MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London
Science for Health
Schools’ Day 2007
The theme of the 2007 Schools' Day was solving scientific problems with potential clinical significance, and provided a glimpse into the challenging work of a research scientist.
Talks
The afternoon began with presentations by scientists from the Institute who gave short talks about their work:
- Introduction - NIMR and careers in biomedicine - Dr Michael Sargent
- Chromosomal gymnastics: preparing chromosomes for their role in sex cells - Dr Louise Reynard
- To generate male and female sex cells from diploid somatic cells, vital organisational changes are needed to make their descendants haploid. The completion of sperm maturation is dependent on genes encoded by the male chromosome.
- Finding targets for an anti-malaria vaccine - Dr Michael Blackman
- Malaria remains a serious danger to health because no vaccine is available to make people immune to Plasmodium, the parasite that causes the disease. As the more obvious approaches have failed, new efforts such as Dr Blackman’s are directed at understanding complex processes of Plasmodium biology to identify plausible targets for a vaccine.
- Understanding proteins - Dr Jelena Jovanovic
- Physical techniques used to study the structure of proteins are revolutionising the biological sciences by illuminating the mechanisms that underpin physiological processes.
- What developmental biology can contribute to cardiology - Dr Ross Breckenridge
- The human heart is an incredibly intricate organ that undergoes many developmental changes between its appearance in utero and its adult form. Mouse genetics provides a powerful tool for analysing the role of specific genes in creating the structure and function of the heart.
Demonstrations and posters
A break for refreshments provided students with an opportunity to see demonstrations of some aspects of the development of mice, chicks, frogs, fish and flies. Posters relating to the theme of the meeting and work done by last year's Nuffield Bursary students were also on display. In addition, a poster exhibition of biomedical science news published in 2006 was used as a source for the quiz.
Quiz and discussion
The demonstrations were followed by a quiz, based on the day's presentations. A discussion panel concluded the day's events with scientists and graduate students from the Institute participating in a lively discussion around questions on science, ethics and careers.
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