Author Archives: Science Media Centre
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A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, looks at incidence of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis (CVT) after COVID-19, compared to incidence … read more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
expert reaction to phase 2 trial comparing psilocybin and escitalopram for depression
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine looks at phase 2 trail comparing psilocybin, the active compound … read more
expert comment about data from the UK vaccine roll-out
A comment from Professor Sheila Bird on data from the UK vaccine roll-out in case useful. Prof Sheila Bird, … read more
a period of mourning shouldn’t stop health communications in a pandemic
By Fiona Fox This blog contains the thoughts of the author rather than representing the work or policy of the … read more
expert reaction to preprint looking at the immune responses in over 80 year olds after one dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, looks at antibody generation and cellular immune responses in people over the age … read more
expert reaction to the latest fortnightly release on the Coronavirus Infection Survey looking at antibody and vaccination data for the UK, 14 April 2021
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest report from the COVID-19 infection survey, looking at antibody and vaccination … read more
immune response in over 80 year olds 5 weeks after vaccination with one dose of either AstraZeneca or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
A new preprint from the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium and the University of Birmingham looks at the antibody and cellular … read more
launch of second phase of study looking at COVID-19 heterologous prime-boost vaccination
Yesterday we hosted a briefing for science and health journalists on the extension to the COMCOV trial; a trial to … read more