The Chief Medical Officer briefed journalists on her annual report at the SMC. The report is an aspirational and strategic … read more
Despite tentative evidence that the immune system might play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) the underlying biology of … read more
The UK leads the world in harnessing the huge potential from understanding our DNA and genes. The 100,000 Genomes Project – launched in 2012 – is now poised to achieve its sequencing goal. read more
In the UK we have a strong track record in cancer research – but are NHS patients seeing the benefit? read more
Whilst debate rages about treatments for depression, there is a large proportion of people for whom no treatments work at all. read more
Little is known by the public about the placenta but in fact it’s absolutely essential for supporting the baby as it grows inside the mother. read more
The explosion of technology has the potential to transform healthcare, allowing patients to wear devices and use apps to monitor and improve their health, and for appointments and records to be used in a smarter, more joined-up way. read more
We’ve heard various strong and sometimes conflicting claims from celebrities and politicians about the merits and harms of dietary fats when it comes to our health and our waistlines. read more
The Lancet Countdown was established to provide an independent, global monitoring system dedicated to tracking the health dimensions of the impacts of, and the response to, climate change. read more
On Monday 26 November, the UK Climate Projections 2018 (UKCP18) was published. This is the first major update of climate projections in nearly 10 years, illustrating a range of future climate scenarios. read more
The Lancet Countdown was established to provide an independent, global monitoring system dedicated to tracking the health dimensions of the impacts of, and the response to, climate change. read more
An independent Review of England’s bovine TB strategy was commissioned by Defra in February 2018. The Review was published on Tuesday 13 November. read more
Energy used in our homes accounts for about 20% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, and most of that comes from heating and hot water. If we are to meet our climate goals we need to start decarbonising domestic energy. read more
A selection of authors were present at this briefing to discuss the conclusions of the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C. read more
Concerns about social media and internet use are igniting debate across society. It is never far from the news and there is growing interest in what we’re looking at. read more
Researchers working with the military have been monitoring the mental health of current and former personnel in a long-running cohort. read more
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in adolescents and young adults in the UK and there is currently alarm about suicides amongst university students. read more
Like all new technologies drones can be used for good or ill. Drones are frequently used to target militants in conflict, but they can also find and save casualties during environmental catastrophes. The Foundation for Responsible Robotics turned their attention to the risks and benefits of drones and to that end published a consultation report in the Hague. read more
This summer’s much vaunted hosepipe ban was called off at the eleventh hour as was the SMC’s emergency briefing on the ban. The briefing was adjusted to discuss broader issues including the likelihood of future bans, the influence of climate change and what is being done to protect water resources. read more
A joint report by the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society presents an ambitious plan for how the UK can lead the way in deploying greenhouse gas removal (GGR) technologies to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It is the first time that a range of GGR technologies have been assessed for their real-world potential in being used together to meet climate goals in the UK over the next 30 years. read more
