A technique neuroscientists use to view neurons in the brain and to turn them on and off with light, called optogenetics, is a promising strategy that could eventually treat a wide range of disorders, from chronic pain to conditions such as epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. However, scientists using this technique have faced a major hurdle: … Continue reading New advances in optogenetics a key step towards treatment of neurological disorders
by Juan Carlos Marvizon, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, UCLA Many of my scientists colleagues are thrilled about these new techniques. They represent the convergence of decades of work in areas as diverse as molecular biology, protein chemistry, cellular biology, neuroscience, microbiology, virology and animal behavior. They are likely to be applied to humans in the near … Continue reading How transgenic mice are radically transforming science and medicine
Welcome to this week’s Research Roundup. These posts aim to inform our readers about the many stories that relate to animal research each week. Do you have an animal research story we should include in next week’s Research Roundup? You can send it to us via our Facebook page or through the contact form on … Continue reading Research Roundup: Cancer vaccine tested in mice goes to clinical trials, e-cigarette smoke found to damage DNA and more.
A laser-controlled brain or a heart that beats in time to a disco light display sound like some of the more vivid imaginings of science fiction writers. But scientists are gathering together tricks that may allow us to do just that – and they could be used to create drug-free therapies. This is the growing … Continue reading Exciting cells and controlling heartbeats – could optogenetics create drug-free treatments?
Regular readers of this blog will be familiar with the important role played by animal research in neuroscience, a post we published to mark Brain Awareness Week earlier this year covered but a tiny fraction of the work being done around the world. Meanwhile some neuroscientists have been thinking big...very big...with the launch of the … Continue reading Solving the Brain: Animal research at the frontiers of Neuroscience
A variety of diseases in humans happen when proteins with important cellular functions are lacking or are produced in abnormally low amounts. One example is type-2 diabetes mellitus which is caused by a complex set of problems involving the use of sugars (mostly, glucose) as an energy source. After eating, sugars in food are taken … Continue reading Lighting the Way to New Treatments
Regular readers of this blog will be familiar with the Society for Neuroscience (SfN), indeed they were one of the first scientific societies to back Pro-Test for Science in the run up to the historic rally last April. With over 40,000 members SfN is the world's largest organization of scientists and physicians devoted to advancing … Continue reading Creating a Unified Voice for Animal Research