• Question: Will there never be a cure for some diseases?

    Asked by 284drud47 to Anne, Florence, Mark, Neil, Sinead on 10 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Mark Collins

      Mark Collins answered on 10 Nov 2015:


      As we move through the times also look back at the history of medicine where 100 years ago the largest known diseases such as small pox, pneumonia, flu, tuberculosis and diphtheria. We have successfully protected large numbers against these although there are a few fatalities. They are small in comparison. It is likely that as we solve and prevent some diseases others will become apparent and we will continue to investigate and attempt to treat. It is for this reason we need the next generation of scientists to study and get involved and continue this research who knows, maybe you will be the person who is that scientist to solve the problems in the next 20-30 years.

    • Photo: Florence McCarthy

      Florence McCarthy answered on 11 Nov 2015:


      I think as someone who searches for new drugs I would have to hope there will be – disease is defined as an abnormal condition and hence there should be something about this abnormality that can be targeted by drugs if only we can find them. I am obviously biased on this but for me it is an area of real promise given how far we have come in the past 200 years.

    • Photo: Sinead Balgobin

      Sinead Balgobin answered on 11 Nov 2015:


      It’s possible, because there are so many diseases… But I like to think that we will be able to make treatments for everything, one day. Science is developing really quickly, and we have already found cures for diseases that 100 years ago would have been deadly. With new technologies and lots of great new scientists (maybe you?) I think we will be able to make lots of new cures and treatments.

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