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Want an event that's really going to get on (and into) your nerves? Join us for 2 exciting and accessible talks about some of the most vital fibers of the human body, nerves! These electrical messengers keeping us functioning are so important in day to day activity, but what happens when they go wrong and how can we utilise their functions in medicine and therapies?
The Wonders of the Wanderer
Professor Jim Deuchars
(Professor of Systems Neuroscience)
‘Vagus’ is Latin for Wanderer and is an apt name for the vagus nerve, one of the largest nerves in the body. The vagus wanders from the brainstem to many organs, generally controlling functions that we don’t have to think about. For example, your heart can beat on its own, but the vagus nerve acts like a brake on its intrinsic rhythm. I’ll explore some of its many functions and the surprising outcomes of stimulating the nerve, both naturally and with implants and how these are progressing in therapies, sometimes referred to as ‘electroceuticals’.
Can we combat loss of central nervous system cells in spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis?
Professor Sue Deuchars
(Professor of Neurophysiology)
In many conditions such as spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis, there is a loss of neurones or supporting cells that are critical for our normal function. Trying to replace these lost cells is a huge area of interest for new therapeutic avenues to treat people with these debilitating conditions. This talk will consider how our own spinal cords have the capability to replace these lost cells and how we may harness that potential to treat people in future.
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