Alaska WWAMI 'Science in Medicine' lecture Feb. 1

Tuesday, Feb. 1, 4-5 p.m.
CPISB, Room 105A

The Alaska WWAMI program presents Michael Scott Davis, D.V.M. Ph.D. on the topic, "Does breathing cold air give you the flu? Effects of cold air on airway function." Davis is a faculty candidate for the Alaska WWAMI associate, full-time professor of biomedical sciences and is an Alaska IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence faculty candidate.

It is no consequence that a cold is called a cold -- it has been obvious for a long time that upper respiratory viral infections are associated with cold weather and in the northern hemisphere, the cold and flu season is in the winter. But why? There are many theories, ranging from effects of temperature on viral viability to behavioral issues that increase the likelihood of exposure and infection. There may be some truth to all of them. In this presentation, Davis will present data from human and animal studies that support a new hypothesis: "The idea that cold air has a direct effect on the immune function of the airways, leading to decreased resistance to viral infections such as rhinovirus and influenza."

For more information, please contact Maryann Kniffen at anmik@uaa.alaska.edu.