News in 2024
- Study of 18 million people finds increased mental illnesses incidence following severe COVID-19, especially in unvaccinated people 21 August 2024 A new study that examined health data on 18 million people reveals higher incidence of mental illnesses for up to a year following severe COVID-19 in unvaccinated people. Vaccination appeared to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 on mental illnesses. The University of Bristol-led study, published in JAMA Psychiatry today [21 August], investigated associations of COVID-19 with mental illnesses according to time since diagnosis and vaccination status.
- Incidence of heart attacks and strokes was lower after COVID-19 vaccination, finds study of 46 million adults 31 July 2024 A new study involving nearly the whole adult population of England has found that the incidence of heart attacks and strokes was lower after COVID-19 vaccination than before or without vaccination. The research, involving University of Bristol researchers, is published in Nature Communications today [31 July].
- Bristol spinout lands patent for pioneering point-of-care technology 26 July 2024 A University of Bristol spinout company developing fast and accurate point-of-care testing for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) has taken a significant step forward after having a key patent granted.
- Bristol researcher awarded share of UKRI’s £104 million flagship fellowships grant 23 July 2024 A University of Bristol academic has been awarded a share of the UKRI’s £104 million flagship fellowships grant.
- New study identifies two proteins that may contribute to stroke recurrence 22 July 2024 People who experience an arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic stroke (TIA) are at an increased risk of suffering a second stroke or other major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), making it critically important to identify risk factors and treatments to prevent these subsequent occurrences. The new study, led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and University of Bristol researchers, has identified new genetic and molecular risk factors that may reveal new pathways for treating patients after they experience their first stroke.
- New films set to boost effective adoption of Health Impact Assessments 18 July 2024 Expert voices from planning, health, government and consultants have shared their insights of using Health Impact Assessments as a force for good to create healthier new communities.
- Time to act on kidney health inequalities, report reveals 16 July 2024 Kidney health inequalities due to age, sex, education, location or lack of wealth persist, despite widespread awareness of the barriers some people face, a new report by Kidney Research UK has revealed.
- Over-the-counter nasal sprays could keep coughs, colds and flu at bay and reduce antibiotic use 12 July 2024 Widely available over-the counter nasal sprays could keep upper respiratory tract infections - like colds, chest infections, flu, sore throat, and sinus infections - at bay, and prevent full-blown symptoms from developing, one of the largest trials to date to test their effectiveness finds. The research, which analysed data from nearly 14,000 adults, found overall they reduced the days of illness by around 20 per cent, and also reduced the number of days with severe symptoms, time off work or normal activities, and antibiotic use.
- From the canine world to exploring human immunology 1 July 2024 New research could give hope to patients with blood disorders such as leukaemia, thanks to a £1.7 million grant from Cancer Research UK.
- Community-based early HIV testing and treatment could successfully manage and prevent emerging HIV outbreaks among people who inject drugs, study suggests 17 June 2024 Community-based testing and treatment response to Glasgow’s HIV outbreak among people who inject drugs (PWID) successfully brought the 2015 outbreak under control, modelling led by academics at the University of Bristol suggests. The study’s findings, published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases (JID), indicate that approximately three times as many people would have been infected by 2020 if these interventions had not been implemented.
- Boosting key protein in eye cells could prevent age-related vision loss, finds international team 5 June 2024 Increasing the levels of a key protein in the cells at the back of the eye could help protect against the leading cause of vision loss among older adults, finds a new discovery made by researchers from the UK, US, Germany and Australia. The University of Bristol-led findings are published today [5 June] in Science Translational Medicine and featured on the front cover.
- Children exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in womb or as newborns may face increased social and respiratory problems 23 May 2024 Children who were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) while in the womb or as newborn babies may face greater difficulties with social skills and have more respiratory symptoms than non-exposed children, according to a new University of Bristol-led study published in eClinicalMedicine.
