Latest news with #UniversityofEdinburgh
Fast Company
14 hours ago
- Health
- Fast Company
Scientists engineer bacteria to turn plastic waste into painkillers
Tales of turning water into wine or weaving straw into gold are one thing, but a new study shows that scientists can transform trash into . . . Tylenol? Scientists at the University of Edinburgh were able to convert plastic waste into paracetamol, aka acetaminophen, the active ingredient in the pain reliever Tylenol. Stranger yet, they pulled off the alchemical feat using the bacteria E. coli. 'We're able to transform a prolific environmental and societal waste into such a globally important medication in a way that's completely impossible, using chemistry alone or using biology alone,' says study coauthor Stephen Wallace, a chemical biotechnologist at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The research team began with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common plastic found in food packaging and polyester clothing. Using established chemical methods, they broke down the PET plastic into a precursor molecule and then added it into a cell culture of E. coli that was genetically modified. Enzymes in the modified E. coli bacteria were able to convert the plastic precursor into paracetamol 92% of the time. The transformation relies on a chemical process known as a Lossen rearrangement, which can convert one kind of molecule into a different kind of molecule. Scientists have known about the Lossen rearrangement for more than 100 years, but generally observe the phenomenon in a flask or a test tube. The research group is now working with pharmaceutical makers including AstraZeneca, one of the study's sponsors, to replicate the same chemical transformations on a larger scale. The new research isn't the first to observe the way that bacteria can be deployed to usefully break down plastic. Researchers have previously studied how wastewater bacteria found in urban waterways use a special enzyme to chew up plastic trash and convert it into carbon-based food. As we grapple with the cascading environmental and health effects that decades of proliferating plastics have wrought on the planet, bacteria capable of converting plastic into harmless or even useful molecules is a promising area of research.
WIRED
a day ago
- Health
- WIRED
The Next Acetaminophen Tablet You Take Could Be Made From PET
Jun 27, 2025 8:53 AM This research could represent the first documented case of acetaminophen production from plastic waste using E. coli bacteria. acetaminophen pill box, boxpaper, blister tablets Photograph: Jorge Martinez Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have succeeded in transforming certain plastic waste into acetaminophen using the natural properties of the common bacterium Escherichia coli ( E. coli ). This breakthrough represents a milestone with the potential to drive more sustainable methods of drug production and, at the same time, contribute to the reduction of plastic pollution globally. The study, led by Stephen Wallace, revealed that E. coli cells contain phosphate, an organic compound capable of catalyzing a chemical reaction known as Lossen rearrangement. In general terms, this process involves the rearrangement of the atoms of a hydroxamate ester molecule to form a new structure called isocyanate, a chemical intermediate that, when reacted with water, produces primary amines. These substances are essential in numerous biological processes and in drug synthesis. Using synthetic biology, the scientists manipulated the bacteria to redirect their internal chemistry and transform a PET-derived molecule known as terephthalic acid into the active ingredient in acetaminophen. They used a fermentation process, similar to that used in brewing beer, to accelerate the conversion of industrial PET waste into the drug, obtaining results in less than 24 hours. According to the findings, approximately 90 percent of the final product corresponded to acetaminophen. Importantly, this conversion was done at room temperature and with virtually no carbon emissions, suggesting that the drug can be produced in a more environmentally friendly way. Wallace noted that what was most surprising about the process was that the Lossen rearrangement occurred naturally within living bacteria, without the need for laboratory catalysts. That is, they took advantage of the microbial cells' own capabilities to trigger the desired reaction. 'The funny thing is that we didn't have to teach the bacteria how to do the reaction: The trick was to realize that they already had the tools, and we just had to guide them,' explained the researcher in statements reported by El País. 'We used synthetic biology to build new metabolic pathways within the bacteria that guide their chemistry toward producing the compound we wanted. In this case, a drug.' Sustainable Drug Production The work, published in the journal Nature, could be the first documented case of acetaminophen production from plastic waste using E. coli . However, the authors stress that further studies will be necessary to achieve industrial-scale production. In addition, they caution that the safety and efficacy of the resulting drug in humans have yet to be evaluated, so future research will be required. Despite these limitations, the scientists emphasize that their results open up new possibilities for addressing the problem of plastic waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with drug manufacturing. Currently, the production of drugs such as acetaminophen consumes thousands of tons of fossil fuels, especially petroleum, which contributes significantly to climate change. In turn, PET generates more than 350 million tons of waste per year, causing serious damage to the environment. Although this material is recyclable, current methods often result in products that perpetuate global plastic pollution. 'This work demonstrates that PET plastic is not just a waste product or a material destined to become more plastic: Microorganisms can transform it into valuable new products, including those with therapeutic potential,' concluded Wallace. This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Transgender People Have Always Existed, And To Prove It, Here Are 19 Of Them That Changed History
