Author Archives: Science Media Centre
grand challenges in global mental health
In the face of the global prevalence of mental health problems, and the frequent lack of cures or effective treatments, 400 experts from more than 60 countries came together to identify research that could, within the next decade, address some of these issues. Their findings were published in Nature. read more
expert reaction to new research on reduction of mental illness beds and involuntary detention to be published in BMJ
Reaction to research on the association between provision of beds for patients with mental illnesses and rates of involuntary admissions in the NHS. read more
comments on stories from EHSRE
Scientists offered comments on various stories to come out of the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology (ESHRE) in Stockholm. read more
expert reaction to new research on climate change over the decade 1998-2008, as published in PNAS
A paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) looked a trends in climate change between 1998-2008 and sought to reconcile this with observed temperatures. read more
experts discuss research to be presented at ESHRE
This informal briefing gave journalists the chance to discuss with experts research to be presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in Stockholm. read more
expert reaction to a new review of evidence of the possible link between mobile phone use and brain tumours, as published in Environmental Health Perspectives
The review sought to update current understanding in a long-running and controversial area of research. read more
language impairment – a hidden childhood disorder?
Awareness of language impairment, where children have specific difficulties in learning to talk, is much lower than that of dyslexia. Top UK language disorder researchers came to the SMC to discuss the issue and answer journalists’ questions. read more
common drugs side effects increases health risks for over 65s
The first systematic investigation into the long term impacts of known side effects of many prescription and over the counter drugs raised important implications for all clinicians involved in the care of older people. read more
expert reaction to paper on diabetes and diet
Research suggested that Type 2 diabetes could potentially be ‘reversed’ by following a low-calorie diet. read more
expert reaction to new research into common drugs and risk of cognitive impairment and mortality in older people
New research into the long-term side effects of common drugs revealed a raised risk of cognitive impairment and increased mortality. read more
expert reaction to new research on the temperature effect from afforestation of cropland, as published in Nature Geoscience
New research cast doubt on the effect of planting trees to alleviate the effects of greenhouse gas accumulation. read more
expert reaction to claim that reduced solar activity could mean that ‘Earth may be headed into a mini ice age within a decade’
Claims circulated by the Global warming Policy Foundation suggest that the sun is entering a period of low activity, which could mean that the Earth could be heading into a ‘mini Ice Age’. read more
expert reaction to BMJ paper on stillbirth risk and sleeping position
A new study made an association between the sleeping position of mothers-to-be and risk of late stillbirth. read more
medical research community responds to Health Bill revisions
The government has published the results of its ‘listening exercise’ to review its NHS reform legislation. read more
crisis in new treatments for mental illness and brain disorders
A new report by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) explored the implications of the withdrawal by major pharmaceutical companies from research into mental disorders and diseases of the brain. read more
experts comment on the Home Office announcement of a consultation on the implementation of the new EU Directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes
Efforts have been made to ‘harmonise’ the EU directive on animal protection after criticisms. read more
stem cells: mending a broken heart
The study, by scientists at University College London, funded by the British Heart Foundation and published in Nature, cast new light on the functioning of the heart, revealing that in mice models dormant stem cells residing in the cardiac tissue can be stimulated to regenerate damaged areas, suggesting important implications for cardiovascular regenerative medicine. read more
expert reaction to appointment of new Chief Scientific Adviser to the Treasury
For the first time, a Chief Scientific Adviser has been appointed to the Treasury. James Richardson was director of public spending and was appointed internally. The Treasury was previously the only government department not to have a scientific advisor. read more
ongoing expert reaction to E. coli outbreak in Germany
Experts comment on the latest developments. read more
expert reaction to the explosion reported at the Chevron Oil Refinery near Pembroke
Four workers were killed and several others injured by a blast at an oil refinery near Pembroke, Wales. read more