Author Archives: Science Media Centre
scientists react to the government’s crackdown on animal rights extremism
These comments were collected as the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act targeting campaigns of “economic damage” came into force. read more
food supplements
Prior to the European Food Supplements Directive coming into force in the UK, we brought experts to explain the role of food supplements in our diet and why the Directive is being brought into force. read more
autism research – what the future holds
Coinciding with the launch of the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) we bring six of the UK’s leading autism experts to brief journalists on the latest research into causes and treatment of autism. read more
deep brain stimulation and depression
Helen Mayburg, leader of a team in the US that have successfully pioneered DBS to treat severe depression, is joined by other leading scientists to brief journalists on DBS and its potential to treat depression and other disorders. read more
scientists react to news of chemicals which damage sperm
These comments are in response to findings presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology that certain chemicals found in soya and beer can damage sperm in the female reproductive tract. read more
scientists comment on sperm and egg stem cell breakthrough
These comments are in response to findings presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology that precursors to sperm and egg cells can be created from stem cells. read more
background briefing on ‘trees in a changing climate’
In advance of the conference ‘Trees In A Changing Climate’ three experts explain the effects climate change may have on the British countryside. read more
new research From Twin Studies
Tim Spector discusses the results of two new studies. The genetic basis of the female orgasm and the effects of obesity and smoking on ageing. read more
clostridium difficile – Rapid Reaction
The Science Media Centre had experts on hand to interpret news of a more virulent strain of Clostridium difficile, a hospital-acquired infection, which hit the headlines today. read more
leukaemia and power lines – Rapid Reaction
The Science Media Centre found experts to comment as a paper in the British Medical Journal reported an increased risk of leukaemia in those living close to high voltage overhead power lines at birth. read more
safety of stem cell therapy
Roger Pederson and Robin Lovell-Badge discuss the results of new research in Nature Genetics showing that human embryo stem cells seem stable and unlikely to be altered in any dangerous way as they develop. read more
background Briefing: Munchausen’s Syndrome By Proxy
Now termed Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Department of Health, misdiagnosis of Munchausen’s Syndrome By Proxy has recently courted controversy. Three experts brief the media on current scientific thinking and to discuss whether it really exists. read more
report Launch: The Ethics Of Research Involving Animals
As the Nuffield Council on Bioethics publishes a report into the ethics of research involving animals, members of the report’s working party brief the media. read more
scientists react to publication of animal research report
The report on the ethics of animal research was published by the Nuffield Council. read more
publication of study by scientists successfully generating patient-specific stem sells in science
The centre hosts the team of Korean scientists as they publish in Science that they have isolated the first human embryonic stem cell lines specifically tailored to match the nuclear DNA of patients suffering from disease or spinal cord injury. read more
scientists comment on news of successful isolation of tailored stem cell lines.
We asked scientists to respond to research published in Science by a team of Korean scientists, who reported that they had isolated the first human embryonic stem cell lines specifically tailored to match the nuclear DNA of patients suffering from disease or spinal cord injury. read more
background briefing: medicine for children
Over 50% of medicines currently being used to treat children have not been specifically tested and authorised for use in children. Proposed EU regulation to enforce this testing could come into law in 2006. Four experts explain how this would affect patients, industry and scientists. read more
scientists react to ‘What The Bleep?’ US film
The Science Media Centre collected comments from a number of scientists who had seen this film. read more
social neuroscience
Neuroscientists, experts in researching how the brain operates, and social scientists, who examine our everyday behaviour, explain why they are joining forces to answer the big questions of what and why we think and behave as we do in a new approach known as ‘social neuroscience’. read more
scientists repond to ‘saviour siblings’ court ruling
Today the House of Lords ruled that couple Raj and Shahana Hashmi could make use of modern ’tissue typing’ techniques to create a child with a similar tissue type to their son Zain, thus providing a potential new way to treat the thalassemia which he suffers from. read more