Author Archives: Science Media Centre
scientists comment on BMJ study on the rise of drug-resistant tuberculosis
A study published in the British Medical Journal has identified a rise in cases of tuberculosis in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The study also identified a global increase in rates of resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs. read more
experts respond to IUSS Committee report on science budget allocations
The Government’s Innovation, Universities, Science & Skills Committee has published its report on the allocation of funds in the science budget. read more
cosmaceuticals: where science meets skincare
The market for so called ‘cosmaceuticals’ – cosmetics sold on the basis of their supposed scientific credentials – has increased rapidly in recent times. But there are questions over their effectiveness and the physiological effects of their active ingredients. Some of the UK’s leading skin scientists came to the Science Media Centre to discuss some of the more pressing issues in skin care research. read more
scientists comment on new fertility research as published in the journal Human Reproduction
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have developed a technique for preserving eggs from female cancer patients, allowing them to have children later in life, even though treatment may have made them infertile. read more
road map for artificial gametes
The creation of stem cell-derived ‘artificial’ gametes has opened up several promising, and controversial, areas of research. As well as providing potential treatments for infertility, there is speculation that they could be used to allow same sex couples to have a child genetically descended from both parents, a question that is being debated in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. Leading bioethicists and embryologists came together to discuss the scientific and ethical issues involved in this area of research. read more
biofuels: are we asking the right questions?
On Tuesday 15th April the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) comes into play. It will state the amount of renewable fuel that has to be used for transport, putting biofuels back at the top of the news agenda. Some of the leading scientists in this field briefed journalists on the science behind biofuels and the wider issues, including their impacts on the environment. read more
Lancet briefing on maternal health and child mortality in the developing world
The Science Media Centre hosted this briefing to coincide with a Lancet special issue. read more
scientists react to the FSA’s guidance on food additives
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued new guidelines on the use of additives in food, following recent research suggesting that certain combinations of additives can cause hyperactivity in children. read more
are drug trials being stopped too early?
Anticancer drug trials can be stopped early if short-term results are good, but a dramatic rise in early closure of studies could prevent proper evaluation of the long-term risks and benefits of the treatments. New research to be published in the journal Annals of Oncology has assessed all trials published in the past 11 years that were stopped early because they showed benefit to patients. Scientists involved with the research came to the Science Media Centre to discuss their findings and the wider implications. read more
scientists react to research on H5N1 as published in The Lancet
A paper in The Lancet has concluded that a Chinese man diagnosed with the H5N1 strain of avian flu probably caught the disease from his son, suggesting the possibility of person-to-person transmission. However, there is no evidence of an imminent pandemic. read more
the future of stem cell science
With the UK National Stem Cell Network holding the country’s first ever national stem cell research conference next week (9-11 April), and with the recent public and political debate surrounding the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, leading stem cell scientists came to the Science Media Centre to talk about issues for the future of stem cell science, including the role for induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell research. read more
Met Office summer forecast 2008
The Science Media Centre hosted the Met Office for a briefing on seasonal forecasting, its strengths and limitations, and the prospects for the coming summer. read more
leading scientists react to the news that the first human-animal hybrid embryos may have been created
Researchers at Newcastle University have become the first in the UK to create human-animal hybrid embryos by inserting human DNA from banked embryonic stem cells into cow eggs which had had their own nuclei removed. The resulting embryos survived for three days. The work has yet to be verified, and is subject to peer review. read more
health implications of a ‘size zero’ culture. The who, what, when, where and why of eating disorders
Speaking ahead of the publication of an editorial in the British Journal of Psychiatry titled ‘Models as a high-risk group: the health implications of a size-zero culture’, Janet Treasure from the Institute of Psychiatry came to the Science Media Centre to discuss the risk factors for and consequences of eating disorders, why models are particularly at risk, and the latest advances in eating disorder research. read more
leading scientists comment on the announcement from Cardinal Keith O’Brien that he is happy to meet with them regarding the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
Following his condemnation of the HFE Bill over the Easter weekend, Cardinal O’Brien has said he is happy to meet with leading scientists to discuss the scientific issues in the Bill and its implications for research. read more
new research on microRNA silencing as published in Nature
Journalists were briefed by the authors of a new study which used a revolutionary technique in order to silence microRNA in monkeys, allowing them to lower blood cholesterol levels. There is hope the new technique will have therapeutic value in areas such as cancer and infectious disease. read more
expert reacts to new research on microRNA silencing
The Science Media Centre asked a molecular biologist to comment on new research published in the journal Nature which used a revolutionary technique to ‘silence’ genes in order to lower blood cholesterol, raising the possibility of new drugs for the treatment of cancer and other conditions. read more
leading stem cell scientists comment on Gordon Brown’s announcement of a free vote on sections of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
Professor Colin Blakemore, former Head of the Medical Research Council, said: “I hope that this decision to allow a free … read more
scientists confirm support for meeting with Catholic MPs and Church Leaders
Dr Stephen Minger, Director, Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, King’s College London, said: “Following on from our calls for a meeting, … read more
breakthrough in Parkinson’s disease research
The Science Media Centre found experts to comment on new research on mice, published in the journal Nature Medicine, that raised the possibility of using brain tissue cultivated from cloned cells to treat Parkinson’s disease. read more