Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
University of Helsinki: Fortified Foods and Dietary Supplements Key to Bone Health in Vegan Diets
HELSINKI, Finland, Sept. 14 (TNSjou) -- The University of Helsinki issued the following news release:
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Fortified foods and dietary supplements key to bone health in vegan diets
A study conducted at the University of Helsinki found that children and adults who follow a vegan diet had on average adequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D, nutrients important to bone health, but their bone metabolism differed from those who follow an omnivorous diet.
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The MIRA2 study conducted at the University of Helsinki investigated bone metabolism and the intakes of nutrients critical to bone health,
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HELSINKI, Finland, Sept. 14 (TNSjou) -- The University of Helsinki issued the following news release:
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Fortified foods and dietary supplements key to bone health in vegan diets
A study conducted at the University of Helsinki found that children and adults who follow a vegan diet had on average adequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D, nutrients important to bone health, but their bone metabolism differed from those who follow an omnivorous diet.
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The MIRA2 study conducted at the University of Helsinki investigated bone metabolism and the intakes of nutrients critical to bone health,such as calcium, vitamin D and protein. The study involved children residing in Helsinki aged between two and seven who followed a vegan, vegetarian or omnivorous diet, as well as their caregivers.
The study subjects following a vegan diet adhered almost without exception also to the recommendations on the consumption of dietary supplements and fortified foods, and they had on average adequate vitamin D and calcium intakes. The children on a vegan diet had higher vitamin D intake than those on an omnivorous or a vegetarian diet due to more active consumption of vitamin D supplements with higher doses. On average, vitamin D status measured from blood was also adequate in all diet groups.
The study found that the more plant-based diets, namely vegan and vegetarian ones, were in adults associated with higher concentrations of bone formation and resorption markers, which may indicate accelerated bone metabolism. In contrast, more plant-based diets among children were associated with higher parathyroid hormone concentrations, which have been associated with more active bone resorption. While these observations can indicate long-term adverse effects on bone health, their clinical significance is unclear.
"The calcium naturally occurring in plant-based foods is fairly poorly absorbed. In fact, the widespread vitamin D and calcium fortification of plant-based dairy alternatives in Finland is important for the adequate intake of these nutrients among vegans and, consequently, for their bone health," says Docent Suvi Itkonen from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki.
Many international studies have raised concerns about the potential adverse effects of vegan diets on bone health. However, these studies have typically targeted populations where vitamin D intake is low, the selection of vegan products on the market is narrow, and the consumption of fortified foods or dietary supplements is less widespread than in Finland.
Vegan diets require careful planning especially for children
The researchers found that vegans and vegetarians had lower protein intake compared to those who followed an omnivorous diet, although on average it was adequate. Proteins are composed of amino acids.
"It's possible that the poorer absorption and different amino acid composition of plant-based proteins compared to animal proteins partly explain the observed differences in bone metabolism, but more research is needed on the topic. In fact, we will next investigate amino acid intake among the MIRA2 subjects and the amino acid composition of vegan diets," Itkonen says.
The MIRA2 dataset was collected in Helsinki, where vegan food in daycare centres and various vegan food products are abundantly available. The families who participated in the study were well versed in guidelines for vitamin D supplementation and fortified food consumption.
"People in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area live in a kind of veggie bubble. Due to that one has to keep in mind that the findings of the study are not directly applicable to the populations of other regions or countries," Itkonen points out.
The nutrition recommendations published last autumn emphasise a predominantly plant-based diet, restricting meat consumption and moderating milk consumption. If a food is entirely excluded from the diet, it is important to replace it with nutritionally comprehensive alternatives. When planning a vegan diet for children and adolescents, a visit to a registered dietitian is recommended.
"In terms of bone health, it is essential when consuming plant-based drinks and yoghurt-like products to choose the option fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Children should take a daily vitamin D supplement throughout the year. If the daily diet contains no margarines, dairy products or plant-based drinks fortified with vitamin D, and if fish is eaten less than 2-3 times per week, it's important to ensure adequate vitamin D intake, especially during the dark season, by taking a vitamin D supplement. Among vegans, the need for vitamin D supplementation is common," Itkonen notes.
