One of the most exciting areas of health research at Abertay is the development of a single conceptual framework of the dynamics of cancer cells. A team led by Dr Jim Bown and Dr Bob Clyde is working with Breast Cancer UK on a computer model capable of emulating all the many drug pathways that function inside a cell.
Most research hitherto has focussed on single pathways or clusters of pathways, making the design of so-called “multi-site drugs” – drugs that can target many pathways at once – problematic and laborious to test. The Abertay-led team hopes to develop a computer model that can be used to predict more quickly and easily the behaviour of new types of drug capable of acting on many pathways at once.
Hospital-acquired infection is a major challenge for modern health services, especially with the spread of drug-resistant infections. Abertay researchers under Dr Bown are working with NHS Tayside on a new simulation model of how infections, particularly MRSA, can spread within clinical settings, and the model is already suggesting new strategies for managing patients and clinical staff much more efficiently and effectively.
Other researchers at Abertay are also investigating the links between hypertension and the salt and water absorption functions of the kidneys. Scientists at Abertay and the Roslin Institute a few years ago discovered that mutations in the GNB3 gene seemed to be responsible for a wide range of pathological conditions in humans and animals. Dr Sean Brown is now investigating the gene’s role in kidney function.
Dr Luis Calmeiro is exploring the mechanisms through which emotional and cognitive processes interact to influence sports performance, aiming to develop more effective interventions which could improve the performance of athletes, performers, musicians, dancers and other professionals. Dr Calmeiro, who works with world-class athletes and regional champions, is also investigating how professionals differ from novices in the use of these emotional and cognitive processes.
Another Abertay research group is working with South Africa’s Cape Town University and Cape Peninsula University of Technology to assess best practice for load carrying out-of-doors, aiming to identify which form of load carriage uses the least energy, is the most comfortable and does not have health risks attached. This research could benefit not just outdoor enthusiasts but also military, police and rescue professionals.
Abertay experts have been enlisted by Dundee City Council and NHS Tayside to evaluate the performance of anti-smoking campaigns and other distraction techniques used in primary and secondary schools. Other researchers from Abertay have been retained by the Government to review Scotland’s sexual health strategy. Their work influenced subsequent policy development on health expenditure and health promotion, and in particular supported the development of training and resources for teachers delivering sexual health advice.
Continuing technological and legal developments mean that the prospect of genetically modified humans is becoming increasingly likely; this is a major issue in the research area of bioethics. Researchers at Abertay are exploring the possibilities of bioethics and synthesising the available science with ethical principals to ascertain what issues might arise and their implications. Dr Kevin Smith from the School of Contemporary Sciences is collaborating with researchers from Manchester University on this topic.
Over the last decade, there has been a significant expansion on the availability of mental health counselling within GP surgeries. There have been several large-scale controlled studies of the outcomes of this form of intervention. Professor John McLeod and his colleagues from the Tayside Centre for Counselling at Abertay are undertaking unique research in exploring in depth the views and preferences of patients regarding the counselling they receive. This research will influence policy and practice by enabling the development of care systems that are more patient-focused.
Professor David Bradley is a leading player in national research into telehealth and telecare – the application of intelligent technology to helping people live independently in their own homes. His current work is focussing both on the technology itself and also the collection of the huge range of data needed to make the right technological choices for future development.
Many groups of individuals could benefit from this work, ranging from the “well elderly” who require monitoring and reassurance (for their families as well as themselves), to people with chronic medical conditions who require more support and intervention and, in the case of dementia sufferers, closer observation. Professor Bradley works closely with a variety of universities and health authorities across the UK.
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