Translational Health Sciences

Age and gender impacts effectiveness of new gene therapy treatments for eye diseases, new study finds

10 February 2025

Older women could be vulnerable to harmful inflammation from new gene therapies to treat incurable eye diseases, new research has found. The University of Bristol-led study, published in Molecular Therapy, reveal how age and gender affects inflammation caused by gene therapy treatments and could cause damage to the eye. The findings could help improve the therapy’s effectiveness for eye conditions and highlights the need for personalised treatment to reduce risk and ensure a better outcome for all patients.

Implant choice more important than surgeon skill for hip replacement success

31 August 2020

A study analysing over 650,000 hip replacement patients across England and Wales over 14 years sought to investigate why one hospital has consistently been identified as having better than expected outcomes compared to other settings. The findings have shown that the outstanding hip implant survival results seen in one centre in the UK are associated with implant choice more than surgeon skill.

Researchers hope to identify new drug targets to treat brain tumours

23 July 2014

Around 7,000 people in the UK develop primary brain cancer each year but only ten per cent of patients are still alive five years after diagnosis. A new research project has been awarded a grant of over £200,000 to look at a pathway in brain tumours called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and identify any possible new drug targets to treat the disease.

University collaborates with At-Bristol on innovative Brain Lab workshops

22 September 2014

At-Bristol Science Centre, in collaboration with the University of Bristol, has been awarded a grant from the Wellcome Trust, in a UK first to lead an innovative and immersive series of workshops, using real human brain tissue to stimulate discussion about the social, ethical and legal issues around neuroscience and neuroscience research.

New heart valve could transform open heart surgery for millions of patients globally

29 June 2020

A new polymeric heart valve with a life span potentially longer than current artificial valves that would also prevent the need for the millions of patients with diseased heart valves to require life-long blood thinning tablets has been developed by scientists at the universities of Bristol and Cambridge. The team's latest in-vitro results, published in Biomaterials Science, suggest that the PoliValve could last for up to 25 years.

Study reveals stark ethnic and social disparities in stillbirths within individual hospitals and healthcare trusts in England

16 May 2025

Stillbirth rates are known to be higher for Black and Asian women than for white women, and those living in the most deprived areas are more at risk than those in the least deprived areas. Now a new University of Bristol-led study published in the Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (BJOG) today [16 May] reveals that these disparities exist even within individual hospitals and NHS Trusts.

Testing memory over four weeks could predict Alzheimer's disease risk

10 December 2020

New research suggests testing people's memory over four weeks could identify who is at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease before it has developed. Importantly, the trial found testing people's ability to retain memories for longer time periods could predict this more accurately than classic memory tests, which test memory over half an hour.

Manchester United’s rising stars help Bristol researchers revolutionise heart health

28 January 2015

A new research project, led by University of Bristol academics, to identify the effects of exercise on young people’s hearts has been announced today [Wed 28 Jan 2015]. Manchester United’s Academy players are being put through their paces having their hearts monitored by the latest imaging technology to give invaluable insights into how young people’s hearts work while doing exercise.

£2.5 million for largest trial to improve outcomes from treatment for blocked leg arteries

17 June 2025

Blocked leg arteries – often caused by diabetes or smoking – are very common, but if left untreated can lead to amputation, or even death. To improve blood flow, a procedure called an angioplasty is usually carried out, with patients given blood-thinning drugs afterwards. A new trial led by North Bristol NHS Trust, in collaboration with the University of Bristol and the Centre for Trials Research at Cardiff University, will compare three commonly prescribed blood-thinning tablets to find out which works best.

Global study finds high success rate for hip and knee replacements

14 February 2019

After reviewing thousands of case studies going back 25 years across six countries, generalisable survival data is now available for the first time to estimate how long hip and knee replacements are likely to last.