Population Health Sciences

Life expectancy for people with HIV has increased by 10 years in the US and Europe since introduction of antiretroviral therapy

11 May 2017

Life expectancy of 20-year-olds starting treatment for HIV has increased by around a decade in the EU and North America since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy in the mid-1990s, according to a study published in The Lancet HIV. These increases are among treated individuals, and are in addition to dramatic life expectancy improvements that occurred after the introduction of antiretroviral therapy compared with untreated individuals.

Patient reporting of possible cancer symptoms to GPs fell during first wave of pandemic

25 May 2021

The number of patients aged over 50 reporting possible cancer symptoms to their GPs fell during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a study at the University of Bristol published in BMJ Open today [25 May] has found. The reduction in reporting was most pronounced for common symptoms, which rarely indicate cancer. It was also significant for 'alarm' symptoms, which are more likely to indicate cancer in older age groups, though most of the time they don’t.

Infectious disease modellers recognised for pandemic modelling work

10 November 2022

University of Bristol academics, Drs Ellen Brooks Pollock OBE, Leon Danon, Robert Challen, Amy Thomas and Emily Nixon have been recognised for their epidemiological modelling work supporting the UK government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Eating disorders are affecting more UK women in their 40s and 50s than expected, finds new study

17 January 2017

In a UK study of 5,320 women, three per cent were found to have an active eating disorder in mid-life, a figure higher than expected as eating disorders are primarily associated with adolescence or early adulthood. The research, using data from the University of Bristol’s Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children cohort, is published in the open access journal BMC Medicine.

Dr Nic Timpson appointed to ALSPAC Principal Investigator

21 March 2017

Dr Nic Timpson has recently been appointed to the post of ALSPAC Principal Investigator. He brings a distinguished academic pedigree and has made a long-term commitment to leading ALSPAC to ongoing success.

Migrant deaths are ‘vastly under-reported’ according to new report

5 December 2017

The majority of migrant deaths are unrecorded, according to a new report which calls for ‘significant improvements’ to be made in order to capture the true number of deaths which occur during migration worldwide.

University launches new specialist research institutes

20 March 2017

The University of Bristol has today (Monday, 20 March) launched seven new research institutes reflecting the University’s strength and depth in key specialisms.

Life or death medical decisions involving a child – new study asks questions about current process

18 May 2017

How parents and clinicians make life or death medical decisions involving very young children is the focus of a new study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. The findings may offer insight into how the ‘best interests’ of a child are decided, when consensus between parents and clinicians can’t be reached.

Bristol primary school pupils become scientists for a day

26 March 2021

Pupils at a Bristol school became scientists for a day to understand more about how PCR testing works to diagnose for COVID-19. Four Acres Academy is one of many local schools that are taking part in a ground-breaking University of Bristol research project to increase researchers understanding of infection patterns of COVID-19 in children.

Scientific evidence that informed UK Government’s response to COVID-19

31 May 2021

Scientific evidence that was used to inform the UK government’s key policies impacting millions of people during the first wave of COVID-19 including the rule of six and the first national stay-at-home order is published today [31 May] in the journal of the Royal Society. The Special Theme issue is compiled and guest edited by SPI-M scientists including infectious disease modellers Drs Ellen Brooks Pollock and Leon Danon at the University of Bristol.