Conversations and creativity24 November 2021How can health research be informed by public need? How can people with lived experience contribute to the conversation? Can creativity play a part in all this? Hear from our Public Engagement lead, Jo Stubbs on how our Create to Collaborate project is exploring these questions.
The benefits and challenges of Meals on Wheels during COVID-1923 November 2021New research, led by the University of Bristol and supported by the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, has explored the benefits of meals on wheels from a service providers’ perspective, and the challenges services face, particularly during the pandemic.
The Infection and Immunity Research Network's annual symposium on Emerging Zoonoses19 November 2021Watch the University of Bristol's Infection and Immunity Research Network half-day hybrid event looking at zoonoses. Zoonoses are diseases and infections naturally transmitted between people and animals. It is estimated that, globally, about one billion cases of illness and millions of deaths occur every year from zoonoses. Some 60% of emerging infectious diseases that are reported globally are zoonoses; over 30 new human pathogens have been detected in the last three decades, 75% of which have originated in animals.
Human health is entwined with the health of our planet16 November 2021It’s a short time since COP26 finished in Glasgow. Many colleagues from the University of Bristol were there to discuss their research and share knowledge with those who are making decisions about policies that impact everyone's futures. When we think about climate change, we often think about the health of the planet and the natural world, but the health of our planet is entwined to the health of the human population too. Here, Elizabeth Blackwell Institute Director, Rachael Gooberman-Hill, gives a timely update on our research looking at the intersection between climate and health.
Global Public Health – realising the potential of a global collaborative network11 November 2021The 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.
Meet new Early Career Fellow9 November 2021We are delighted to welcome Laura Hull, new Early Career Fellow. Her Elizabeth Blackwell Institute Fellowship addresses mental health and masking in autistic children and young people. We asked her a few questions about her research and the difference it could make in reducing or preventing the development of mental health problems.
Brain receptor responsible for people reaching puberty earlier4 November 2021Receptors in the brain are important in sensing states of nutrition and responses to feeding and hence how nutrition can trigger growth and development. Now, a new study has found variation in the genetic coding for a specific type of these receptors that may be responsible for differences in translating signals of nutrition status to the systems involved in getting taller and reaching puberty earlier. The findings have for the first time allowed a connection between growth and development outcomes and the way we detect key signals relating to energy intake.
Collaborative COVID-19 lockdown effort delivers major boost for vaccine innovation in Bristol27 October 2021Faster vaccine development could be a step closer thanks to £4 million investment to Imophoron Ltd, a Bristol University biotech start-up developing a novel, next generation rapid-response vaccine platform called ADDomer™. Imophoron will use the investment to bring ADDomer vaccines to clinical stage, initially targeting three viruses, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), COVID-19, and mosquito-borne Chikungunya.
Cancer- early detection and prevention23 September 2021Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018. In countries like the UK where we have strong health systems, survival rates of many types of cancers are improving thanks to accessible early detection, quality treatment and survivorship care. Find out about some of the work taking place in early detection and prevention at the University of Bristol and beyond.
Résumé for Researchers: the whys and hows of narrative CVs15 September 2021Our Research Associate in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Ola Thomson, pens an overview on narrative CVs, explaining how they can enable researchers to showcase a broad array of outputs and outcomes from their research beyond published papers.
The mental health experiences of autistic students15 September 2021As we head into a new academic year – coming from a previous academic year unlike any other due to COVID-19 – the start of term is likely to leave a lot of students feeling anxious. Here, Dr Felicity Sedgewick explains how this is especially the case for autistic students, who are more likely to experience clinical levels of anxiety (and other mental health issues) in general, and who tend to find periods of change more stressful than non-autistic people do.
Opening the door to arts-and-science collaborations14 September 2021Our 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.
Fat matters more than muscle for heart health, research finds9 September 2021New research has found that changes in body fat impact early markers of heart health more than changes in body muscle, suggesting there are greater benefits to be expected from losing fat than from gaining muscle.
Bristol report calls for action to tackle the digital divide23 August 2021Digital inequality in the city could severely impact life chances, according to new research published today (Monday, 23 August) by Bristol Digital Futures Institute (BDFI) and Knowle West Media Centre.
