Following on from last blog, we continue to share entries from the HSDTC Science Communication Competition, where doctoral researchers in the four Health Faculties showcase their work in engaging newspaper-style articles.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nLi Ling, Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences, Informatics<\/h3>\n
New tool spots hidden patterns in massive datasets \u2014 in minutes<\/strong><\/p>\n
A powerful new data-mining tool developed at King\u2019s College London can analyse hundreds of millions of data points and detect patterns in less than 20 minutes\u2014something that could take existing systems over a day.<\/p>\n
From identifying patient groups based on heart readings to tracking whale calls underwater, this breakthrough could transform how we make sense of massive datasets in medicine, transport, finance, and more.<\/p>\n
The key lies in its clever design. While many current algorithms slowly scan through data line by line, this tool builds a special structure\u2014like an index\u2014so it can jump directly to where patterns hide. This structure can be reused to uncover different types of trends quickly and with minimal memory, even across massive datasets.<\/p>\n
“When analysing underwater recordings, our tool found hidden patterns in dolphin and whale sounds in just 18 minutes,” said Ms Ling Li, a PhD student who worked on the project. \u201cOther tools failed to finish even after 24 hours.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s already making waves in medicine. In a study using heart monitor data, the tool discovered two distinct groups of people: those who experienced exercise-related pain and those who didn\u2019t. The patterns revealed that more active individuals reported more pain\u2014a finding that could help tailor exercise plans.<\/p>\n
The team is now extending the tool to other medical data, such as sleep studies. They also plan to make the tool context-aware, so it not only finds patterns but helps explain what they mean\u2014vital for applications in bioinformatics and beyond.<\/p>\n
This tool shows how smart data handling can unlock insights hidden in plain sight\u2014and fast.<\/p>\n
Martina Galea Mifsud, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Centre for Oral, Clinical and Translational Sciences<\/h3>\n
Revolutionising bone grafts: PEEK scaffolds offer new hope for patients<\/strong><\/p>\n
A groundbreaking development in bone reconstruction could soon transform the way we treat patients with cancer. A researcher at King\u2019s College London is exploring the potential of the advanced biomaterial polyetheretherketone, in short PEEK, scaffolds for use in bone grafting.<\/p>\n
PEEK, which is a synthetic polymer with incredible physical and chemical properties, has long been used in medical implants thanks to its strength, durability and biocompatibility. Now, scientists are pushing its boundaries by creating scaffolds which mimic the natural structure of bone \u2013 solid from the outside and porous from the inside. These scaffolds act as permanent frameworks to guide new bone growth and integrate within the body, in a process which scientists call \u2018osseointegration\u2019. Once they are part of the patient\u2019s body, they are there for life!<\/p>\n
A main driving force behind this research is the need for improved solutions for patients who need to undergo any form of bone reconstruction, but especially those needing maxillofacial reconstruction. This is because currently, a patient would need to have secondary surgery on their leg (namely, the fibula bone) to harvest bone to be used for reconstruction of facial defects \u2013 making this process invasive, painful, and frankly \u2013 unnecessary. The PEEK scaffolds being created in this study not only offer the traditional physical and chemical benefits, but also have the added feature of actively integrating within the bone biologically, something which there is currently very little research about!<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to offer alternative solutions to our patients, removing the need for additional surgery\u201d; Martina Galea Mifsud; primary researcher and Maxillofacial Prosthetist says. \u201cPEEK has the potential for exactly this. In the future, the scaffold can also be [3D] printed with dimensions tailored to each individual patient, marking a shift in outdated practices which have been used for decades\u201d.<\/p>\n
The research aims to not only fabricate the scaffolds, but also modify with a natural chemical called \u2018peptide\u2019, which would allow the human body to integrate this scaffold. This pioneering work could soon pave the way for a new era in bone regeneration, where science and technology converge to rebuild lives, one patient at a time.<\/p>\n
Mrinalini Dey, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Inflammation Biology<\/h3>\n
From blah blah to aha! Making health make sense<\/strong><\/p>\n
When did you last speak to a health professional?<\/p>\n
Perhaps you were receiving a new medication. Perhaps you were getting vaccinated. Perhaps you were having a test.<\/p>\n
Did you understand all the information you received?<\/p>\n
If not, you are not alone.<\/p>\n
Seven million adults in the UK read at or below the level of a nine-year-old. This has profound consequences, especially when it comes to health materials, which can be complex and full of jargon. Almost half of all adults struggle to understand information which could help them to manage their own health.<\/p>\n
Health literacy is the \u201cability to gain access to, understand and use information to maintain good health.\u201d Limited health literacy has been linked to poor health outcomes, including increased hospital admissions, low use of preventative services (such as vaccination and screening) and reduced life expectancy.<\/p>\n
More people are living with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. Rheumatic diseases are complex chronic conditions, due to overactivity of the immune system. These affect the joints, as well as other organs such as the skin and lungs. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Increasing evidence demonstrates socioeconomic factors, such as deprivation, greatly influence the health experience of people living with rheumatic diseases. However, until now, few to no studies have investigated the importance of health literacy in people living with these, often debilitating, conditions.<\/p>\n
