Postgraduate Studies and Research in Physiology and

Biomedical Sciences in Libya

Osama Tashani

Osama Tashani

Born 1958 in Benghazi –Libya

Myself and my researchLibyaUniversity of GaryounisBioscience/biomedical research

How I got involved in Physiology?

Veterinary Medicine (Tripoli) 1983

Veterinarian at Benghazi ZooChess TournamentsMedical Physiology

1986-1990 Respiratory Physiology

Irish Connection

1990-1994 UCD, Dublin

Barry F. Leek

Research Experience

Identifying visceral sensory receptors

(single unit recording technique)

Multi-unit recording

Respiratory-cycle related receptors

What other people have discovered: Mechanoreceptors in mammals (rabbit)

(Hering-Breuer Reflex)

Low Ppulmonary CO2 sensitive receptors in birds

What we’ve added: Electrophysiological evidence of

Mechanoreceptors in birds

Domestic fowl as a new experimental model to study hollow organs mechanoreception

Bird’s crop is easily accessible. Sufficient length of vagus nerves for

dissection. Hens are cheap.

Cons: Birds are birds. Crop is not stomach.

What has been done so far:

Recording of both rapidly and slowly adapting mechanoreceptors in the crop

Localization of some of these mechanoreceptors

Evidence of arrangement of these mechanoreceptors “ in series”

What is this got to do with Pain Research

Visceral nociceptors can be recorded, monitored and examined

“ signaling of nociception from hollow organs principally involves mechanoreceptors in muscle layers”

Population 6,000,000

Under 14 years of age: 34%

Age expectancy: 75 years

Birth rate: 25 / 1000 adults

Cities:

Tripoli (Tarabulus) 2 million(University of Alfateh)

Benghazi 800,000(University

of Garyounis)

Teaching and Research

Ancient Egyptians

Greeks

Romans

Arabs

Maltese

Spanish

Turks

Italians

Germans

French

British

Who ruled Libya

People:

Arabs, Berbers, Turks, Africans, Greeks, Tuarek

Oil

95% of export earnings25% of GDP 60% of public sector wages

Libya has one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa

University of Garyounis

Established as The Libyan University 1955

Became University of Benghazi 1973

Libya has 7 major universities and more than 15 regional institutions

35 000 students

2000 staff

Female/male ratio 5/1

Faculty of Public Health:

Epidemiology, Environment, Nutrition

Faculty of Science:

Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics

Faculty of Medicine:

Medical Physiology and Biochemistry

Clinical Sciences

Faculty of Pharmacy:

Pharmacology and Toxicology

Research and Postgraduate Studies in Biosciences in Libya

Department of PsychologyDepartment of Sport

Scientific Research Organization

Numbers and facts:

190 postgraduate students in Biosciences 49 of them are funded by the university 7 are doing PhD M.Sc. Program take an average of three

years

Publications:

Garyounis (29)

Leeds met 149

Leeds 270

Research interests of some groups in Faculty of Science, Garyounis University

Toxicological and therapeutic effects of local herbs used in traditional therapy of some diseases.

(hypoglycaemic action of some herbs)

Evaluation of pulmonary function of different groups in Libya ( establishment of standard normal values and study the effect of pollution…etc)

Diabetes Research:Hyperinsulinemia in young adults Lipid profiles and effect of fasting

Obesity and Fitness Research:EpidemiologyHeart variability and fitness of general

population in Libya

Microbiology and Parasitology:Epidemiology, Strain Characterization(e.g: Echinococcus granulosus)

Medical genetics

Dr BozraidaProf Bonthron (Leeds)

Prof Don McManus

Queensland Institute of Medical Research

Problems of Scientific Research in Libya The government’s bureaucracy and limited budget Absence of clear objectives and strategy of scientific

research Lack of Research know-how Weak industries Political correctness and religious and cultural taboos Brain drain Many students, few supervisors. Social problems (females are many more than males

at any level of education) Language problem (Arabic and English)

Rise and decline of Arabic as language of science in middle ages

Spread of Islam

700 A.D.

Mongol invasion of Iraq and the destruction of Grand Bagdad Library 1258

Great translation project and muslim scientific era 800-1200

English words of Arabic Origin

Alcohol الكحول Algorithm الخوارزمية Arsenal دار الصناعة Admiral أمير البحر Alkali القلي Algebra الجبر Calibre القالب

Coffee قهوة Cotton قطن Hashish حشيش Hazard الزهر Syrup شراب Tariff تعريفة Zero صفر

Al Razi865 - 925 Iran

Razi rejected the Galen’s medical theory and pioneered the concept of mental health and self-esteem

Best Book was: AlhawiRazi was a pure rationalist

, extremely confident of the power of reason

Ethics of Medicine

Ibn Sina (Avicenna)980-1037 Central Asia (now Uzbekistan)

14-volume The Canon of Medicine:

was a standard medical text in many parts of the world including western Europe for seven centuries

It asserts that tuberculosis was contagious,

It also describes the symptoms and complications of diabetes.

An Arabic edition of the Canons was circulated at Rome in 1593,

Ibn Nafis 1213-1288 in Damascus

Pulmonary circulation:"The blood from the right chamber of the heart must arrive at the left chamber but there is no direct pathway between them. The thick septum of the heart is not perforated ………………. The blood from the right chamber must flow through the vena arteriosa (pulmonary artery) to the lungs, …………., pass through the arteria venosa (pulmonary vein) to reach the left chamber of the heart and there form the vital spirit...”

How to improve cooperation between Libya and UK

Postgraduate Libyan students study at British universities

Joint research projects with students (researchers) working in Libya

Visits from Libyan professors, researchers… Visits by British scientists to Libya Conferences and scientific meetings External examiners Funds…….??????????

Thank you شكرا