Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to seismic activity in Bárðarbunga volcano
Seismic activity was detected in Bárðarbunga, a large sub-glacial volcano in Iceland. read more
expert reaction to PHE investigation of Salmonella outbreak
Public Health England (PHE) announced an investigation into a outbreak in over 150 people of a type of Salmonella Enteritidis. read more
expert reaction to disruption of gut bacteria in early life and obesity in adulthood in mice
A mouse study in the journal Cell reported that certain microbes in the gut shape metabolism very early in life and … read more
radiation dose from CT scans
The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) published its report investigating the impact of the increased use of CT scans in the UK. read more
expert reaction to paper examining how Ebola virus disables immune response
Researchers publishing in the journal Cell Host & Microbe reported that the Ebola protein VP24 disrupts a cell’s innate immune response, a first step towards causing the disease. read more
expert reaction to stem cells in pilot stroke study
Results of a five-patient pilot study of a stem cell therapy for stroke were published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine. read more
expert reaction to WHO decision that current Ebola outbreak is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Emergency Committee declared that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa meets the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). read more
expert reaction to study looking at type 2 diabetes, metformin and lifespan
Researchers publishing in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism investigated lifespan in patients with type 2 diabetes prescribed with metformin with patients prescribed with another common diabetes drug called sulphonylurea. read more
expert reaction to neurons derived from human skin stem cells being regrown in rats with spinal cord injuries
A paper in Neuron reported that induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from skin cells taken from an 86-year-old man were grafted into rats with spinal cord injuries, leading to regrowth of neurons. read more
in defence of (some) PR
This is a guest post by Ed Sykes, Senior Press Manager and Head of Mental Health & Neuroscience, and Chair … read more
expert reaction to prostate cancer screening trial
Authors publishing in The Lancet reported screening for prostate cancer could reduce deaths from the disease by about a fifth, but suggested that routine screening programmes should not be introduced due to remaining doubts over whether the benefits of screening outweigh the harm. read more
expert reaction to vitamin D and dementia
In a large study published in Neurology researchers measured blood levels of vitamin D in older people and reported that not getting enough vitamin D was associated with a two-fold increase in the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. read more
expert reaction to WHO convening ethical review of experimental treatment for Ebola
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced they will convene a panel of medical ethicists to explore the use of experimental treatment in the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa. read more
expert reaction to fatty acids and type 2 diabetes risk
A large study in The Lancet reported that saturated fatty acids can be associated with both an increased and decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, depending on the type of fatty acids present in the blood. read more
aspirin and cancer: should we be taking a pill every day?
Recent work suggests that daily doses of aspirin may help to reduce cancer, however, using drugs prophylactically is often controversial. Two authors of a paper assessing systematic reviews of 25 harmful effects of aspirin came to the SMC. read more
expert reaction to news reports on treatments for Ebola
News outlets have reported on experimental treatments for Ebola given to two American doctors who contracted the disease. read more
expert reaction to decision not to retract two BMJ articles on statins
An independent panel decided the BMJ did not need to retract two articles on statins – one opinion piece and one analysis – both of which made claims about side effects which were subsequently withdrawn. read more
expert reaction to the oral contraceptive and breast cancer
A study in Cancer Research reported that women who recently used birth control pills containing high-dose estrogen and some, but not all, other formulations had an increased risk for breast cancer. read more
Genomics England: 100,000 genomes project
A background briefing on the 100,000 genomes project being held to coincide with a number of big investment announcements being made by government and other funders on the same day. read more
expert reaction to Norman Baker’s comments on animal research
BBC News reported that Norman Baker said he wants to see an end to animal testing in the UK. read more