• Question: What development in science has had the biggest impact in your career

    Asked by east490ate on 4 Jul 2023.
    • Photo: Millie Karega

      Millie Karega answered on 4 Jul 2023:

      As of now, I think genome (DNA) sequencing. A growing number of research studies are looking at how “targeted therapy” is effective at treating certain types of cancer. Basically, we look at the unique DNA of a patient to see which sections have been altered thereby leading to a specific cancer. We then “target” the treatment to the specific defect/defective cells (cancer cells).

    • Photo: Simon Anderson

      Simon Anderson answered on 4 Jul 2023:

      Cardiac Implantable Devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, leads that stimulate the heart.

      Without the development of these the main focus of my day to day job would be a lot different. As a cardiac physiologist who looks after such devices the developments that led to the use is incredible. They are a great example of how science has helped to improve the technology and what is needed from these devices. The devices are continually improved with new bits added and improved battery life as model change- just like the change you may see in what a mobile phone can offer. In the last number of years this has led to the development and use of leadless pacemakers- little devices that sit directly in the heart to stop in going to slow driven by scientists want to address an area of complication seen in a number of patients. Who knows how such devices will continue to develop……

    • Photo: Blair Johnston

      Blair Johnston answered on 4 Jul 2023:

      For my career I would say the increasing use in Artificial Intelligence in medicine has had a big impact on my career and expect it to continue to have a big impact. My PhD research was to use MRI scans of brains to see if Artificial Intelligence can predict if someone has a psychiatric disorder. In my current career Artificial Intelligence is starting to be used to make MRI scans look better and take less time.

    • Photo: Sophie Shaw

      Sophie Shaw answered on 4 Jul 2023:

      My job is focused around the analysis of data after you sequence DNA, so the biggest developments for me are always when new DNA sequencing technologies are made available. These have increased the amount of data we get very quickly, and have made it more accurate. This helps us to get more diagnoses for patients.

    • Photo: Bruno Silvester Lopes

      Bruno Silvester Lopes answered on 4 Jul 2023:

      The discovery of new drugs/antibiotics. This is because I study how bacteria become resistant to these drugs/antibiotics. With this I can inform the doctor on which antibiotics are needed to save the life of that patient with severe infection.

    • Photo: Kip Heath

      Kip Heath answered on 4 Jul 2023:

      When I started we had to grow bacteria on an agar plate in order to work what they are, then we developed a mass spectrometer called a MALDI-ToF that would work out what they were for us. Now we are starting to use the MALDI-ToF to identify bacteria directly from blood samples without having to grow them for 24 hours. This will make a huge different to patient care.

    • Photo: Caroline Addey

      Caroline Addey answered on 4 Jul 2023:

      Quite a few significant ones over time – monoclonal antibodies; improvements in DNA sequencing. Now Artificial Intelligence is the biggest.

    • Photo: Jane Moore-Taylor

      Jane Moore-Taylor answered on 4 Jul 2023:

      Clinical MRI scanners in the mid-80s. They didn’t exist when I was 16. And I’ve spent my entire career working with them.

    • Photo: Chigozie Onuba

      Chigozie Onuba answered on 4 Jul 2023:

      The development of AI (complex analytical equipments) and computer middlewares makes the work
      alot more manageable

    • Photo: Cheryl Williams

      Cheryl Williams answered on 4 Jul 2023:

      PCR, DNA sequencing and genomics have all had a big impact in my career in terms of diagnosis of infectious diseases. These advancements have meant that rather than taking days or maybe weeks to identify a bacteria or virus, this can now take hours. We can also look for antibiotic resistance which means that if a patient is taking an antibiotic that the bacteria is resistant to (resistant means the antibiotic won’t work) we will know this sooner if we use PCR to detect the gene that confers the resistance.

    • Photo: Heidi Barnard

      Heidi Barnard answered on 5 Jul 2023:

      The widespread knowledge of the impacts our actions are having on the planet, and our health. I spend my days talking to people about climate science and the direct impacts it is having on health and what the future will look like.

    • Photo: Andrew Colman

      Andrew Colman answered on 9 Jul 2023:

      The invention of programmable pocket and personal computers in the 1980s and 90s.

    • Photo: Clare Morrow

      Clare Morrow answered on 11 Jul 2023:

      Automation. The laboratory has lots of machines and equipment to help us test the samples sent in by the doctors and nurses. Without these we would not be able to deal with the 7000 samples that come in each day to two of the departments.
      This also means that we have to have some engineering knowledge in order to mend them.

    • Photo: Hannah Scholes

      Hannah Scholes answered on 17 Jul 2023:

      Probably automation. Without it, it would be very difficult to keep up with the amount of workflow through the hospital labs each day!

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