Hosted by the College of Life Sciences Postdoctoral Association (CLSPA) and the association of Postgraduates in the College of Life Sciences (PiCLS), Open Doors Day 2011 will give members of the general public a rare chance to experience some of the cutting edge research being carried out in Dundee. Through posters, demonstrations and exhibits, the scientists will explain what, how, and why, they study the important research questions they do. There are also limited spaces available for research-themed tours of laboratories throughout day, and for tours of the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID).
Everyone welcome (unfortunately only children over 12 years old are permitted on the lab tours).
The event is open access; lab tours & tours round CAHID must be booked in advance.
Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID) Tours
PRE-BOOKING THE TOURS IS ESSENTIAL. Only children over age 12 and accompanied by an adult may participate in the tours. The atrium will be open all day, space permitting, although to guarantee access you may wish to book your visit.
Tour Times:
10:30 am - Basic Research
11:30am - Translational Research
12:30 pm - Microbiology
1:30 pm - Drug discovery & neglected diseases
2:30 pm - Biochemistry & Cancer
3:30 pm - Immunology & Diabetes
Tours:
Basic Research – At the cutting edge of life sciences
The College of Life Sciences covers a wide range of research fields and topics from looking at how simple organisms behave to how the nervous system grows. Understanding any of these questions requires a basic understanding of the fundamentals, not just of how living processes occur but also why. Many of the research teams at the CLS are dedicated to working out these fundamental processes. Several of the divisions at the College focus on how cells communicate within and with each other in various environments such as immunology or cancer. The Wellcome Trust Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression focuses on how cells decide when to grow, divide and switch genes on and off. The Division for Cell and Developmental Biology focuses on how tissue and stem cells choose to become more specialized. All this research then provides a platform to provide practical solutions to diagnose and treat diseases.
Translational research – from bench to bedside
Much of the research in a university is what we call “basic research”, or research that aims to uncover the fundamental principles of biology and how life works. Translational research is the term used to describe research whose primary goal is to build on observations in the research lab and quickly develop them into new or improved therapies and medical devices. In the College of Life Sciences, there are many academic groups collaborating with industry to bring advancements made in molecular biology to clinical trials. In particular, the Division of Molecular Medicine at the College of Life Sciences is currently studying cancer, skin diseases, and novel ways to deliver medicines directly to diseased tissue instead of through the bloodstream.
Microbiology – the invisible world
Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses make up a large part of the Earth's ecosystem. They are involved in many of the processes found occurring naturally and some of which have been harnessed by humans to produce foodstuffs and medicines. The Division of Molecular Microbiology at the College of Life Sciences, aims to understand how these microorganisms operate at various levels such as how they interact with each other as well as with other animals and plants. Understanding how this happens is key to being to able to appreciate how these processes could be used in health and environmental applications.
Drug discovery & neglected diseases – where do drugs come from?
Drug discovery is the process used to develop new medicines. It is complex mix of chemistry, cell biology, biochemistry, and biophysics and involves teams of researchers each contributing unique expertise. It often takes about 15 years to design and test a new medicine before it can be released to patients, so each new therapeutic represents a very significant investment. Because of its location within the University of Dundee, the Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) has access to collaborations with many other academic laboratories, creating a rich, complementary environment of ideas and expertise where novel ideas can flourish. One of the research themes of the DDU, along with the Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery (BCDD) is to combat neglected diseases such as African Sleeping Sickness by providing better diagnosis tools as well as more effective treatments.
Biochemistry and Cancer
Nearly 13 million new cases of cancer are detected worldwide every year, and 7 million people will die from this family of diseases. Cancer is the term used to describe uncontrolled growth of cells in a person’s body. Because there are many different types of cells in your body, there are many different types of cancer. Each type of cancer requires different methods of diagnosis and treatment, making cancer an enormous medical challenge. The probability of developing cancer increases significantly with age. As people all over the world are living longer, more people will fall ill with this disease. The biological causes for cancer are very complex, and the work of many labs here at the University of Dundee touches on this important research field. While it is unlikely that we will ever find a cure for every cancer, great strides are being made in finding treatments for many different types of cancer and in understanding why, how, and when people develop it.
Immunology and Diabetes
Three million people in the UK are diabetic, which means their cells cannot take up the glucose our bodies use for energy. Cells use a small protein called insulin to turn on the import of glucose. If a person does not make insulin or their cells no longer respond to insulin, that individual will develop diabetes. Unused glucose builds up in the bloodstream causing many of the complications associated with diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease, vision problems, and nerve damage. While the basic cause of diabetes is understood and there are ways to manage the disease, there is no cure. Research here at the College aims to completely understand why people develop diabetes and provide new possibilities for treatment and prevention.
Important Tour Information
While we are making every effort to ensure your visit is a safe and pleasant one, tours will be conducted through active research laboratories and we request your assistance in making your day as safe as possible.
Please note:
** ONLY CHILDREN AGE 12 AND OVER WITH AN ACCOMPANYING ADULT WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE TOUR.
** These are walking tours and will take approximately an hour to complete. We suggest wearing comfortable, non-slip shoes.
** Most lab spaces are wheelchair accessible, but some parts of the tour may have limited visibility or room to maneuver. Please contact us at 01382 385828 to discuss possible accommodations.
"The dead don’t talk…
So how can scientists tell what killed someone – when all they have left is a body? Learn about ‘anthropology’ (literally meaning the ‘study of man’) and how anthropologists can determine the age, sex, and height of a victim in a murder case! And how this can help find out who the anonymous person was…"
Come on a tour around the workplace of the team of researchers behind such TV shows as the BBC's History Cold Case series! Pre-booking of tours is essential, please see details below. Children of all ages are permitted on the CAHID tours.
Visist the CAHID website for more info about their work! http://www.lifesci.dundee.ac.uk/cahid
Tour times:
10.30am
11.30am
12.30pm
1.30pm
2.30pm
3.30pm
To book a space on a lab tour or a CAHID tour, email opendoorsday2011@gmail.com, or telephone 01382 385828.
Remember to specify which of the available tours you would like to join, and the number of places required.
From top to bottom - Extracting DNA from raspberries, learing about bactera, exploring protein structure, and visitors on a lab tour.
