My first Magazine SFI Little Book - April Re-print edits included | Page 31

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4
Healthy weight,
healthy immune system
Obesity is a worldwide epidemic. Ireland is predicted
by the World Health Organization to become the fattest
country in Europe by 2030. The current strategy for
weight loss is simplified to, fewer calories in, more
calories out. The Obesity Immunology Research Group
in University College Dublin however, is investigating
the role the immune system may play in controlling
body weight, with the latest research indicating that
the immune system could actually be “protecting” us
against weight loss. The team have found that in the
absence of certain parts of the immune system we gain
weight and even with new weight loss therapies, we fail
to lose weight until the immune system is restored.
www.stvincents.ie/E.R.C/Obesity_and_Endocrinology_
Group.html
Life through a lens
55
Dr Cathal Gurrin has been lifelogging for longer than
anyone else in the world. He has taken a photograph of
events in front of him every 20 seconds for a decade.
These images are analysed by a team of data researchers
at the Science Foundation Ireland funded Insight
Centre for Data Analytics at Dublin City University
and are providing critical insights into a range of
areas including memory, image processing, machine
learning and behavioural science. The work has both
societal and commercial potential. Dr Gurrin and his
team have created analysis tools with implications
for the development of therapies and supports for
dementia patients. Their work also holds promise for
the progress of artificial intelligence, as well as teaching
devices to recognise and categorise objects and faces
more accurately.
www.insight-centre.org