News

A new way forward for patients with a brain tumour 12 September 2024 A new landmark report, led by the University of Bristol researchers, highlights that access to genomic testing for patients with a brain tumour, is inequitable: it is estimated that fewer than 5% of eligible adult patients with a brain tumour are accessing certain tests.
Good Grief Weston: a Festival of Love & Loss, returns this October 9 September 2024 Good Grief Weston, the festival of love and loss returns to the town in October [10 to 13] for its second edition. The event, which involves University of Bristol researchers, aims to open up conversations around death and bereavement, with honesty, compassion, joy and sometimes with humour.
Paralympic dreams: University of Bristol athletes set to shine in Paris 28 August 2024 As the world turns its attention back to Paris for the 2024 Paralympic Games, three athletes with ties to the University of Bristol are preparing to showcase their talents in badminton, boccia and triathlon.
Bristol quizzers set for University Challenge debut 26 August 2024 Four University of Bristol students will test their quizzing mettle tonight, in the first clash of their University Challenge campaign.
World first genome wide study of which people make the best stem cell donors 23 August 2024 A world-first study to identify which genes make some people stem cell super donors has begun by NHS Blood and Transplant and University of Bristol researchers.
Study of 18 million people finds increased mental illnesses incidence following severe COVID-19, especially in unvaccinated people 21 August 2024 A new study that examined health data on 18 million people reveals higher incidence of mental illnesses for up to a year following severe COVID-19 in unvaccinated people. Vaccination appeared to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 on mental illnesses. The University of Bristol-led study, published in JAMA Psychiatry today [21 August], investigated associations of COVID-19 with mental illnesses according to time since diagnosis and vaccination status.
ProtecT trial receives award for pioneering research demonstrating the safety of active surveillance 13 August 2024 A study to find out the best ways of treating prostate cancer has been named the 2024 recipient of the Active Surveillance Patients International (ASPI) Special Award. The ProtecT trial, led by the Universities of Bristol and Oxford, received the award for game-changing research in the development of the active surveillance approach to managing low-risk prostate cancer. Their research has proved active monitoring in patients with lower-risk prostate cancer was as safe as aggressive treatments.
Bristol Medical School lecturer awarded prestigious teaching accolade 8 August 2024 University of Bristol lecturer Dr Jo Hartland (they/them) has been named a National Teaching Fellow (NTF), the most prestigious award for teaching in UK higher education.
Around 160,000 joint replacement surgeries lost by COVID-19 pandemic, study finds 1 August 2024 Nearly nine months of joint replacement surgery has been lost - around 160,000 fewer operations – since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study led by the University of Bristol has found. The research suggests returning to pre-pandemic levels will not tackle the backlog, and even with rapid expansion, it will take many years, if not decades, to fix this joint replacement crisis.
New prediction model could help inform patients of their risks of having shoulder replacement surgery 31 July 2024 A new model to predict the risk of serious complications after shoulder replacement surgery has been developed in a collaboration between researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Bristol, and Copenhagen. The model, published in The Lancet Rheumatology today [31 July], could be an important tool to help both patients and doctors make more informed decisions about this common procedure.
Incidence of heart attacks and strokes was lower after COVID-19 vaccination, finds study of 46 million adults 31 July 2024 A new study involving nearly the whole adult population of England has found that the incidence of heart attacks and strokes was lower after COVID-19 vaccination than before or without vaccination. The research, involving University of Bristol researchers, is published in Nature Communications today [31 July].
Doctor, athlete, wheelchair user: Meet the unstoppable Xander 26 July 2024 When Xander Van der Poll fell from a tree, becoming paralysed from the waist down, some told him his dream of becoming a doctor was over.
‘Inspirational’ care leaver, 41, achieves dream of becoming doctor 24 July 2024 A care leaver who sat her first GCSE aged 35 has graduated as a doctor.
New study identifies two proteins that may contribute to stroke recurrence 22 July 2024 People who experience an arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic stroke (TIA) are at an increased risk of suffering a second stroke or other major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), making it critically important to identify risk factors and treatments to prevent these subsequent occurrences. The new study, led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and University of Bristol researchers, has identified new genetic and molecular risk factors that may reveal new pathways for treating patients after they experience their first stroke.
Research to help tackle knife crime in Bristol makes headway 22 July 2024 Researchers at the University of Bristol are joining forces with Bristol City Council and other partners in a bid to help reduce knife crime locally and beyond.
Ultra-processed food makes up almost two-thirds of calorie intake of UK adolescents 17 July 2024 Adolescents consume around two-thirds of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs) new research from the Universities of Bristol and Cambridge has found.
Time to act on kidney health inequalities, report reveals 16 July 2024 Kidney health inequalities due to age, sex, education, location or lack of wealth persist, despite widespread awareness of the barriers some people face, a new report by Kidney Research UK has revealed.
New initiative to boost region’s thriving life sciences sector 10 July 2024 A new initiative to increase the visibility of the South West’s growing life sciences ecosystem has been launched.
Pioneering clinical epidemiologist among outstanding scientists elected to EMBO 9 July 2024 George Davey-Smith, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, has been elected to the prestigious EMBO Membership, an honour which recognises research excellence and outstanding achievements in the life sciences.
£1.74 million to improve life-saving potential of stem cell treatment for blood cancer 1 July 2024 Outcomes for patients with blood cancer could be improved in future thanks to a £1.74 million Cancer Research UK award. The University of Bristol-led research, comprising an international team of scientists and clinical academics, will investigate why stem cell transplantation, which is used to treat blood cancers, cures the disease in some patients but can fail or cause severe side effects in others.