Videos: featured talks and lectures

The human brain represents the most complex organisation of matter in our known universe. Therefore, understanding how it is formed, how it functions, and how we might treat it remain enormous challenges for the global research community. Given the burden to our society of neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric and mental health disorders, these challenges need to be addressed. In his inaugural lecture Professor David Lyons will discuss how understanding the fundamental dynamic biological mechanisms and principles that underpin brain formation, function and adaptation provide insights that help us understand its malformation, dysfunction and disease.

The first 1000 days of life – the time between conception and a child’s second birthday – set the foundation for healthy growth and development across the whole life course. In his Inaugural Lecture, Professor James Boardman will describe how magnetic resonance imaging and other technologies have deepened knowledge about ways in which problems during this period including premature birth, sub-optimal nutrition, and drug exposures affect brain development; and he will discuss new ways of measuring the impact of these events on childhood outcome.

Approximately 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia and the annual global cost of dementia is over £600 billion. This lecture discusses current cutting-edge research at the University of Edinburgh aiming to fully understand the condition to develop effective treatments.

Air pollution is estimated to be responsible for several million premature deaths worldwide every year. The harmful effect of air pollution on the lungs is well known, but recent research suggests the damaging effects may be more widespread.

Richard and Cathy Abbott explore the advances, the dilemmas, and the hopes for the future as we hunt for a cure and or better treatments for epilepsy.

Susan and Iva discuss research on the causes of cognitive ageing, its effects on people’s lives, and whether there’s anything that can be done to help people’s brains stay sharp in old age.

Alasdair and Joyce discuss during normal ageing, the brain becomes vulnerable to high levels of stress hormones. This can manifest in two common disorders; delirium, an acute brain disorder that normally resolves in a few days or weeks, and dementia, a chronic, mostly incurable brain disorder, caused by brain shrinkage.

Anna Williams, MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh; and Dave Lyons, Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Neuroregeneration at the University of Edinburgh discuss the neurological disorder multiple sclerosis, which has a particularly high prevalence in Scotland.

Malcolm and Karen talk about what strokes are, their consequences, the impact of research had so far and what current research is focusing on. 

Steven Yule, Professor of Behavioural Sciences reflects on the successes in his trans-disciplinary academic career, sharing powerful lessons learned through failure, and offering insights into the future of innovation in complex systems.