2021 in Conversation: The year in medical research

In 2021 we reached the 1-year mark since World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source declared the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the world of medical research continues to grapple with this public health crisis.

Throughout this year, researchers, healthcare workers, and public health experts have been working tirelessly to find the best ways of limiting the impact of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

According to WHO data, over 8 billion COVID-19 vaccinations have taken place globally, using 29 approved vaccines. Little wonder then that one of the top Google searches of 2021 has been “COVID vaccine.”

However, pandemic-related news has been just part of this year’s global storyline.

Research into the unknowns of the microcosm that is the human body was in the spotlight, as scientists wondered whether the microbiome is, in effect, a kind of organ in its own right.

Research in mouse models may have uncovered the likely cause of Alzheimer’s disease: an overabundance of toxic fat-protein complexes in the blood.

And on December 16, the Democratic Republic of Congo declared its 13th Ebola outbreak — which lasted a little over 2 months — over.

It has also been a busy year for Medical News Today‘s writers and editors, as the ongoing pandemic has impacted health journalism just as much as it has affected other sectors.

In this month’s “In Conversation” podcast, our editorial team discusses the research and topics that stuck with us this year, and we reflect on what we would like to see in medical research going forward.