Author Archives: Science Media Centre
scientists comment on new research on cutting cholesterol levels
The research, published in the journal Nature, described the use of RNA interference (RNAi) technology to silence genes involved in the metabolism of cholesterol read more
scientists react to court decision on Oxford animal testing protestors
These comments were collected in responses to the court ruling which banned animal rights activists from protesting next to Oxford University’s new animal testing centre. read more
scientists respond to announcement of the discovery of a new species of human in Nature
Responses to the discovery of a tiny species of ancient human hailed as one of the most sensational finds of its type in decades. read more
announcement of the discovery of a new species of human to be reported in Nature this week
The remains of a tiny species of ancient human have been discovered on an island in Indonesia, a find hailed as one of the most sensational of its type in decades. read more
launch of CERRIE Final Report
We host the Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters (CERRIE) as they launch their final report. read more
briefing on Gulf War illness
With the impending publication of an independent inquiry into what led some troops to suffer ill health after the first Gulf War, four scientists brief journalists about factors which have been associated with this including vaccines and depleted uranium. read more
scientists respond to the death of Christopher Reeve
The actor, known for his role as Superman, was a tireless supporter of stem cell research after a riding accident in 1995 left him paralysed. read more
WWF chemicals campaign – Rapid Reaction
We found toxicologists to brief journalists and give interviews discussing the WWF campaign revealing the chemicals present in our bloodstream. read more
scientists respond to the death of Maurice Wilkins
Maurice Wilkins, a Nobel laureate, played an important role in the discovery of the double helix of DNA. read more
scientists respond to announcement of Nobel Prize for Medicine
The Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to two US scientists for uncovering the secrets of the human sense of smell. read more
Motor Neurone Disease – the promise of therapeutic cloning?
Ian Wilmut and his colleagues brief the press as he applies for a license to use cloned human embryos to study motor neurone disease. read more
scientists respond to an application to use therapeutic cloning to study Motor Neurone Disease
As Ian Wilmut submits his application for a license to perform therapeutic cloning to the HFEA, scientists respond. read more
scientists respond to birth of baby after ovarian tissue transplant
This was the first baby born following the removal, freezing and replacing of her mother’s ovarian tissue. read more
the importance of vitamin D for human health
There is unequivocal evidence of serious, adverse effects from over exposure to sunlight in terms of skin cancers and cataracts, but there is also accumulating evidence that sunlight exposure, acting via its role in vitamin D synthesis, can protect against certain diseases. Experts discuss whether this raises a dilemma between the risks of sunlight exposure against its benefits or whether we can safely obtain all the Vitamin D we need. read more
scientists react to human cloning story
Scientists respond as maverick cloning scientist Dr Panos Zavos announces successful experiments to create cloned embryos using DNA from dead people. read more
scientists react to news of synthetic drug for malaria published in Nature
Comments are in response to a new synthetic drug which has been produced. Modelled on the active ingredient in a traditional Chinese herbal remedy for malaria, it could prove to herald a breakthrough in treatment. read more
scientist’s respond to HFEA’s go-ahead for therapeutic cloning license
Reactions as the HFEA decided to allow a team at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne to experiment with therapeutic human cloning. read more
briefing on global disaster
Global Geophysical Events, including tsunamis, earthquakes, super-volcanoes and asteroid impacts, are real possibilities and could catastrophically affect our planet. Experts explain what we are doing to monitor and evaluate the risks posed by these events and whether there is anything we can do to prevent them. read more
combined vaccination for babies – Rapid Reaction
As the government announces plans for a new combined jab for babies we round up experts who can discuss what this really means. read more
briefing on Complementary Medicine: Con or Cure?
We welcome Edzard Ernst, the UK’s only professor of complementary medicine, to brief the press on his latest research. read more