As the Trump administration and conservative state governments move to restrict the rights of transgender people and erase their history, it's important to remember that trans people have always existed. And not only have they always been here, but they've also made numerous contributions to society, as veterans, doctors, performers, activists, and more. Here are 19 of their fascinating stories, in order of their birth years: Please note: Some linked reference documents deadname and misgender the historical figures mentioned below. James Barry, who lived from around 1795 to 1865, was an assistant staff surgeon in the British Army. He performed the first recorded successful caesarean in the British Empire, in which both the mother and infant survived. Dr. Barry was born in Cork, Ireland. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Edinburgh in 1812 and graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1813. Afterward, he joined the British military, where he traveled to South Africa, Jamaica, Trinidad, and more. While in South Africa, Dr. Barry performed the aforementioned C-section, and the happy parents named their son James Barry Munnik in his honor. (Barry's name was passed down in the Munnik family, eventually being elevated to prime minister of the Union of South Africa with James Barry Munnik Hertzog.) He later rose to the rank of Inspector General of military hospitals in 1857. Dr. Barry advocated for access to clean water, humane treatments for people with leprosy, and improving diets and living conditions for soldiers. Dr. Barry was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in London, under his chosen name and military rank. Cashier, who lived from 1843 to 1915, was a Union soldier who served under General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War. Cashier was originally born in Ireland and made his way over to the United States, where he lived in Illinois before enlisting in the 95th Illinois Infantry after President Lincoln called for volunteers in 1862. After the war, he settled back in Illinois and worked as a handyman. After suffering a leg injury, doctors discovered that he was transgender, but kept his secret in order for him to maintain his military pension. Cashier was no longer able to work and moved into the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home. Later, as he began to show signs of dementia, he was moved to the Watertown State Hospital for the Insane. There, his secret was discovered again, and he was investigated for taking a pension under a false name. However, several of his former fellow soldiers in the 95th Regiment came to his defense to confirm his identity, and he was allowed to keep his pension. Cashier's home is now a historic site in Pontiac, Illinois. Elbe, who lived from 1882 to 1931, was a Danish landscape painter. Elbe was one of the first women to undergo gender-affirming surgery in 1930. She received legal recognition from the Dutch government and even received a new passport under her chosen name. Her journals were published as part of a book, Man into Woman, which was also one of the first widely available books about a transgender person's life. A fictionalized version of her story is told in the film The Danish Girl. Robles Ávila, who lived from 1889 to 1984, was a military commander during the Mexican Revolution. At 23, Robles Ávila joined Emiliano Zapata's army and quickly rose to the rank of colonel. He commanded armies of up to 1,000 people and was later recognized in the Confederation of Veterans of the Revolution. After the war, he retired but remained a political activist for the rest of his life. Robles Ávila was the first person assigned female at birth to be recognized as a male veteran by the government in 1970. L. Hart, who lived from 1890 to 1962, was an American physician, tuberculosis researcher, writer, radiologist, and novelist who pioneered the use of X-ray photography in tuberculosis detection. Hart was one of the first people to recognize that chest X-rays could be used to diagnose tuberculosis early, giving patients a higher chance at survival (and likely saving countless lives in the process). This also led to TB patients being separated from others, helping to reduce the spread of the disease. He also wrote multiple novels, including Doctor Mallory and The Undaunted, which describe the experience of life as a doctor as well as some of Hart's personal struggles as a trans man. Tipton, who lived from 1914 to 1989, was a jazz musician and bandleader. Tipton began performing as a jazz musician in 1936 and started touring in 1940. He later founded the Billy Tipton Trio in 1951, which was discovered by a talent scout while playing in California. They were signed to Tops Records and released two albums. He later moved to Spokane, where he worked as a booking agent. There, he married his fifth wife, and they adopted three children together. Related: These 11 