SVAS (Supravalvular Aortic Stenosis) is a rare condition where the aorta loses elasticity, causing dangerous thickening and narrowing. Using stem-cell technology, the researcher converts skin cells into aortic smooth muscle cells to study the disease and test treatments. A promising compound restores elasticity-related structures, offering hope for future therapies and broader disease modelling.

This research searches for new antibiotics in deep-sea sponge bacteria that have evolved for 580 million years to defend their hosts. By growing these never-before-seen microbes and testing them against superbugs like MRSA, the project aims to discover urgently needed antibiotics to combat rising antimicrobial resistance.