Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to announcement of spending review and autumn statement
The chancellor has announced in the autumn statement and comprehensive spending review that the science budget will increase in real terms to £4.7 billion, while the budget for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will be cut by 17%, for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by 15% and the Department for Energy and Climate Change by 22%. read more
expert reaction to WMO report on status of global climate 2015
The World Meteorological Organization has released a report stating that “the global average surface temperature in 2015 is likely to be the warmest on record and to reach the symbolic and significant milestone of 1° Celsius above the pre-industrial era”. read more
expert reaction to Cochrane review of medication for ADHD
Publishing in The Cochrane Library a group of scientists have reviewed the evidence around the effects of a common drug which is used to treat ADHD in children and adolescents, reporting that methylphenidate is associated with some benefits but also an increased risk of “non-serious adverse effects”. read more
expert reaction to study investigating the association between weekend and weekday births and obstetric outcomes
A paper published in The BMJ has examined differences in quality and safety of maternity services between different days, and reports that according to some of the measures which they assessed, weekends saw worse performances than weekdays. read more
expert reaction to study investigating blood glucose response to certain foods in different individuals
A group of scientists have published their work in the journal Cell which reports variable glucose levels in people following meals, and put forward an algorithm which they report can predict a person’s glycemic response. read more
expert reaction to proposed new Cancer Drugs Fund system that’s fully integrated into the NICE appraisal process, and is now open for consultation
A consultation on integrating the Cancer Drugs Fund into the appraisal process of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has been announced. read more
expert reaction to the approval of genetically engineered ‘AquAdvantage’ Salmon by the FDA
The US Food and Drink Administration has approved a new application for a genetically engineered Atlantic salmon named AquAdvantage Salmon. read more
expert reaction to Nurse Review of Research Councils
Sir Paul Nurse has published his review of the structure of the UK’s research councils, which recommends preserving them and providing a formal organisation above them to improve certain processes such as funding and which would be a strengthened voice for science and research. read more
The Nurse Review
An independent review of the UK Research Councils, led by Sir Paul Nurse, is published on 19th November. The report reviews why and how the UK should undertake research. The report makes recommendations to consider how the Research Councils should evolve to support research in the most effective ways to benefit society and to how to invest public money in the best possible way. The review was announced as part of the government’s science and innovation strategy in December 2014. read more
expert reaction to study investigating prevalence in China of gene that enables bacteria to be resistant to polymyxins, the last line of antibiotic defence
The discovery of a gene with allows bacteria to become resistant to a specific type of antibiotic (one considered a “last line of defence”) has been reported in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. read more
expert reaction to new study on bumblebees and neonicotinoids
Publishing in the journal Nature, a group of scientists has described their research into neonicotinoid pesticides and bumblebees, reporting that bumblebees exposed to such pesticides visited apple trees less frequently and collected pollen less often. read more
expert reaction to the release of NICE draft guidance that it is not recommending evolocumab as a treatment for patients with high cholesterol levels
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has announced draft guidance that it is not recommending evolocumab as a treatment for patients with high cholesterol levels. read more
expert comment on Amber Rudd’s speech today on UK energy
The secretary of state for energy and climate change has announced that the UK’s coal-fired power stations will be closed by 2025, with more gas-fired stations to be built. read more
expert reaction to new study on neonicotinoid toxicity to honeybees
A paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B has examined the effect of neonicotinoid pesticides on honeybees and report that they are harmful to individual honeybees, but that the population as a whole can respond and recover. read more
expert reaction to disability assessments linked to suicide
The health impacts of the government’s work capability assessment is the subject of a paper published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, with the authors reporting that “the programme of reassessing people on disability benefits using the Work Capability Assessment was independently associated with an increase in suicides, self-reported mental health problems and antidepressant prescribing.” read more
expert reaction to EFSA’s conclusions on glyphosate safety
The European Food Safety Authority has published its reassessment of the safety of glyphosate, a component of herbicides. The report concludes that glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer in humans. read more
expert reaction to new NICE guideline, ‘Menopause: diagnosis and management’ (short version)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published recommendations on diagnosis and treatment of menopause, including around the benefits and risk of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). read more
Prof Guy Poppy, Chief Scientific Adviser to the FSA
From horsemeat to campylobacter, these have been difficult times for trust in our food chain. One of the top academics grappling with issues in the food we eat is Professor Guy Poppy, the new(ish) Chief Scientific Adviser to the FSA. After the publication of his latest scientific report, the SMC has invited Guy in for a chat about his role at the FSA and his thoughts on some topical controversies in food. read more
sweeteners and weight loss
A review of studies which examine low-energy sweeteners and their effect on energy intake and body weight has been published in the International Journal of Obesity, with the authors reporting that use of such sweeteners does not increase energy intake or body weight, and when the sweeteners are used in place of sugar those measurements can be reduced. read more
expert reaction to meta-analysis of low-energy sweeteners, energy intake and body weight
A review of studies which examine low-energy sweeteners and their effect on energy intake and body weight has been published in the International Journal of Obesity, with the authors reporting that use of such sweeteners does not increase energy intake or body weight, and when the sweeteners are used in place of sugar those measurements can be reduced. read more