Searching the body for clues on Long COVID symptoms
A team of researchers from the University of Bristol is investigating the causes behind heart and circulation problems in Long COVID.
Case studies
Climate change and the Amazonian ecosystems - towards a new understanding
Researchers from the University of Bristol are spearheading new efforts to understand the impacts of climate change on the Brazilian Amazon and its Indigenous and traditional communities.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - the quest for a new UK database
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol, is the most common preventable cause of neurodevelopmental disability worldwide, and it’s thought to be particularly prevalent in the UK. It is associated with learning and behaviour problems, issues with physical and mental health, substance misuse and social problems, including over-representation in the criminal justice system.
Mood Music—how streaming services can help mental health studies
Analysing social media use can offer a novel and fascinating insight into a population’s behaviour patterns, but it can come with challenges. Users of social media often consume rather than create content, which can mean that not everyone is represented in the data. It can also be ethically challenging, as social media data often includes personal information, and so needs to be handled in a way that respects that. However, music streaming is both easier to measure than social media consumption and less personal than the information shared, so researchers from the University of Bristol are exploring how these data could yield useful insights into mental health and behaviour.
Autism and Emotion Recognition – a translational approach
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that occurs in childhood affecting 1-3% of the population, with many more presenting with autistic traits. Atypical emotional processing is often experienced by autistic individuals, including difficulties in recognising facial emotional expressions.
Immune cell therapy provides hope for cancer tumour treatment
Researchers at the University of Bristol are offering a glimmer of hope to patients with advanced cancer with a potentially powerful new treatment avenue.
Inclusion, decolonising and dentistry
A new study from the University of Bristol seeks to understand the barriers and facilitators of inclusion for dental students, ensuring that every new student, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or background, has access to the same opportunities and facilities.
Surgical Smoke – how best to persuade patients who face surgery to keep off tobacco
Researchers from the University of Bristol investigate the best way to help surgical patients to stop smoking.
Towards understanding the relationship between age, breast development and breast cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK: every month, an estimated 4,000 new cases are diagnosed. Throughout a woman’s lifetime, however, the risk of developing the disease varies greatly. Early puberty, for example, is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer, whereas pregnancy before the age of 20 is associated with a decreased risk - but the biological reasons aren’t clear.
A potential link between intestinal microbes and respiratory infections
Could the vast population of microbes that we all carry around with us hold the key to understanding more about respiratory tract infections?
Building collaborative research relationships through creative activities
Engaging in creative activities can help to shift the power dynamics between public contributors and researchers, according to a paper published in BMC Research Involvement and Engagement. However, collaborative projects need to work for everyone and taking community-led ideas forwards remains challenging.
Raising menopause awareness
The menopause is the time in a woman’s life when menstrual periods stop, and she is no longer able to bear children. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Despite the menopause being a natural stage of life with treatable symptoms, rather than a disease or a disorder, it is considered a somewhat taboo subject. Research is helping to improve people's understanding of menopause and open up conversations.
Smart Digital Assistants – a glimpse into the future of the GP surgery?
With the pressures that the National Health Service and primary care in particular are under, the use of new technologies might permit General Practitioners to deliver better care in the short time they are allocated to each patient.
Mistletoe – not just for Christmas
Mistletoe has been a feature of Christmas for hundreds of years. But this semi-parasitic plant has some rather surprising properties: in mainland Europe, it has been used alongside chemotherapy to support cancer patients for more than a century.
Smart technology and mental health – how modern gadgets might help
Mental health problems can have a wide range of causes, such as issues in childhood, a long term health condition, or bereavement among many others. Lifestyle factors, such as diet, work, alcohol use can all play an important part, and unravelling the potential interactions of the manifold causative influences can be hugely challenging.
UNSEEN heatwave mortality
In the UK in summer of 2022, there were around 3,000 deaths beyond the average in the 65+ age group. Assessing possible heatwave events and the resulting mortality in our current climate conditions is critical to preparing our population and the National Health Service (NHS) for health-impacting heat events.
Risks for micronutrient losses due to vector-borne plant viruses affecting nutritious crops in Sub-Saharan Africa
Crop viruses that are spread by insects destroy crops worldwide and cause hunger and malnutrition for vulnerable communities, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. The distributions of these viruses are being altered by climate change. Understanding the risks of these viruses for impacting nutritious crops will help target surveillance, diagnostics and plant-health interventions in regions of the greatest need.
Hydro-epidemiological modelling to understand Leptospira transmission risk and interventions
Leptospirosis is caused by an infection from rat urine and is commonly associated with flooding. With flooding events becoming more common due to climate change, the occurrence of leptospirosis is expected to increase. This research will improve our understanding of how the bacteria causing this disease (Leptospira) moves through the environment, to inform interventions to reduce transmission risks.
