Author Archives: Science Media Centre
there will be another Alfie Evans. Experts need to engage
This is a guest post by Tom Sheldon, Senior Press Manager at the SMC. In July 2017 the story of … read more
expert reaction to study looking at presence of third hand smoke indoors
New research, published in Science Advances, suggests that thirdhand smoke persists and spreads indoors with help from aerosol particles.
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expert reaction to Cochrane review on the HPV vaccine for cervical cancer prevention in girls and women
A new review, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, evaluates the harms and protection of the human papilloma virus (HPV) in adolescent girls and women. read more
Cochrane review on the HPV vaccine
Recent media stories have aired the argument that teenage boys should be given the HPV vaccine as well as girls. And some campaign groups believe the HPV vaccine has damaged some teenage girls. But what does the evidence say about how well the vaccine works at preventing cervical cancer in women? read more
brain tumours and lifestyle factors
Researchers publishing in the Journal of Environment and Public Health investigate the association between risk of brain tumour and lifestyle … read more
expert reaction to paper looking at brain tumour incidence and lifestyle factors
Researchers publishing in the Journal of Environment and Public Health investigate the association between risk of brain tumour and lifestyle factors e.g. mobile phones.
expert reaction to study reporting the development of embryo-like structures derived from mouse stem cells
A new study, published in Nature, reports the development of embryo-like structures -“blastoids” – derived from mouse stem cells. read more
expert reaction to news that approximately 450,000 women missed breast cancer screening invitations due to IT failure
About 450,000 women in England missed an invitation for routine breast cancer screening due to NHS errors. read more
expert reaction to study looking at MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD
Reporters present a study that tests MDMA in a clinical setting, alongside intensive psychotherapy, for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, as published in The Lancet Psychiatry. read more
expert reaction to new WHO global air pollution data
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published new figures on air pollution. read more
expert reaction to study looking at dietary intake and age at menopause
A new study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, reports that some food groups and specific nutrients are individually predictive of age at natural menopause. read more
expert reaction to a review of the association between mid-life anxiety and later life dementia
Researchers publishing a systematic review in BMJ Open, examine the association between mid-life anxiety and long-term risk for dementia. read more
expert reaction to EU ban on outdoor use of three neonicotinoid pesticides
Further restrictions on neonicotinoid pesticides have been approved following a vote in the European Commission. read more
expert reaction to discussion paper on air pollution and crime
Researchers report in a discussion paper, published by the Institute of Labor Economics, that air pollution is a major driver of crime in London. read more
expert reaction to the latest on Alfie Evans
Scientists comment on the ongoing Alfie Evans case. read more
Life Sciences Industrial Strategy: Briefing with the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee
A strong life sciences sector can simultaneously benefit the UK’s economy and help improve the nation’s health. But who in the Government is leading the delivery of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy? To whom are they accountable? What power do they have to harness Government departments and the NHS? read more
expert reaction to study investigating the association between different types of anticholinergic drugs and risk of dementia
A new study, published in the BMJ, estimates the association between duration and level of exposure to different classes of anticholinergic drugs and subsequent incident dementia. read more
Association between anticholinergic drugs and risk of dementia
Anticholinergic drugs act on the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the nervous system and are used to treat a range of conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, urinary incontinence, depression, and allergies. read more
expert reaction to research on microplastics in Arctic sea ice
A study in Nature Communications suggests that Arctic sea ice is an important temporal sink and means of transport for microplastic. read more
expert reaction to the ongoing Alfie Evans case
Alfie Evans has been in Alder Hey hospital, in Liverpool, since December 2016 with a rare undiagnosed degenerative neurological condition. His father has reported that Alfie’s life support has been turned off.