Latest Bio Stories
Newfound ‘organ’ had been missed by standard method for visualising anatomyApril 3, 2018
Researchers have identified a previously unknown feature of human anatomy with implications for the function of all organs, most tissues and the mechanisms of most major diseases
Are bigger bacteria easier to kill?March 20, 2018
Stanford researchers have discovered a genetic 'tuning knob' that can increase the size of harmful bacteria like E. coli, making them more susceptible to antibiotics
Clearing clumps of protein in aging neural stem cells boosts their activityMarch 20, 2018
Young, resting neural stem cells in the brains of mice store large clumps of proteins in specialised cellular trash compartments known as lysosomes, researchers have found, writes Krista Conger
The complexity of engineering for life in spaceMarch 6, 2018
NUI Galway biomedical engineering PHD student Ilaria Cinelli explains the unique challenges of engineering solutions for space missions, and that it is important because 'life in space is for life on Earth'
Scientists discover a brain signal that indicates if speech has been understoodMarch 6, 2018
The uniqueness of the signal means that it could have a number of potential applications, such as tracking language development in infants or assessing brain function in unresponsive patients
Ultrathin, highly elastic skin display developedFebruary 20, 2018
Device displays electrocardiogram recorded by skin sensor, and offers promise for home healthcare applications
Bacteria play critical role in driving colon cancersFebruary 6, 2018
Patients with an inherited form of colon cancer harbour two bacterial species that collaborate to encourage development of the disease, and the same species have been found in people who develop a sporadic form of colon cancer, a research team has found
Making biogas production from manure and grass residues more attractiveFebruary 6, 2018
Good quality grass silage offers an impressive specific biogas yield compared with corn silage, making it a viable and abundant alternative feedstock for AD plants
Infrasound and low-frequency noise – does it affect human health?January 23, 2018
Biomedical engineer Dr Mariana Alves-Pereira recently studied the impact of ILFN from wind turbines in Ireland, concluding that noise regulations need updating to reflect noise levels that endanger human health
‘Squirtable’ elastic surgical glue seals wounds in 60 secondsJanuary 16, 2018
Biomedical engineers have developed MeTro, a highly elastic and adhesive surgical glue that quickly seals wounds without the need for common staples or sutures, which could transform how surgeries are performed
Mechanobiology and the future of medical-device designJanuary 9, 2018
At the interface of biology and engineering, Prof Laoise McNamara uses multidisciplinary approaches to derive understanding of bone mechanobiology and how this contributes to development, physiology and bone disease
Bioengineering and synthetic biology: the risks and opportunitiesJanuary 9, 2018
Human genome editing, 3D-printed replacement organs and artificial photosynthesis – bioengineering offers great promise for tackling major societal challenges, but what are the potential associated risks?
Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s: investigating changes in brain network dynamicsDecember 4, 2017
UCD's John Fleming outlines his current research, which utilises computational modelling to study the underlying architecture of the basal ganglia network, and the subsequent network connectivity changes that lead to Parkinson’s disease
Trinity bridges humanitarianism and medical-device design with 3D printingNovember 21, 2017
Trinity College's MED3DP initiative is using 3D-printing technology to produce on-demand medical devices, with huge potential benefits for developing countries. Michael Monaghan reports
Futureproofing energy solutions for medical devicesNovember 21, 2017
Original-equipment manufacturers are future-proofing medical devices and their energy supply by moving away from nickel- and lead-based chemistries to specialist lithium-ion chemistries that have emerged for high drain applications. Neil Oliver reports
CÚRAM engineers nanomechanical stem-cell technologies to benefit orthopaedicsNovember 7, 2017
Dr Manus Biggs’ advances in the fields of biomaterials and engineered bioreactor systems relate to fabricating biomimetic environments and conditions with nanoscale resolution to drive cellular differentiation in vitro
A war made me realise that the world needs biomedical engineersOctober 24, 2017
A horrific, life-changing experience during the Iran-Iraq War in 1981 inspired Zahra Moussavi to become a biomedical engineer. Now a professor in the US, she has spent her life applying engineering knowledge and skills to challenging medical problems
Functionalisation of electrode devices for neural electrode interface applicationsOctober 10, 2017
NUI Galway’s Catalina Vallejo-Giraldo's research focuses on modifying implantable electrode systems to improve their performance when used in neural recording and in deep-brain stimulation in patients with dystonia and Parkinson’s disease
The beating heart of solar energy: powering medical implants with solar cellsSeptember 26, 2017
Using solar cells placed under the skin to continuously recharge implanted electronic medical devices is a viable one. Engineers have found that a 3.6 sq cm solar cell generates enough power during winter and summer to power a typical pacemaker
New medical device concept could reduce time to diagnose infectionsSeptember 26, 2017
When a patient arrives at a hospital with a serious infection, doctors have little time to make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. A new diagnostic device may significantly reduce the amount of time needed to diagnose tissue infections