Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to the use of genome editing techniques to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy in a mouse model
A group of researchers have published in study in the journal Science in which they report the use of CRISPR-cas9 genome editing techniques to treat a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. read more
expert reaction to flooding
Heavy and persistent rainfall has caused flooding in various parts of the UK, with northern England and southern Scotland particularly badly affected. read more
expert reaction to meta-analysis investigating blood pressure lowering treatment for prevention of cardiovascular disease in people with different baseline blood pressures
Writing in The Lancet journal a group of researchers have published their work looking into the effects of lowering blood pressure, in which they report positive effects in terms of prevention of cardiovascular disease across groups of patients with various levels of disease risk. read more
expert reaction to study investigating human stem cell pluripotency using human-mouse chimerism
A study published in Cell Stem Cell reported that it had demonstrated evidence that human pluripotent stem cells can develop normally once transplanted into a mouse embryo, which has important implications for regenerative medicine. read more
Government Chief Scientific Adviser Annual Review
Sir Mark Walport publishes his annual review, Forensic Science and Beyond: Authenticity, Provenance and Assurance on December 17th. The review starts with forensics – the use of analytical science to assist the courts but then moves on to identify where forensic analysis has the power to deliver benefits to society that go far beyond the Criminal Justice System. This report explores the many ways in which we can use analytical scientific tools, combined with the approaches and skills of the forensic scientist, to reap the rewards of these benefits. The report also poses a series of questions to policy makers that point to the key areas where they need to decide whether and how to act. read more
expert reaction to ovarian cancer screening trial
A randomised control trial of ovarian cancer screening in post-menopausal women was published in the Lancet. Screening involved annually testing blood for levels of the protein CA125, and was compared with transvaginal ultrasound screening and with no screening. The study reported that blood screening may result in a reduction in deaths from ovarian cancer but it also gave false positives, and that further research is needed to further investigate the size of any reduction in mortality and the cost effectiveness of any proposed screening programme. read more
expert reaction to House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee report on GM insects
The House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee has published its report on GM insects which recommends that field trials begin. The Committee has been investigating the use of GM insect technologies to fight infectious disease and to control agricultural pests as the technology now exists to render insects unable to transmit diseases, and to reduce insect populations to minimise their threat to animals and crops. read more
genetically modified insects – what is their potential?
The House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee publishes its report on GM insects on Thursday 17 December. The Committee has been investigating the use of GM insect technologies to fight infectious disease and to control agricultural pests. It’s estimated that nearly half the world’s population live in areas that put them at risk from malaria and dengue fever, while in the UK and across the globe, insect damage causes billions of pounds of agricultural losses. But the technology now exists to render insects unable to transmit diseases, and to reduce insect populations to minimise their threat to animals and crops. read more
expert reaction to study investigating extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors in cancer development
The relative contribution of intrinsic (e.g. genetic) and extrinsic (e.g. environmental) risk factors in cancer development is the subject of a paper published in the journal Nature, which reports that external risk factors have a greater influence on cancer risk compared to intrinsic risk factors which only contribute modestly. read more
expert reaction to study investigating active and passive smoking, infertility and early menopause
A study published in the British Medical Journal has investigated the impacts of tobacco exposure on women’s health, which reports an increased risk of infertility and early onset of menopause with passive (secondhand smoke) as well as active exposure to tobacco. read more
expert reaction to antidepressant use during pregnancy linked to autism
Publishing in the Journal of the American Medical Association a group of researchers have looked at the effect of the use of antidepressants during pregnancy and report that the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors later in pregnancy can increase the risk of the child developing autism spectrum disorders. read more
expert reaction to agreement at Paris COP-21
Following two weeks of negotiations, a deal has been reached in Paris which aims to limit global warming and carbon emissions. read more
expert reaction to emerging agreement from Paris Cop-21
An agreement is thought to have been agreed following talks in Paris to produce a deal on carbon emissions with the aim of limiting global warming and climate change. read more
expert reaction to final stages of COP-21
It is being reported that talks in Paris which aim to produce a deal to curb climate change will end on Saturday, a day later than expected. read more
expert reaction to the publication of the Chief Medical Officer’s annual report
The UK’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies has published her annual report, this year focusing on women’s health and exploring common and taboo health issues. It emphasises the need to tackle obesity on a national scale in the hope of relieving strain on health services and improving quality of life for women. read more
media launch of Foundation for Responsible Robotics
Rapid developments in the automation of our everyday lives has prompted an internationally renowned multidisciplinary group of 25 technology scholars to form the Foundation for Responsible Robotics (FRR). We are on the cusp of a robotics revolution with governments and corporations looking to robotics as a powerful new economic driver. Despite the disruptive impact of the increasing automation in our work places, our streets and our homes, only lip service is being paid to the long list of potential societal hazards including human rights violations and the potential for mass unemployment. read more
expert reaction to draft agreement in Paris
A draft text for agreement of those involved in the UN climate talks in Paris has been published. read more
expert reaction to ‘no treatment difference’ between some antidepressants and CBT for severe depression
The use of second generation antidepressants or cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) to treat severe depression in adults is the subject of a paper published in The BMJ, with the authors reporting no difference in the effectiveness of the two treatments. read more
expert reaction to molecule that may remove amyloid plaques in mice
A group of scientists has published their work in mice in the journal Nature Communications, reporting the use a molecule capable of separating clumps of proteins which are a feature of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. read more
expert reaction to MBRRACE-UK report citing mental health as main cause of perinatal death
Whilst the number of direct pregnancy-related deaths has been steadily falling, the same cannot be said for indirect deaths linked to mental health. In fact almost a quarter of women who died due to indirect effects were due to mental health reasons and experts argue that these deaths were often unnecessary. Using data from the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (MBRRACE-UK), experts have assessed pregnancy-related deaths from 2009-2013 including reviews of more than 100 women who committed suicide during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. read more