RESEARCH NEWS: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNT THIS YEAR

Over the past 12 months, Westminster academics have continued to deliver research with impact, contributing to the University’s rich profile of world-leading innovation. Here is a glimpse of some of the key discoveries made across our four research communities this year.

1: GENE-EDITING TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER CELLS CAN REVERSE ITS SPREAD

Dr Pinar Uysal-Onganer, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Biology and Lead of Cancer Research at Westminster, led the study which shows that removing small genetic parts of our genomes, called microRNAs, from triple negative breast cancer cells can reverse its spread.

Researchers identified that the amount of a major cancer-related microRNA, miR-21, is increased in triple negative breast cancer and is also linked to metastasis (the spread of cancer cells in the body). They then used a genomeediting method to remove the miR-21 from the cancer cells, and found that the metastatic features of the cells were reversed.

2: PINK DRINKS CAN MAKE YOU RUN FASTER AND FURTHER

A study led by the University’s Centre for Nutraceuticals shows that pink drinks can help to make you run faster and further compared to clear drinks.

For the study, participants were asked to run on a treadmill for 30 minutes, rinsing their mouths with either a pink or clear drink throughout. Both drinks were exactly the same and only differed in appearance – the researchers added food dye to the pink drink to change the colour.

The researchers chose pink as it is associated with perceived sweetness and therefore increases expectations of sugar and carbohydrate intake. The results show that the participants ran an average 212 metres further with the pink drink, while their mean speed during the exercise test increased by 4.4 per cent.

3: BRITISH CYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE IS FAILING TO PROTECT CYCLISTS

Typical cycle infrastructure in Britain is not keeping cyclists safe, according to the results from a study by the University of Westminster, funded by the Road Safety Trust.

One of the most startling results from the study led by Professor Rachel Aldred, Professor of Transport and Director of the University’s Active Travel Academy, was that infrastructure typically designated for cycling may put cyclists at increased risk. Painted cycle lanes and shared bus lanes, for example, tended to increase the likelihood of injury, compared to there being no such infrastructure.

Like other research this study found that there was ‘safety in numbers’: where more people were cycling, each individual cyclist was safer. This highlights the additional safety benefit from creating routes and infrastructure that attract new cyclists.

4: NEGATIVE THOUGHTS ARE COMMON IN EARLY MOTHERHOOD

In a study led by Westminster alumna Naomi Law and coauthored by Dr Anna Cheshire, Research Fellow in Psychology, researchers found that negative thoughts are much more common in new mothers than previous research suggested.

The study, which surveyed 395 new mothers in the UK and Ireland, all with babies under one year old, found that nearly two thirds (63 per cent) thought they were a ‘bad mother’ some of the time, while 39 per cent sometimes thought there was something wrong with them.

Many of the mothers who took part in the study struggled with the idea of sharing negative thoughts with others. This suggests that having negative thoughts about early motherhood may be seen as socially unacceptable.

Speaking about the findings, Naomi Law said: “We hope that recognising how common it is to have negative thoughts about early motherhood may help new parents feel less alone when they experience difficult thoughts and emotions.”

5: MUSICIANS ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION

Sally-Anne Gross, Principal Lecturer in Music Business Management, and Dr George Musgrave, Senior Lecturer on the Music Business Management MA course, have published a book based on their research into the mental health of music professionals.

Sally-Anne Gross and Dr Musgrave were commissioned to conduct a study of more than 2,000 music makers, from MOBO winners and Mercury Prize nominees to artists performing at local venues, to discover their lived experiences and working conditions. It was revealed that more than 70 per cent of respondents reported high rates of anxiety, and 68.5 per cent reported of depression.

The researchers found that financial challenges due to being self-employed, and difficulty in being able to define success, left musicians questioning whether their profession is classed as a ‘career’, and prevented them from accessing adequate wellbeing support.

Talking about their research, Sally-Anne Gross said: “When we did our research we could not have predicted that it would be released during a global pandemic. We believe that music plays a vital role in our sense of self and community that really impacts our wellbeing and our mental health, all of which need urgent support right now.”