- New quarantine scheme could reduce risk of rabies reintroduction in the EU following Russian invasion, study finds 26 April 2024 Rabies is a major concern to both human and animal health, with rabies in dogs and cats widespread in Eastern Europe, and there are concerns the war in Ukraine could pose a greater risk of rabies being reintroduced to the European Union (EU). A four-month period of home isolation of dogs and cats could reduce this risk, new University of Bristol research has shown.
- Scientists discover higher levels of CO2 increase survival of viruses in the air and transmission risk 26 April 2024 A new study has revealed for the first time the vital role carbon dioxide (CO2) plays in determining the lifespan of airborne viruses – namely SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
- New Centre for Applied Excellence in Skin and Allergy Research at Bristol 25 April 2024 A new Centre for Applied Excellence in Skin and Allergy Research (CAESAR) is to be set up at Bristol.
- Bristol spin-out Dynamic Therapeutics wins prestigious Blavatnik Prize for U-RHYTHM technology 25 April 2024 Dynamic Therapeutics, a University of Bristol spin-out, has today [25 April] been awarded a prestigious Blavatnik Prize by QantX, a leading venture capital firm, for its pioneering U-RHYTHM technology. The award recognises the scientific advances and future potential of the UK's most innovative scientists and engineers.
- New £10.4M research centre will unlock new tests, treatments and cures for people living with rare kidney diseases 23 April 2024 Thousands of people living with rare kidney disease will get access to improved diagnostics, treatments and potentially cures, thanks to the creation of a new research centre, involving experts from the University of Bristol.
- Dentist and researcher awarded prestigious international fellowship 8 April 2024 Dr Cher Farrugia from Bristol Dental School has been awarded an International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) STAR Network Academy Fellowship 2024.
- Call to reduce repeat 'within-episode' antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory tract infections in primary care 8 April 2024 A new study exploring the use of repeat antibiotic prescriptions for the same respiratory tract infection (RTI) episode – known as repeat 'within-episode' prescriptions – in primary care has found high rates of their use in England, despite evidence that they are of little benefit. The study authors, from the Universities of Bristol, Bath, King's College London, and University Medical Center Utrecht, are calling for a reduction in their use and to make them a target for antimicrobial stewardship interventions.
- Report warns performing arts under threat from future global shocks unless lessons are learned from pandemic 28 March 2024 Live performing arts are facing an existential threat from a range of potential global shocks unless there is significant and sustained investment in resilience planning, according to a new international study.
- Researchers a step closer to a cure for HIV 28 March 2024 A new study involving University of Bristol researchers has shown a virus-like particle (HLP) can effectively 'shock and kill' the latent HIV reservoir.
- Study highlights potential new approach for early intervention for diabetic patients at risk of kidney disease 27 March 2024 Researchers at the University of Bristol have uncovered a mechanism by which a hormone can protect the blood vessels in the kidneys from the damage caused by diabetes. In doing so, the team has identified a potential early treatment strategy to prevent or slow progression of kidney disease in people with diabetes.
- University of Bristol and UCL to lead support hub for UK's longitudinal population studies 27 March 2024 The University of Bristol and UCL will lead the Population Research UK (PRUK) co-ordination hub, part of an existing strategic investment from the UKRI Infrastructure Fund.
- New online resource to help healthcare professionals treat patients with infections after hip replacement surgery 22 March 2024 Although infection after hip replacement surgery is relatively rare (around 1 in 100), the impact on patients’ lives can be devastating. A new website and toolkit has been developed to help healthcare professionals understand and implement best-practice guidelines on treating and supporting patients with prosthetic hip joint infection.
- Bristol heart research receives funding boost thanks to European partnership 20 March 2024 A Bristol researcher will join forces with a team in the Netherlands to drive breakthroughs in heart and circulatory diseases research, thanks to a pioneering partnership between the British Heart Foundation (BHF), Dutch Heart Foundation (DHF) and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK).