Through assessing health literacy in a thousand people with rheumatic diseases across the UK, we have shown that low health literacy is associated with having more joint symptoms such as pain, decreased likelihood of employment and attendance at work, and a greater number of co-existing health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.<\/p>\n
It is time to reverse the health literacy epidemic. Only through understanding the impact of health literacy on people\u2019s lives and health can we develop interventions which enable treatment plans to be tailored to an individual\u2019s health literacy needs.<\/p>\n
In doing so, we will empower people to take control of their health, make health-related decisions, and have the confidence to discuss these with their doctor and wider healthcare teams.<\/p>\n
Syed Alhafiz Bin Syed Hashim, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science<\/h3>\n
Breaking through the dark magic: Reprogramming cancer\u2019s defences<\/strong><\/p>\n
Cancer remains one of the world\u2019s greatest health challenges, and despite decades of research, many patients still face tough odds. A key reason is that tumours do not grow in isolation. They are surrounded by a complex mix of cells, blood vessels, and immune components that protect them. Imagine the tumour as Voldemort, shielded by layers of dark magic and enchanted defences. These biological barriers are like protective spells that help the cancer resist treatment. Just as Voldemort uses his magic to survive and grow stronger, the tumour\u2019s environment protects the cancer, making it harder for chemotherapy and the immune system to reach and destroy it.<\/p>\n
At King\u2019s College London, a team led by Professor Al Jamal is working to change this. Syed Alhafiz, a PhD researcher, is exploring a promising new therapy for an aggressive form of breast cancer that resists traditional treatments. This cancer does not respond well to some therapies and is difficult to target with chemotherapy. His research focuses on tiny lipid carriers that deliver chemotherapy directly to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. These carriers are like Harry Potter\u2019s magical tools, smart, selective, and precise, able to slip past the tumour\u2019s barriers and strike the true target.<\/p>\n
The team is also investigating how these lipid carriers might alter the tumour\u2019s environment. By weakening the tumour\u2019s defences, they make it more vulnerable to treatment and help the immune system fight back. This mirrors how Harry and his allies worked to dismantle Voldemort\u2019s protections and expose his weaknesses. This work is not limited to breast cancer alone. Similar methods are being applied to target brain cancer, as well as diseases that affect the nervous system, such as ALS, which weakens muscles and nerves.<\/p>\n
Like the final battle between good and evil, this research aims to tip the balance in favour of the body. By reprogramming the tumour\u2019s environment, this approach may enhance treatment effectiveness and reduce harm to healthy cells, offering new hope for more precise and powerful cancer care.<\/p>\n
Yujia Yang, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences<\/h3>\n
From stress to peace: Early detection of a silent killer (Ishaemic Heart Disease)<\/strong><\/p>\n
Imagine being told to sprint on a treadmill or ride a bicycle while your heart is monitored for signs of disease. For many patients\u2014especially the elderly or those with limited mobility\u2014this so-called \u201cstress echocardiography\u201d feels more like a stress ordeal.<\/p>\n
But researchers at King\u2019s College London may have found a better way\u2014a more peaceful solution.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve developed a promising new measure of heart function called First-Phase Ejection Fraction (EF1), which could detect heart disease earlier\u2014and far less stressfully\u2014than traditional methods.<\/p>\n
Ischaemic heart disease (IHD), a silent killer caused by narrowed or blocked arteries, can often lead to chest pain, heart attacks, or heart failure. The earlier it\u2019s caught, the better the chances of prevention.<\/p>\n
Since most people with IHD don\u2019t show symptoms or signs of abnormalities at rest, their heart has to be put under \u201cstress\u201d\u2014through exercise or medication\u2014to reveal the problem. But not everyone can manage this \u201cstress.\u201d Patients often describe it as a \u201ctorturing chamber\u201d\u2014exhausting, and sometimes the results are inconclusive if they cannot achieve the required amount of exercise. Therefore, a more peaceful and smarter solution is needed.<\/p>\n
EF1 works differently. It measures the heart\u2019s initial contraction\u2014a key early signal of dysfunction\u2014using a standard ultrasound scan (echocardiography). No treadmill, no drugs, no stress.<\/p>\n
First introduced in 2017, EF1 has already shown promise in detecting many common conditions, such as high blood pressure and complications from COVID-19. With the help of artificial intelligence, it could soon become even more accurate and accessible.<\/p>\n
Better for Patients\u2014and the NHS<\/p>\n
Stress echocardiography costs the NHS about \u00a3340 per patient, while EF1, which can be measured during a routine ultrasound, costs just \u00a3120\u2014and is easier to perform across a wider range of patients.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why EF1 is being trialed in the EVAREST study, involving over 8,000 NHS patients who underwent stress echocardiography nationwide. Upon completion of this study, we aim to provide a faster, cheaper, and\u2014more importantly\u2014a peaceful way to diagnose IHD before it becomes life-threatening.<\/p>\n
Early detection saves lives. With tools like EF1, the future of cardiac care could be more accessible\u2014and far less stressful\u2014for patients everywhere.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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