Author Archives: Science Media Centre
experts comment on SIV microbicide research to be published in Nature
The research shows that a common chemical, when applied in gel form, can prevent the sread of SIV, the equivalent of HIV in monkeys. read more
expert comments on BMJ article stating that non-white women have greater complications in pregnancy
Dr Siobhan Quenby, Reader at the University of Liverpool’s School of Reproductive Medicine and Honorary Consultant at the Liverpool Women’s … read more
launch of new report by Sheep Trust
This briefing launched the first UK national survey of sheep allowing experts to work out exactly where the country’s sheep are located, allowing protection of breeds vulnerable to devastating losses from diseases like foot and mouth. read more
expert comment on research suggesting the length of time children spend watching TV is linked to their risk of asthma, as published in the journal Thorax
Dr Elaine Vickers, Research Relations Manager at Asthma UK, said: “This study does not suggest that watching TV directly causes … read more
experts comment on research into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), as published in two papers in Nature
Scientists from Britain and Canada have discovered a way of genetically reprogramming human skin cells so that they demonstrate the properties of embryonic stem cells – including the ability to become almost any type of cell in the body – without the need for using human embryos to obtain stem cells, or potentially harmful viruses to modify the genes. read more
experts comment on Gordon Brown’s science speech given today
The speech lays out government commitments on several fronts, including investment in research and the important contribution of science to the UK economy. read more
experts respond to the announcement on the fluoridation of water from South Central Strategic Health Authority
The City of Southampton will be the first in the UK to go ahead with a scheme to add fluoride to tap water on a large scale. read more
patient data – the researcher and patient view
Ahead of the publication of the report on the NHS Connecting for Health’s consultation on additional uses of patient data, for purposes such as conducting biomedical and healthcare research, representatives of the UK’s leading medical charities and patient groups gave their views on how they think access to patient data should be managed and regulated. read more
experts comment on the Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash landing at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport
The plane crashed short of the runway as it was coming in to land, killing nine people and injuring 84. read more
experts react to the news of the death of Ivan Cameron
David Cameron’s son died at the age of six from complications arising from severe epilepsy and cerebral palsy. He suffered from Ohtahara Syndrome, a rare neurological condition. read more
experts comment on malfunction in NASA climate satellite
NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory was designed to measure greenhouse gas levels in the Earth’s atmosphere from space. It suffered a malfunction during launch and subsequently crashed into the ocean. read more
experts comment on research into new gene for motor neurone disease as published in Science
Researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College London have discovered the second gene involved with motor neurone disease in as many years. read more
expert comments on research into influenza antibody, as published in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology
Researchers in the United States have identified several antibodies capable of neutralising most influenza strains that affect humans, raising the possibility of a ‘universal’ therapy that could treat every type of flu. read more
expert comments on research investigating the FTO gene and obesity, as published in Nature
The research identifies a link between the FTO gene and factors involved with obesity including appetite and metabolic rate, raising the possibility of treatments that work by modulating these relationships. read more
new NICE guidance promoting the benefits of needle and syringe programmes
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published new public health guidance which aims to reduce blood borne viruses through the provision of needle and syringe programmes (NSPs). This briefing, run in collaboration with NICE, outlined the benefits of such programmes and the background to the issue. read more
the environment, vitamin D and respiratory health: the EXHALE study
This briefing launched the EXHALE study, a research programme run by the Biomedical Research Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals and King’s College London to study the effects of vitamin D deficiency and pollution on poor respiratory health in inner city areas. read more
experts comment on haemophiliac vCJD
Concern was raised over the safety of haemophilia patients after the death of a man who had been treated with a blood clotting agent infected with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), the human form of BSE, although this was not the cause of his death. read more
reaction to a possible genetic link between migraine and strokes/heart attacks in women, as published in Neurology
The study suggested a possible raised risk of heart attack and stroke in women who suffer from migraine while also carrying certain genetic variants. read more
“using a sledgehammer to crack a Nutt” – the media furore over ecstasy
It’s hard to express just how dismayed I feel at the shameful way in which one of my favourite scientists … read more
scientists react to research on the ethics of eradicating bad memories in humans
A study from researchers at the University of Amsterdam has shown that a type of beta-blocker drug commonly prescribed for high blood pressure may also have the effect of erasing bad memories, shown by tests in which fearful images elicited less of a ‘startle response’ when repeatedly shown after the drug was administered. read more