAVE-II platform, which was instrumental in understanding vaccine effectiveness during COVID-19, our clinical academics have delivered innovations with national and global impact." Prof Rory McCrimmon, one of the authors of the letter and Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Dundee, explained how these types of contributions are at risk of becoming increasingly scarce. He said that there are more academics over the age of 55 than under the age of 35. Clinical researchers now make up just 3% of the overall workforce, and only 0.6% of primary care workers are clinical researchers. Prof Rory McCrimmon has argued that clinical researchers need more practical and financial support in order to continue performing their life-saving work. (Image: University of Dundee) He added that the shrinking supply of clinical academics, combined with the baked-in challenges in the field, is adding immense stress on researchers. "It is undoubtedly harder to do out-of-programme research at the PhD or MD level, because obtaining funding for that is challenging. "Students leave university now with a larger amount of debt, and it takes a long time. It takes maybe ten to fifteen years to become a consultant. If you add a further three to five years of research on top of that, that's an incredibly long time to become a clinical academic. "I think it is also perceived to be really, really hard, because you are moving into a very competitive world." Read more: Prof Lorna Marson, Dean of Clinical Medicine at Edinburgh and a contributor to the open letter, said that clinical researchers have a significant impact on their patients and communities, in addition to their broader contributions to the economy and the field. "Research-active hospitals have better outcomes for their patients in terms of morbidity and mortality. "Also, engaging in clinical trials gives patients the opportunity to get expensive drugs for no cost. "There are many significant added values to being a patient in a research hospital, so we need to support that as much as we can." Prof Lorna Marson has said that barriers to people looking to break into clinical research should not distract from the passion that these academics have for their profession. (Image: University of Edinburgh) Prof Marson added that the decline in the number of clinical academics was not due to a lack of ambition in the profession and that better general support for researchers could make the career more feasible for many hopefuls. 'It's extraordinary that there are still a good number of people who want to do this. I think that demonstrates the huge commitment that people are bringing to this field, and therefore, we have to support them and help them if it's what they want to do. 'But it is exceptionally difficult for women who also want to have time out to have a family, or those who have caring responsibilities and wish to prolong their training. 'Using women as an example, we need to look for ways to support them not only to have time out to have families, but to undertake their research and continue in clinical academia. That is where we see the biggest drop-off, and it is not because they don't passionately want to stay. 'They just can't see a way through it.' All of this is against a backdrop of extreme competition for funding. Prof Ian McInnes CBE, co-author of the letter and Vice Principal and Head of College, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow, called it a 'sadness' that young researchers are facing barriers to the profession at a time when there are many new opportunities on the horizon. 'Increasingly, academicians of the future will be data scientists. They'll be computing scientists. They'll be business scientists with MBAs and organisational design specialists. 'One of the ambitions I have for Scotland is that we actually become a model for an incredibly diverse community of academic clinicians with expertise in so many different areas.' Due to the interconnectedness of the UK higher education sector, Scottish researchers and institutions are in direct competition with their English counterparts. But different structures and priorities mean they are not always on an even playing field, Prof McInnes explained. In England, for example, the time of clinical academics is often divided evenly between clinical work and research. However, in Scotland, the divide is closer to 80% clinical and 20% research time. 'That 80% grows arms and legs, because clinical medicine is busier, clinical surgery is busier, clinical psychiatry is busier. So we're at a substantial disadvantage in Scotland compared to England.' There are also significant financial awards available only in England, which can further limit opportunities for Scottish researchers. Despite this, Prof McInnes was clear that the situation is not a case of finding fault. The different structures north and south of the border represent different strategies and priorities. The Scottish Government is currently pursuing health innovation projects through its Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) Pathway, which focuses on developing and implementing new health technologies across NHS Scotland. The programme recently committed £6 million to a project helping people with type 2 Diabetes, stroke patients and babies born with a rare genetic condition. In the end, Prof McInnes said he and his colleagues are making a call to find collaborative solutions to a common problem and preserve what he called 'fabulous careers.' 'Clinical academics enrich and embellish the quality of clinical care, and they do that by being part of that community. 'There is very good evidence that just being in a clinical trial leads to better long-term outcomes for most chronic conditions. Even if you just get a placebo, you become a beneficiary of an ecosystem that seeks the best option, not the most convenient option. 'Being a clinical academic is an incredibly enriching profession, and part of our concern is that the focus on funding and crisis in the NHS obscures the fantastically brilliant career that is available.' Health Secretary Neil Gray said clinical research is "vital" for both the NHS and the economy. 'The need and case for this plan and its actions is timely – in recent years, the sector has suffered from the impact of Brexit and from UK Government immigration policies which have stemmed the flow of international talent into research programmes. 'We continue to provide over £.1.1billion to universities each year, including over £368million for research and innovation. Our Chief Scientist Office also continues to provide various funding opportunities for clinical research, working closely with our academic community to deliver clinical trials, develop new research and fast-track new innovations and technologies which benefit Scottish patients. 'However, we recognise the challenges and opportunities highlighted in the recent MRC report and we will continue to collaborate closely with universities, the NHS and industry to maximise opportunities for clinical academics here in Scotland.'
