What's the best way to become a professor? The answer depends on where you are
Jan 22, 2025
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Yosuke Togashi, a researcher from Okayama University, investigates how mitochondrial transfer impacts T-cells and cancer. The discussion reveals striking disparities in global academic hiring practices, potentially locking out talent based on regional standards. Togashi highlights the emerging understanding of cancer cells transferring dysfunctional mitochondria to immune cells, which hampers immune responses. Additionally, exciting research on hidden tattoos in mummified skin and a new flu treatment adds a captivating twist to the conversation!
The criteria for becoming a professor vary significantly across different countries, which can hinder opportunities for talented researchers from low-income regions.
Research reveals that cancer cells can transfer their dysfunctional mitochondria to immune T-cells, impairing the immune response against tumors.
Deep dives
Assessing Paths to Professorship
The criteria for attaining a professorship differ significantly across the globe, revealing how disparities in opportunities can hinder talented researchers from low-income countries. A study highlights that conventional measures of excellence, like international publications, may not be applicable to scholars from countries with limited resources. For instance, researchers from nations like Honduras may have local accomplishments that do not align with the expectations of institutions in wealthier regions. This situation underscores the necessity for a more nuanced understanding of qualifications to promote diversity in academia.
Mitochondrial Dynamics in Cancer
Research has shown that cancer cells engage in a fascinating form of metabolic 'theft' by transferring their dysfunctional mitochondria to T-cells, potentially impairing the immune response to tumors. Experiments in a lab setting indicated that cancer cells not only absorb healthy mitochondria from neighboring immune cells but can also return damaged ones, effectively weakening the immune system's fight against cancer. The mechanisms facilitating this exchange include the formation of tunneling nanotubes and the release of extracellular vesicles. This mitochondrial dynamics discovery raises implications about how cancer cells manipulate their environment to survive, notably affecting the efficacy of immunotherapy.
Impact of War on Science in Gaza
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has had devastating effects on scientific institutions and researchers, significantly disrupting education and research capabilities. As many universities have been damaged or destroyed, the immediate response involves assessing the needs for rebuilding scientific infrastructure and providing support for displaced scholars. Additionally, the difficulties faced by scientists include limited access to resources, with many struggling to maintain their research while dealing with the aftermath of conflict. There exists a pressing need for a coordinated effort to ensure that both the academic community and broader humanitarian needs are addressed in the post-conflict recovery phase.
A huge analysis of hiring practices has revealed that criteria to get a promotion to full professorship is hugely variable around the world. The authors suggest that this variability results in researchers from countries that value one type of metric being locked out of professor positions in others. They hope that the database of hiring practices created in this study could help institutions adjust their hiring policies to create a more diverse science workforce.
12:13 Cancer cells’ broken mitochondria could poison immune cells
Researchers have shown that cancer cells can slip their dysfunctional mitochondria into T cells, limiting the immune system’s cancer-fighting capabilities. Cancer cells are known to steal healthy mitochondria from immune cells to help tumours survive and thrive. Now, researchers have shown mitochondria can move in the opposite direction too, with the donor T cells showing signs of various stress responses that make them less effective when inside a tumour. The team showed that blocking this transfer limited this effect, and hopes that this mechanism could offer a new avenue for boosting the immune system’s response to cancer.