Jessica Longworth – Barrett Centre for Helminth Control

Let’s talk drug discovery!

In mid-July, the BCHC hosted a unique 1-day ‘mini symposium’ with colleagues from Cardiff University and Phytoquest to share the latest findings from the team’s research. Guests were Professor Andrew Westwell, Dr Andrea Brancale and Dr Salvatore Ferla from Cardiff University and Dr Robert Nash of Phytoquest and presentations were delivered by eight staff and postgraduate students of the Hoffmann…

Analytics for studying helminth EVs

In July 2017, the BCHC was privileged to host a visit by the Chief Executive Officer of Exosomics Siena SpA, Dr Antonio Chiesi, and its Senior Scientist, Dr Davide Zocco. Exosomics was originally founded as a spin-out company of HansaBioMed, but has recently received significant strategic investment by Lonza, a global leader in the field…

A new collaboration for the BCHC and University of Cambridge

In late June, the BCHC were delighted to host a 1-day visit by Dr Cinzia Cantacessi and Dr Laura Peachey of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge. Dr Cantacessi and Dr Peachey are working to identify microbial populations in the gastrointestinal tract of parasite-infected horses and the changes that occur after drug treatment. In…

Building new partnerships with Edinburgh’s two Synthetic Biology Centres

The BCHC has today hosted a fantastic visit by Professor Susan Rosser, Dr Liz Fletcher and Dr Gaynor Campbell of the SynthSys Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology and the UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology. Susan, Liz and Gaynor delivered a series of talks on the role, capability and technical specialisms of the two…

Snail’s DNA secrets unlocked in fight against river disease

Scientists at Aberystwyth University have contributed to international efforts to characterise the genome of a snail species responsible for passing on a parasite that kills 200,000 people every year. Researchers at the University’s Barrett Centre for Helminth Control (BCHC) at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences have been studying the snail Biomphalaria glabrata…

BCHC staff host groundbreaking meeting to re-direct EV research in helminthology

On 4th May 2017, BCHC staff and postgraduate students hosted a unique meeting of extra-cellular vesicle (EV) and helminth specialists to discuss new ways of progressing EV research in helminthology. The meeting was attended by colleagues at Leiden University Medical Centre (Prof. Ron Hokke, Prof. Hermelijn H. Smits and Marije Kuipers) and Cardiff University (Dr Aled…

Exposing the link between helminth infection and TB-susceptibility

What an exciting month for immunology research! May 2017 saw the BCHC hosting a very-interesting one-week visit by Dr Stephen Cose, Senior Immunologist from the MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS. As part of his permanent secondment from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Dr Steve Cose is Senior Immunologist to the MRC…

Aberystwyth student scoops top prize at British parasitology conference

David Cutress, currently studying for his PhD at IBERS Aberystwyth University, received one of the top five poster awards at the British Society for Parasitology Annual Spring Conference in Dundee in April. David’s poster was one of 106 submitted into the competition, with the award being sponsored by Plos NTDs, Parasites and Vectors and the Malaria…

BCHC’s visting Expert-in-Residence, Dr Ron Hokke, appointed Professor at LUMC

The BCHC is celebrating the recent appointment of visiting Expert-in-Residence, Dr. Cornelis C. (Ron) Hokke, as Professor at the Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), the Netherlands. Although based at LUMC since 2000, this award recognises Dr Hokke’s years of dedication to the international research community in the fields of glycobiology (known as…

Not one, but TWO exciting guest visits to the BCHC in March!

March was a busy month at the BCHC for exploring new collaborations and pushing on the UK’s national research portfolio in helminthology. At the beginning of the month, Prof. Mark Viney visited the Centre from Bristol University to share his knowledge on parasitic nematodes, delivering an excellent talk and generating some interesting discussions on what…

Author: Jessica Longworth