Sky News
17-07-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Routine eye scan 'could predict 10-year heart attack and stroke risk', University of Dundee study suggests
A scan which forms part of a routine eye test could help predict a person's risk of having a heart attack or stroke within the next 10 years, a study has suggested. Researchers at the University of Dundee used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse digital retinal photographs, which are taken to capture images from the back of the eye to look for certain conditions. The technology was able to produce personalised risk predictors in less than a second. It is hoped the simple test could one day be offered alongside blood pressure and cholesterol checks to allow doctors to treat patients earlier. For the study, published in the journal Cardiovascular Diabetology, researchers trialled the AI software on the eye scans of people with type 2 diabetes. Those with the condition undergo routine eye tests to check for diabetic retinopathy, a condition where high blood sugar levels damage the blood sugar in the retina. Dr Ify Mordi, British Heart Foundation (BHF) research fellow at the university and consultant cardiologist, said: "It may be surprising, but the eyes are a window to the heart. "If there is damage or narrowing of the blood vessels at the back of the eye, there is a good chance that will also be seen in the blood vessels further inside the body, supplying the heart, which could lead to a heart attack or stroke." The AI tool was instructed to initially look for warning signs on the images, such as blood vessel narrowing or blockages. It was then permitted to look for any detail in the photographs, such as the size or arrangement of blood vessels, before being trained using 4,200 images. The technology was able to predict the people who would go on to have "major cardiovascular events", like heart attacks or strokes, within a decade with 70% accuracy. Dr Mordi said: "This is a one-stop scan which is routinely performed and takes less than a minute. "It could be an important part of the package, alongside blood pressure and cholesterol checks, in identifying people who could benefit from medication or lifestyle changes." Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the BHF, said cutting-edge innovations like the AI tool could "play a role in improving risk prediction". He added: "However, more research is needed to show this prediction accuracy is robust, and to determine the feasibility of incorporating retinal scans into clinical practice." Dr Clare Jonas, research lead at the Stroke Association, agreed that AI analyses of health data "have exciting potential for better early detection". She added: "Advances like these could make it easier for people at risk of stroke to take the right steps to stop it from happening. "Whilst there are still many practical questions to answer about whether, when and how AI could be used in clinical practice, we hope the government's 10 Year Health Plan will take such technological advances into account to stop more strokes from devastating people's lives."
The Herald Scotland
17-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Dundee's parasite-busting breakthrough could save billions
Worm infestations cost the European livestock sector approximately £1.8 billion annually. Despite the significant impact that parasitic worms have on the economy, there is currently no vaccination for humans, and progress in protecting animals has been limited. However, the Dundee team has discovered a way to turn the parasites' primary weapon against them. New research from Dundee has shown how to turn a parasitic worm's harmful proteins against itself. (Image: University of Dundee) New research discovered that the worms create proteins, including two known as HpARI and HpBARI. These proteins suppress the host's immune response, effectively blocking the host's immune system from reacting to and fighting off the worm's harmful effects. This often allows the infection to develop into a chronic problem, resulting in long-term effects that are much harder to mitigate. Once infected, human hosts can experience diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pains. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of worm infection, with an increased risk of growth stunting and malnutrition. Dr Henry McSorley and his fellow researchers believe their breakthrough could have significant benefits for humans and livestock. (Image: University of Dundee) Dundee researchers led by Dr Henry McSorley, lead author in the division of Cell Signalling and Immunology at Dundee's School of Life Sciences, have found a way to vaccinate mice with the same HpARI and HpBARI that the worms produce. This has allowed the hosts to increase their immune system's response to the typically harmful proteins and block their effects. The result is to nullify the parasite and give time for the immune system to clear the infection fully. Scientists have long known that parasitic worms protect themselves by suppressing the immune system of their hosts; however, scientists are only now beginning to understand how this process works. In addition to their use as vaccines, parasite proteins such as HpARI and HpBARI have garnered interest as potential new treatments for human diseases characterised by an overactive immune system, including allergies and asthma. Dr McSorley said that the team's breakthrough is an essential step in eradicating the threat of parasitic worms. 'Our work has revealed that HpARI or HpBARI proteins are effective in mitigating the effects of infection in hosts. Further research will be required to identify similar proteins from parasites of humans and livestock. "These results are incredibly positive and could form the basis of a future vaccination that could protect humans against worm infection.'
The Independent
17-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
AI can detect warning signs of heart attack, scientists say
A new artificial intelligence system can predict a person's risk of heart attack or stroke within a decade using routine eye test scans. Developed by University of Dundee researchers, the AI analyses digital retinal photographs to provide personalised risk predictions in under a second. The technology was trialled on eye scans of individuals with type 2 diabetes and achieved 70 per cent accuracy in predicting major cardiovascular events. Experts suggest this simple, quick test could complement existing checks like blood pressure and cholesterol, allowing for earlier intervention. While promising, further research is needed to confirm its robustness and feasibility for widespread clinical use in preventing cardiovascular diseases, the British Heart Foundation says.
