Bristol Medical School

Longevity gene from supercentenarians offers hope for disease that causes rapid ageing in children

16 October 2025

A new breakthrough in a rare genetic disease which causes children to age rapidly has been discovered using ‘longevity genes’ found in people who live exceptionally long lives - over 100 years old. The research, by the University of Bristol and IRCCS MultiMedica, found these genes which helps keep the heart and blood vessels healthy during ageing could reverse the damage caused by this life-limiting disease.

New weight loss pill aims to bridge gap in obesity treatments

15 October 2025

An innovative new pill could soon offer a new and affordable weight management treatment, following a successful clinical trial involving University of Bristol researchers and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The results are published in Obesity today [15 October].

Bristol trial for blood tests to diagnose dementia underway

4 November 2025

A groundbreaking trial to explore the potential of blood tests to diagnose dementia has begun at North Bristol NHS Trust, in collaboration with the University of Bristol. The research study marks a significant step toward improving the UK’s dementia diagnosis rate.

Online guide launched to support people affected by vulval lichen sclerosus wins national award

14 October 2025

An online guide to support people affected by vulval lichen sclerosus (LS) has won a national award. Since its launch earlier this year, the guide has been viewed by over 23,000 people in more than 50 countries.

New breakthrough shows promise for protecting people against kidney damage in type 1 diabetes

14 October 2025

A new gene therapy approach aimed at protecting people with type 1 diabetes from developing diabetic kidney disease — a serious and common complication of the condition, has shown promising results in a University of Bristol study.

New method brings growth charts to children with rare genetic conditions

13 October 2025

Growth charts for children with rare genetic disorders - giving healthcare professionals and families clearer guidance on how a child is developing - have been created by an international team, led by the University of Bristol.

UK’s leading surgeons mark official launch of £21m NIHR Biomedical Research Centre

1 February 2018

Almost a third of hospital admissions involve a surgical procedure and with 4.7 million operations carried out in the UK each year and numbers rising year on year, surgery is one of the most important life-saving treatments offered to patients. Innovative surgical procedures are continually being developed but how are they tested to ensure they are safe? Two of the UK’s leading academic surgeons will answer these questions at a public lecture and debate on Thursday 1 February 2018 to mark the official launch of the £21 million National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

Cholesterol-lowering drugs could reduce the risk of dementia, study finds

10 October 2025

Low cholesterol can reduce the risk of dementia, a new University of Bristol-led study with more than a million participants has shown.

Tweeting at night linked with worse mental wellbeing, new study finds

10 October 2025

Posting on Twitter (also known as X) throughout the night is associated with worse mental wellbeing, according to a new study from the University of Bristol published in Scientific Reports today [10 October].

£6.6 million for major UK non-communicable disease prevention project

10 May 2019

The University of Bristol, in partnership with the Universities of Bath, West of England, Manchester, Reading and Cardiff and Bristol City Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, has been awarded £6.6 million by the UK Prevention Research Partnership (UKPRP) to tackle unhealthy urban planning and development linked to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, obesity, poor mental health, cancer and diabetes.