Other findings in the MIRA2 study related to, among other things, lipid metabolism, metabolomics and the intakes of other nutrients will be published later.
Original article:
Itkonen, S.T., Hovinen, T., Kettunen, E., Freese, R., Tilli, V., Cashman, K.D., Erkkola, M., Suomalainen, A., Korkalo, L. Bone and mineral metabolism in 2-7-year-old Finnish children and their caregivers following vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous diets. Eur J Nutr 64, 276 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-025-03758-y
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Original text here: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/news/food-and-nutrition/fortified-foods-and-dietary-supplements-key-bone-health-vegan-diets
University of Copenhagen: Stored for 130 Years - Bottles Reveal Evidence of Danish Butter Production and Hygiene Practices of the Past
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Sept. 14 (TNSjou) -- The University of Copenhagen issued the following news:
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Stored for 130 years: Bottles reveal evidence of Danish butter production and hygiene practices of the past
Two forgotten bottles in a basement in Frederiksberg containing bacterial cultures from the 1890s have provided researchers at the University of Copenhagen with unique insight into Denmark's butter production history. Using advanced DNA analysis, they have examined the contents of the bottles, which offered several bacterial surprises and a reminder of the challenges of hygiene at the
... Show Full Article
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Sept. 14 (TNSjou) -- The University of Copenhagen issued the following news:
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Stored for 130 years: Bottles reveal evidence of Danish butter production and hygiene practices of the past
Two forgotten bottles in a basement in Frederiksberg containing bacterial cultures from the 1890s have provided researchers at the University of Copenhagen with unique insight into Denmark's butter production history. Using advanced DNA analysis, they have examined the contents of the bottles, which offered several bacterial surprises and a reminder of the challenges of hygiene at thetime.
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You eat billions of them in your cold soup, yogurt, sausage, and cheese. Lactic acid bacteria have long been used to flavor our food and extend its shelf life by acidifying it and displacing harmful bacteria. In fact, Denmark was among the first to use the magic of lactic acid bacteria industrially, which, together with the introduction of pasteurization, helped to ensure the high quality of dairy products and, not least, keep them free of disease.
This is evidenced by the discovery of two bottles of white powder, which researchers from the University of Copenhagen found by chance in a dusty moving box last year. The bottles had labels indicating that they contained cultures consisting of lactic acid bacteria, but had not seen the light of day since the late 1800s and were well hidden away in a basement under the greenhouses on Rolighedsvej near the old Agricultural College in Frederiksberg.
Now, using advanced DNA sequencing, researchers have examined the powder in the bottles more closely and compared the DNA with various databases of known bacteria. This was something they were not at all sure was possible, because all organic material decays over time.
The powder did indeed contain the remains of the lactic acid bacteria that Danish dairies used to buy and add to cheese, milk, and butter after the products had been pasteurized to kill unwanted bacteria.
"It was like opening a kind of microbiological relic. The fact that we were able to extract genetic information from bacteria used in Danish butter production 130 years ago was far more than we had dared to hope for," says microbiologist Jorgen Leisner from the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.
Hygiene conditions were different
In the bottles, the researchers found DNA from Lactococcus cremoris--a lactic acid bacterium that is still used to acidify milk in modern dairy production. The analysis also revealed that the bacterial culture had genes to produce diacetyl--a flavor compound that gives a characteristic butter aroma.
"This shows that even back then, they had bacteria with precisely the properties that are desirable in the fermented milk products we have today," says Professor Dennis Sandris Nielsen from the Department of Food Science.
On a more serious note, the analyses also showed that the bottles were heavily contaminated with Cutibacterium acnes - a common skin bacterium known to cause acne.
"The acne bacterium has a stronger cell wall than many other bacteria, as it needs to be able to survive a hostile environment on the skin. Therefore, it also breaks down more slowly, which enabled us to find its DNA in large quantities after 130 years in the bottles," explains Jorgen Leisner.
In addition, the bottles also contained DNA traces of potentially pathogenic bacteria, including the staphylococcus bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio furnissii. The latter is known to cause stomach infections when eating shellfish that has not been cooked properly.
"Overall, the contents of the bottles testify to the standardization of a dairy product that every farming family used to make themselves in a jar of sour milk kept close to the stove. But it also shows that hygiene conditions were still different from those we have today," says anthropologist Nathalia Brichet from the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, who is co-author of the study.