Celebrities Came Out IRL After Playing Iconic Queer Roles We'll Never Forget Cowell, who lived from 1918 to 2011, was a British World War II Spitfire pilot and a Grand Prix race car driver. In her early life, Cowell had a knack for racing and was a mechanic. She later became a pilot in the Royal Air Force, battling through air sickness to do so. During World War II, her plane was shot down, and she spent time imprisoned in Germany in Stalag Luft I until it was liberated by Soviet troops. After the war, she built and raced cars, as well as renovated and resold homes to make a living. She was the first-known woman to undergo gender-affirming surgery in Great Britain. Rees, who lived from 1924 to around 2000, was an American paratrooper during World War II. Rees wrote an account of her life, titled Reborn, which, along with Lili Elbe's story, was one of the first accounts of the life of a transgender woman. In it, she details her childhood, her experiences in early life joining and being discharged from the Navy, and finally ending up with the US paratroopers. During World War II, she was awarded a Bronze Star. She later worked as a parachute instructor for the government, opened her own parachute school, and earned a pilot's license. She underwent gender-affirming surgery in the Netherlands in 1954 and then returned home to the US, where her family accepted her transition. Morley, who lived from 1924 to 2009, was an Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated British composer. Morley started her career as a performing musician, but later became a self-taught arranger and composer who worked on film and television projects such as Watership Down, Dallas, Dynasty, The Little Prince, and more. She also worked closely with John Williams on projects like Star Wars, Superman, and The Empire Strikes Back. Morley was the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Academy Award. Over her career, she won three Emmy awards and was nominated for two Academy Awards. Related: Most People Can't Name Even 2/14 Of These Queer Terms, So I'll Be Shocked If You Pass who lived from 1931 to 2006, was a French cabaret performer, an actress, and a singer. Coccinelle, also known as Jacqueline Charlotte Dufresnoy, underwent gender-affirming surgery in Morocco in 1958, and afterward, France legally recognized her as a woman. Her highly publicized first marriage in 1962 — though it required her to be re-baptized under her chosen name — was officially recognized in France, setting a legal precedent for transgender women to marry. She sang in lauded cabaret performances, starred in many successful films, and later founded "Devenir Femme" (To Become Woman) to support other transgender women who wanted to undergo gender-affirming surgery. She also helped establish the Center for Aid, Research, and Information for Transsexuality and Gender Identity, and published an autobiography, titled Coccinelle par Coccinelle. Jorgensen, who lived from 1926 to 1989, was an Army veteran who became an American singer, actress, and recording artist. Jorgensen served in the US Army and later became a successful actress and nightclub singer after her gender-affirming surgery in Denmark made headlines in the US. She also became a public speaker, where she lectured on trans issues and acceptance. She continued on to publish Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography, detailing her life and experiences as a transgender woman. Richards, born in 1934, is a former professional tennis player and eye surgeon. In 1976, Richards won a lawsuit to allow her to play tennis in the Women's Tennis Association, where she went on to play women's tennis for five years. After retiring at the age of 47, she returned to her practice as an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon. She retired from surgery at age 80, but still practices ophthalmology today. Major Griffin-Gracy, who was born in 1940, is a former showgirl and sex worker who became a transgender activist and author. Griffin-Gracy, alongside Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, was at the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. She was the executive director of the Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project and spoke out in support of other transgender people of color who have experienced homelessness or have criminal records. Griffin-Gracy was part of a campaign to revise wording on a Stonewall plaque to add more inclusive language to honor trans women. She also created the House of gg, a sanctuary retreat for transgender people. The documentary MAJOR! was made about her life. P. Johnson, who lived from 1945 to 1992, was a well-known activist, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, particularly for unhoused youth and those affected by HIV and AIDS. Johnson, along with Sylvia Rivera, founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, or STAR, which helped support young transgender people. She was one of the key figures in the Stonewall Uprising. She was also a performer with the drag ensemble "Hot Peaches" and even modeled for Andy Warhol. Several films have been made about Johnson's life, and a bronze bust of Johnson was erected in New York City in her honor. Rivera, who lived from 1951 to 2002, was an activist for LGBTQ+ rights and a drag queen. Rivera cofounded the Gay Liberation Front, which developed a platform to advocate for gay rights and planned demonstrations. Along with Marsha P. Johnson, she was also part of the Stonewall Uprising and a founder of STAR. Shortly after her death, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project