23 Oct 2017

Vaccinating against psoriasis, allergies and Alzheimer’s a possibility, research shows

Research from the Universities of Dundee and Oxford has shown how combining the tetanus vaccine with a viral particle that normally affects cucumbers can be used to treat psoriasis and allergies, and may even protect against Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists led by Dundee’s Dr John Foerster and Oxford’s Professor Martin Bachmann, were able to take the protein coat of cucumber mosaic virus and incorporate a tetanus vaccine-derived protein structure known to stimulate the immune system in order to create vaccines to treat multiple chronic diseases. The vaccine showed positive results in mod...

23 Oct 2017

Internationally renowned performance artist’s work on display Dundee

An exhibition of work from one of the world’s most significant performance artists will open in Dundee this week. Work by internationally renowned artist Ulay will be on display at the University of Dundee’s Cooper Gallery from Thursday 26 October. ‘So You See Me’is Ulay’s first major solo exhibition in the UK. It examines the physical, emotional and ethical limits of the individual and gendered self, whilst affirming the social as the primary means of ascribing meaning to everyday life. The exhibition will feature a newly commissioned sound installation drawn from the...

20 Oct 2017

Five-figure sum donation to improve facilities at University of Dundee

One of the country’s largest funeral providers has given a generous donation to the University of Dundee to help provide world-class teaching facilities in the University’s Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID). Dignity, who run Dundee Crematorium, handed over a cheque for £15,000. Dignity helps the University hold its annual funeral service for relatives and friends of our body donors. Staff at Dignity are instrumental in ensuring the funeral service is carried out in a very respectful manner as befits this very important event in the University calendar. The money w...

20 Oct 2017

Animator brings missing-link back to life

An animation lecturer from the University of Dundee has used a 150-year-old fossil cast to bring the missing link between birds and dinosaurs back to life. Using the fossil cast of an archaeopteryx which belonged to the world-renowned biologist and polymath D’Arcy Thompson, the work of animation expert Brendan Body has proved a hit on social media amongst paleontologists. Brendan’s clips on social media, showing how the Archaeopteryx may have moved – went viral among dino-enthusiasts and designers alike. Brendan said, “I got a lot of instantaneous feedback from dinosaur experts ac...

19 Oct 2017

Why "Connections matter" – from conception onwards and in a digital world

The connections we make from conception through our life spans, in a digital world and through disabilities and communication disorders, will be explored at an international gathering of researchers at the University of Dundee tomorrow. The `Connections Matter’ workshop gathers leading experts from across the fields of foetal, neonatal and infant psychology, autism and communication disorders, and intelligent computing. They will investigate how we connect with other human beings from conception through our lifespans. Presenters will discuss how the inherent ‘poetry and kindness’ of our...