Unique insight into Denmark's butter adventure
At the end of the 19th century, Denmark began exporting butter to England on a large scale. This placed new demands on consistency and hygiene in production. And here, pasteurization became the solution. But because heat treatment also kills natural bacteria, there was a need to add bacterial cultures--also called starter cultures--and thus began Denmark's industrial adventure.
"The starter culture became the key to standardized butter production. It was no longer possible for each dairy to ferment in its own way--it was necessary to ensure that the products tasted the same, regardless of where in the country the butter was made. The starter culture made the taste reproducible," explains Jorgen Leisner.
The discovery also shows how close collaboration between researchers, industry, and agriculture laid the foundation for Danish food exports. Companies such as Blauenfeldt & Tvede and Christian Hansen emerged during this period and laid the foundation for today's food giants.
"It's easy to forget the enormous scientific work it takes--and took--to produce standardized, food-safe, and sought-after dairy products for export. This didn't just happen by itself, but is the result of technological advances and innovation dating back a long time. This research gives us an insight into a time when Danish dairy production became a global commodity," concludes Nathalia Brichet.
The study (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958694625000779?via%3Dihub#fig1) was conducted in collaboration between the Department of Food Science and the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.
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Original text here: https://news.ku.dk/all_news/2025/09/stored-for-130-years-bottles-reveal-evidence-of-danish-butter-production-and-hygiene-practices-of-the-past/
Uncovering the Power of Biodiversity Framework's 'Considerations'
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, England, Sept. 14 (TNSjou) -- Newcastle University issued the following news:
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Uncovering the power of Biodiversity Framework's 'Considerations'
Newcastle University research highlights the transformative potential of Biodiversity Framework's 'Considerations'.
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The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), ratified in 2022 by Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, sets out a new global agenda for safeguarding nature.
Published in the journal Ambio, the new study takes a closer look at a less-discussed but highly significant section: the "Considerations"
... Show Full Article
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, England, Sept. 14 (TNSjou) -- Newcastle University issued the following news:
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Uncovering the power of Biodiversity Framework's 'Considerations'
Newcastle University research highlights the transformative potential of Biodiversity Framework's 'Considerations'.
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The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), ratified in 2022 by Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, sets out a new global agenda for safeguarding nature.
Published in the journal Ambio, the new study takes a closer look at a less-discussed but highly significant section: the "Considerations"(Section C). These eighteen Considerations provide important context for how the GBF's goals and targets should be interpreted and implemented, and they introduce some boundary pushing ideas that could challenge conventional, market-driven approaches to conservation.
The experts explore the values and perspectives embedded in the Considerations to shine a light on how the political negotiation process has produced a mix of sometimes conflicting approaches that exist in tandem, reflecting both traditional Western-science and human-centred perspectives and more holistic, transformative visions of biodiversity governance.
Transformative ideas
To better understand their transformative potential, the researchers organised the Considerations into five thematic areas:
* Full and far-reaching participation and effort (Considerations A, C, E).
* Recognition of diverse worldviews and knowledge systems (Considerations B, L, O, R).
* Acknowledgement of rights, empowerment, and justice (Considerations G, H, N).
* Practicalities for sustainable economic development and capacity (Considerations D, F, K, P).
* Consistency with internal and external governance and approaches (Considerations I, J, M, Q).
Study lead author, Dr Alison Hutchinson, of Newcastle University's School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, said: "Biodiversity conservation strategies have often centred on approaches that measure nature and use market mechanisms such as biodiversity credits and services.
"Section C of the GBF points to more transformative ideas, for example by introducing the Rights of Mother Earth, upholding the rights of indigenous peoples and future generations, and striving for gender equality. To support truly transformative, rather than performative, change, our paper highlights the importance of ongoing learning and dialogue among Parties, negotiators, and practitioners to move beyond the limitations of previous biodiversity plans and foster more inclusive and effective approaches to conservation."
Study author, Professor Philip McGowan, Professor of Conservation Science and Policy at Newcastle University, said: "It is encouraging that these Considerations are becoming embedded in the implementation of the GBF and it will be interesting to see if they do emerge as essential principles for global conservation efforts."
