UCI awarded $45 million for infectious disease research. Facility seeks to improve detection, treatment and vaccine development. – The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded UC Irvine $45 million over five years for infectious disease research.
Humans, not climate, driving increased dengue risk in Australia – Drought-proofing Australia’s urban regions by installing large domestic water tanks may enable the dengue mosquito Aedes aegypti to regain its foothold across the country and expand its range of possible infections, according to a new study published May 5 in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Vanderbilt University receives $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations Grant For innovative global health research. – Vanderbilt University announced that it has received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Biomedical engineers at the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering have patented a device to quickly and painlessly test blood glucose levels. The Electronic Mosquito is based on the biting mechanism of a mosquito. – A skin patch could one day provide a less-invasive alternative for diabetics who need to take regular samples of their own blood to keep glucose levels in check. The common method of drawing blood from fingertips and using glucose testing strips and metres can be painful, inconvenient and time-consuming.
A team of Monash University researchers has made a major breakthrough in the international fight against malaria. – Australian researchers have made a major breakthrough in the international fight against malaria, which claims the life of a child across the world every 30 seconds.
Australian researchers have mapped potential zones that can trigger deadly outbreak of diseases like SARS, bird flu, Nipah virus, enterovirus 71 and chikungunya in Australia. – Australia is surrounded to its north by a ?ring of fire’ where new human and animal plagues are likely to erupt without warning, with potentially devastating consequences.
‘Deadly dozen’ reports diseases worsened by climate change – Health experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society. – Health experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society released a report that lists 12 pathogens that could spread into new regions as a result of climate change, with potential impacts to both human and wildlife health and global economies.
Climate change is perhaps the most significant environmental problem which mankind will face in the coming century. Efforts to reduce the extent of climate change are of course important, but it is likely that we will have to deal with at least some impacts on health. – The possible health effects of climate change are set out in a report published by the Department of Health, UK (DH) and the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