Mechanisms to Populations research strand launch event7 July 2021On Thursday 29 April 2021, 70 researchers met online to discuss how to build research capacity at the University of Bristol in the interdisciplinary space between fundamental biosciences and population health sciences. This new research strand is supported by Elizabeth Blackwell Institute.
Public trust in science remains strong during pandemic, but study suggests some decrease in late 20201 July 2021Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, scientific research has been widely used to communicate about the disease to the public. New research to understand public views of coronavirus science has found that confidence in science among people in England from March to November 2020 was good overall although declined over this time. People who had been shielding had greater trust in November 2020 compared with their description of the views that they held in at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
Networking - Bristol Neuroscience1 July 2021World-leading research into the fundamental science of the brain and nervous system lies at the heart of the Neuroscience Research Network at Bristol. This is embodied by Bristol Neuroscience (BN) which represents a large, diverse neuroscience community with an excellent international reputation. In the third of our series of Network blogs, Catherine Brown, Research Development Administrator for the Health Research Networks, shares some highlights from Bristol Neuroscience Network.
Pregnant women in Bristol have doubts about new COVID-19 vaccines, study reveals30 June 2021Pregnant women said taking their routine vaccines like whooping cough and flu was even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic but they have doubts about the safety of taking new COVID-19 vaccines during their pregnancy, new research has found.
Bioethics, Biolaw and Biosociety - making an impact through interdisciplinary research30 June 2021The 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.
Networking - Bristol Cancer30 June 2021Cancer research in Bristol focuses on core strengths in cancer cell biology, genetic and lifecourse epidemiology and health services research. In partnership with Bristol NHS Trusts Bristol Cancer Network’s aim is to accelerate the identification and translation of novel and existing biomarkers into clinical practice for the early detection and treatment of cancer. In the second in our series of Network blogs, Catherine Brown, Research Development Administrator for the Health Research Networks, shares some highlights from Bristol Cancer Network.
Networking – Infection and Immunity29 June 2021The Elizabeth Blackwell Institute supports a number of Networks across the University of Bristol, there to provide researchers with opportunities for collaboration and partnership across schools and faculties. It has been a busy year for many of our Networks, in a series of blogs Catherine Brown, Research Development Administrator for the Health Research Networks, gives us a flavour of some of the highlights to show how networking is working. Here she shares some highlights from Infection and Immunity Network.
New Research Associate to advance equality, diversity and inclusion in health research24 June 2021Close your eyes and imagine a distinguished professor in your field. Who do you see? Most people’s brains conjure up a white male in a white coat probably in some lab. Here we welcome our new Research Associate, Ola Thomson, who explains how we can break the stereotype and why equality, diversity and inclusion in research is so important.
Longest known SARS-CoV-2 infection of nearly 300 days successfully treated with new therapy24 June 2021An immunocompromised individual with the longest known PCR confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, lasting more than 290 days, has been successfully treated with two investigational monoclonal antibodies (laboratory engineered antibodies). Clinicians and researchers from the University of Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) worked closely to assess and treat the infection and want to highlight the urgent need for improved access to treatments for such people with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Young infants produce strong immune response to SARS-CoV-2, study finds17 June 2021Young infants show strong immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, new research has found. In particular, compared with adults, young infants produce relatively high levels of antibodies and immune cells that can specifically protect against COVID-19.
Women In Health: sharing stories in the local community3 June 2021As part of celebrations for Elizabeth Blackwell's Bicentenary, we're excited to work with local partners on a new project exploring women in health across local communities and cultures.
Scientific evidence that informed UK Government’s response to COVID-191 June 2021Scientific 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 was published on 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.
Tackling digital exclusion for survivors of modern slavery during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic19 May 2021Enabling access to online services through mobile technology is an essential need for survivors of modern slavery, a new report jointly published by Unseen and NIHR ARC West has highlighted. The work is supported by the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, University of Bristol, the Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund and the Rosetrees Trust.
Health data: how to use it and when to share it?6 May 2021As part of our ongoing engagement project, Create to Collaborate, we’re setting up a workshop to prompt discussion amongst everyday people (like you and me) about health data: what to do with it, how to use it, and when to share it, for example. We want university researchers to get involved...
Bristol researchers tackle effect of climate change on health27 April 2021Climate change affects many of the social and environmental determinants of health including clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter. Global challenges can only be addressed by multi-disciplinary teams of researchers bringing skills and expertise form different fields to find solutions to complex problems.
