This discussion paper explores the development and implementation of a new flexible route into the teaching profession. This flexible route is offered within an education system in the midst of wide ...reform, which has partnership working between universities and schools at the centre of its Initial Teacher Education. Key elements of the new programme examined include how student teachers acquire the knowledge they need, with interconnectivity, immersive practice and blended learning of significance. This case study illustrates the importance of flexibility in the development of the student teacher's personal construct and communities of practice. The programme's adaptive learner-centred approach is delivering an alternative, flexible route into the teaching profession, broadening the experience base of the future teaching workforce and beginning to successfully address key government policy drivers.
Therapies to reduce liver fibrosis and stimulate organ regeneration are urgently needed. We conducted a first-in-human, phase 1 dose-escalation trial of autologous macrophage therapy in nine adults ...with cirrhosis and a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score of 10-16 (ISRCTN 10368050). Groups of three participants received a single peripheral infusion of 10
, 10
or up to 10
cells. Leukapheresis and macrophage infusion were well tolerated with no transfusion reactions, dose-limiting toxicities or macrophage activation syndrome. All participants were alive and transplant-free at one year, with only one clinical event recorded, the occurrence of minimal ascites. The primary outcomes of safety and feasibility were met. This study informs and provides a rationale for efficacy studies in cirrhosis and other fibrotic diseases.
This paper reports on a project that supported the development of feedback, critical reflection and collaborative skills for student teachers using video technology. As a consequence of the Covid-19 ...restrictions for face-to-face teaching a micro-teach activity was developed for student teachers. Micro-teaching is an activity in which student teachers plan, teach and reflect on small lessons, or parts of lessons. This is frequently used in teacher education as an approach to support planning and reflection, yet it typically occurs face-to-face. Reflection is widely recognised as a key skill that student teachers need to develop as part of their teacher education. Video-supported peer reflection was considered appropriate for the student teachers as it offered them opportunities to review and reflect upon their own, as well as others’ teaching practice; enabling them to revisit recorded lesson segments as frequently as required. Student teachers were surveyed before and after the micro-teach activity. These survey responses are explored here and include the benefits and challenges of supporting the development of pedagogic skills and peer reflection in an online distance learning environment. Improvements in student teachers’ reflection and levels of confidence in peer assessment are also discussed. The most important learning to emerge from the micro-teach activity was the positive impact of the collaborative cross-phase nature of the project, predominantly the reflecting with, and learning from, others.
IntroductionLiver cirrhosis is a growing global healthcare challenge. Cirrhosis is characterised by severe liver fibrosis, organ dysfunction and complications related to portal hypertension. There ...are no licensed antifibrotic or proregenerative medicines and liver transplantation is a scarce resource. Hepatic macrophages can promote both liver fibrogenesis and fibrosis regression. The safety and feasibility of peripheral infusion of ex vivo matured autologous monocyte-derived macrophages in patients with compensated cirrhosis has been demonstrated.Methods and analysisThe efficacy of autologous macrophage therapy, compared with standard medical care, will be investigated in a cohort of adult patients with compensated cirrhosis in a multicentre, open-label, parallel-group, phase 2, randomised controlled trial. The primary outcome is the change in Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score at 90 days. The trial will provide the first high-quality examination of the efficacy of autologous macrophage therapy in improving liver function, non-invasive fibrosis markers and other clinical outcomes in patients with compensated cirrhosis.Ethics and disseminationThe trial will be conducted according to the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki 2013 and has been approved by Scotland A Research Ethics Committee (reference 15/SS/0121), National Health Service Lothian Research and Development department and the Medicine and Health Care Regulatory Agency-UK. Final results will be presented in peer-reviewed journals and at relevant conferences.Trial registration numbersISRCTN10368050 and EudraCT; reference 2015-000963-15
Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is a disease resulting from the loss or dysfunction of epithelial stem cells, which seriously impairs sight. Autologous limbal stem cell transplantation is ...effective in unilateral or partial bilateral disease but not applicable in total bilateral disease. An allogeneic source of transplantable cells for use in total bilateral disease can be obtained from culture of donated cadaveric corneal tissue. We performed a controlled multicenter study to examine the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of allogeneic corneal epithelial stem cells in the treatment of bilateral LSCD. Patients were randomized to receive corneal epithelial stem cells cultured on amniotic membrane (AM): investigational medicinal product (IMP) or control AM only. Patients received systemic immunosuppression. Primary endpoints were safety and visual acuity, secondary endpoint was change in composite ocular surface score (OSS). Sixteen patients were treated and 13 patients completed all assessments. Safety was demonstrated and 9/13 patients had improved visual acuity scores at the end of the trial, with no significant differences between IMP and control groups. Patients in the IMP arm demonstrated significant, sustained improvement in OSS, whereas those in the control arm did not. Serum cytokine levels were measured during and after the period of immune suppression and we identified strongly elevated levels of CXCL8 in the serum of patients with aniridia, which persisted throughout the trial. This first randomized control trial of allogeneic corneal epithelial stem cells in severe bilateral LSCD demonstrates the feasibility and safety of this approach. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2019;8:323–331
Patients with severe ocular surface disorder received transplants of amniotic membrane with (black bars) or without (gray bars) cadaveric‐donor‐derived cultured limbal stem cells. All patients received immune suppression. Only patients who received transplants containing limbal stem cells showed sustained significant improvements (reductions) in combined ocular surface scores (5 factors scored 0–3 where 0 is a normal eye score).
Teacher education is an important element of education reform currently taking place in Wales. Addressing the challenge of recruiting a high-quality teacher workforce is key. To assist in the ...recruitment of teachers to rural schools and to encourage those to enter the profession who
might otherwise not consider teaching as a career, a new flexible and blended online teacher training offer has been available in Wales since 2020. In 2022 the first student teachers graduated from the new programme that offers a two-year part-time or employment-based route into teaching.
Using a case study approach, 50 student teachers' survey responses identified consistently high levels of satisfaction with the programme information and course materials. It is clear, however, that it takes time for students to become familiar with accessing the materials, with differing
levels of satisfaction reported. This has implications for the programme's induction process, which have since been streamlined. Student teachers reported limited engagement with forum posts. Exploring a range of possible actions to support such engagement is underway, including linking
the activity to specific seminar tasks. It was also found that some student teachers are reluctant to interact with their peers during breakout room discussions. Again, this is an aspect that is continuing to be addressed. It is important to recognise that embedding new practices to increase
engagement and collaboration opportunities for student teachers takes time to succeed. Since the forced online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, many education providers continue to offer this flexibility for learners and this paper contributes to understanding and improving this mode
of delivery.
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