News

Few eligible patients get access to publicly funded weight management programmes in England 28 September 2023 Of the more than 1.8 million adults in England with a recorded diagnosis of being overweight or obesity, only three percent are referred to publicly funded weight management programmes, according to a new University of Bristol-led study published today [28 Sep] in PLOS Medicine.
Bristol Bears partners with Children of the 90s researchers for new study 25 September 2023 An exciting new sports science study is underway at the Children of the 90s clinic at the University of Bristol. European Challenge Cup winners, the Bristol Bears, are pioneering new research looking at the association between body composition and injury in elite level male, female and academy rugby union players.
Reductions in sexual mixing ended mpox outbreak in England, while vaccination has prevented resurgences in 2023 11 September 2023 The rapid outbreak of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in 2022 likely resulted from high levels of sexual mixing among some gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), with the initial downturn in cases probably due to a reduction in sexual contacts among these men, according to new research led by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Behavioural Science and Evaluation. The HPRU is a partnership between the University of Bristol and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Obesity-related stigma linked to political views and welfare attitudes 7 September 2023 Views around obesity are closely tied up with political values and wider social attitudes, suggesting that tackling weight stigma may require tackling other forms of stigma, new research led by the University of Bristol has found.
Global research on HIV prevention to be transformed thanks to £5 million award 5 September 2023 Researchers from seven international institutions hope to transform traditional strategies used to tackle global HIV prevention for key populations particularly affected by the virus, thanks to a new £5 million Wellcome Discovery award to Professor Peter Vickerman at the University of Bristol.
First-of-its-kind ‘Carry Naloxone’ app launches to help save lives 31 August 2023 A new app to access naloxone, the life-saving medicine to prevent an opioid overdose, is launched in Somerset today on International Overdose Awareness Day [31 August]. The app, which is supported by University of Bristol research, is the first-of-its kind in England.
Surgeons need to improve how they communicate with patients about innovative procedures 14 August 2023 Patients are not given sufficient information about the novel status of a procedure, possible uncertainties or potential risks when deciding to go ahead with the procedure, research led by the University of Bristol and published in the Annals of Surgery has found.
Gene therapy hope for children with kidney disease 10 August 2023 Researchers at the University of Bristol have made a remarkable step forward in finding a potential cure for a type of childhood kidney disease.
Academic Respiratory Unit receives prestigious clinical academic funding 10 August 2023 Three clinicians based in the Academic Respiratory Unit (ARU) have been successful in gaining prestigious and highly competitive clinical academic funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC).
Bristol researcher shortlisted for BHF Heart Hero Award for work on children’s heart plaster 31 July 2023 A University of Bristol researcher who developed a new revolutionary type of ‘heart plaster’ that could improve the way surgeons treat children living with congenital heart disease has been shortlisted for the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) Research Story of the Year, part of the charity’s annual Heart Hero Awards.
Patients need better information on usefulness of blood tests finds new audit of UK primary care tests 21 July 2023 An audit of blood tests in UK GP practices has found that 6.2% of test results led to a new diagnosis or confirmation of a diagnosis, and abnormal or borderline results were common with only around a quarter (26.6%) of patients having results in the normal range.
Bristol professor wins prestigious RCGP award 20 July 2023 A University of Bristol Professor of Primary Health Care and an NIHR Senior Investigator has been awarded the George Abercrombie Award for his outstanding contributions to the literature of general practice.
Student doctor wins Chortle Student Comedy Award 19 July 2023 A student who fell in love with comedy when he was 12 years old has won the Chortle Student Comedy Award 2023.
‘Fastball’ test to detect Alzheimer’s earlier gets major £1.5 million funding boost 12 July 2023 A simple but revolutionary test to improve early detection for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease could soon be helping patients and their families, thanks to a significant £1.5 million funding boost awarded to the universities of Bath and Bristol.
How the University of Bristol's research and teaching has helped shape the NHS and save lives 5 July 2023 Today [Wednesday 5 July] we celebrate 75 years of the NHS - the first universal health care system to be established anywhere in the world.
GPs have a key role to diagnose vulval lichen sclerosus 26 June 2023 Primary care professionals should think beyond thrush and genitourinary symptoms of menopause (GSM) when women present with vulval symptoms and consider the diagnosis of vulval lichen sclerosus (VLS), research led by the University of Bristol suggests.
One in ten NHS healthcare workers experienced suicidal thoughts during pandemic, study finds 21 June 2023 Approximately one in ten NHS healthcare workers experienced suicidal thoughts during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, finds a new University of Bristol-led study published in PLOS ONE today [21 June].
Wearable monitor detects stress hormone levels across a full 24-hour day 21 June 2023 Early warning signs of diseases caused by dysfunctional levels of stress hormones could be spotted more easily thanks to a new wearable device developed by endocrine researchers. This is the first time it has been possible to measure changes to people’s stress hormones as they go about normal daily activities, across both day and night. The new collaborative research led by the University of Bristol, University of Birmingham and University of Bergen has the potential to revolutionise how diseases of the stress hormone system are diagnosed and treated.
Alcohol dependency in adolescence, but not consumption, linked with later depression risk 1 June 2023 Adolescents who show signs of alcohol dependence are more likely to develop depression by their mid-20s, according to a new study led by University of Bristol and UCL researchers.
Record-breaking student weightlifter called up for Commonwealth Championships 31 May 2023 A medical student who recently broke two British weightlifting records has been picked to represent England at the Commonwealth Championships.