Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to suicide statistics from ONS
The Office of National Statistics has released data on suicide rates in the UK in 2012. read more
expert reaction to biomarkers for depression
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have found evidence that suggests that cortisol levels in adolescent boys may be a biomarker for major depression. read more
biomarkers for depression
Around 1 in 6 people suffer from major depressive disorder at some point in their lives. Currently there is no way to predict the at-risk groups, but researchers at the University of Cambridge have been attempting to find biomarkers for use in adolescents. read more
expert reaction to industrial chemicals and neurodevelopmental disorders
Research published in Lancet Neurology called for an overhaul of industrial chemical regulations due to a suggested link between such chemicals and neurodevelopmental disorders. read more
expert reaction to blight-resistant GM potatoes
Work published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B outlines a trial of GM Desiree potatoes that are blight-resistant. read more
expert reaction to continued flooding
Further reaction to the ongoing flooding and storm conditions hitting the UK, with a focus on hydrology and flood forecasting. read more
expert reaction to the government response to the review of the regulation of cosmetic interventions
The Government responded to a review of cosmetic interventions, led by NHS medical director Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, by announcing a raft of new regulations. read more
expert reaction to the upgrade of ketamine to a Class B drug
The Government announced the recreational drug ketamine will be reclassified from a Class C to a Class B banned substance. read more
expert reaction to diabetes, epilepsy, asthma and self-harm
Research in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine found common physical illnesses such as diabetes, epilepsy and asthma were associated with a moderately elevated risk of self-harm. read more
expert reaction to study on nuclear fusion
Nature reported experiments that have succeeded in releasing more energy through a fusion reaction than is absorbed by the fuel, marking an important step towards nuclear fusion as a viable alternative energy source. read more
expert reaction to continued flooding
Further commentary on the flooding situation in the UK. read more
expert reaction to draft guidance from NICE recommending wider use of statins
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issued draft guidance which recommends that doctors lower the threshold for prescribing statins for preventative treatment of cardiovascular disease. read more
expert reaction to continued flooding
Further commentary on the flooding situation in the UK, particularly related to climate change. read more
the science of flooding
Hydrologists and geologists working at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) and the British Geological Survey (BGS) came to the SMC to talk about the science behind flooding, including analysis of historic hydrological patterns, how scientific research is used to help predict floods, and examine possible future scenarios under climate change. read more
EU rules are denying children new cancer drugs
Current EU rules do not incentivise pharmaceutical companies to test cancer drugs in children, even though some childhood cancers have similar genetic and biochemical properties to some adult cancers. The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR), is calling for changes to the current system in the EU, to encourage pharma companies to test more of their drugs in children. read more
expert reaction to continued flooding
As storms continue to sweep into the UK and flooding in the Somerset Levels and many other areas worsen, experts comment on what impact dredging could have made, how rare this prolonged bad weather is, how we can expect conditions to develop, and the role of climate change. read more
expert reaction to new paper on temperature ‘slowdown’
An article published in Nature Climate Change looked at how strengthened Pacific trade winds can account for much of the recent slowdown in … read more
expert reaction to Government announcement on animal research
The Government outlined how it will work to reduce, replace and refine the use of animals in research. read more
Government announcement on animal research
The Government announced a Delivery Plan which explains how they are going to meet their commitment to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research. read more
CBT for schizophrenia
Treatments for mental health have had a bumpy ride. Many people do not trust the drugs, whilst the evidence for non-pharmaceutical therapies can be very varied. Publishing in The Lancet, UK researchers have investigated whether Cognitive Therapy (also known as CBT) is a viable alternative therapy. read more