Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to study looking at physical exercise as a risk factor for motor neurone disease (MND)
A study published in EBioMedicine looks at physical exercise and development of the neurodegenerative condition motor neurone disease (MND). … read more
expert reaction to the IPBES-IPCC co-sponsored workshop report on biodiversity and climate change
A workshop report, sponsored by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the Intergovernmental Panel on … read more
IPBES-IPCC report on the interactions of the science of biodiversity and climate change
Last December fifty of the world’s leading experts on climate change and biodiversity took part in a workshop jointly organised … read more
expert reaction to evidence given by Matt Hancock to the Science and Technology Committee and Health and Social Care Committee on Coronavirus: lessons learnt
Matt Hancock, the UK’s Secretary of State for Health, today gave evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology … read more
the General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR) – is it a good idea?
On Tuesday Jo Churchill announced that the launch of the General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR), a new … read more
expert reaction to study looking at the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a condition that affects the blood
A study, published in Nature Medicine, investigates incidences of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in people who have also received the Oxford-AstraZeneca … read more
Q&A on the B.1.617.2 delta variant: what do and don’t we know?
The SMC brought together a panel of scientists to answer journalists’ questions about what we do and don’t know from … read more
expert reaction to study looking at how temperature and population density influences transmission of SARS-CoV-2
A study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), looks at how environmental conditions potentially influence transmission of … read more
expert reaction to the latest fortnightly release on the Coronavirus Infection Survey looking at antibody and vaccination data for the UK, 9 June 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
expert reaction to study looking at drinking alcohol and the chances of becoming pregnant
A study published in Human Reproduction looks at alcohol intake and fecundability during menstrual cycle phases. Dr Sadie Boniface, … read more
expert reaction to Royal Statistical Society report from their Diagnostic Tests Working Group on standards for diagnostic tests
The Royal Statistical Society has published a report looking at the statistical evidence needed to assure the performance of future … read more
preprint – modelling study looking at the establishment of the delta (B.1.617.2) variant in England
The JUNIPER (Joint UNIversities Pandemic and Epidemiological Research) Consortium have been modelling the impact of new variants within England. Journalists … read more
expert reaction to the launch of the General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR) being delayed for 2 months until 1st September 2021
Speaking to the House of Commons, the Health Minister Jo Churchill announced that the creation of a central NHS digital … read more
expert reaction to press release from the RECOVERY trial reporting that aspirin does not improve survival for patients hospitalised with COVID-19
The results of the aspirin arm of the RECOVERY trial have been announced, finding that aspirin does not improve survival for … read more
expert reaction to ONS deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 28 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 study looking at plant-based, fish and other diets and COVID-19 severity
An observational study published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health looks at plant-based and pescatarian diets and severity of COVID-19 … read more
expert comment on COVID-19 vaccination status, infection and hospitalisation data
A comment from Professor Sheila Bird on COVID-19 vaccination status, infection and hospitalisation data. Prof Sheila Bird, Formerly Programme … read more
expert reaction to FDA approval of aducanumab (Aduhelm) for Alzheimer’s disease, through the Accelerated Approval pathway
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has today approved aducanumab (Aduhelm) to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Prof … read more
expert reaction to MHRA extending the UK approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to allows its use in 12- to 15-year-olds
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today authorised an extension to the current UK approval of the … 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 Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor … read more