Author Archives: Science Media Centre
National Academies’ pre-election statement on research and innovation
While research and innovation may not be central to the political parties’ election campaigns, it will help answer the issues they will be asked about on the doorstep – such as improving health, creating jobs and producing more sustainable energy. UK researchers address major national and global challenges – from economic recovery to climate change, from security to ageing. To that end, the Academy of Medical Sciences, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society, have published a statement outlining what the new government will need to do to secure the UK’s position as a world-leader in research. read more
expert reaction to study looking at historic UK and US dietary advice on fats
Researchers have published a review in the journal Open Heart, into the evidence around dietary fat, cholesterol and coronary heart disease published before 1983. They conclude that based on the studies which they analysed, dietary recommendations which were introduced in the UK in 1983 were not supported by the evidence. read more
expert reaction to flu vaccine having showed low effectiveness against the main circulating strain seen so far this season
Public Health England has announced that the current flu vaccine has low effectiveness against the main strain of flu which is currently circulating. Due to the time taken to produce enough vaccine stocks, decisions on which flu strains are included in the vaccine each year are made months in advance of the flu season. read more
expert reaction to reports that UK nurse Pauline Cafferkey may have contracted Ebola due to wearing a visor rather than goggles
A report by the Charity Save the Children into the British healthcare worker who contracted the Ebola virus while working in Sierra Leone, has concluded that it is likely that she caught the virus while wearing a visor instead of goggles while treating patients. read more
expert reaction to case of H7 avian flu being confirmed in chickens at a farm in Hampshire
A chicken farm in Hampshire has had the presence of bird flu confirmed, though it is a “low severity” H7 strain which is less serious than the H5N8 strain which was found at a farm in Yorkshire in November 2014. read more
expert reaction to Commons vote on mitochondrial donation
MPs in the House of Commons have today voted in favour of regulations for mitochondrial donation techniques, which aim to prevent the passing on of diseases which are caused by faulty mitochondria. read more
expert reaction to clinical trial of brincidofovir, an experimental Ebola treatment, being stopped
An experimental Ebola treatment being trialled in Liberia has been halted, because the number of cases in the country has fallen so low that a clear result is unlikely. read more
expert encounter: in conversation with Professor Anne Glover CBE FRSE FASM
Professor Anne Glover has become something of a cause célèbre since a campaign by NGOs to oust her as CSA to the President of the European Commission hit the headlines and was followed just months later by the apparent abolition of the post. But Prof. Glover has many supporters, with 100s of leading scientists from around Europe wading in to champion her record and argue the need for the continuation of the role. Throughout this time Anne has remained silent about the row and not spoken to the media. Now however as she packs her bags to leave Brussels, Anne agreed to come to the SMC to talk to science journalists and reflect on her achievements, disappointments and hopes for the future of scientific advice in Europe. read more
the ethics of ‘big data’ – Nuffield Council on Bioethics report launch
We are generating more data about people’s health and biology, from more sources, than ever before, including from GP records (e.g. care.data), hospital notes, laboratory tests, clinical trials, monitoring devices and health apps. Advances in information technology and data science mean that it is becoming easier, cheaper and more valuable to gather, transfer, link, store and analyse these data. read more
expert reaction to UK military healthcare worker being flown back to Royal Free Hospital for monitoring for Ebola after needlestick injury while treating Ebola patient
A patient has been admitted to the Royal Free Hospital in London for assessment following exposure to the Ebola virus through a needlestick injury in Sierra Leone. read more
meta-analysis investigating effectiveness and side-effects of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) for seasonal influenza
Researchers have published in the Lancet journal a meta-analysis of the effects of Tamiflu, reporting beneficial effects on alleviation of symptoms and risk of complications, but also on an increase in side effects such as nausea. read more
expert reaction to new meta-analysis investigating effectiveness and side-effects of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) for seasonal influenza
Researchers have published in the Lancet journal a meta-analysis of the effects of Tamiflu, reporting beneficial effects on alleviation of symptoms and risk of complications, but also on an increase in side effects such as nausea. read more
expert reaction to media reports suggesting the Ebola virus may have mutated
Media reports have suggested that the Ebola virus might have mutated, based on comments from scientists at the Institut Pasteur in France. read more
expert reaction to announcement of date for House of Commons debate on mitochondrial donation
The government has announced that a debate will take place on Tuesday 3rd February in the House of Commons on the proposed regulations for mitochondrial donation techniques. read more
public perceptions of climate change after the 2014 flooding
The UK winter flooding events provided a unique scientific opportunity to test several hypotheses about the links between extreme weather experiences and climate beliefs. A new report to be launched on 29th January at the Royal Society describes the findings of a nationally representative Ipsos-Mori survey of public perceptions of climate change in Britain, particularly how they are influenced by extreme weather. read more
expert reaction to first results from safety and immunogenicity trial of chimpanzee adenovirus Ebola vaccine
The results of a phase I trail of a vaccine against the Ebola virus have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research group tested the virus on participants in Oxford, and reported no adverse side effects. read more
expert reaction to study estimating number of women in the UK who could benefit from mitochondrial donation
A team of researchers publishing in the New England Journal of Medicine has estimated the number of women in the UK who might be able to have access to the mitochondrial donation techniques due to be debated in parliament. read more
expert reaction to study on endocrine-disrupting chemicals and onset of menopause in women
In a paper published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers have studied the association which exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in women may have with the onset of menopause. The researchers report that high levels of 15 EDCs were associated with an earlier onset of menopause, and suggest that these EDCs warrant further attention. read more
expert reaction to study on sugary beverages and age at onset of menstruation
A paper published in the journal Human Reproduction has examined an association between intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and the age of onset of menstruation. The researchers report a younger age for those with a higher intake which they suggest is independent of BMI, but recognise that there may be confounding factors not accounted for. read more
expert reaction to whole-genome sequencing of families with autism spectrum disorder
Researchers publishing in the journal Nature Medicine have sequenced the genomes of families affected by autism, looking in each case at two affected siblings and their parents. They report a large degree of variation in the mutations found in siblings, which translated as different clinical outcomes. read more