- External19 May 2011
Their flight feathers have opened and the chicks are preening themselves and stretching their wings. Below is a video recorded this afternoon.
- Unit18 May 2011
Dr. Ellender with Prof. Sydbom.Last week Tommas Ellender attended the the 40th European Histamine Research Society meeting held in Sochi, Russia, and won the first prize in the Young Investigator Awards. Tommas presented a talk with the title: 'Differential control of striatal inhibition by histamine'. The prize was awarded by the society president Prof. Anita Sydbom.
- External16 May 2011
Below are two short clips of the Great Tit chicks from today. It seems like there are only 5 surviving chicks today.
- External15 May 2011
The Unit contributed again a host of fine athletes and results to this year's 10 km Town and Gown fun charity run supporting the Muscular Distrophy Campaign. On the 15th of May, Kristina Detzner (53.59), Michael Crump (56.04) Kathryn Newton (59.56), Melanie Ludlow (1.01.52) Judith van Andel (49.59), Eleftheria Pissadaki (55.29), Peter Somogyi (53.10) and Robert Stewart (38.25) joined over 3000 runners in the annual event. From the two teams The MRC Express and The MAGYARS, Robert Stewart came in first as 59th overall at 38.25. Fastest girl was Judith van Andel at 49.59.
One year on, prizes took their toll on the Director, and he was down 17 sec on last year! Peter Somogyi finished 1271st at 53:10 as a member of The MAGYARS. He was beaten by other team members, son Balazs coming 72nd at 38:48, daughter Lilla at 435th at 45:38 and son Levente coming in 932nd at 49:55, while daughter-in-law Claire finished her second race 1923th at 58:36.
Full results at sportsystems.co.uk.
- Unit13 May 2011
Ruth Faram, of Jeff McIlhinney's group, delivered a short presentation of her results, entitled 'The Curious Case of Copine -6', part of the transfer process from Probationary Research Student to DPhil status.
Copine -6 is a Ca++-dependent phospholipid-binding protein, and is expressed by distinct neuronal populations in the adult rat brain. In order to molecularly characterise some of the distinct populations of copine -6 cells, immunohistochemistry for several protein markers was carried out and analysed by confocal microscopy and Stereoinvestigator programming, alongside BrdU and MoMLV retroviral cell labelling techniques.
In recognition of the excellent standard of her presentation, she was awarded the Paton Prize. This prize is awarded each year to the student who gives the best transfer talk in the Department of Pharmacology, and is in memory of Professor Sir William Paton.
Adam Tudor Jones and Alessia Manganaro, both second year post-graduate students at the Unit, also presented their transfer talks.
- Unit12 May 2011
The cancer statistics having caught up with friends and relatives recently, to say thanks for the support some received, and ensure that others continue to receive it, Dr Jeff McIlhinney will be riding from Land's End to John O'Groats in the next two weeks. He will be accompanied by an equally mad group of friends and the group will be riding in support of Macmillan Cancer Support (see http://www.justgiving.com/Jeff-McIlhinney).You can follow their progress on a blog from the link above.
- External11 May 2011
Here is a selection of clips recorded this afternoon of the Great Tit chicks at 8 days old.
- Unit10 May 2011
Four leading medical researchers at Oxford University have been elected Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences.Professors Paul Bolam, Frances Platt, Andrew King and Doug Altman are among 40 new Fellows announced today by the Academy.The honour recognises outstanding contributions to the advancement of medical science, innovative application of scientific knowledge or conspicuous service to healthcare.
Professor Sir John Bell, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences said: 'These new Fellows demonstrate the amazing talent present in the UK biomedical community. Thanks to these exceptional individuals the UK is home to some of the best medical science in the world. I am delighted that the Academy can recognise the vital role each one of them has played in delivering health and wealth benefits to the UK and beyond. Their work has ensured scientific discoveries make rapid progress from the laboratory bench to the patient's bedside and I look forward to working with them.'
Paul Bolam is associate director of the MRC Anatomical Neuropharmacology Unit in Oxford and professor of anatomical neuropharmacology in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Oxford. His current research on Parkinson's disease looks to understand how the functions of part of the brain called the basal ganglia are altered in Parkinson's, and why some dopamine-producing neurons are more susceptible than others. A former chair of the research advisory panel for Parkinson's UK, he currently serves on the neuroscience and mental health board of the Medical Research Council.
(From University of Oxford Press Office, see full announcement here.)
- External5 May 2011
Once again the nest box outside Prof. Somogyi's office window has been occupied. This year, as last, it is a pair of Great Tits that have chosen to raise their young here. There were 10 eggs laid, and they all hatched on the 3rd May- well timed for when a lot of Unit staff returned after the Royal Wedding holiday weekend.
- Unit4 May 2011
We are pleased to welcome back Mr. James Duffell to the Unit. James is an undergraduate student studying for his Physiology degree at St. Edmund's Hall, and has joined the Magill Group to undertake his Final Honours School research project. James is using light microscopy and immunohistochemical techniques to define the molecular specification of neurons of the external globus pallidus.