science wire

Stopping drug-induced liver injury
Scientists at the University are working with the European pharmaceutical industry to find new ways of assessing whether drugs are likely to cause liver damage in humans. The £29 million initiative, funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), is a five-year programme led by the University's Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Drug Safety Science.  It is aimed at developing new tests that will help researchers to predict drug-induced liver injury (DILI).

Postcard: Dr Nicholas Beare in Malawi
Nicholas Beare, from the University's Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease , is photographed here at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Malawi, examining a child for signs of cerebral malaria in the back of the eyes.

Finding an alternative to feeding fish fish
Scientists at the University are developing a new plant-based product that could replace fishmeal, reducing the need for farmers to feed fish to other fish at a time when more than 90% of EU waters are at risk from overfishing.

Towards sustainable fish farming
Scientists at the University are developing a new plant-based product that could replace fishmeal, reducing the need for farmers to feed fish to other fish at a time when more than 90% of EU waters are at risk from overfishing.

Becoming an expert: Stephen Hicks in Chile
Stephen Hicks is from Somerset, UK, and is studying a PhD in earthquake seismology and geodynamics at the University's School of Environmental Sciences.  He graduated from the University at undergradu

Eating in the archives
Researchers at the University are inviting members of the public to join them at a free event investigating the history of what people used to eat and how they would prepare their food.  The ' Eat

Postcard – Louise Soanes in the Caribbean
Louise Soanes, from the University's School of Environmental Sciences , is photographed here walking through a colony of Frigate birds on Dog Island, near Anguilla in the Caribbean, as part of her work on the protection of the region's seabirds.

Postcard: Dr Lance Turtle in India
Dr Lance Turtle , from the University's Institute of Infection and Global Health , is photographed here in Bellary, India, analysing samples from patients with Japanese encephalitis, whilst some of their relatives wait outside the ward at Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences.

Seeking musical memories
A three year project aiming to understand how English popular music shapes identity is looking for people to reveal the songs that inspire them, the objects they treasure and the events they'll never forget.

Climate model to predict malaria outbreaks in India
Scientists from the University of Liverpool are working with computer modelling specialists in India to predict areas of the country that are at most risk of malaria outbreaks, following changes in monsoon rainfall.

£11 million cleft research study will have global impact
The largest ever research programme into cleft lip and palate will bring huge potential benefit to patients around the world, say scientists speaking at the project's launch on Tuesday. The University of Liverpool's NIHR Medicines for Children Research Network ( MCRN ) Clinical Trials Unit will work in partnership with the programme's leaders at the Universities of Manchester and Bristol.

University leads £6 million EU project to tackle obesity
The University is leading a £6milllion European project to develop and test new food products with satiating qualities to help control appetite, manage weight and combat obesity.

Scientists awarded £2m for epilepsy treatment trial
The University of Liverpool's Epilepsy Research Group has received £2 million from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) for a clinical trial to assess new treatments for epilepsy. The research, supported by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme, follows a previous study that compared the clinical and cost effectiveness of standard and new medications for epilepsy.

Subtle genetic differences lead to major changes in parasites
Researchers at the University of Liverpool and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have found the subtle genetic differences that make one parasite more virulent than its close relative. The team looked at the evolution of these parasites and found that although their genome architecture still remains similar, the two split from their common ancestor 28 million years ago, approximately four times longer than the human-gorilla split.

Increase in multi-faith space
  A study by the University of Liverpool has found an increasing number of shared spaces for prayer, reflection and meditation, despite the declining popularity of established religion.

Viewpoint: oral cancer figures rise above 6,000 a year
The number of oral cancer cases diagnosed each year in the UK has risen above 6,000 for the first time, according to new figures from Cancer Research UK. Richard Shaw, an expert in head and neck cancers, based at the University's Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine and the Liverpool Cancer Research UK Centre, said: "We have seen a rapid increase in the number of HPV16-positive cases of oral cancer.

Viewpoint: Decision on kettling by European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that 'kettling' tactics used by the Met in 2001 protests were lawful.

Viewpoint: Lancet reports high failure of metal-on-metal hip replacements
Research in the Lancet this week has shown that metal-on-metal total hip replacements have a much higher failure rate than other options. The report demonstrated that 6.2% of metal-on-metal hips had failed within five years. At the same point only 1.7% of metal-on-plastic – and 2.3% of ceramic-on-ceramic – had failed.

Reducing UK animal testing
The University has won a £1 million grant to develop tools to assess the safety of chemicals, without using animals.

£3m project to develop test for dirty bombs
Scientists at the University are developing a test for nuclear materials that could prevent the construction of atomic weapons and 'dirty bombs'.

Varied views towards the Falkland Islands dispute
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have found that that the opinions of young people in Argentina towards the Falklands/Malvinas Islands are varied and influenced by a number of factors including geographical location, family history and their views on domestic politics. A pilot study involving 20 18-26 year olds from throughout Argentina, found that despite being well-informed about the sovereignty dispute, young people did not always conform to the views of either the Argentine Government or the media.

Varied views towards the Falkland Islands dispute from young Argentines
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have found that that the opinions of young people in Argentina towards the Falklands/Malvinas Islands are varied and influenced by a number of factors including geographical location, family history and their views on domestic politics. A pilot study involving 20 18-26 year olds from throughout Argentina, found that despite being well-informed about the sovereignty dispute, young people did not always conform to the views of either the Argentine Government or the media.

Viewpoint: Schmallenberg virus
Professor Wim Van der Poel is based at the Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University in the Netherlands and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Liverpool. He has a special interest in new and emerging viruses, and he has been involved in Schmallenberg virus infection across Europe since its discovery last autumn.

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Stephen Hicks: “It's important to get a feel for the area you are studying” Stephen Hicks is from Somerset, UK, and is studying a PhD in earthquake seismology and geodynamics at the Univ

Exciting times for Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease
More than 100 scientists attended the Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease's (IACD) Annual Away Day, reflecting an impressive period of growth.

Viewpoint: India steps closer to eradicating poliovirus
Health authorities in India have announced that they are a step closer to eradicating poliovirus, following more than 12 months of no new reported cases of the disease. India had the highest number of polio cases in the world in 2009, but the launch of National Immunisation Days, which has reached millions of children under the age of five, has seen a dramatic reduction of the disease, with the last new case being treated in January 2011.

Quality of life of obese dogs improves when they lose weight
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have found that overweight dogs that lose weight have an improved quality of life compared to those that don't. It is estimated that approximately a third of the UK dog population is obese. Obesity is a serious disease and can lead to many other health disorders including diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.

Multimillion pound accelerator research network launched
The University of Liverpool is co-ordinating a multimillion pound international research network and is looking for the "best scientists and engineers available", to fill 22 early-stage researcher posts.

Liverpool celebrates 75 Years of Wellcome Trust
The Liverpool Wellcome Trust Tropical Centre (WTTC), a joint research centre between the University and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, has marked the 75th Anniversary of the Wellcome Trust with a film screening of a Liverpool and Malawi school project.