News in briefThe University of Adelaidereceives widespread mediaattention locally, nationally andinternationally.This coverage can be for topicsas diverse as a weight loss pilland endangered bats in Fiji.These are some of thosestories. More can be found at theUniversity’s Newsroom website.Radar focus of new centreA new Centre at the University of Adelaidefor research into high-frequency (HF) radartechnology will play a critical role in thenation’s safety and prosperity.The Centre for Advanced Research inHF Technologies’ primary purpose is todevelop the highly specialised workforcethat is needed to underpin the nation’sworld-leading capability in HF systemsand Over-The-Horizon-Radar (OTHR),Australia’s Jindalee Operational RadarNetwork (JORN).JORN provides wide area surveillanceof the country’s northern approaches andplays a vital role in supporting theAustralian Defence Force’s air and maritimeoperations, border protection, disasterrelief and search and rescue operations.It is a world-leading OTHR network andoperates using HF technologies developedin Australia.The new centre is a three-waypartnership between the University, BAESystems Australia and the Departmentof Defence.Childhood earinfection researchWork has begun on developing a newvaccine that could help ward off painfulear infections in children.The potential vaccine is in the initialstages of development in the lab and willtarget one of the main types of bacteriathat cause middle ear infections, a commonillness among infants and young children.“Ear infections are commonly causedby bacteria known as non-typeableHaemophilus influenzae and theseinfections can have devastating outcomes,such as hearing loss in children,” saidDr Erin Brazel from the University ofAdelaide’s Research Centre forInfectious Diseases. More than 80 per centof children will experience a middle earinfection by the time they are threeyears old.Alternative weight loss pillA new pill that appears to mimic the effectsof gastric bypass surgery is providing freshhope for people living with type 2 diabetesand obesity.University of Adelaide researchers wereselected by US biotechnology companyGlyscend Therapeutics to carry out the firstphase of testing the medication in healthyvolunteers.“The short (five day) study indicatesthat the pill works in healthy volunteers.It substantially reduced the rise in bloodglucose after a meal, and also resulted in asmall amount of weight loss. Importantly, itwas well tolerated by the volunteers,” saidLUMENProfessor Michael Horowitz AO fromthe University's Centre of ResearchExcellence in Translating NutritionalScience to Good Health.“This is an exciting development. Formost people with type 2 diabetes, weightloss and improvements in blood glucosecontrol are extremely important, but oftendifficult to achieve. We have a potentialtreatment that’s non-invasive and appearsto mimic the positive effects of metabolicsurgery without the risks, high cost oradverse effects.”Almost 1.3 million Australians are livingwith type 2 diabetes and this number isincreasing each year.
It seems that your browser's pop-up blocker has prevented us from opening a new window/tab. Please click the button below to open the link manually.
