Opioid dependence remains high but stable in Scotland, new surveillance report finds19 April 2024Opioid dependence in Scotland remains high but largely stable, according to a new University of Bristol-led analysis published in Addiction and by Public Health Scotland. The study is the first to estimate the number of people dependent on opioid drugs (such as heroin), and who are in or could benefit from drug treatment, among Scotland’s population since 2015/2016 estimates were published.
Octopus inspires new suction mechanism for robots18 April 2024A new robotic suction cup which can grasp rough, curved and heavy stone, has been developed by scientists at the University of Bristol.
Family and media pressure to lose weight in adolescence linked to how people value themselves almost two decades later16 April 2024People who as teenagers felt pressure to lose weight from family or from the media, females, sexual minorities, and people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, are most at risk of 'internalised' weight stigma, new research led by the University of Bristol has found. The study is published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe today [16 Apr].
Xylazine has infiltrated the UK’s illicit drug market10 April 2024Xylazine, a powerful animal tranquiliser linked to horrific side effects, is now widespread in the UK illicit drug market, according to a new study, published today [10 April] in Addiction, involving University of Bristol researchers.
UK rabbit owners can recognise pain in their pets, study finds27 March 2024Rabbits are popular family pets, with around 1.5 million in the UK and it is important that owners can recognise when their animal is in pain, and know when to seek help to protect their rabbit's welfare. New research by the University of Bristol Veterinary School has found the majority of rabbit owners could list signs of pain and could mostly identify pain-free rabbits and those in severe pain, but many lacked knowledge of the subtler sign of pain.
App can help people reduce their alcohol intake25 March 2024A free smartphone app, Drink Less, can help people who would benefit most from reducing their alcohol consumption to do so successfully, according to a large randomised controlled trial led by UCL researchers and involving University of Bristol academics.
Nudging the public’s thirst for draught alcohol-free beers could significantly reduce alcohol-associated harms21 March 2024Making alcohol-free beer more widely available on draught in pubs and bars may help people switch from alcoholic to alcohol-free beer, a new study published in Addiction today [21 March], has found. Pubs and bars taking part in the University of Bristol-led trial saw an increase in sales of healthier non-alcoholic draught beer.
£2.2 million for clinical trial to improve general practice response to men and children affected by domestic abuse15 March 2024A new clinical trial of a general practice programme to improve the identification and referral of men and children affected by domestic abuse begins in May thanks to a £2.2 million National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) award to University of Bristol researchers, in partnership with Oxford University and the social enterprise IRISi.
Creative Art of Ageing competition proves hit with Zimbabwe and The Gambia communities12 March 2024A creative arts competition giving older people in Zimbabwe and The Gambia a platform to express their experiences about ageing saw hundreds of entries showcase their artistic talent across four categories: music, dance, prose, and mixed media from across both countries. The competition, part of a University of Bristol led research project, hopes to improve the health and wellbeing of older people living in sub-Saharan Africa.
Bristol leaps ahead in training next generation of leaders to tackle major global challenges12 March 2024Hundreds of talented scientists and engineers are set to advance solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges, ranging from reaching net-zero and developing sustainable energy to improving digital security and making the latest health breakthroughs.
New Digital Health Hub launches in South West England and Wales11 March 2024A consortium of universities from across the South West of England and Wales have come together to form a brand new Digital Health Hub which will elevate the region’s digital health capability through leadership, engagement, acceleration and partnership (LEAP).
Bristol academic presents water supply research in Parliament5 March 2024An engineer who is working to improve the provision of safe drinking water in Sub-Saharan Africa presented her research in Parliament this week as part of the STEM for BRITAIN initiative.
National partnership to tackle health inequalities in coastal communities awarded £2.4 million27 February 2024A national partnership led by researchers at the Universities of Bristol and Liverpool has received £2.4 million to tackle health inequalities in coastal communities. The award is one of a number announced today [15 February] by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under its Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)-led Mobilising Community Assets to Tackle Health Inequalities programme, which aims to improve health through access to culture, nature and community.
Disinformation Is the Real Threat to Democracy and Public Health8 February 2024An opinion piece written by Prof Stephan Lewandowsky (School of Psychological Science), Sander van der Linden (Cambridge) & Andy Norman (Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative), Scientific American, 30 January 2024
Fakes, facts, society and health8 February 2024The Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research welcomed Patricia Kingori, Professor of Global Health Ethics at the University of Oxford, as their 10th Annual Public Lecture speaker.
IRIS+ programme extends the health care response to domestic abuse26 January 2024Expanding the IRIS (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety) domestic abuse programme to include men and children and young people is both feasible and potentially cost-effective, University of Bristol researchers have found.
Bristol Neuroscience Research Showcase 202420 January 2024The Bristol Neuroscience Network hosted its latest Research Showcase on 18 January 2024. The programme introduced new research and collaborations from across the University of Bristol to an audience of over 140 students and staff.
Can looking after teeth and gums protect against dementia?16 January 2024People with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment are already taking part in research to investigate whether improving oral health can slow memory loss but even more people are needed to help. The MySmile study, led by the University of Bristol, wants to find out if a daily brushing routine could help to protect against dementia.
Wearable tech could revolutionise Parkinson’s treatment10 January 2024During clinical trials, researchers at the University of Bristol will measure symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, such as mobility-related activities of daily living, to determine the effectivity of a new drug or treatment.
Neuropsychological effects of rapid-acting antidepressants may explain their clinical benefits, new research finds10 January 2024Rapid-acting antidepressants, including ketamine, scopolamine and psilocybin, have been found to have immediate and lasting positive effects on mood in patients with major depressive disorder but how these effects arise is unknown. New research led by the University of Bristol explored their neuropsychological effects and found that all three of these drugs can modulate affective biases associated with learning and memory.