Author Archives: Science Media Centre

expert reaction to study of deep meditation and gut microbes

A study published in General Psychiatry looks at alteration of faecal microbiota balance related to long-term deep meditation.   Dr … read more

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expert reaction to updated draft NICE guidance recommending that new evidence on the safety of statins means they could be prescribed to a wider group of people

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have published draft guidance recommending that statins could be a choice … read more

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expert reaction to study on high-intensity exercise and onset of Alzheimer’s disease

A study published in The Journal of Physiology looks at the effect of fasting on exercise-induced increases in circulating BDNF … read more

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producer responsibility: what if the fossil fuel industry had to pay for carbon clean-up?

There is overwhelming evidence that climate change will cause significant harm if we don’t stop dumping carbon dioxide into the … read more

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expert reaction to study of making fossil fuel companies responsible for carbon

A study published in Environmental Research Letters looks at the potential of extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy for fossil fuels. … read more

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expert reaction to study looking at long covid outcomes at one year after mild Covid infection

A study published in the BMJ, looks at long covid outcomes at one year after mild SARS-CoV-2 infection in Israel. … read more

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expert comments on safety and regulation of COVID-19 vaccines (in light of Andrew Bridgen being suspended as a Conservative MP over his comments about COVID-19 vaccines)

In case useful for journalists covering Andrew Bridgen’s suspension.   Prof Sir Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, … read more

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expert reaction to study on prescriptions of antipsychotics to children and adolescents from 2000-2019

A study published in Lancet Psychiatry looks at trends in antipsychotic prescribing to children and adolescents in England from 2000-2019. … read more

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launch of Sanger’s new Respiratory Virus & Microbiome Initiative

A new initiative to better understand respiratory viruses is being launched by the Wellcome Sanger Institute.  It aims to develop … read more

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expert reaction to latest ONS stats on deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 30 December 2022

The Office for National Statistics (ONS), have released the latest data for deaths in England and Wales.   Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter, … read more

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social media, online harms and mental health – what does the evidence say?

Individual cases – such as the tragic death of Molly Russell – have formed part of the larger ongoing discussion … read more

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expert reaction to the Defra plant biosecurity strategy for Great Britain (2023 to 2028)

A policy paper has been published by Defra detailing the plan to protect plant biosecurity in Great Britain.   Prof … read more

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expert reaction to FDA accelerated approval of lecanemab for Alzheimer’s Disease

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved lecanemab via the Accelerated Approval pathway for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.   … read more

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expert reaction to a new approach for predicting how glaciers respond to climate change

A study published in Science provides a new approach for predicting how glaciers respond to climate change.   The following … read more

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expert reaction to latest ONS stats on deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 23 December 2022

The Office for National Statistics (ONS), have released the latest data for deaths in England and Wales.   Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter, … read more

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expert reaction to 2022 being UK’s hottest year on record

The Met Office have confirmed that 2022 was the UK’s hottest year on record, with an average temperature of over … read more

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expert reaction to correspondence piece of a patient with cerebral haemorrhages who was receiving lecanemab and treated with t-PA for stroke

A correspondence paper, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), looks at the case of a patient receiving lecanemab … read more

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expert reaction to the Omicron XBB.1.5 COVID variant

Here are some comments from scientists on the XBB.1.5 variant of SARS-CoV-2 in case useful.   Prof Francois Balloux, Professor … read more

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expert reaction to the announcement by Rishi Sunak that maths will be made compulsory for pupils in England until age 18

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans today to ensure all pupils in England study maths in some form until … read more

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expert reaction to Covid pre-departure tests (and testing a sample of arrivals) for travellers to England from mainland China

The government has announced precautionary and temporary measures to improve COVID surveillance from China as COVID cases rise in China … read more

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