Professor Anthony Zito, study co-author and Professor of European Public Policy, School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, added: "The trajectory of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) shows great promise in terms of developing platforms for exchange of knowledge from diverse peoples and communities; our paper highlights even greater opportunities for building strategies, processes, discussions and arenas for enhancing co-production of mutual understanding about protecting biodiversity."
The study highlights the importance of embracing diverse values and approaches to ensure the GBF delivers meaningful, inclusive, and lasting change for global biodiversity. The authors argue that the ecocentric approaches introduced in the Considerations provide areas to foster growth and transformative change in biodiversity governance. The team conclude that these approaches go beyond legal, procedural, and policy dimensions to recognise and uphold the rights of nature and biodiversity, while placing social and ecological justice at the core of future efforts.
Reference
Hutchinson, A., Zito, A.R. & McGowan, P.J.K. Pathways for transforming biodiversity governance: An examination of the Global Biodiversity Framework's Considerations. Ambio (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-025-02215-8
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Original text here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/latest/2025/09/gbfconsiderations/?_gl=1*1b3z3ow*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTk1ODcxMDMxMC4xNzU3ODU5ODA3*_ga_VH2F6S16XP*czE3NTc4NTk4MDckbzEkZzAkdDE3NTc4NTk4MDckajYwJGwwJGg1OTM5NDQ2Mzg.
St Mary's Holds Successful AI Conference at Its Gillis Centre
TWICKENHAM, England, Sept. 14 -- St. Mary's University Twickenham issued the following news:
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St Mary's Holds Successful AI Conference at its Gillis Centre
St Mary's University's Gillis Centre in Edinburgh has held a conference looking at a wide range of issues connected with artificial intelligence (AI). The event, which was curated by Dr Stephen Dolan and sponsored by the CCLA and the Catholic Union, took place on the 2nd and 3rd September 2025.
The conference coincides with the Vatican's ongoing study of the relationship between artificial intelligence and ethical challenges across
... Show Full Article
TWICKENHAM, England, Sept. 14 -- St. Mary's University Twickenham issued the following news:
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St Mary's Holds Successful AI Conference at its Gillis Centre
St Mary's University's Gillis Centre in Edinburgh has held a conference looking at a wide range of issues connected with artificial intelligence (AI). The event, which was curated by Dr Stephen Dolan and sponsored by the CCLA and the Catholic Union, took place on the 2nd and 3rd September 2025.
The conference coincides with the Vatican's ongoing study of the relationship between artificial intelligence and ethical challenges acrossa wide range of fields such as medicine, the world of work and social life. Pope Leo XIV has made clear that this interest will continue, and that there is an obligation on the Church more widely to respond to help better understand the moral implications of AI.
In attendance were numerous experts, many of whom are working at the frontier in this area. Speakers included Michael Baggot, Professor of Bioethics at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome and Matthew Sanders, Chief Executive of Longbeard and Architect of Magisterium AI, Vulgate AI and the Christendom app.
Professor of Catholic Social Thought and Public Policy Philip Booth said, "The frontiers of AI and the relationship with ethics connects to a number of areas of research within the University, not least in the Centre for Bio-ethics and Emerging Technologies. We are looking at what could be a revolutionary technology, and indeed, it is already affecting university life at St Mary's."
Dr Stephen Dolan added, "This conference was a fantastic opportunity for St Mary's and the Gillis Centre to host such wide-ranging opinions on a live and cutting-edge topic. The room was full of a healthy scepticism and optimism, and it was clear that there is no settled opinion on how AI and the Social Doctrine of the Church will relate in the future, but a clear commitment to learning and developing our understanding of both so that the Church might remain a leader in advocating for a more develop understanding of what it means to be human in the age of AI."
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Original text here: https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/news/2025/st-marys-holds-successful-ai-conference-at-its-gillis-centre
Double Triumph: Aalto Acoustics Researchers Win Big in Italy
AALTO, Finland, Sept. 14 -- Aalto University issued the following news release:
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Double triumph: Aalto acoustics researchers win big in Italy
The International Conference on Digital Audio Effects (DAFx) 2025 witnessed a remarkable achievement by researchers from the Aalto University Acoustics Lab, as Eloi Moliner and Professor Vesa Valimaki brought home two prestigious paper awards, showcasing cutting-edge innovation in audio signal processing.