Towards an understanding the genetic basis of depression in Alzheimer’s Disease
Depression is much more common in individuals with dementia than in other people of the same age. Antidepressant treatments often don’t work, and as a result there are large numbers of people who need treatment who don’t receive it. However, because of the nature of dementia, understanding the differences in people who also have depression is a challenge.
Dr Sophia Hamilton – a better doctor
Dr Sophia Hamilton (previously Muschik) is an anaesthetist at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. She has recently completed a Clinical Primer Scheme from the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, looking at the feasibility – and acceptability - of data collection from conversations between patients, their clinicians and their families, about decisions regarding high-risk emergency interventions. We sat down with her to chat, and to find out why she thinks that such vital health research makes her a better doctor.
Post pandemic props – supporting early career researchers
When conducting randomised controlled trials, researchers need to be impartial to be ethical. When relaying information about treatments, they must prevent themselves from communicating any bias to the patient, whether consciously or unconsciously. This balanced informing is known as equipoise. Doctor Lucy Beasant is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol. In her doctoral research, she explored the way in which treatment preference and equipoise can impact recruitment of patients to paediatric Randomised Control Trials.
The Science of Happiness: maintaining student wellbeing in a time of crisis
Student wellbeing is of paramount concern to all academic institutions. Students are vulnerable to mental health problems – because of their age range, as well as the lifestyle changes associated with starting university. Here we share how the positive psychology ‘Science of Happiness’ course helped improve wellbeing for University of Bristol students, and explain the broader potential an online version of the course may have for improving mental wellbeing beyond the student body.
UK Chinese people and COVID – experiences during the pandemic
After the emergence of SARS-COV-19 in Wuhan, China in December of 2019, there were reports of a change in social responses towards Chinese people living in the UK and worldwide. Some of these reports were positive – including community support – but some were not. These include xenophobia, avoidance and other responses which could lead to problems for the individual as well as the community, such as economic hardship, or delays in seeking help for medical symptoms.
Heat stress and women’s health over the reproductive life course
Bringing together researchers from multiple disciplines to find out the effects of rising heat stress on women’s health.
Novel antibiotics may emerge from deep sea sponges
Antibiotic resistance is an enormous and encroaching threat facing medicine, as growing numbers of infections become harder to treat. The World Health Organization estimates that antibiotic resistant strains of presently treatable bacteria will contribute to up to 10 million deaths per year by 2050. The medical and political establishments are considering new ways to tackle the issue.
Empowering youth through creativity - gaining perspective
Adolescence comes with a raft of fundamental changes - both in how young people perceive themselves and society, and how society perceives them. It’s also a time when health-risk choices can start – smoking, alcohol use, risky sexual behaviours and physical inactivity, for example – and it’s easy for these to become habitual. This makes adolescent health and policy an important area of research.
Strep A, infection and pandemic shifts - flexible research
Streptococcus pyogenes (also known as the Group A Streptococcus (GAS) or ‘Strep A’) is a bacterial pathogen which can cause a range of diseases from mild (e.g. impetigo, pharyngitis) to severe invasive (e.g. pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis, sepsis) and severe post infection immune-related conditions (e.g. rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease). GAS is estimated to cause over 0.5 million deaths annually, and is one of the top 10 infectious causes of death globally.
Arts and Sciences - researching the history of antibiotics in primary care
The prevalence of antibiotic use in modern society is well established. Antibiotics have revolutionised medicine and how society sees - and deals with - disease. Along with concerns regarding the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria, thought to be exacerbated by their over-use in many areas, there is a need to understand the history of their adoption and use, especially in primary care. Comprehending the many-tendrilled circumstances and behaviours that led to this point might help to inform future choices, and give some insight into future best practice.
COVID-19 and the impact on prisoners
During the uncertainty of COVID lockdowns initiated in 2020 and 2021, few, perhaps, considered the impact of the pandemic on those who were already deprived of their liberty - a population for whom lockdown would come at a substantial cost.
Involving the public with health research: in conversation with epidemiologists
Find out how seed funding enabled three researchers to develop their projects by including the ideas and experience of patients and the public.
Eating disorder symptoms, self-harming behaviours and COVID-19 - navigating the storms
It seems, perhaps, pretty obvious that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the mental health of many people in the UK population - some of these impacts are likely to be transient, and some will have health implications for some time to come. Of particular concern are young people with a previous history of eating disorder symptoms and self-harm; they are at an increased risk of mental health problems even without the spectre of a global pandemic. Eating disorders and self-harm are linked to early mortality and reduced quality of life; there’s also an increased likelihood of developing depression and anxiety.
Understanding autism support and its impact
The University of Bristol is increasingly interested in supporting autistic and neurodiverse people, and as part of this there is a growing programme of research into the experiences of these members of our community. Bristol researchers, Felicity Sedgewick and Laura Hull, explain the latest studies in this area.
Cognition and anxiety in the pandemic – the impacts on young people
University of Bristol researchers have been working to determine the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people and the relationship between anxiety and cognitive function. Understanding this will help to inform a joined-up approach to develop targeted interventions for vulnerable young people in both clinical and educational settings.