- Tsetse fly fertility damaged after just one heatwave, study finds 13 March 2024 The fertility of both female and male tsetse flies is affected by a single burst of hot weather, researchers at the University of Bristol and Stellenbosch University in South Africa have found.
- Bristol leaps ahead in training next generation of leaders to tackle major global challenges 12 March 2024 Hundreds 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 Wales 11 March 2024 A 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).
- Pioneering research reveals empathetic communication can help overcome vaccine hesitancy 4 March 2024 An international study has shown for the first time how empathetic correction of misinformation among vaccine-hesitant patients can significantly improve attitudes towards vaccination – and potentially boost vaccine uptake.
- €5.3 million to tackle fatal bloodstream infections 22 February 2024 A team of researchers, led by a University of Bristol and University of College Cork (UCC) scientist, have been awarded €5.3 million of Wellcome Trust Discovery Award funding to investigate the leading global cause of fatal bloodstream infections.
- Droughts may trigger HIV transmission increase among women in rural sub-Saharan Africa 20 February 2024 Droughts have the potential to increase the spread of HIV for women living in rural parts of Africa, researchers at the University of Bristol have found.
- Global research network to combat deadly Strep A infections 16 February 2024 Bristol researchers are part of a newly-launched multi-institution network to research bacterial cause of sepsis and heart damage in children. Each year, around half a million people, including many children and young people, die around the world because of serious group A streptococcal (Strep A) bacterial infections. While most cases are relatively mild – affecting only the skin or throat - some infections can lead to deadly sepsis or autoimmune damage to the heart. There is currently no available vaccine for Strep A.
- Haemotoxic and cytotoxic snake venom metalloproteinases – production, enzymatic specificity, snakebite treatment, and biomedical use 14 February 2024 Engineering biology has enormous potential to address global challenges, drive economic growth, and increase national security, resilience and preparedness. Six new Mission Hubs and 22 Mission Awards projects will play a key role in achieving the goals of government’s national vision for engineering biology.
- Prediction scores ineffective for assessing group A streptococcus pharyngitis 8 February 2024 Centor and McIsaac clinical prediction scores are ineffective at assessing patients who need antibiotics when they come to hospital with a sore throat.
- Professor John Coggon appointed to World Health Organization Technical Advisory Group on Ethics and Climate Health 8 February 2024 The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises climate change as the biggest health threat facing humanity, with the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health.
- Fakes, facts, society and health 8 February 2024 The 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.
- Nurturing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - Supporting Research Careers in Health and Biomedicine 8 February 2024
- Bristol scientists supercharge Artificial Intelligence in revolutionary £80 million national initiative 6 February 2024 Experts are helping put the UK at the forefront of AI advances, using it to transform current uses and tackle important global challenges.
- Vending machines could improve access to sexual health testing 6 February 2024 Vending machines dispensing test kits for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) could be useful for improving access to sexual health testing for people who have never tested or don’t test often. Users valued machines for their convenience, ease of use and instant access, although return rates were lower compared to postal kits.
- New drug could prevent diabetic eye and kidney disease in people with diabetes 5 February 2024 New research has shown a new type of inhibitor drug could prevent microvascular diabetic complications, such as diabetic eye and kidney disease. The University of Bristol-led research is published in Cardiovascular Diabetology.
Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research has appointed Professor Pat Kehoe as new Director
Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research has appointed Professor Pat Kehoe as new Director it was announced today (Thursday 23 May 2024).
EBI are delighted to announce that Professor Pat Kehoe has been formally appointed as the Director of the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute. Pat’s research expertise is in dementia research, and he brings a wealth of experience in interdisciplinary health research through his role as Health and Life Science Faculty Research Director. Professor Pat Kehoe will take up the post of Institute Director from 1 August 2024.
Read the full story here: https://bristol.ac.uk/blackwell/news/2024/new-ebi-director.html