Last week, researchers Eloi Moliner and Professor Vesa Valimaki from the Aalto Acoustics Lab were honoured in Ancona, Italy, for their research.
... Show Full Article
AALTO, Finland, Sept. 14 -- Aalto University issued the following news release:
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Double triumph: Aalto acoustics researchers win big in Italy
The International Conference on Digital Audio Effects (DAFx) 2025 witnessed a remarkable achievement by researchers from the Aalto University Acoustics Lab, as Eloi Moliner and Professor Vesa Valimaki brought home two prestigious paper awards, showcasing cutting-edge innovation in audio signal processing.
Last week, researchers Eloi Moliner and Professor Vesa Valimaki from the Aalto Acoustics Lab were honoured in Ancona, Italy, for their research.The awards were presented at the DAFx 2025 international conference on digital audio effects.
Eloi Moliner, who had earned his Doctor of Science in Technology degree just days before the event, received the Second-Best Paper Award for a collaborative work between him, Prof. Lauri Juvela and Prof. Vesa Valimaki from Aalto University, Mr. Michal Svento and Prof. Pavel Rajmic from Brno University of Technology, and Dr. Alec Wright from The University of Edinburgh. Svento, who collaborated on this study last year when he visited Aalto, presented the paper. The paper explores the use of unsupervised learning to estimate nonlinear audio processing, a breakthrough that could significantly enhance how audio effects are modeled.
Meanwhile, the Third Best Paper Award went to a team led by Prof. Vesa Valimaki, featuring Roope Salmi (Aalto University), Prof. Stefan Bilbao (The University of Edinburgh), Prof. Sebastian Schlecht (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg), and Dr. David Zicarelli, CEO of Cycling '74 (USA). Their paper introduced a novel method for transforming long audio recordings by removing phase information, resulting in a surreal, echoic sound that retains the original timbre while blurring temporal details -- a technique with exciting implications for music production and sound design.
This marks Dr. Moliner's fourth publication award, cementing his reputation as a rising star in the field of audio machine learning and AI.
'It's a proud moment for the Aalto Acoustics Lab and our collaborators. These awards reflect the strength of our international collaboration and the creativity driving our audio research,' Prof. Valimaki says.
From the links below, you can have a look at the winning articles and listen to the processed sounds:
* Paper on Unsupervised Estimation of Nonlinear Audio Effects (Second Best Paper Award winner)
* Sound examples on Unsupervised Estimation of Nonlinear Audio Effects
* Paper on Zero-Phase Sound via Giant FFT (Third Best Paper Award winner)
* Sound examples on Zero-Phase Sound via Giant FFT
More information
Vesa Valimaki, Professor of audio signal processing
Department of Information and Communication Engineering / Acoustics Lab
School of Electrical Engineering
Aalto University
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Original text here: https://www.aalto.fi/en/news/double-triumph-aalto-acoustics-researchers-win-big-in-italy
Birmingham Clinician Awarded 1.8M Pounds to Develop AI-driven Treatments for Drug-resistant Eye Infections
BIRMINGHAM, England, Sept. 14 -- The University of Birmingham issued the following news:
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Birmingham clinician awarded 1.8M pounds to develop AI-driven treatments for drug-resistant eye infections
Dr Darren Ting is awarded a five-year MRC Fellowship to use AI and nanotechnology to develop next generation treatments for drug-resistant infectious keratitis.
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A University of Birmingham researcher, Dr Darren Shu Jeng Ting, has been awarded a prestigious Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinician Scientist Fellowship, worth pound sterling1.8 million, to develop novel treatments for infectious
... Show Full Article
BIRMINGHAM, England, Sept. 14 -- The University of Birmingham issued the following news:
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Birmingham clinician awarded 1.8M pounds to develop AI-driven treatments for drug-resistant eye infections
Dr Darren Ting is awarded a five-year MRC Fellowship to use AI and nanotechnology to develop next generation treatments for drug-resistant infectious keratitis.