COVID, schooling and mental health
The extraordinary responses to the outbreak of COVID-19 profoundly affected great swathes of society. From the colossal burdens put onto the healthcare system, the damage done to the economy and to the everyday lives of everyone in the country, the impact to every stratum and community has been unprecedented.
Antimicrobial Resistance - averting the next crisis
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the increasing resistance of bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites to the antimicrobials, such as antibiotics, typically used to treat them. It has a variety of causes; excessive use of antimicrobials, or over-reliance on a few specific types, has enabled microbes to evolve ways to circumvent their mechanisms of action. It is currently seen as a leading cause of death worldwide, with a daily mortality rate in excess of 3,500 people. As a result, more than 1.2 million people died in 2019 as a direct result of antibiotic-resistant infections - and as global healthcare systems are being threatened, the rate is growing.
Global Public Health – realising the potential of a global collaborative network
The Global Public Health strand of the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute multidisciplinary research initiative was established specifically in response to the challenges of understanding and managing health problems in a globally connected world. The ease of cross-border and cross-continental movement of people and commodities means that infectious diseases can quickly establish themselves in regions far from their point of origin, with enormous effects on populations worldwide. Here we explain the potential for a global collaborative network.
Opening the door to arts-and-science collaborations
Our Medical Humanities research strand developed arts and humanities research by opening the door to arts-and-science collaborations. As the work of this strand comes to a close we look at at how it created and supported new arts-science collaborations by connecting researchers from all faculties together with clinicians and external partners.
Bioethics, Biolaw and Biosociety - making an impact through interdisciplinary research
The Biolaw, Bioethics and Biosociety strand - or B3 - dealt with the ethical, legal and social issues impacting the biological sciences, health, medicine and social care. Although there had already been collaborative research in these fields, this research strand was established to augment cross-collaborative initiatives that were, in some cases, already underway - as well as identifying and nurturing new research avenues. Professor Ailsa Cameron of the School for Policy Studies is one of the co-leads of the strand, along with Professor Richard Huxtable of the Bristol Medical School and Dr Sheelagh McGuinness of the University of Bristol Law School.
Health Data Science - an integrative research strand
There is a recognised need throughout the University of Bristol - and beyond - to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration in the health or biomedical arenas. To cater to this, the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute initiated a series of interdisciplinary research strands, designed to facilitate a range of health research activities throughout the University, with funding from the Wellcome Trust. Here we highlight impacts from our Health Data Science strand.
Breaking down, dropping out: supporting mental health and academic achievement among autistic students
Researchers at the University of Bristol have been working to understand the issues faced by autistic people in the university setting.
Online support in crisis - reviewing mental health support services for young people
A team of researchers at the University of Bristol is investigating ways to improve mental health services for students and young people in the UK.
Impact of race and racism within the NHS through literature
A new study assesses the impact of race and racism within the NHS through literature. This interdisciplinary research from the University of Bristol will also address the impact of culture and society on the health of black populations.
AboutFace - How an app could revolutionise emotion recognition training in autism
A Bristol University team is developing a new app-based emotion recognition training app for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Finding more pieces for the Nephrotic Syndrome puzzle
Research at the University of Bristol is leading the way towards new understanding of a difficult-to-treat kidney disorder in children. Dr Anna Mason is studying the genetic basis of paediatric Steroid Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome.
Patient Oriented Discharge Summary (PODS) could promote selfcare in older patients
Hospital discharge forms are written with care professionals in mind. While this is understandable, it can leave the patients themselves confused about the treatments they have received, and what the next steps are. The patients may be unaware of what conditions they have, the results of investigations and the medication required following hospital discharge. They also need to know what they can do to help themselves and where to go to receive ongoing help.
Could yoghurt bacteria hold a key to treating bowel disease?
Researchers from the University of Bristol are investigating a novel treatment for long-term bowel disease which holds great promise.
Disease modelling in 3D – developing new cellular tools for drug discovery
A team of researchers at the University of Bristol is developing a new 3D model of kidney disease which should make the development of new treatments much more efficient.
How fibromyalgia might change the way pain is perceived
A team of researchers at the University of Bristol is investigating the differences in how fibromyalgia sufferers experience pain.
How your internal microbes can keep you healthy
There is a vast community of bacteria, viruses and fungi living on your body right now; collectively they are known as the human microbiome; they have hugely greater complexity than the human genome itself. The microbiome, which mostly lives in the gut, plays an important role in immunity, defense against pathogens, increasing availably of nutrients to the host (that’s you and me), and even influencing health and behaviour. Although how the microbiome affects our health and behaviour (or vice versa) is not particularly well understood.
Screen time and anxiety in adolescence
Modern teenagers spend vastly more time in front of screens than their forebears ever did - and there is also an increase in reports of anxiety disorders amongst the age same group. It seems, obvious, therefore, that the one must directly influence the other. But is that so?