Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to Nobel laureate Randy Schekman’s call to ‘break the tyranny’ of top science journals
Randy Schekman, a winner of this year’s Nobel prize in physiology or medicine declared a boycott of top science journals, claiming they are distorting the scientific process. read more
expert reaction to new study into H7N9 and neuraminidase inhibitor resistance
A Nature Communications paper showed a mutation in newly emerged H7N9 influenza can render it resistant to the only class of drugs active against the virus, without affecting its ability to spread in animals. read more
ACMD report on ketamine
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs reviewed the evidence of the misuse and harms of ketamine and its analogues to inform the government’s public health response, as well as the classification of ketamine. read more
expert reaction to ACMD review of ketamine
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) recommended that ketamine should be upgraded to a Class B illegal drug and a schedule 2 substance for legal use by medics and vets. read more
expert reaction to publication of independent inquiry into animal research at Imperial College London
The SMC rounded up reaction to the report on the approach to animal care and welfare at Imperial College London. The independent committee, chaired by Professor Steven Brown of the MRC Mammalian Genetics Unit at Harwell, presented their report at an SMC briefing read more
publication of the report of the independent inquiry into animal research at Imperial College London
Imperial college invited Professor Steven Brown of the MRC Mammalian Genetics Unit at Harwell to chair an independent committee to investigate and assess the approach to animal care and welfare across the college. read more
air pollution and death
Research in The Lancet suggested exposure to tiny particles of soot or dust may be more deadly below current European Union (EU) air … read more
expert reaction to study on air pollution and death
Research in The Lancet suggested exposure to tiny particles of soot or dust may be more deadly below current European Union (EU) air quality limits than previously thought. read more
expert reaction to vitamin D and health
A comprehensive review in the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found low vitamin D levels are not a cause but a consequence of ill health, raising doubt over whether vitamin D supplements protect against serious disease. read more
expert reaction to report on elimination of measles and rubella in the US
JAMA Pediatrics published a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcing the elimination of measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) from the United States was sustained through 2011. read more
expert reaction to gut bacteria and autism-related behaviour
Cell published a paper linking autism-like neurodevelopmental symptoms in mice to changes in the animals’ gut bacteria. read more
G8 Dementia Summit: what the researchers want
Dementia is a hot topic – it affects over 800,000 people in the UK and one in three people aged over 65 will die with a form of dementia. To coincide with the G8 Dementia Summit we brought together some of the leading experts to discuss where the research community want to happen. read more
expert reaction to study on gender differences in brains
A study in PNAS looked at gender-specific differences in brain connectivity, suggesting male and female brains might be structured differently. read more
expert reaction to pre-invasive breast cancer and a molecular marker for whether the lesion will become invasive
A new biomarker could help identify abnormal breast cells that will develop into tumours, according to research published in Clinical Cncer … read more
expert reaction to new research into epigenetic transfer of experience in mice
Nature Neuroscience published research demonstrating that mice biologically inherit information learned by their grandfathers by training mice to fear a cherry blossom-like smell and then allowing them to mate. read more
expert reaction to the proposed freezes in energy prices and the Ed Miliband announced Green paper
Ed Miliband published a green paper on energy, including details of Labour’s plan for a 20-month price freeze.
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expert reaction to reports of a request for Gilles-Eric Séralini to withdraw his paper on the effects of GM maize on rats
The journal Food and Chemical Toxicology, has reportedly requested for Gilles-Eric Séralini to withdraw the study that purported to show that GM maize and the pesticide Roundup could lead to a high incidence of cancer in rats. read more
expert reaction to announcement of new review into plain packaging for cigarettes
The Government announced plans to introduce plain-packet cigarette packaging in an attempt to reduce the number of children drawn into smoking. read more
expert reaction to article on gene circuit to combat obesity
Nature Communications published a paper on a synthetic gene circuit that adjusts production of an appetite suppressing hormone. read more
sexual attitudes & lifestyles: findings from NATSAL
Researchers have completed the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NATSAL) which assesses whether people are practising safe sex, which age group actually has the most unplanned pregnancies and how our attitudes and satisfaction impact on our physical and mental health. read more