Raw oysters, delicious with hot sauce, can carry a bacteria that makes people very sick. Researchers are working to better understand Vibrio bacteria and create a warning system for oystermen, which would alert them to the best and worst times to harvest oysters.
Health
The Liver Takes It All
Drug-induced liver injuries result in more regulatory actions and delays in pharmaceutical developments than any other serious medical event. Scientists and pharma companies have created a virtual liver to better understand the effects of pharmaceutical drugs.
The 99% Solution
Approximately 99% of the population take medicines without a problem. But some people experience dangerous reactions, which can force the FDA to pull drugs from the shelf, denying patients needed help and costing drug companies billions. Researchers with The Hamner–UNC Institute for Drug Safety Science are trying to understand why.
Self-Healing Muscles
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have been able to grow living skeletal muscles in the lab that look and act like the real thing. It's a first step in growing human muscle that can treat injuries and disease.
Just a Spoonful of Soybeans
A biotech start-up at UNC Charlotte could revolutionize how we take medicines by using soybean seeds. Scientists are inserting the DNA from viruses in the protein-rich seeds of soybeans, and believe eating the modified soybeans can turn the human immune system in the gut on or off against various diseases.
New Fields For Food
Mary-Dell Chilton's DNA discoveries launched the field of genetically modifying plants to ward off pests, use less water, and improve yields. Supporters say it could help feed the world. Opponents say it's not safe, threatening the environment and people in ways that may not be known yet. By discovering the mechanism of DNA transfer, Chilton bestowed that power to humans.
The Body in Motion
Researchers with the Appalachian State University Human Performance Lab are providing new insights into how even a small amount of exercise can cut the risk of disease in half.
Rapid Water Test
The greatest danger for beachgoers may be millions of microbes also swimming in the water. While many are there naturally, stormwater runoff and sewage system failures can overwhelm coastal waters. One percent of NC's beaches were closed for short times in 2012 because of microbial contaminants. A marine biologist has now developed a rapid water test to keep the public safe.
Fruit Infusion
Researchers have found a way to extract the "good stuff" from fruits and vegetables for use in other foods!
What's My Story: Food Scientist
Mary Ann Lila knew she loved plants when she worked in a greenhouse in her home state of Illinois. Starting at the University of Illinois with this passion, she took every plant science class she could find. When she found out that plants make chemicals that improve the health of plants and animals alike, she found her career path. She is now the director of an institute focused on the discovery and delivery of innovative plant-based solutions to advance human health.