Author Archives: Science Media Centre
Motor Neurone Disease – hope for the future? Launch of new clinical trials
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a rapidly progressive, fatal disease that can affect any adult at any time. There are around 5000 people living with MND in the UK at any one time; and half of those affected will die within 14 months of diagnosis. The cause of over 95% of cases is still unknown, and there is currently no cure or effective treatment. In a significant first step, the MND Association have launched clinical trials with lithium, which could provide a promising new treatment avenue. read more
experts comment on the earthquake in Pakistan’s Balochistan province
The earthquake struck south-west Pakistan with a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale; local reports put the number of dead at 170, with several hundred more injured. read more
experts comment on the appointment of Marcus du Sautoy to the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford
Marcus du Sautoy, a professor of mathematics at Oxford and a well-known populariser of the subject, takes over the position this December from the previous holder, the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. read more
experts comment on research into a GM tomato that protects mice against cancer, as published in Nature Biotechnology
Scientists at the John Innes centre in Norwich have created a tomato genetically engineered to have higher levels of antioxidants which may help to protect against cancer and other conditions. A purple tomato extract fed to mice was found to prolong their lifespan, and may provide dietary benefits for humans. read more
experts comment on research into a possible new obesity drug, as published in the Lancet
A phase II clinical trial suggests that the drug tesofensine could potentially be used as a treatment for obesity, by working as an appetite suppressant through the inhibition of neurological factors in the brain. read more
expert comment on research into a possible new drug to treat MS, as published in the New England Journal of Medicine
The drug, developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge, has been shown to be effective at slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis when compared to a well-established existing treatment. read more
experts comment on research into prostate stem cells, as published in Nature
Scientists in the US have successfully grown a functioning prostate gland from stem cells in mice, providing further evidence that the same technique could once be used to re-grow diseased or damaged tissues and organs in humans. read more
launch of Foresight report: ‘Mental Capital and Wellbeing’
Foresight, the Government’s independent think tank, launched its latest project report, ‘Mental Capital and Wellbeing’, which presents the findings of an extensive, peer-reviewed two-year study involving over 400 independent experts. read more
variant CJD and blood transfusions
The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) is an independent advisory body set up last year by the Government to provide advice on the most appropriate way to ensure the safety of blood, tissues, cells and organs for transfusion or transplantation. One of their concerns is reducing the risk of transmitting vCJD through blood transfusions (which is in itself rare). At this background briefing, members of SaBTO gave their views on the level of risk and what measures SaBTO are taking o reduce it. read more
expert comment on research into rofecoxib, as published in the Lancet
The anti-inflammatory drug rofecoxib, also known as Vioxx, was found to ‘substantially’ increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and death when used to treat bowel cancer. read more
experts comment on CABI’s planned use of biological control against Japanese knotweed
CABI biosciences, a not-for-profit scientific organisation, has advised that biological, rather than chemical, measures should be used to control Japanese knotweed, a highly pervasive plant that costs the UK millions of pounds a year in structural damage to buildings and infrastructure. read more
meet & greet with the new Science Minister
Lord Drayson, the new Science Minister, came to the Science Media Centre to meet journalists and set out his views on the current state of British science. read more
experts comment on research into emissions from compact fluorescent light bulbs, as published by the Health Protection Agency
The advice from the Health Protection Agency stated that prolonged exposure to compact fluorescent (energy saving) light bulbs could cause damage to the skin due to ultraviolet light emissions. read more
scientists comment on the 2008 Nobel Prize for Chemistry
Awarded to Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie and Roger Tsien for the discovery of the green fluorescent protein, a naturally occurring protein that allows animal such as jellyfish to glow. read more
experts comment on research into stem cells derived from human testes, as published in Nature
The research showed that naturally occurring cells in human testes can be induced to form cells that behave like embryonic stem cells and are pluripotent (i.e. they can form any type of cell in the body). read more
drought-resistant GM
Opponents of GM crops frequently claim that they offer no benefit except to the profit of multinational companies. However, new field trials suggest that drought-resistant crops are one example of GM technology which could have real and tangible benefits in areas such as food crises in Africa. Dr David Dennis, of Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and Performance Plants, Inc., who is leading the research, came to the SMC to talk about his work and the novel techniques being used. read more
scientists comment on the 2008 Nobel Prize for Physics
This year’s physics prize was awarded to Yoichiro Nambu, Makoto Kobayashi and Toshihide Maskawa for their work on broken symmetry in subatomic physics. read more
scientists comment on the 2008 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine
This year’s prize was awarded to Harald zur Hausen for his discovery of the human papilloma virus, and to Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier for their discovery of HIV. read more
scientists comment on the appointment of Paul Drayson as Science Minister
Former Defence Minister Paul Drayson, who left his post to pursue his passion for motor racing, has returned to Government to take up the post of Science Minister, with an expanded role and the right to attend cabinet. read more
scientists comment on the newly announced government Department for Energy Security and Climate Change
The new department was created during Gordon Brown’s latest cabinet reshuffle, and will bring together government policy on both energy and climate change, to be led by Ed Miliband. read more