Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to ONS stats on deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 9 April 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
expert reaction to study looking at supplements and the risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2
An observational study published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health looks at the effects of dietary supplements on the risk … read more
expert reaction to the World Meteorological Organization’s report on the State of the Global Climate 2020
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released its report on the State of the Global Climate 2020. Dr Samantha … read more
expert reaction to study looking at preconception alcohol consumption in men and incidence of birth defects
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics looks at paternal drinking before pregnancy and fetal birth defect risk. Prof Rod … read more
expert reaction to cases of variant B.1.617 (the ‘Indian variant’) being investigated in the UK
Several cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.617 have now been detected in the UK. Prof Sharon Peacock, Director of … read more
expert reaction to the announcement of Prof Lucy Chappell FMedSci as the new CSA for the DHSC
Professor Lucy Chappell has been announced as the new Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) … read more
launch of human challenge trial to study immune response in people who have already had COVID-19 infection
Researchers at the University of Oxford are launching a human challenge trial to look at what kind of immune response … read more
expert reaction to launch of human challenge trial to study immune response in people who have already had COVID-19 infection
Researchers from the University of Oxford have launched a human challenge trial which aims to find out what kind of … read more
the Events Research Programme
The science-led Events Research Programme (ERP) pilots will be run across a range of settings, venues and activities, starting with the World … read more
expert reaction to new JCVI advice on COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that pregnant women should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine at … read more
expert reaction to latest R number and growth rates estimates, published by the government
The government have published the latest estimates for the COVID-19 R number and growth rates. Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus … 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 … read more
expert reaction to latest weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace (England): 1 April to 7 April 2021
The government have released the latest statistics from the COVID-19 Test and Trace system. Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor … read more
expert reaction to study looking at generating human-monkey chimeric embryos
A study published in Cell looks at injecting human stem cells into primate embryos to grow human-monkey chimeric embryos. … read more
expert reaction to media report suggesting ‘82% of positive rapid tests ‘were correct’’, as reported by the BBC
In an article by the BBC, it’s suggested that analysis of data from Public Health England (PHE) shows 82% of … read more
expert reaction to preprint looking at incidence of rare cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) following COVID-19 infection compared to incidence after vaccination or influenza
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, looks at incidence of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis (CVT) after COVID-19, compared to incidence … read more
expert reaction to press release from the European Society of Cardiology on a conference abstract looking at red meat and heart disease
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) have published a press release on an observational study looking at intake of red … read more
expert reaction to ONS data on coronavirus and self-isolation after testing positive in England: 8 March to 13 March 2021
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released data from the COVID Test Trace Cases Insights Survey on self-isolation after … read more
what is the risk of CVT following COVID-19, and how it compares to the risk with vaccines
We now know that Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) has been reported to occur in about 5 in a million people … read more
phase 2 trial comparing psilocybin with escitalopram for depression
This phase 2 trial is the first head to head comparison of psilocybin against a licenced antidepressant in patients with … read more