Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to intestinal cell protection and chemotherapy in mice
A study published in Nature has suggested that treating intestinal stem cells with certain substances may enhance tolerance to aggressive chemoradiotherapy in mice.
expert reaction to substance found in broccoli, metabolism and ageing
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown that diets rich in glucosinolates, such as glucoraphanin found in broccoli, may benefit metabolism. read more
expert reaction to fertility problems in women and cancer risk in their children
A study published in the International Journal of Cancer suggests that the children of women who experienced fertility problems may have an increased risk of cancer in childhood and young adulthood.
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expert reaction to train crash in Galicia, Spain
A train derailment in Galicia, Spain on Wednesday 24th July kills over 70 people. read more
the true cost of brain disorders
NHS spending frequently makes headline news, but whilst the Government’s attention has focussed largely on cancer and heart disease, a new piece of research reports how much the UK spent per person, and per disorder on both the direct and indirect costs of around 45 million diagnoses. read more
expert reaction to a new study refuting the evidence for VSELs
A study published in Stem Cell Reports has refuted the evidence and clinical potential for Very Small Embryonic-like Stem Cells (VSELs). read more
communicating the slowdown
This is a guest blog by Tom Sheldon, Senior Press Officer at the Science Media Centre. This week at the SMC… read more
expert reaction to the JCVI interim position statement on meningitis B vaccination programme
The JCVI release an interim position statement on meningitis B vaccination programme saying they will not recommend the programme be introduced. read more
volatile solvent abuse – the forgotten problem
Glue-sniffing seems a long-solved problem, but volatile solvent abuse still kills more people each year than legal highs. Researchers have been tracking the problems for years, striving to work out just how bad this forgotten problem is, why certain unexpected groups are prone to abuse and what needs to be done in the future. read more
what’s happened to global temperatures?
The rise in global average surface temperatures appears to have slowed down over the last 10-15 years. Five senior climate scientists came to the SMC to discuss the past, present and future of warming. read more
expert reaction to photoreceptor transplantation into retinas of mice from mouse embryonic stem cells
A study published in Nature Biotechnology has shown that photoreceptor cells, grown in the lab from mouse embryonic stem cells, can be transplanted into mice retinas and successfully integrate there, illustrating that some types of blindness might be responsive to cell therapy. read more
nicotine, addiction and harm reduction: what does the science say?
Smoking and nicotine addiction are rarely out of the headlines, from the MHRA’s announcement that e-cigarettes be regulated as medicines, to the row about cigarette packaging. The SMC invited several leading experts to brief the media on the science behind nicotine, addiction and harm reduction. read more
expert reaction to anti-epilepsy drug and child neurodevelopment issues
A study published in Epilepsia suggested that children whose mothers took antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) while pregnant are at increased risk of early development issues, such as motor development, language skills, social skills, and autistic traits compared to children whose mothers did not take anti-seizure medications. read more
expert reaction to Down’s syndrome and silencing chromosome 21 in cell culture
A Nature paper detailed how the third copy of chromosome 21 that causes Down’s syndrome was been silenced in a cell culture model of the disorder. read more
expert reaction to government rejection of alcohol minimum unit pricing policy
Jeremy Browne announced the government decision to shelve plans for a minimum price for a unit of alcohol in England and Wales. read more
end of the road for the Liverpool Care Pathway: no cause for celebration
This is a guest blogpost by Helen Jamison, Deputy Director of the Science Media Centre. The ‘pathway to death’ … read more
expert reaction to publication of annual statistics on animal research
The Home Office published the annual statistics on the use of animals in scientific research in Great Britain and the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) annual report for 2012. read more
publication of annual statistics on animal research
The SMC hosted the launch of the annual statistics on the use of animals in scientific research in Great Britain and the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) annual report for 2012, and invited two leading scientists to give their initial reaction to the stats, answer questions and place any rise or fall in the context of developments in scientific research. read more
transforming the UK energy system: public values, attitudes and acceptability
Debates continue to rage over how to keep Britain’s lights on, secure long-term energy supplies and build a low-carbon economy. The final synthesis report of a 30-month UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) project on public attitudes to the future of the UK’s energy system was released at the SMC. read more
expert reaction to obesity gene, ghrelin hormone levels and brain responses to images of food
A study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that people with the a variation of the FTO gene have higher circulating levels of … read more