News
- Rapid tests make diagnosis of Hepatitis C more accessible and closer to the community, study finds 25 January 2023 A new study has shown the benefit of using a quick clinic-based diagnostic test for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection over a standard laboratory-based test. The findings from the study has led to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommending the adoption of the point-of-care (POC) HCV test.
- Stem cell plasters to stop children needing repeated heart surgeries 3 January 2023 Researchers at the University of Bristol, funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), have developed 'stem cell plasters' to revolutionise the way surgeons treat children living with congenital heart disease, so they don't need as many open-heart operations.
- Studies find Omicron related hospitalisations lower in severity than Delta and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine remains effective in preventing hospitalisations 12 December 2022 Adult hospitalisations from Omicron-related SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) were less severe than Delta and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (also known as Comirnaty and BNT162b2*) remains effective in preventing not only hospitalisation, but severe patient outcomes associated with COVID-19, two new research studies have found.
- Scientists invent pioneering technique to construct rare molecules discovered in sediments from the Bahamas with potential to help treat disease and infection 5 December 2022 Scientists have created a much faster way to make certain complex molecules, which are widely used by pharmaceuticals for antibiotics and anti-fungal medicines.
- Pocket feature shared by deadly coronaviruses could lead to pan-coronavirus antiviral treatment 23 November 2022 Scientists have discovered why some coronaviruses are more likely to cause severe disease, which has remained a mystery, until now. Researchers of the University of Bristol-led study, published in Science Advances today [23 November], say their findings could lead to the development of a pan-coronavirus treatment to defeat all coronaviruses—from the 2002 SARS-CoV outbreak to Omicron, the current variant of SARS-CoV-2, as well as dangerous variants that may emerge in future.
- New trial to assess whether rapid tests reduce antibiotic prescribing for respiratory infections in primary care 23 November 2022 A new randomised controlled clinical trial, led by the University of Bristol, will investigate whether rapid microbiological 'point-of-care' tests for respiratory infections could reduce antibiotic prescribing in primary care, thanks to funding of £1.6 million by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The tests, which are carried out in GP surgeries rather than sent to a laboratory, detect the presence of viruses and some bacteria, with results available on the same day.
- This year’s Doctoral Prize winners are… 18 November 2022 Each year the University of Bristol picks six outstanding theses – one from each faculty – from hundreds of fascinating submissions by doctoral researchers in the last year. This year’s winners each receive £500 and a special certificate.
- 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.
- First ever clinical trial of laboratory grown red blood cells being transfused into another person underway 7 November 2022 Red blood cells that have been grown in a laboratory have now been transfused into another person in a world first clinical trial led by a UK team including University of Bristol researchers.
- Films explain how we can find solutions for a healthier future 1 November 2022 Climate change is one of the biggest health threats facing humanity. It is already affecting our health, and these impacts are likely to increase. A series of short films developed by the University of Bristol’s Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research and Cabot Institute for the Environment explain how the health of our planet is linked to human health, and how research at Bristol will help us to understand these complex and interwoven issues.
Infection and immunity press releases
Press releases relating to infection and immunity on the University's central news pages.