• Question: Have any of you actually made a difference?

    Asked by bmw325 to Daniel, Derek, Ian, Phil, Upul on 20 Jun 2010 in Categories: . This question was also asked by 08wildashj, 08wintersk.
    • Photo: Derek Mann

      Derek Mann answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Yes, the work my lab has carried out has made a difference. We have recently discovered that drugs used for the treatment of high blood pressure which are called angiotensin receptor blockers may be able to reverse liver damage. This work included a small clinical trial on patients with liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus where we showed reversion of fibrosis (scars) in the diseased liver. This reversion of fibrosis means that the liver is getting better, so I think that should be seen as our research “making a difference”. As a result of this small trial we now have government funding to carry out a larger scale clinical trial with patients who have liver disease caused by carrying too much fat in their liver. So hopefully we will help many more people.

    • Photo: Ian Sillett

      Ian Sillett answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Very few people can claim to have made a difference to the world on their own. However, I think that I make a difference otherwise I wouldn’t be turning up to work every day. My work is mainly aimed at counter-terrorism and crime and therefore I truly believe that every day I make a difference to the safety of the people in the UK.

      For example, my project ensures that companies cannot sell automated cctv systems that do not perform to the required standard and critical infrastructure is not left unprotected. I also lecture on using normal cctv more effectively to reduce crime.

    • Photo: Daniel Mietchen

      Daniel Mietchen answered on 20 Jun 2010:

      When I was doing an internship in a hospital, I helped with several resuscitations, operations and births. Don’t think any of my science so far has had such profound impact on anyone.

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