Author Archives: Science Media Centre
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
response to a study on second-hand smoke and cognitive impairment, as published in the BMJ
The study found an association between exposure to second-hand smoke and the risk of developing symptoms of cognitive impairment associated with dementia. read more
climate change: adapting to the inevitable?
This briefing launched a new report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) which argues that the Kyoto protocol has been a near total failure, with emissions levels continuing to rise substantially. The report addresses the question of whether we should be putting resources into adapting to the inevitable effects of climate change, rather than attempting to curb emissions. read more
expert reactions to the DECC heat and energy strategy
The government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change has introduced a strategy to address carbon emissions from UK domestic heating – this includes strategies to make heating air and water dependent on renewable sources of energy. read more
scientists comment on research into breast cancer rates and HRT
The research, from Cancer Research UK and published in the European Journal of Cancer, showed an association between a drop in breast cancer rates and a fall in HRT use. read more
experts comment on ecstasy report
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has recommended that ecstacy should be reclassified from Class A to Class B, though this advice was rejected by government. read more
experts comment on the Australian wildfires
The wildfires swept through the Australian state of Victoria, causing significant damage and loss of life. read more
expert encounter – coal and carbon capture: is China the problem or the solution?
With China frequently seen as the world’s leading threat to global climate, the potential for the country to lead the way in tackling climate change often risks being overlooked. One of China’s leading experts on petroleum geology and CO2 storage stopped in at the SMC to present his work to journalists and to discuss the results obtained so far on the Near Zero Emissions Coal in China project (NZEC) to research carbon capture and storage technologies. read more
expert responses to the HPA figures on measles for 2008
Figures released by the Health Protection Agency show an increase in measles cases compared to the previous year. read more
vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis: New research published in PLoS Genetics
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex neurological disease that is thought to affect around 85,000 people in the UK. There is a strong genetic component to MS, but it is also thought that the environment plays a key role. In particular, vitamin D has been proposed as one environmental factor that might influence the risk of MS. The authors of new research in this area descibe their work examining the interaction between vitamin D and a particular gene associated with MS, which is published in the journal
expert comment on research suggesting that fertility drugs do not increase the risk of ovarian cancer, as published in the BMJ
Prof Hani Gabra, Director of the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, said: “This large scale study supports … read more
experts comment on research examining the interaction between Vitamin D and a susceptibility ‘gene’ in MS, as published in PLoS Genetics
The research found evidence of an environmental link between vitamin D levels and a gene linked with susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. read more
Fiona creates a buzz at the World Conference of Science Journalists 2009 Programme Launch Party, London
If the Science Media Centre were to close down tomorrow the most important lesson I would have learned in my six years … read more