Author Archives: Science Media Centre
research provides tools to measure farming’s impact on our environment
The Science Media Centre invited the authors of an important piece of research (published this week in Science) that has developed an entirely new system for measuring the impacts of novel ways of farming on biodiversity. The paper describes what is in effect a ‘crystal ball’ for biodiversity that allows us to predict how farmland biodiversity might look in 20-30 years time in response to decisions about farming taken today. read more
new development in the understanding of community-acquired strain of MRSA
Scientists commented on the research, published in Science, into the toxin-producing strain of MRSA bacteria known as PVL, which is normally community acquired and can lead to severe pneumonia. read more
research on immune response to recreated 1918 Spanish flu virus
The study, published in Nature, found that the virus caused dangerous over-stimulation of the immune system. read more
scientists respond to the suggested link between statins and Parkinson’s disease
The comments follow the announcement of an in-depth study to investigate any link between statins and Parkinson’s disease. read more
HFEA hybrid embryo research announcement
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority decided to gauge public opinion before granting any licenses for the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos for research purposes. read more
scientists and engineers condemn Tony Blair on air travel
This followed Blair’s comments that he would be reluctant to give up holidays abroad, and that he believed that making personal sacrifices was impractical. read more
scientists react to leaked Department of Health document on the superbug MRSA
The document stated that the Government was not on track to meet its target to cut MRSA infection rates. read more
storage of nuclear waste
Scientists commented on a paper published in Nature which looked at the durability of materials which could potentially be used to contain nuclear waste. read more
crop science – exploiting genetics for better crops
A press briefing run jointly with the BBSRC to announce £13.3M of funding for 17 of new projects which will exploit genetics to improve the sustainability of agriculture and help to address various issues for farming, food processing, nutrition and biofuels. read more
stem cell breakthroughs under threat?
As pointed out in our press release reacting to the DH White paper (Review of Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act) published before Christmas, leading scientists fear that the Government may be planning to ban procedures which propose to transfer human genetic material into host animal eggs for research (otherwise known as chimeras) because of public concerns voiced in response to the DH consultation. The Science Media Centre has invited representatives of the three groups who are applying to the HFEA for a license to do this research to brief journalists on why they believe it is essential and voice their concerns about any moves to delay or ban it. read more
chemical leak at nylon intermediates plant in Teesside
The Science Media Centre asked two toxicology experts to comment on the leak of hexamethylenediamine at the BASF plant in Teesside. read more
news from the British Pharmacological Society Winter Conference
Scientists briefing journalists in advance of the British Pharmacological Society Winter meeting discussed gender differences in cardiovascular disease (with specific reference to the role of HRT in protecting against CVD in post-menopausal women) and also the development of bacterial resistance to drugs and novel approaches to tackle this problem. read more
experts react to approval of two major offshore wind farms
The wind farms will be located in the Thames estuary, off the Kent and Essex coasts, and could provide enough power to supply a third of London’s three million households. read more
scientists respond to the DoH review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act
The Government has published a command paper detailing proposals for revision of the law on assisted reproduction and embryo research, including the proposed Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryos (RATE), which will replace existing regulatory bodies (the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, and the Human Tissue Authority). read more
Weatherall Report launch
The Weatherall Report examines the scientific basis for recent, current and future use of non-human primates in biological and medical research. Sir David Weatherall FRS, chair of the working group, came to the Science Media Centre to present the recommendations and outlined the key issues highlighted in the report. read more
scientists react to the findings of the Weatherall report into the use of non-human primates in research
The report is published by the Academy of Medical Sciences and can be downloaded from their website at www.acadmedsci.ac.uk … read more
Richard Doll: supping with the Devil?
The Guardian and Today programmes’ revelations that Richard Doll was paid to do research for the chemicals industry (Friday 8th December) are the latest in … read more
asthma and allergy research
Leading experts from the MRC-Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma to brief journalists on their latest research and questions on increasing asthma occurence and the most promising treatments in development. read more
scientists respond to criticism of the late Sir Richard Doll
This followed stories in the Guardian and on the Today programme criticising the late Sir Richard Doll for allegedly receiving industry bribes for favourable research outcomes. read more
launch of Duff report
The Northwick Park clinical trials tragedy was probably one of the biggest science stories of 2006 with many questions raised about what went wrong and how such an incident could be prevented in future. The Science Media Centre invited Professor Gordon Duff, Chair of the Expert Scientific Group, to brief journalists about their recommendations. read more