08: Changed Behaviour In Orcas, New Uses For Ultrasound, And Butterflies With White Spots Stand Better Chances.

Orcas attacking boats has become a spoken-about topic, but what has been happening? Off the coasts of Spain and Portugal, a pod of orcas has been partaking in new waves of activity, and videos have been sweeping the internet. These Orcas have been ramming boats and ripping off their rudders, sinking three sailboats and causing damage to dozens of others.?

Luckily, most interactions have been harmless, with estimations that killer whales only touch one ship out of every hundred that sail through a location.?

The behaviour of these Orcas remains in question. Still, López Fernandez biologist at the University of Aveiro in Portugal, explained, "The orcas are doing this on purpose. Of course, we don't know the origin or the motivation, but defensive behaviour based on trauma, as the origin of all this, gains more strength for us every day".

With only 39 orcas counted in 2011, the Iberian orca subpopulation is considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.?

While most familiar with medical imaging, ultrasound has emerged as a multi-purpose medical tool. Scientists have discovered that we can use the heat that ultrasound waves create to destroy tumours, and resolve problematic tissue deep within the body without incisions. Aside from this, these waves can be used to gain access to the brain, jigging cells to change their behaviour, benefiting mental health. Some scientists have even suggested that ultrasound may reverse signs of physical ageing, and reduce the learning and memory problems associated with getting older.?

Nir Lipsman, Scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto, Canada, said, “Ultrasound is already a ubiquitous tool in medicine, but there’s tremendous focus on it right now because of the different ways we could use it to treat different medical problems.” We’re looking forward to seeing how ultrasound continues to develop in the future.?

New research suggests that the more white spots a monarch butterfly has, their chances of migrating improve.?

Researchers from the University of Georgia studied nearly 400 wings of monarchs at different stages in their famed journey south from Canada and the northern United States to Mexico.

Results demonstrated successful monarchs had 3% less black and 3% more white on their wings. Although it's unclear how these spots help, one theory is that it may alter airflow patterns around the wings.?

Monarch butterflies cannot survive the cold, long, northern winters and instead migrate distances of up to 3,000 miles to hibernate in central Mexico.

This month we're introducing Elliot, founder and director at ARTO. Elliot started ARTO back in 2020 with his best friend Lawrence. We sat down with Elliot to discuss where ARTO came from, and his latest on the Life Sciences Industry.

Why did you start ARTO?

"It was always a dream to start a business with my life long best friend, Lawrence and working together for 10 years at the same Recruitment Organisation in London, the time was right with our experience, youthful energy and starting our families.

We felt that there was nothing like us in the South East providing young professionals the opportunity to earn life changing amounts of money as well as the opportunity to progress quickly in a meritocratic organisation."

What do you specialize in?

"ARTO specialises in placing mid-executive level professionals across Europe and the US within R&D, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs."

What do you love about the life sciences industry and your part in it?

"We help save peoples lives! It’s one of the proudest statements we’ll ever be associated with.

I never really believed it until 2 clients told me at separate meetings how much they appreciated our support and they felt we DO play a small part in bettering patients lives – I’d be lying if I didn’t have goosebumps in those meetings!"

Is there anything that currently excites you about the life sciences industry?

"Rare Disease and Gene Therapy spaces.

Rare Disease I seem to emotionally gravitate too. Working with companies caring for only 10 patients and being tasked with finding A-Players to help better a 1 in a million patients life (especially children now being a father) is well worth the 4am headhunting sessions… Gene therapy because I just love it! I’m so fascinated especially by CAR T-Cell therapy ever since I supported Kite Pharma many years and just find the whole process fascinating! Game-changing therapies excite me!"

Do you have any current tips for candidates securing a role in the life sciences industry?

"Be prepared for the difference going from clinic to industry for any Physicians. The nature of the industry “today” is being innovative, having a commercial mindset and pushing boundaries. If you can grasp this, then your interaction with the patients of today and how they can be communicated with them will be invaluable to securing a role. Not only this but your courage to push boundaries will help drive new medicines with your input having a big impact – making you a game-changer!"

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