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A University of Birmingham researcher, Dr Darren Shu Jeng Ting, has been awarded a prestigious Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinician Scientist Fellowship, worth pound sterling1.8 million, to develop novel treatments for infectiouskeratitis (IK) - a leading cause of corneal blindness globally - and tackle the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Dr Darren Ting, Birmingham Health Partners (BHP) Clinician Scientist Fellow and Consultant Ophthalmologist, specialises in the diagnosis and management of corneal and ocular surface diseases. He will lead the pioneering research over the next five years into the development of new antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) - small molecular peptides that can kill or inhibit harmful microorganisms - for treating IK and overcoming antimicrobial resistance.
Speaking about his award, Dr Darren Ting said: "I feel incredibly privileged to be awarded this prestigious 5-year MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship (with ~pound sterling1.8 million funding). This generous support provides a truly exciting opportunity to advance my research on antimicrobial peptides to treat corneal infection and tackle antimicrobial resistance -- two urgent global health challenges.
I am deeply grateful to my mentors, collaborators, team and previous/current funders (including MRC, RCOphth, Fight for Sight, and Birmingham Health Partners) whose support and guidance have made this possible. I look forward to building on our work together to make a real difference for patients worldwide."
Addressing a global health crisis
Infectious keratitis, commonly known as corneal infection, is responsible for around 5 million cases of blindness globally, and causes an estimated 2 million cases of monocular blindness each year. Patients often endure severe pain, prolonged hospital stays, and reduced quality of life due to limited treatment options and the declining effectiveness of antibiotics. No new classes of antibiotics have been developed and introduced to the clinic since the 1980s.
AMR further complicates treatment, with resistant infections causing more than 1 million deaths annually worldwide. Dr Ting's project will develop new AMPs that are less likely to induce resistance, using a two-pronged approach that combines artificial intelligence (AI) and nanotechnology to accelerate discovery and clinical translation.
Interdisciplinary and international collaboration
The research will bring together expertise from across the University of Birmingham and global institutions, whose expertise range from translational ophthalmology, material science, microbial genomics and AI in drug discovery.
At Birmingham, Dr Ting will collaborate and capitalise on the local expertise, including:
* Professor Liam Grover (Material Science)
* Professor Alan McNally (Microbial Genomics)
* Professor Saaeha Rauz (Translational Ophthalmology)
* Professor Andrew Beggs (Genomics)
To maximise the success of delivering this highly ambitious interdisciplinary ambition, Dr Ting has forged international partnerships with world-renowned researchers, including:
* Associate Professor Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez, University of Pennsylvania (AI in AMP discovery)
* Professor James Collins, MIT (AI in drug discovery)
* Professor Robert Hancock, University of British Columbia (AMP discovery and development)
* Professor Jodhbir Mehta and Associate Professor Rajamani Lakshminarayanan, Singapore Eye Research Institute (AMP discovery and development for ocular infection)
The MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship is awarded to outstanding clinically active healthcare professionals, enabling them to establish themselves as independent researchers. The award provides support for their research programme, career development, and training over five years.
This award further strengthens the University of Birmingham's reputation as a hub for translational research, innovation in antimicrobial resistance, and clinical excellence in ophthalmology.
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Notes for editors
About the University of Birmingham
* The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world's top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, educators and more than 40,000 students from over 150 countries.
* England's first civic university, the University of Birmingham is proud to be rooted in of one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the country. A member of the Russell Group and a founding member of the Universitas 21 global network of research universities, the University of Birmingham has been changing the way the world works for more than a century.
* The University of Birmingham is a founding member of Birmingham Health Partners (BHP), a strategic alliance which transcends organisational boundaries to rapidly translate healthcare research findings into new diagnostics, drugs and devices for patients. Birmingham Health Partners is a strategic alliance between nine organisations who collaborate to bring healthcare innovations through to clinical application:
* University of Birmingham
* University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
* Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
* Aston University
* The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
* Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
* Health Innovation West Midlands
* Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
* Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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About the Medical Research Council (MRC)
* The UKRI Medical Research Council (MRC) is at the forefront of scientific discovery to improve human health. Founded in 1913 to tackle tuberculosis, the MRC now invests taxpayers' money in some of the best medical research in the world across every area of health. Thirty-three MRC-funded researchers have won Nobel prizes in a wide range of disciplines, and MRC scientists have been behind such diverse discoveries as vitamins, the structure of DNA and the link between smoking and cancer, as well as achievements such as pioneering the use of randomised controlled trials, the invention of MRI scanning, and the development of a group of antibodies used in the making of some of the most successful drugs ever developed.