was founded to provide legal aid to trans, intersex, and gender-nonconforming people. A permanent monument featuring both Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson has been announced in New York City in 2019. Wilson, born in 1957, helped develop the ARM processor, which is used in most consumer electronics. Wilson began her career building early microcomputers for hobbyists and, along with Steve Furber, created the BBC Microcomputer, one of the first popular consumer computers in Britain. Later, the pair created the Acorn RISC Machine (ARM) processor, an early version of which was used in multiple computers and devices, including Apple's Newton. ARM processors are still in use today in many handheld devices like phones and tablets, including the Microsoft Surface, iPhones, iPads, the Nintendo Switch, Chromebooks, and more. Jenkins, born in 1961, was the first openly trans Black woman elected to public office in the United States as a member of the Minneapolis City Council. A former Vocational Counselor for the Hennepin County government, Jenkins holds two master's degrees and began as a policy aide and part of City Councilman Robert Lilligren's staff. She later worked as curator of the Transgender Oral History Project at the University of Minnesota. In 2017, Jenkins was elected as a Minneapolis City Council member, and in 2018, became the vice president of the city council. Her platform focuses on racial equity and economic development. She also founded Trans United Fund, a PAC that supports transgender candidates running for office. Chung, born in 1965, is an activist who has worked on the San Francisco health commission and was also appointed to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS by President Obama. Chung grew up in Hong Kong and moved to the United States in 1984. She worked as deputy director of the Transgender Law Center and the HIV program coordinator for the Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum. She is the first transgender woman and first person living openly with HIV to chair the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. She created programming for San Francisco Department of Public Health employees called Transgender 101 to help educate them on trans issues. Chung also helped make San Francisco the first city in the United States to pay for gender-affirming surgery for uninsured transgender patients. finally, Geraldine Roman, born in 1967, is a journalist and politician and the first-ever transgender person elected to the Philippines' House of Representatives. Roman won 62% of the vote in her election to become the Representative of Bataan's 1st District. She pushed for the passage of a bill called SOGIE to prohibit discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation, which passed in 2017, and continues to push for the passage of a bill legalizing same-sex civil partnerships. She has continually advocated for women and gender equality, veterans, and progressive causes. Looking for more LGBTQ+ or Pride content? Then check out all of BuzzFeed's posts celebrating Pride 2025. Also in LGBT: 15 Celebrities Who Came Out As LGBTQ+ Wayyyy After Being Disney Channel Stars Also in LGBT: "I Realized That I Was Looking At Her In A Way That I Had Looked At Men": 13 Celebrities Who Fell In Love With A Castmate Or Crew Member
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Politics
- Buzz Feed
17 Transgender People Who Changed History
As the Trump administration and conservative state governments move to restrict the rights of transgender people and erase their history, it's important to remember that trans people have always existed. And not only have they always been here, but they've also made numerous contributions to society, as veterans, doctors, performers, activists, and more. Here are 17 of their fascinating stories, in order of their birth years: Dr. James Barry, who lived from around 1795 to 1865, was an assistant staff surgeon in the British Army. He performed the first recorded successful caesarean in the British Empire, in which both the mother and infant survived. Dr. Barry was born in Cork, Ireland. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Edinburgh in 1812 and graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1813. Afterward, he joined the British military, where he traveled to South Africa, Jamaica, Trinidad, and more. While in South Africa, Dr. Barry performed the aforementioned C-section, and the happy parents named their son James Barry Munnik in his honor. (Barry's name was passed down in the Munnik family, eventually being elevated to prime minister of the Union of South Africa with James Barry Munnik Hertzog.)He later rose to the rank of Inspector General of military hospitals in 1857. Dr. Barry advocated for access to clean water, humane treatments for people with leprosy, and improving diets and living conditions for soldiers. Dr. Barry was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in London, under his chosen name and military rank. Albert Cashier, who lived from 1843 to 1915, was a Union soldier who served under General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War. Cashier was originally born in Ireland and made his way over to the United States, where he lived in Illinois before enlisting in the 95th Illinois Infantry after President Lincoln called for volunteers in 1862. After the war, he settled back in Illinois and worked as a handyman. After suffering a leg injury, doctors discovered that he was transgender, but kept his secret in order for him to maintain his military pension. Cashier