Busy Bodies

Can we regrow the cells lost in type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that destroys insulin-producing beta cells. There’s no cure, and current treatments are demanding for patients and costly to healthcare services.
This talk explores the science behind beta cell formation and regeneration. Greg investigates how these cells are built during development, uncovering key biological pathways involved. Morgan focuses on identifying compounds that stimulate beta cell formation in the adult pancreas.
Linking early development with adult regeneration could uncover new insights into beta cell growth and pave the way for future regenerative therapies.

Have you ever wondered why some people are susceptible to a disease while others aren’t, and what’s really going on inside their cells? In this talk, we’ll journey into the tiny instruction manual inside each of us and see how small changes can have big effects on our health. My talk will explain how researchers like myself find differences between people’s genetic code and how we tell which differences can contribute to a disease. We do all of this using computers, transforming huge amounts of genetic data into insights that could shape future medicine, no lab coat needed!

Immersion in natural environments has long been recognised as beneficial for psychological well-being, yet access to these environments remains profoundly unequal. For many individuals, particularly those living with physical disabilities in the UK, reaching these spaces can be difficult or even impossible. Research in environmental psychology suggests that engagement with nature can support body appreciation and reduce self-critical rumination through reflective states sometimes described as cognitive quiet. My talk will explore the relationship between place, mental well-being, and body image, and consider how immersive technologies such as XR and VR may allow individuals to experience aspects of nature even when physical access is limited.

Mobile technology is expanding into healthcare and there may be ways of utilising your mobile device in aspects of oral and general health. Digital technology is being increasingly used to capture the teeth and the facial features for the purposes of diagnosis, longitudinal monitoring and as an adjunct to health coaching and health improvement. Another potentially powerful application is to improve sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint. Looking to the future we can envisage that through the integration of science and AI your mobile phone will play a significant role in personal and planetary health, and in global security.