Author Archives: Science Media Centre
the development of antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2
Last month the government announced the launch of a COVID-19 Antivirals Taskforce to search for the most promising novel antiviral … read more
expert reaction to one-dose Janssen COVID-19 vaccine being approved by the MHRA
Is has been announced that the one-dose Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has today been given regulatory approval by the Medicines and … read more
expert reaction to latest data from the ONS Infection Survey
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest data from their COVID-19 Infection Survey. Prof James Naismith, Director of … read more
what’s in a name? Naming B.1.617.2 and other SARS-Cov-2 variants
With variants becoming a daily part of the media and public understanding of the pandemic, and moving into a phase … read more
expert reaction to safety, immunogenicity and efficacy results from the trial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) looks at safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy results from the … read more
expert reaction to Spanish study looking at safety measures and COVID-19 transmission at an indoor live music event
A study by Spanish researchers published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases looks at same-day SARS-CoV-2 antigen test screening in an … read more
expert reaction to comments from Matt Hancock that more than half and up to three quarters of new UK COVID-19 cases could be of the B.1.617.2 ‘Indian’ variant
The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, told a Downing Street press briefing this afternoon that up to three quarters of new … read more
expert comments in response to comments made by Dominic Cummings yesterday about human challenge trials and vaccine development
Whilst giving evidence to a joint session of the Commons Heath, and Science and Technology committees on Wednesday, Dominic Cummings … read more
expert reaction to media reports that President Biden has ordered intelligence officials to redouble efforts to investigate the origins of COVID-19
There have been media reports stating that US President Joe Biden has ordered intelligence officials to find answers to the … read more
expert reaction to latest data from the ONS COVID-19 Schools Infection Survey Round 4, England: antibody data
The Office for National Statistics (ONS), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and Public Health England (PHE) have released the fourth … read more
expert reaction to preprint from Germany giving theory about why blood clots might rarely occur after vector-based COVID-19 vaccines
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, from researchers in Germany presents a theory for why vector-based COVID-19 vaccines, such … read more
expert reaction to the Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update
The Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update has been published today, led by the UK Met Office and issued by … read more
ISSCR Guidelines Update on Stem Cell Research
How are rapid advances in stem cell research raising new scientific and ethical questions, such as the ability to extend … read more
expert reaction to evidence given by Dominic Cummings to the Science and Technology Committee and Health and Social Care Committee on Coronavirus: lessons learnt
Boris Johnson’s former chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, has given evidence today to a joint session of the Commons Heath, and … read more
expert reaction to the latest fortnightly release on the Coronavirus Infection Survey looking at antibody and vaccination data for the UK, 26 May 2021
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest report from the COVID-19 infection survey, looking at antibody and vaccination data … read more
fusion energy – results from UKAEA MAST Upgrade experiment
Initial results from the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) new MAST Upgrade experiment at Culham point to a solution to … read more
expert reaction to letter presenting three cases of ischaemic stroke following the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
A letter published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry discusses three cases of ischaemic stroke, blood clots in … read more
expert reaction to Moderna press release announcing that its TeenCOVE study of its COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents met its primary endpoint
A press release from Moderna announces the TeenCOVE study of its COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents meets primary endpoint and plans … read more
expert reaction to gov.uk guidance on ‘If you’re in an area where the new COVID-19 variant is spreading’
The government have issued updated guidance for those in areas where the new COVID-19 variant first identified in India is … read more
expert reaction to ONS stats on deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 14 May 2021
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released provisional counts of the number of deaths registered in England and Wales in the … read more