was no longer able to work and moved into the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home. Later, as he began to show signs of dementia, he was moved to the Watertown State Hospital for the Insane. There, his secret was discovered again, and he was investigated for taking a pension under a false name. However, several of his former fellow soldiers in the 95th Regiment came to his defense to confirm his identity, and he was allowed to keep his home is now a historic site in Pontiac, Illinois. Lili Elbe, who lived from 1882 to 1931, was a Danish landscape painter. Elbe was one of the first women to undergo gender-affirming surgery in 1930. She received legal recognition from the Dutch government and even received a new passport under her chosen journals were published as part of a book, Man into Woman, which was also one of the first widely available books about a transgender person's life. A fictionalized version of her story is told in the film The Danish Girl. Amelio Robles Ávila, who lived from 1889 to 1984, was a military commander during the Mexican Revolution. At 23, Robles Ávila joined Emiliano Zapata's army and quickly rose to the rank of colonel. He commanded armies of up to 1,000 people and was later recognized in the Confederation of Veterans of the Revolution. After the war, he retired but remained a political activist for the rest of his life. Robles Ávila was the first person assigned female at birth to be recognized as a male veteran by the government in 1970. Alan L. Hart, who lived from 1890 to 1962, was an American physician, tuberculosis researcher, writer, radiologist, and novelist who pioneered the use of X-ray photography in tuberculosis detection. Hart was one of the first people to recognize that chest X-rays could be used to diagnose tuberculosis early, giving patients a higher chance at survival (and likely saving countless lives in the process). This also led to TB patients being separated from others, helping to reduce the spread of the also wrote multiple novels, including Dr. Mallory and The Undaunted, which describe the experience of life as a doctor as well as some of Hart's personal struggles as a trans man. Billy Tipton, who lived from 1914 to 1989, was a jazz musician and bandleader. Tipton began performing as a jazz musician in 1936 and started touring in 1940. He later founded the Billy Tipton Trio in 1951, which was discovered by a talent scout while playing in California. They were signed to Tops Records and released two albums. He later moved to Spokane, where he worked as a booking agent. There, he married his fifth wife, and they adopted three children together. Roberta Cowell, who lived from 1918 to 2011, was a British World War II Spitfire pilot and a Grand Prix race car driver. In her early life, Cowell had a knack for racing and was a mechanic. She later became a pilot in the Royal Air Force, battling through air sickness to do so. During World War II, her plane was shot down, and she spent time imprisoned in Germany in Stalag Luft I until it was liberated by Soviet troops. After the war, she built and raced cars, as well as renovated and resold homes to make a living. She was the first-known woman to undergo gender-affirming surgery in Great Britain. Tamara Rees, who lived from 1924 to around 2000, was an American Paratrooper during World War II. Rees wrote an account of her life, titled Reborn, which, along with Lili Elbe's story, was one of the first accounts of the life of a transgender woman. In it, she details her childhood, her experiences in early life joining and being discharged from the Navy, and finally ending up with the US Paratroopers. During World War II, she was awarded a Bronze Star. She later worked as a parachute instructor for the government, opened her own parachute school, and earned a pilot's license. She underwent gender-affirming surgery in the Netherlands in 1954 and then returned home to the US, where her family accepted her transition. Angela Morley, who lived from 1924 to 2009, was an Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated British composer. Morely started her career as a performing musician, but later became a self-taught arranger and composer who worked on film and television projects such as Watership Down, Dallas, Dynasty, The Little Prince, and more. She also worked closely with John Williams on projects like Star Wars, Superman, and The Empire Strikes Back. Morely was the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Academy Award. Over her career, she won three Emmy awards and was nominated for two Academy Awards. Coccinelle, who lived from 1931 to 2006, was a French cabaret performer, an actress, and a singer. Coccinelle, also known as Jacqueline-Charlotte Dufresnoy, underwent gender-affirming surgery in Morocco in 1958, and afterward, France legally recognized her as a woman. Her highly publicized first marriage in 1962 — though it required her to be rebaptized under her chosen name — was officially recognized in France, setting a legal precedent for transgender women to sang in lauded cabaret performances, starred in many successful films, and later founded "Devenir Femme" (To Become Woman) to support other transgender women who wanted to undergo gender-affirming surgery. She also helped establish the Center for Aid, Research, and Information for Transsexuality and Gender Identity, and published an autobiography, titled Coccinelle par Coccinelle. Christine Jorgensen, who lived from 1926 to 1989, was an army veteran who became an American singer, actress, and recording artist. Jorgensen served in the US Army and later became a successful actress and nightclub singer after her gender-affirming surgery in Denmark made headlines in the US. She also became a public speaker, where she lectured on trans issues and continued on to publish Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography, detailing her life and experiences as a transgender woman. Renée Richards, born in 1934, is a former professional tennis player and eye surgeon. In 1976, Richards won a lawsuit to allow her to play tennis in the Women's Tennis Association, where she went on to play women's tennis for five years. After retiring at the age of 47, she returned to her practice as an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon. She retired from surgery at age 80, but still practices ophthalmology today. Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, who was born in 1940, is a former showgirl and sex worker who became a transgender activist and author. Griffin-Gracy, alongside Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, was at the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. She was the executive director of the Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project and spoke out in support of other transgender people of color who have experienced homelessness or have criminal records. Griffin-Gracy was part of a campaign to revise wording on a Stonewall plaque to add more inclusive language to honor trans women. She also created the House of gg, a sanctuary retreat for transgender people. The documentary MAJOR! was made about her life. Marsha P. Johnson, who lived from 1945 to 1992, was a well-known activist, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, particularly for unhoused youth and those affected by HIV and AIDS. Johnson, along with Sylvia Rivera, founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, or STAR, which helped support young transgender people. She was one of the key figures in the Stonewall Uprising. She was also a performer with the drag ensemble "Hot Peaches" and even modeled for Andy Warhol. Several films have been made about Johnson's life, and a bronze bust of Johnson was erected in New York City in her honor. Sylvia Rivera, who lived from 1951 to 2002, was an activist for LGBTQ+ rights and a drag queen. Rivera cofounded the Gay Liberation Front, which developed a platform to advocate for gay rights and planned demonstrations. Along with Marsha P. Johnson, she was also part of the Stonewall Uprising and a founder of STAR. Shortly after her death, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project was founded to provide legal aid to trans, intersex, and gender-nonconforming people. A permanent monument featuring both Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson has been announced in New York City in 2019. Sophie Wilson, born in 1957, helped develop the ARM processor, which is used in most consumer electronics. Wilson began her career building early microcomputers for hobbyists and, along with Steve Furber, created the BBC Microcomputer, one of the first popular consumer computers in Britain. Later, the pair created the Acorn RISC Machine (ARM) processor, an early version of which was used in multiple computers and devices, including Apple's processors are still in use today in many handheld devices like phones and tablets, including the Microsoft Surface, iPhones, iPads, the Nintendo Switch, Chromebooks, and more. Andrea Jenkins, born in 1961, was the first openly trans Black woman elected to public office in the United States as a member of the Minneapolis City Council. A former Vocational Counselor for the Hennepin County government, Jenkins holds two master's degrees and began as a policy aide and part of City Councilman Robert Lilligren's staff. She later worked as curator of the Transgender Oral History Project at the University of 2017, Jenkins was elected as a Minneapolis City Council member, and in 2018, became the vice president of the city council. Her platform focuses on racial equity and economic development. She also founded Trans United Fund, a PAC that supports transgender candidates running for office. Cecilia Chung, born in 1965, is an activist who has worked on the San Francisco health commission and was also appointed to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS by President Obama. Chung grew up in Hong Kong and moved to the United States in 1984. She worked as deputy director of the Transgender Law Center and the HIV program coordinator for the Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum. She is the first transgender woman and first person living openly with HIV to chair the San Francisco Human Rights created programming for San Francisco Department of Public Health employees called Transgender 101 to help educate them on trans issues. Chung also helped make San Francisco the first city in the United States to pay for gender-affirming surgery for uninsured transgender patients. And finally, Geraldine Roman, born in 1967, is a journalist and politician and the first-ever transgender person elected to the Philippines' House of Representatives. Roman won 62% of the vote in her election to become the Representative of Bataan's 1st District. She pushed for the passage of a bill called SOGIE to prohibit discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation, which passed in 2017, and continues to push for the passage of a bill legalizing same-sex civil has continually advocated for women and gender equality, veterans, and progressive causes. Looking for more LGBTQ+ or Pride content? Then check out all of BuzzFeed's posts celebrating Pride 2025.
