Emma Lisle reviews Song of Contagion, a musical performance about attitudes towards infectious diseases, and the lives of people affected by them.

In recent decades doctors have branded addiction a brain disease, and treated it as such. But in this riveting and provocative talk, neuroscientist and former addict Marc Lewis makes the convincing case that addiction isn’t a disease at all. Using personal stories and robust science, he explains how addiction really impacts our brains, and how […]

The Hunterian Museum has a fantastic number of human and non-human anatomical and pathological specimens in innumerable jars for your viewing pleasure that document the progression from the the 17th century through to modern day. Join them for a special day-long event that explores the relationship between the medical profession and the public it serves. Discover how the relationship between doctor […]

Bluetongue is a viral disease of cattle and sheep transmitted by Culicoides biting midges, which has recently emerged in Europe. This talk will describe the modelling work done at Pirbright to understand the spread and control of this disease, considering some of the pitfalls involved in using models to give policy advice when the models […]

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) slips under the radar of most healthcare workers, especially compared to its distant relative – HIV. With 10 million infections globally and twenty thousand carrying HTLV-1 in the UK alone this infection is neglected even amongst neglected diseases. Whilst infection does not cause symptoms in the majority, 1 in […]

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. In 2012, malaria caused an estimated 627 000 deaths, mostly among African children. Malaria is preventable and curable. Would you like to hear more about it from Imperial College researchers? Interested in the research perspectives from […]

Rachel David reviews Sean Martin’s ‘A Short History of Disease’

Sarah Gaunt on how we know whether it’s safe to go for a swim

Join the Royal College of Physicians for a fascinating evening commemorating the 350th anniversary of London’s Great Plague of 1665.

The body can feel like a foreign country to some of us, and the practice of medicine an exploration of new territory. Join Gavin Francis in conversation for an adventure through what it is to be human.

Ureaplasma, normally a resident of the urinary tract, has been discovered to be causing devastating problems for some organ transplant patients

Over the last 50 years, an increasing number of wild animal translocations have been undertaken for conservation purposes. This two-day symposium will review the impact of disease on species restoration through translocation, and consider lessons learned to guide effective planning and implementation of future translocation projects.

Nicole Samuel discusses genetic trade-offs and where modern diseases come from

New data from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute elucidates key mutations which allow the malaria parasite to develop resistance to the first line anti-malarial drug

Rapidly multiplying misfolded proteins undetected by the human immune system – Sophia Ho explains why prions are important in understanding diseases.

Sophia Ho reveals the real impacts of gluten intolerance

Isobel Sims asks how has Ebola spread to humans in the first place?

Dr Hotez charts the neglected tropical diseases that need new treatments …

Everyone can—and should—learn to deal with risk and uncertainty for themselves says Gerg Gigerenzer …

Location data from mobile phone users in Namibia might help control the spread of malaria …

Flatworm infection spike around Lake Malaŵi has been linked to manmade environmental changes …

Themes from the last fortnight have been mosquito diseases, inflammation in disease and graphene …

From the last two weeks we’ve got the good, the bad and the fungi, the commerce of biodiversity and life as a commonplace …

What would it be like to live your entire life without feeling fear? It’s not all plain sailing …

Pests moving North, Phosphorus levels no barrier to early life on Mars and Pacific Ocean is temporarily cooling the Earth’s surface …

Leaving behind expensive equipment and industrial laboratories, Do-It-Yourself science can do just as much to help developing nations …

On June 5th, 1981, the Center for Disease Control’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) published the first report of AIDS. Entitled ‘5 cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP)’, it included case studies of five previously healthy young men, all homosexuals, who had been treated for PCP, a lung condition normally seen only in severely […]

  If you own cows, don’t feed them mouldy beet silage – it could be their last meal. Experts were called to a farm in Belgium recently to investigate why cattle were refusing their food and dying.  They found that mould on the cows’ feed contained a powerful neurotoxin. It’s the first observed link between ingestion […]

One of the IPCC’s key predictions for climate change in Europe is that we will experience, on average, milder winters. One of the problems warmer winters could cause is a significant rise in tick population numbers. Whilst this isn’t a problem we tend to hear too much about here in the UK, the prospect of […]