News in 2025

Suspended children are twice as likely to be involved in violence, even when accounting for their behaviour, finds new report 9 June 2025 A new study report has found that, even whilst controlling for a range of factors including measures of behavioural difficulties, children who are suspended or excluded from school are still nearly two and a half times more likely to become involved in violence and four and a half times more likely to offend compared to those who have not been suspended or excluded.
Bristol professor joins Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowship 22 May 2025 A University of Bristol academic who is the Principal Investigator for the Children of the 90s health study has been elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. Professor Nic Timpson joins 53 exceptional biomedical and health scientists from UK institutions selected to the Academy for their exceptional contributions to the advancement of medical science.
School dinners may encourage picky teenagers to eat better, says new study 15 May 2025 Having school dinners rather than packed lunches could encourage picky eating 13-year-olds to eat a wider variety of foods, according to a new University of Bristol-led study. The findings are published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics today [15 May].
Breaking the cycle: supporting young boys in violent homes could prevent relationship violence, study suggests 1 May 2025 Young men growing up around parents who are physically violent to each other are 43% more likely to carry out violence or abuse in their own relationships, new University of Bristol research has found.
Prediabetes in older teenagers may triple risk of premature heart damage in young adulthood and affects women worse than men 29 April 2025 Persistently high blood sugar (prediabetes) and insulin resistance may increase the risk of heart damage as late teens grow into young adults, and might affect women’s hearts faster than men’s, a new study has found. The results are published today, 29th April, in Diabetes Care.
Researchers study for the first time how children’s thinking skills change alongside brain development during first 5 years of life 11 April 2025 Why do some children struggle when starting school whilst others flourish? A new University of Bristol-led research project will investigate how a child’s brain develops, allowing them to learn new things, and how new experiences might shape brain changes during the first 5 years of their life. This is the first time changes in the brain and children's developing skills have been studied in a lab-based setting across early childhood in the same group of children.
Smartwatch technology could help with future alcohol interventions, new study finds 2 April 2025 Alcohol harm costs NHS England £3.5 billion annually, with 70 people dying every day from alcohol-related causes in the UK (1). According to new University of Bristol-led research smartwatches could provide a more accurate picture of people’s daily drinking habits than current methods. The technology could be a key element for future alcohol interventions.
HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh visits University to learn about life-changing scar-free healing research 21 March 2025 HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO, as Royal Patron of The Scar Free Foundation, visited the University of Bristol yesterday [20 March] to learn about a world-leading research study that aims to achieve scar free healing within a generation.
Children who lack fish in their diets are less sociable and kind, study finds 11 March 2025 Children who consumed the least amounts of seafood at 7-years-old were likely to be less ‘prosocial’ at ages 7 and 9 years than those who regularly consumed seafood, according to a new study. ‘Prosocial’ behaviour includes friendly interactions, altruism, and sharing.
Bristol study awarded £5.2 million to continue groundbreaking health research across three generations 7 March 2025 The Children of the 90s health study at the University of Bristol, which researches the lives of thousands of families in the south west, has been awarded £5.2 million to continue its pioneering work to improve people’s health.
Largest ever DNA resource for over 37,000 UK children and parents to unlock insights into child health and development 4 March 2025 For the first time, a new resource containing DNA sequencing data for over 37,000 children and parents collected over multiple decades from across the UK is now available to researchers worldwide. The resource, which includes data from three UK long-term birth cohorts including the University of Bristol’s Children of the 90s study, will allow scientists to explore the relationship between genetic and environmental factors in child health.
Young adults more likely to switch from smoking to vaping when aware of reduced harm, but misinformation deters change 14 February 2025 Young adults are more likely to give up smoking and switch to vaping if they understand the reduced harm of vaping, according to a new study involving University of Bristol researchers. However, many inaccurately believe that vaping is as bad for you or worse than smoking.
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in childhood may protect 60% of 13-year-olds from smoking their first tobacco cigarette 11 February 2025 Teenagers may be less likely to start tobacco smoking if they take part in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) from childhood, a new study by the University of Eastern Finland in collaboration with the universities of Bristol and Exeter has shown. The results are published in Behaviour Research and Therapy.
Bristol researchers part of government project to understand impact of smartphones and social media on young people 17 January 2025 Bristol researchers are part of the first phase of a new research project that will lay the groundwork for future studies into the impact on children of smartphone and social media use.
Global study pinpoints genes for depression across ethnicities 16 January 2025 New genetic risk factors for depression have been identified across all major global populations for the first time, allowing scientists to predict risk of depression regardless of ethnicity.
BMI, blood pressure and physical activity levels in childhood linked to brain differences – new research 10 January 2025 Poorer cardiovascular health in childhood and adolescence may be linked to early differences in brain structure, particularly in areas of the brain known to be affected in dementia in later life, according to a new scientific study.