10 Amazing Things Dundee’s Universities Have Done
The University of Dundee and Abertay University are two of the best universities in not just the country, but in the world!
We are so lucky to have two incredible universities on our doorstep! The University of Dundee and Abertay University have achieved so much amazing things, ranging from finding a potential cure to malaria at the University of Dundee to becoming the first university in the world to have degrees in video game design and ethical hacking at Abertay University.
In this list, I want to showcase ten amazing things that the two universities have accomplished over the years.
1. Finding a potential cure for malaria?
In 2015, scientists at the University of Dundee’s Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) discovered a new compound which could not only treat malaria, but also potentially protect people from the disease and prevent its spread all in a single dose. The research documents on the compound — which is known as DDD107498 — were later published in Nature.
In 2019, researchers from the university were awarded Project of the Year 2018 at the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) for their discovery work on potential new drugs to tackle malaria.
2. First video game design degree in the world!
Abertay University has been a hub for up and coming video game developers but what is incredible is that the university became the first in the world to offer it’s students a degree in video game design.
In 1997, Abertay University embarked on a journey into computer games education that would shape the future of the institution, the games industry and the city of Dundee itself.
Ever since offering the degree, many students who have went and studied from the university have accessed links to big names such as Sony, Ubisoft and Disney.
3. Tackling a forgotten cancer
Last year, the University of Dundee started leading new research into oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which they described as a ‘forgotten cancer’. Researchers from the university had received £300,000 from the Chief Scientist Office to research OSCC.
The university states that in Scotland, ten people every week are diagnosed with OSCC and that the
What the university have discovered so far is that there could be a new molecular mechanism of drug resistance in OSCC which researchers have demonstrated can be overcome by specific new targeted cancer medicine that is already in clinical trials for other types of cancer.
They state that over the next two and a half years, the Dundee team will establish whether this can pave the way for clinical trials in OSCC using new combinations of cancer medicines to overcome drug resistance in OSCC and so increase the chances of patients responding to treatment.
4. A cystic fibrosis game for children
At Abertay University, a new game was developed to help children with cystic fibrosis with breathing exercises.
The game — which was entitled Archipelayo was developed by Konglomerate Games — formed by students at Abertay University was designed around the Fizzyo Sensor, a bluetooth sensor which attaches to the physiotherapy devices which are used to enhance the airway clearance techniques which people with cystic fibrosis perform.
The game is currently undergoing medical testing at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
5. Tackling Parkinson’s disease
The University of Dundee hit headlines late last year for their work on finding potential treatments for Parkinson’s disease. Researchers at the university found an enzyme that inhibits a gene mutation, known as a LRRK2, that is the most common cause of genetic Parkinson’s disease.
Huge progress has been made in the biological understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s in recent years but there remains no cure, or even a form of treatment that slows or stops their progression.
While the development of a new drug remains some years off, researchers have already begun working with the University’s Drug Discovery Unit to search for a compound that would switch the enzyme on for the treatment of Parkinson’s.
6. Student’s game gone viral!
At the start of 2020, one of Abertay’s students Matt Stark, who studies computer games technology, had released a clip of a game he was working on which led to it going viral.
The video clip which Matt posted on to Twitter received over four million views, 70,300 retweets and 236,000 likes.
The game, reminiscent of the film, Inception, sets the player up with a Polaroid camera — with the photographs coming to life as playable environments in the virtual world.
7. Solving the mystery of male infertility
The University of Dundee have been attempting to solve the mystery of male infertility by researching for a treatment into help boost sperm count. This research is being led by Doctor Sarah Martins da Silva, a senior lecturer in Reproductive Medicine in the School of Medicine at the university.
In early 2020, researchers at the university developed an unrivalled, fully automated robotic screening system which allows them to rapidly test the effect of drugs and other chemicals on human sperm.
Speaking about the possibility of a new drug which could help boost sperm count, Dr da Silva said that it won’t happen overnight and hopes that one will be made in the not far future.
8. First degrees in ethical hacking
Not only was Abertay University the first university in the world to offer degrees in video game design, but they were also the first university in the world to offer degrees on ethical hacking.
The degree is recognised as one of the UK’s leading vocational security programmes. The programme takes an offensive approach to security, which means you will learn how to break systems and circumvent security defences — not just study encryption.
Also, in 2019, Abertay University also opened up a new £5.5 million videogames and cybersecurity centre on campus.
9. Helping lead the fight against COVID-19
The University of Dundee has also very recently been helping lead the fightback against ‘Coronavirus disease 2019’ (COVID-19) which has caused major disruption to the world.
In late March 2020, scientists from the University of Dundee identified 38 separate proteins created by SARS-CoV-2 –the virus that causes COVID-19 — that produce an immune response in the body.
In April 2020, the university were also announced to lead a major new clinical trial of a drug, developed by Insmed which is hoped may help to prevent the worst ravages of COVID-19 — the first of it’s kind in Scotland.
In May 2020, the university also received £500,000 in funding to help for research projects into COVID-19.
10. Both have led in example
The University of Dundee and Abertay University have both led in example to their amazing achievements and breakthroughs in the fields of science and technology.
Their amazing work has led to the universities being recognised in lists and such the University of Dundee being named the top 50 in the world for impact and Abertay University being named six times as the best place to study video game design in Europe — an incredible accolade.
The University of Dundee was also named by the The Sunday Times Good University Guide as the best university for student experience. It’s amazing to see the two universities being recognised and deservedly so.
Well done to all students, lecturers and workers at both the University of Dundee and Abertay University for making them the some of the best in the country, Europe and even the world!
