Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to letter and investigation about a roll-out of antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2
A letter and investigation, published by the BMJ, look at the roll-out of antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2. Prof Sanjeev … read more
expert comments about warnings about high UV levels on Thursday
The Met Office are predicting high levels of UV radiation on Thursday 25th June. Dr Michaela Hegglin, Associate Professor … read more
expert reaction to Boris Johnson’s comments that no country has a functional contact tracing app
There have been journalists questions about Boris Johnson’s claims that no country in the world has a functioning contact tracing … read more
expert reaction to paper looking at restoring lost brain cells, in mice as a model of Parkinson’s disease and in human cells
A study, published in Nature, looked at restoring lost brain cells, in mice as a model of Parkinson’s disease and in … read more
expert comments about preparing for a second wave, re the open letter calling for a review of the UK’s preparedness for a second wave
A letter, published in the BMJ, has called for a review of the UK’s preparedness for a second wave. Dr … read more
expert reaction to study looking at embryo vitrification, neonatal outcomes and chance of pregnancy success
A study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, looked at embryo vitrification, neonatal outcomes and chance of pregnancy success. … read more
COVID-19: the risk to charity-funded research
The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) put together a group of speakers to explain the impact of new statistics … read more
expert reaction to preprint on the effect of dexamethasone in hospitalised patients with COVID-19
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study posted to MedRxiv, has looked at the effect of dexamethasone in hospitalised patients … read more
digest of the ONS stats on COVID-19 deaths
Once again we had three experts who have looked through the ONS stats on COVID19-related deaths which are published every … read more
expert reaction to latest ONS stats on deaths in England and Wales up to week ending 12 June 2020
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest figures for deaths in England and Wales, including deaths from COVID-19 … read more
expert reaction to announcement by PM on next stages in easing lockdown in England from 4 July, including reducing 2 metre distancing rule to 1 meter plus rule (which includes other mitigation measures)
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has announced a series of ways in which lockdown measures will be relaxed from July … read more
expert reaction to initial results from trials of the University of Oxford’s ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine in pigs showing boosted immune response after two doses
Initial results, from the University of Oxford, have shown that their COVID-19 vaccine has boosted immune responses in pigs. … read more
expert reaction to phase 1 trial of new precision medicine, berzosertib, in 40 patients with cancer
A study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, looked at a new precision medicine, berzosertib, in 40 patients with cancer. … read more
expert reaction to localised COVID-19 outbreaks in an abattoir in Germany and a food factory in Wales
There have been further reports in the media of COVID-19 outbreaks in food processing plants, notably an abattoir in Germany … read more
expert comments about meat processing plants and slaughterhouses and COVID-19 outbreaks
There have been questions form journalists about meat processing plants and slaughterhouses and COVID-19 outbreaks. Prof Lawrence Young, Professor … read more
expert reaction to government publishing R, growth rates and regional R
The government have published the latest estimates for the R value around the UK. Prof Keith Neal, Emeritus Professor … read more
expert reaction to ONS data on COVID19-related deaths England and Wales from 2 March 2020 to 15 May 2020, and ethnicity, religion and disability
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released data on COVID19-related deaths England and Wales considering ethnicity, religion, and disability. … read more
expert reaction to UK COVID-19 alert level moving from Level 4 to Level 3
The government has announced that the UK COVID-19 alert level is moving from Level 4 to Level 3. Prof … read more
ISARIC 4C study – ethnicity and outcomes from hospitalised COVID-19 patients
Reports of ethnic inequalities in COVID-19 outcomes are conflicting and the reasons for any differences in outcomes are unclear. This … read more
expert reaction to research letter looking at cortisol levels and mortality from COVID-19
A peer-reviewed research letter, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, has looked at levels of cortisol and associated mortality … read more