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Health
- Edinburgh Reporter
Inaugural Edinburgh Prize presented to the World Health Organisation
At the official opening of the Usher Building in Edinburgh Bioquarter on Thursday the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus accepted the first Edinburgh Prize for Global Health Impact on behalf of the organisation. The prize recognises the organisation's programme during the last half century to provide life-saving vaccines for children all over the world. The Director General was emphatic in his view of the programme's impact. He said: 'Since 1974, 154 million lives were saved. So vaccine works, vaccine helps children survive. And that is actually what this prize from the University of Edinburgh is saying and the WHO has contributed significantly to this.' Dr Tedros officially opened the £50 million plus building constructed with funding from The Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal – the £1.5 billion deal funded by both the UK and the Scottish Governments and which involves six local authorities in the area. Funding also came from The Wolfson Foundation. Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus of @ officially opens the £50 million + Usher Building in Edinburgh today — The Edinburgh Reporter (@ 2025-06-26T11:59:30.076Z This building is part of the Data-Driven Innovation part of the City Region Deal and is one of six hubs supported by the initiative. The building is a co-location hub where more than 900 researchers and scientists will work alongside health and social care providers and industry leaders to use data to provide healthcare solutions. Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh said that with his background as a medical doctor he does have some understanding of the work to be carried out in the Usher Building. He said: 'I'm no longer an active researcher, but the ethos of the building is very multidisciplinary. It's the product of a collaboration between the two governments in Westminster and Holyrood in terms of funding, and also the Wolfson Foundation, which is also a very important contributor. But the work itself is very collaborative and across disciplines, across areas and subjects, and also across nations. Sir Peter explained that what the research will provide is facts and data. He cited the example of NHS waiting lists which were 'already under strain prior to the pandemic'. He said: 'it's not as if the pandemic caused all the problems, but what the pandemic did is it brought the problems of the pandemic, but it also put everything else into second place, if you like. So there was then a backlog built up, and we now have this extraordinary number of people on NHS waiting lists in Scotland and in the rest of the UK, with the NHS struggling to keep up. So researchers here will are providing facts and that is really useful for governments to understand where the priorities are. Good policy is formed from good data and good data is formed from multidisciplinary collaborations.' The Rt Hon Ian Murray explained that he is an alumnus of the University of Edinburgh and that it was especially good to be at the opening of the new building. He explained that the UK Government involvement in the City Region Deal had contributed significantly towards the building with a contribution of £48.5 million. He said: 'The real reason for that kind of contribution was to provide buildings like this that can innovate, provide us with the research and development of the future, to bring financiers, partners, institutions, organisations, businesses and researchers all together to collaborate under one roof, to give us that healthcare of the future.' WHO funding Asked about the ongoing challenged of funding the WHO, (In May the WHO reduced its management team and scaled back its operations after the United States announced it was leaving the agency and cutting its financial support leading to a 21% cut in the organisation's budget), Dr Tedros said that they had 'seen it coming' in 2017 when they started the transformation of the WHO. He said: 'The major risk we identified was reliance on a few traditional donors – because if any one of them reduces their funding, the same situation could happen, and the organisation cannot absorb it. 'Not only that, when you rely on only a few traditional donors that also can affect your independence. So at that time, we said we have to broaden our donor base, and that can help us get flexible funding, long term funding. At the same time, it will make WHO more independent, because we rely on almost all 194 countries. 'Our funding started to be broadened out, and it's helping us to minimise the pain due to the current crisis. The contribution that was provided during the last two to three years is helping us to save jobs. We are seeing this as an opportunity. It's a crisis but as an opportunity we will emerge better.' In this imposing building looking down on the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh there is pioneering work taking place with researchers leveraging artificial intelligence to improve surgical outcomes and scientists exploring diagnostic potential through routine retina imaging. WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus L-R The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP Secretary of State for Scotland, Maree Todd MSP. Minister for Drug and Alcohol Policy and Sport and WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus who officially opened the Usher Building Some of the 900 academics and researchers who work in the building at the official launch The Rt Hon Ian Murray Secretary of State for Scotland Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh speaking to members of the Usher family on the left of the photo Like this: Like Related
