About Us
Welcome to your new BLS Student Blog site. Here we will keep you updated with all things BLS related. Visit to explore what is happening in your Biomedical and Life Sciences (BLS) department here at Lancaster University and the many opportunities available to you. We strive to inspire you with regular updates of enticing content, from posts surrounding your degree to new scientific findings and thought-provoking studies in the media. We hope you enjoy this blog and utilise it to its full potential. Make sure to visit us on our social media pages and share our content with your peers!
The Editorial Team
Roisin Weaver
James Senior
Rebecca Chatwin
Len Lewis
Lenka Gallego
Georgia Gray
Thora Paul
Eleanor McFarlane
Karolina Bentkowska
Latest posts
Beyond Smoking and Drinking: The Role of HPV in Head and Neck Cancers
Head and neck cancers are a group of cancers that affect the mouth, lips, nasopharynx, pharynx, larynx and sinuses. Common risk factors associated with head and neck cancers are alcohol and tobacco consumption, however recent studies have demonstrated a causal link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). HPV has been shown Read more about Beyond Smoking and Drinking: The Role of HPV in Head and Neck Cancers[…]
Our Immune system: The ultimate tool against cancer? – Elizabeth Thwaites
The link between cancer and our immune systems Cancer cells are characterised by their uncontrollable growth, often called cell proliferation. The immune system has been found to respond to cancer cells in some instances, recognising the abnormally proliferating cells as foreign, or ‘non-self’. Studies have shown that some immune cells can be found in, and Read more about Our Immune system: The ultimate tool against cancer? – Elizabeth Thwaites[…]
Your gut microbes and depression – Hannah Ging
The phrase ‘gut microbiome’ refers to the bacterial colonies which live in our gut, forming a symbiotic relationship with their host. The host provides the bacteria with a safe place to inhabit and multiply, whilst the bacteria provide the host with key compounds and nutrients via their own metabolic processes, as well as helping to Read more about Your gut microbes and depression – Hannah Ging[…]
My Dissertation Experience: Lucia Garcia-Figueras Gonzalez
Supervisor and Project title: Professor Paul O’Shea. ‘Studying disease using interactome analysis; the innate immune system in Alzheimer’s disease’. Why I chose this topic: As a biology with psychology student, I was particularly interested in the biological aspect and understanding of the brain and the underpinned processes that mould behaviour or cause diseases. The brain Read more about My Dissertation Experience: Lucia Garcia-Figueras Gonzalez[…]
Influenza – Everything you need to know! – Thora Paul
What is Influenza virus? Influenza virus (derived from the Latin word for ‘influence’) commonly known as the ‘flu’ is an enveloped single-stranded RNA virus which belongs to the Orthomyxoviridae family. There are 4 main types of influenza virus, Influenza A, B, C and D. Influenza virus A & B cause the most severe human illnesses Read more about Influenza – Everything you need to know! – Thora Paul[…]
Advice for First Years 2021
A lot has happened in the last year and a half, or nothing much has happened we might even say. Our vivid and exciting uni lives have stopped for a long period of time due to the pandemic, confining us into our safe homes. However, the rapid distribution of the vaccine among the population Read more about Advice for First Years 2021[…]
Theories behind rare blood clots related to COVID-19 vaccines – Karolina Bentkowska
AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are two amongst many vaccines which have been accepted for immunisation against SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) – the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite passing all clinical trials and being approved for emergency use to halt the spread of coronavirus, these vaccines have recently made headlines due to their possible link to rare cases of blood clots, some of which were fatal. When the correlation was first suspected for the Read more about Theories behind rare blood clots related to COVID-19 vaccines – Karolina Bentkowska[…]
My Role as an Academic Rep – Amelia Doran
Hi, I’m Amelia and I’ve been the Biochemistry Academic Rep for 2 years now. I was elected as a rep in first year after submitting a small personal statement, and since then I’ve been a point of call for students on my course whenever they have an issue that they think the department should address. As I’m coming to the end of second year, I thought I’d give you Read more about My Role as an Academic Rep – Amelia Doran[…]
Theories behind rare blood clots related to COVID-19 vaccines – Karolina Bentkowska
AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are two amongst many vaccines which have been accepted for immunisation against SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) – the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite passing all clinical trials and being approved for emergency use to halt the spread of coronavirus, these vaccines have recently made headlines due to their possible link to Read more about Theories behind rare blood clots related to COVID-19 vaccines – Karolina Bentkowska[…]
2021 in Science… so far – Olivia Hesketh
At the moment, it seems like our lives are dominated by constant mentions of social distancing and coronavirus case numbers. This is inevitable considering the fact that we are living through a pandemic. But coronavirus aside, 2021 so far has brought many fascinating and promising scientific developments of which we don’t tend to see reported Read more about 2021 in Science… so far – Olivia Hesketh[…]
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