* Today, MRC-funded scientists tackle some of the greatest health problems facing humanity in the 21st century, from the rising tide of chronic diseases associated with ageing to the threats posed by rapidly mutating micro-organisms.
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URL: Medical Research Council
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Original text here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2025/birmingham-clinician-awarded-1.8m-to-develop-ai-driven-treatments-for-drug-resistant-eye-infections
Bayreuth Researchers Evaluate Cognitive and Physical Abilities of Primary School Pupils
BAYREUTH, Germany, Sept. 14 -- The University of Bayreuth issued the following news release:
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Bayreuth researchers evaluate cognitive and physical abilities of primary school pupils
For the fifth time, the Chair of Neuromotorics and Movement at the University of Bayreuth is conducting the Bayreuth Movement Check. This year, there is a new addition: alongside physical literacy, the children's cognitive abilities will also be assessed.
For the fifth time, the Chair of Neuromotorics and Movement at the University of Bayreuth is conducting the Bayreuth Movement Check. This year, there's a
... Show Full Article
BAYREUTH, Germany, Sept. 14 -- The University of Bayreuth issued the following news release:
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Bayreuth researchers evaluate cognitive and physical abilities of primary school pupils
For the fifth time, the Chair of Neuromotorics and Movement at the University of Bayreuth is conducting the Bayreuth Movement Check. This year, there is a new addition: alongside physical literacy, the children's cognitive abilities will also be assessed.
For the fifth time, the Chair of Neuromotorics and Movement at the University of Bayreuth is conducting the Bayreuth Movement Check. This year, there's anew development: in addition to motor skills, the cognitive abilities of children will also be assessed. Around 600 children from primary schools in and around Bayreuth took part in the test series before the summer holidays, led by Prof. Dr. Dr. Jan Wilke, Chair of Neuromotorics and Movement, and Dr. Maximilian Siener, research associate at the chair. Another 250 children from the region will be tested after the holidays.
The goal is to support primary school children in their motor and now also cognitive development in a playful yet scientifically grounded way - while also identifying potential athletic talents at an early stage. "A narrow focus on motor skills is no longer up to date. Physical abilities are important, but they are closely linked to brain function," says Prof. Wilke. "To this extent, cognitive abilities in children have rarely been studied so far."
The Movement Check is being held for the fifth time this year. In total, more than 4,500 children from over 20 different schools have participated so far. "Children from the region perform well in our motor tests compared to the national average," explains Dr. Maximilian Siener. "There are several reasons for this: we believe it's due to both regional factors and the commitment of primary schools as well as the availability of sports promotion programs." A short-term analysis has not yet revealed any upward or downward trends in performance. This is because motor skills, height, and weight naturally vary between age groups. More data is needed for a detailed analysis. From a scientific perspective, the team at the University of Bayreuth expects valuable insights: in the long term, they aim to identify correlations between specific test results and potential injury risks during childhood and adolescence.
The project is supported by the City of Bayreuth, the Sports Office, the Sports Advisory Board, and the VR Bank Bayreuth-Hof.
How the Movement Check Works
This year, the Bayreuth Movement Check has been expanded: in addition to well-established classics like sprints, balance courses, and strength measurements, neurocognitive and motor-cognitive tests were included for the first time. In eleven different tasks - some conducted in the gym, others in the classroom - children are asked to respond rapidly to colorful blinking light sensors, solve a number maze, or complete concentration exercises on a tablet. After completing the tests, each child receives an individual evaluation of their athletic and cognitive performance from project coordinator Lukas Baldauf, a research associate at the Chair of Neuromotorics and Movement. In addition, personalized recommendations for suitable sports are provided based on the child's results. "Our goal is to encourage children to try out new sports - with the hope that they develop a long-term enjoyment of physical activity and perhaps even join a sports club," explains Lukas Baldauf.
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Original text here: https://www.uni-bayreuth.de/en/press-release/Bayreuth-Movement-Check
