Author Archives: Science Media Centre
why is COVID so deadly?
A while ago we asked whether journalists would value a background briefing on the biology of COVID that would explore … read more
expert reaction to media reports suggesting a person in Brazil who was taking part in the Brazil arm of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine trial has died
It has been reported that a person in Brazil who was taking part in the Brazil arm of the Oxford/AstraZeneca … read more
expert reaction to 26,688 new COVID-19 cases being reported
On Tuesday 21st October the government reported 26,688 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UK. Dr Stephen Griffin, … read more
expert reaction to preprint from King’s College London on long COVID using data from the COVID Symptom Study app
A preprint, an unpublished non peer-reviewed study posted to medRxiv, looked at long COVID using data from the King’s College … read more
expert comment about the possibility of having tens of thousands of deaths in the second wave
Journalists have asked for comment in response to comments made by Prof John Edmunds at the Science and Technology Committee and … read more
meet the scientist appointed to advise government on ethnicity and COVID and hear about the Government’s first quarterly report on COVID disparities
Dr Raghib Ali is Senior Clinical Research Associate, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge and he, along with Professor Keith … read more
expert reaction to report looking at progress to address COVID-19 health inequalities, with a focus on ethnic minorities
A new report has looked at progress to address COVID-19 health inequalities, with a focus on ethnic minorities. This Roundup … read more
expert reaction to feature on whether COVID-19 vaccine trials will be able to tell us if they prevent hospitalisations, intensive care use or deaths
A feature, published in the BMJ, discusses whether COVID-19 vaccine trials will be able to tell us if they prevent … read more
expert reaction to latest nowcast and forecast of COVID-19 from the MRC Biostatistics Unit at the University of Cambridge
The MRC Biostatistics Unit at the University of Cambridge have released their latest nowcast and forecast of COVID-19. Prof … read more
expert reaction to Manchester going into Tier 3
It was announced that the Greater Manchester region is due to be put under Tier 3 COVID restrictions from Friday … read more
expert reaction to study looking at dietary flavanol intake and blood pressure
A study, published in Scientific Reports, looked at dietary flavanol intake and blood pressure. Dr Ada Garcia, Senior Lecturer … read more
expert reaction to study looking at long term noise exposure and associated cognitive decline and dementia in older adults
Research, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, looked at long term noise exposure and associated cognitive decline and dementia in older … read more
expert reaction to new risk tool developed to predict a person’s risk of being admitted to hospital and dying from Covid-19
A study, published in the BMJ, looked at a new tool developed to predict a person’s risk of being admitted … read more
expert reaction to study of steroid treatments for asthma and osteoporosis
Research, published in Thorax, looked at steroid treatments for asthma and osteoporosis. Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor of Applied … read more
expert reaction to three studies of Tocilizumab to treat COVID patients
Three studies, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, looked at the drug Tocilizumab to treat COVID-19 patients. Prof Martin Landray, … read more
expert reaction to study on how SARS-CoV-2 enters cells, looking at structure of the spike protein and neuropilin-1 on the surface of cells
A study, published in Science, looked at how SARS-CoV-2 enters cells, and looking at structure of the spike protein and neuropilin-1 … read more
expert reaction to ONS data on deaths in England and Wales (week ending 9 Oct)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest data on deaths England and Wales, including deaths from COVID-19 … read more
expert reaction to human challenge studies to be explored in the UK
It has been announced that human challenge studies into COVID-19 are to be explored in the UK. This Roundup accompanied … read more
expert partnership to explore and establish Human Challenge studies of Covid-19 in the UK
Experts from the NHS, academia and the private sector are joining forces with the government in a new partnership to … read more
expert reaction to longitudinal cohort study on exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and neurological disorders
Research, published in Lancet Planetary Health, looked at exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and neurological disorders. Dr Sara … read more