I remember those days being pulled out of main class room to go to the special ed. And the bullying and not being accepted. The hard times taught me an excellent work ethic and how to rewire my own brain to learn to read.

Hi Michael,

My name is Mariia, and I’m a member of Dr. Haroon’s research team at UHN.

I happened to revisit this article today and came across your comment. I’m very sorry that your message went unanswered for so long!

Thank you so much for your interest in our research and, especially, for your willingness to contribute to a better understanding of ankylosing spondylitis. We truly appreciate it.

I’ll bring your message to our team’s attention and see whether there might be an opportunity for you to get involved in our research.

Thank you again for reaching out, and I hope you’re doing well!

Best regards,
Mariia
Haroon Research Lab
University Health Network

Dear Keith,

I have been working with microalgae cultivation and physiology for a long time.

First, I worked with small cultures (a few milliliters) to investigate the metabolic and biochemical features of microalgae. Then, the scientific community, industrial partners, and stakeholders naturally raised the question: Can microalgae be used to increase the sustainability of industrial processes?

Today, I focus on trying to link the scientific knowledge with the potential industrial exploitation of these microorganisms. And I must say it is going pretty well. Several industrial sectors are interested and investing, and the microalgae sector itself has grown substantially over the last few decades.

One recent example is that this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine was awarded for a groundbreaking medical discovery that began with the fundamental research on how a microalga perceived light!

Let me know if you have more questions!

Hi Ali,

Thanks for your email. We understand you are already in contact with Dr Epel and she’s assisting you with your project. We are so pleased you’ve been able to connect and we wish you all the best.

Futurum Webmaster

My name is Ali, and I am a student at Lexington High School in MA researching telomeres. This summer I began reading literature on leukocyte telomere length and its relation to certain personality traits. I’m hoping to write a narrative review of the literature but have run into a problem I’d value your perspective on. I originally wanted to write the narrative specifically on the association between telomere length and the Big 5 traits; however, after review, research on the Big 5 personality traits is relatively limited. Most other work on personality and telomeres falls under larger, general topics like optimism, pessimism, hostility, etc. My question is about direction: should I write the narrative review on the Big 5 traits, despite the limited research, a review on the general effect that negative traits have on telomeres, or something else? Would you be willing to spare 10-15 minutes of your time to discuss? I’m grateful for any guidance, and I completely understand if your schedule doesn’t allow it or prefer to respond through email.

Thank you very much,

Ali Riaz

The discovery of the HFE gene about 30 years ago explained the most common inherited form of the condition. We now know that rarer forms can result from changes in several other genes. Most of these genetic defects disrupt the hepcidin–ferroportin system, which normally controls how much iron is absorbed from food and released into the bloodstream. When hepcidin production or activity is insufficient, too much iron enters the blood and gradually accumulates in tissues and organs.

These discoveries identified the hepcidin pathway as a potential therapeutic target. Drugs that mimic hepcidin or increase its activity are being developed. In a small proof-of-concept study involving people with HFE-related hemochromatosis, the hepcidin mimetic rusfertide substantially reduced the need for phlebotomy while treatment continued. These results are encouraging, but such drugs remain experimental and require further evaluation before they can become routine treatment. For now, regular phlebotomy remains the standard and highly effective therapy.