Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert comment on current COVID-19 situation and whether we are entering a third wave
Comments from Dr Stephen Griffin and Professor Jonathan Ball on the current COVID-19 situation in case useful. Dr Stephen … read more
expert reaction to first confirmed human case of H10N3 bird flu
A 41-year-old man in China has been confirmed as the first human case of infection with a rare strain of … read more
expert reaction to ONS stats on deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 21 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
expert reaction to zero COVID-related deaths reported today
According to the DHSC COVID-19 Dashboard, there have been zero deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test in … read more
expert reaction to preprints giving data on mass testing at the University of Cambridge, including transmission, genomic surveillance and participation
Two preprints, unpublished non-peer reviewed studies, provide data on transmission, genomic surveillance and participation in Cambridge’s Asymptomatic Screening Programme. … read more
expert reaction to study looking at alcohol consumption, including within UK guidelines, and structural images of organ systems
A study published in eLife uses UK Biobank data to look at alcohol consumption and structural changes in multiple organ … read more
expert reaction to theme issue on ‘Modelling that shaped the early COVID-19 pandemic response in the UK’
Here are some comments from authors and guest editors of some of these papers published in Philosophical Transactions B (i.e … read more
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