Myelin and TRPA1 - infographic

Student - Bryan Xin

Supervisor - Dr Nicola Hamilton-Whitaker

This scientific educational infographic that I developed as part of the ongoing research in the Hamilton Lab is to share information with the public on the important role of myelin and how TRPA1 channels may potentially damage it, leading to neurodegenerative disorders like Multiple Sclerosis. 

The development of this piece involved conducting several interviews with my lab supervisor and fellow postgraduate students. The complexity of the topic meant that I needed to develop a thorough understanding of the science behind the research first to grasp the concepts and more importantly, to translate them into simple language for a wider audience to comprehend.

Incorporating various diagrams, labels, arrows, and colour schemes was part of my aim to make the infographic engaging and interesting. Additionally, I tried to explain the technical concepts using simple and concise language to ensure that anyone reading it found it easy to follow and understand. 

An extension to the infographic could be the inclusion of a QR code that leads to an animated video using an analogy of an insulated wire to explain this concept in a simplified manner. This interactive feature would help to engage the audience further and enhance their understanding of the topic.