Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain, Kathriona Devereux and Jonathan McCrea return to present the second series of The Science Squad and find that Ireland’s researchers are still very much at the top of their game when it comes to international scientific advances
Travelling the country, Aoibhinn, Kathriona and Jonathan investigate some of the most exciting and groundbreaking projects currently underway here. But, just as importantly, they address the question of how this work will affect our audience by meeting the men, women and children whose lives have already been directly affected by the work or for whom the very latest developments will have a huge impact.
This year the team investigate important drug developments that could lead to treatments for the potentially deadly medical condition of sepsis, meet the scientists who are sending their next research project to the International Space Station, and take a look into the controversial world of genetic testing.
And this year we’re including a new segment featuring UCC Environmental Scientist Fergal Mc Auliffe, who’ll bring us some of the more unusual and unlikely stories from the wonderful world of science: from the wood frog that ‘freezes to live’, to the willow trees that are being used as wastewater treatment systems.
Programme One – Inflammation/Sepsis – Luke O’Neill
Prof Luke O’Neill and his team at Trinity College Dublin are leading a major international research project involving 10 universities, including MIT and Harvard in the US. They are exploring inflammation and its link to major diseases like sepsis.
Luke and his team are testing an existing drug, which could very well be used as a future treatment for Sepsis. The drug, which is currently used to treat Epilepsy, works by effectively stopping the body’s immune response from moving into overdrive and potentially going out of control. Details of Luke’s research have been published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature and the results are being supported by findings in labs all over the world.
This story also features sports reporter Daraine Mulvihill who experienced the devastation of sepsis when, as a teenager, she developed Meningococcal Septicaemia and had to have her hands and feet amputated as a result of the infection.