From the Editor: Salamanders, Zebrafish, and CRS

This issue of the CRS Newsletter contains a fascinating summary of five published articles that have some focus on animals as a source of compounds with the potential to treat human conditions or as models to facilitate understanding of disease and biological functions. Of particular interest are the potential woundhealing peptide sources from salamander skin and the zebrafish model used to understand cyanide poisoning. Two interesting Scientifically Speaking articles appear as well: using immobilised lipase to improve evaluation of lipid-based formulations, and evaluating the permeability, stability, and toxicity of a novel peptide.

The interview with Prof. Mitragotri—a prominent leader in the field of drug delivery and biomaterials including transdermal delivery of proteins and peptides and the development of models to predict transport across the skin and mucosal barriers— makes for interesting reading. In a similar vein, the “Volunteer Spotlight” features interviews with David Chen and Medha Joshi, who have different degrees of experience as CRS volunteers, in which they share their motivation for and highlight their expectations of their involvement with the organization.

The active and award-winning UKICRS chapter provides a report on three sessions related to cell responses at surfaces, design and development of regenerative medicines, and the industrial application of biomaterials that the chapter facilitated at the UK PharmSci meeting held in September.

You will no doubt be aware that CRS is gearing up for the annual meeting to be held in Edinburgh, Scotland, a meeting that promises to be as innovative in its delivery as the science of delivery that we, as scientists, present when we attend the meeting. The call for abstracts is out, so get onto submitting as soon as you are able. In addition, you as members have been asked to consider nominating colleagues for awards and positions within CRS. Also, be on the lookout for calls for volunteers for various committees.

Finally, I would like for all of us to take a few moments to reflect on the Ebola epidemic and other diseases that have affected some of the poorest people in the world this year. There are opportunities to learn from these and other events so that innovative and out-of-the-box thinking can find the treatments and cures to overcome many of these conditions.

As the year draws to a close, I wish you all a happy and blessed time with family and friends. I suggest you take a break at the end of what has been an extremely busy and I am sure productive year, and I wish that 2015 will be a peaceful and prosperous year for all.