Skip to main content

News

Infrared light therapy might aid dementia patients

Research led by Dr Paul Chazot on a new infrared light therapy that might have the potential to help people with dementia.
Paul Chazot: Infrared light therapy

Climate change might make winter bird migration a thing of the past

Congratulations to Professor Steve Willis and Kieran Lawrence on their paper just published in Global Change Biology.
Yellow Wagtail

Understanding the relationship between dementia and COVID-19 risk

Georgia Walsh, a third year Biological Sciences student performed a BPS-funded summer placement in Dr Paul Chazot's lab probing a potential new Durham University “spin out” drug for treating Parkinsons disease. Georgia is the deputy lead of the new Durham University Parkinsons Pals community support programme, the first in the UK.
G Walsh 1

Congratulations to Adrian Brennan who has just published his latest paper in MDPI.

Dr Adrian Brennan and a team of researchers have just published their latest paper in MDPI.
Chickpea plant

Helping species adapt to climate change

Our bioscientists are playing a key role in identifying the impact of climate change on plant and animal life.
Climate change v-1

European colonialism is still visible in today’s plant distributions

European colonialism is still evident in the spread and prevalence of plants in countries around the world, according to new research involving our Department of Biosciences.
Close up of a Black Locust tree with white flowers

Congratulations to Phil Stephens who has made the Nature of Scotland Awards shortlist with MammalWeb

MammalWeb, an organisation started in the Department of Biosciences has been shortlisted for two Nature of Scotland awards: innovation and citizen science.
MammalWeb

New bid to 'outflank' antimicrobial resistance

A major new project will investigate the defence mechanisms of bacterial cells, to help stop the spread of drug-resistant genes. Resistance to antibiotics (known as antimicrobial resistance) is a growing problem, identified by the World Health Organisation as a top-10 threat facing humanity.
Phage

Addison Wheeler postdoctoral fellowship recruitment 2022/23

The Institute of Advanced Study has opened the recruitment for the 2022/23 Addison Wheeler postdoctoral fellowship round.
Curving library shelf

Gabapentinoid and Opioid Tapering Toolbox (GOTT):We have achieved zero patients on high dose opioids!

Persistent pain is a huge world-wide health challenge. It is the primary reason people in the UK see their GP. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised it as a priority disease in 2019. NICE has also recently accepted that current chronic pain medications have limited use, and in fact carry serious safety concerns. Reducing opioid prescriptions (for non-cancer pain) to zero by 2024 is a priority for Public Health England (PHE).
Signpost

Working with Zimbabwean farmers to rebuild soils

Dr Steve Chivasa is part of our Biosciences Department and specialises in understanding how plants respond to stressful environments. Here he discusses a project he’s working on to help farmers in Zimbabwe overcome challenges caused by soil degradation.
Image showing soil in cupped hands with a plant out of focus in background

New study foresees threat of invasive species in UK’s Overseas Territories

Dr Wayne Dawson has collaborated with researchers from UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to predict which invasive species could pose a future threat to the UK’s ecologically unique Overseas Territories.
St Helena