New initiative Bristol Innovations expands potential for transformative research24 June 2022The University of Bristol is launching Bristol Innovations, a new initiative that will combine its far-reaching research expertise with the industry know-how of global partners, leading to progressive sector-wide and multidisciplinary discoveries.
New report finds smoking is a cause of depression and schizophrenia20 June 2022Smoking increases the risk of developing schizophrenia by between 53% and 127% and of developing depression by 54% to 132%, a report by academics from the University of Bristol published today has shown. More research is needed to identify why this is the case, and more evidence is needed for other mental health conditions such as anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Child sex abuse victims reveal barriers faced in new ‘Keeping Secrets’ report9 June 2022Child sex abuse victims whose cases are going through the criminal justice process, are going through the trial alone or faced with on average a two and a half year wait to access pre-trial therapy, according to one of the findings from a new Home Office-funded report led by University of Bristol researchers.
Regional dementia projects supported by NHS Ageing Well funding7 June 2022Bristol Health Partners’ Health Integration Teams (HITs) work on healthy ageing projects across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG). We are delighted that several new projects aiming to improve dementia care will be supported as part of £1 million NHS Ageing Well funding from BNSSG Healthier Together.
Study reveals teaching techniques which boost exam performance24 May 2022With the exam season in full swing, teenagers taking their GCSEs are hoping their teachers covered everything so they can achieve top marks. The methods teachers use in the classroom could also hold the key to improving pupils’ grades, according to a pioneering report published today.
Research Excellence Framework results 12 May 2022The much-anticipated results of the latest UK-wide assessment of university research, Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), have been published this morning (12 May 2022).
People were hesitant rather than opposed to the COVID-19 vaccine11 May 2022A study that explored the attitudes of vaccine hesitant adults in the UK towards uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine found that participants were hesitant rather than opposed to the vaccine. They had questions about their need for, and the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Concerns were exacerbated by a lack of trust in government and misunderstanding of science, the University of Bristol-led study found.
Bristol Neuroscience awarded £6.5 million to nurture mental health by keeping young brains on track11 May 2022We need to look after young brains: threats including early life adversity, sleep disruption, drug addiction and genetic mutations can all challenge brain development and lifelong mental health. Thanks to funding of over £6.5 million for new brain research, neuroscientists at the University of Bristol hope to alleviate these threats and their burden on patients, carers, clinicians and society.
Innovative ‘smart socks’ could help millions living with dementia10 May 2022‘Smart socks’ that track rising distress in the wearer could improve the wellbeing of millions of people with dementia, non-verbal autism and other conditions that affect communication.
International siblings study sheds new light on the nature of the genetics of disease10 May 2022Genetic studies aim to find regions of the genome that associate with diseases or other outcomes. A new study has shown that for social traits these genetic effects are due to a mixture of direct effects (e.g. biological effects of DNA), and indirect effects (e.g. family or social environment). Whereas biological traits are mainly driven by direct effects.
Humans possess surprising nutritional intelligence25 April 2022Pioneering research has shed new light on what drives people’s basic food preferences, indicating our choices may be smarter than previously thought and influenced by the specific nutrients, as opposed to just calories, we need.
Smoking during pregnancy may not cause ADHD in children after all7 April 2022A new systematic review and meta-analysis published in the scientific journal Addiction and led by University of Bristol researchers shows that maternal prenatal smoking is associated with offspring attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but is unlikely to be the cause of it.
Insomnia could increase people’s risk of type 2 diabetes, study finds7 April 2022People who have difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep had higher blood sugar levels than people who rarely had sleep issues, new research has found. The University of Bristol-led findings suggest insomnia could increase people’s risk of type 2 diabetes, and that lifestyle or pharmacological treatments that improve insomnia could help to prevent or treat the condition.
Touchy subject: 3D printed fingertip ‘feels’ like human skin6 April 2022A highly sensitive, 3D-printed fingertip could help robots become more dexterous and improve the performance of prosthetic hands by giving them an in-built sense of touch.
Bristol Scientists awarded over $2 million for cutting edge research5 April 2022Two academics from Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences have each received $1.44 million each to lead collaborative grants with international colleagues from the prestigious Human Frontier Science Program.
Identification of 75 genetic risk factors brings new insights for Alzheimer’s4 April 2022Identifying genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease is essential if we are to improve our understanding and treatment of it. An international research team, which included University of Bristol scientists, has identified 75 regions of the genome that are associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Professor Stafford Lightman awarded prestigious Jacobæus Prize
29 March 2022One of the world’s most prestigious medical research awards, the Jacobæus Prize has been awarded to Stafford Lightman, Professor of Medicine at the University of Bristol, for his advances to our understanding of a key hormonal system to tackle stress.
New TV series co-designed by Bristol mental health expert aims to find out if living a simpler life means a happier and healthier life28 March 2022Could living a simpler life with no modern comforts, cut off from the modern world be better for us? Bristol mental health researcher, Dr Myles-Jay Linton has contributed to a new Channel 4 series, The Simpler Life, which follows a group of 24 Brits who have given up all their worldly possessions to see whether living a simpler life off grid, without any form of technology, mains electricity or gas, benefits their health and wellbeing.
Prescribing for anxiety has increased in those aged under 3522 March 2022Researchers from the University of Bristol have found that there have been increases in incident prescribing of most anti-anxiety medications (called anxiolytics) in recent years, which have been substantial in young adults (aged under 25).
Discovery of novel brain fear mechanisms offers target for anxiety-reducing drugs16 March 2022A new target in the brain which underpins the eliciting of anxiety and fear behaviours such as ‘freezing’ has been identified by neuroscientists. The University of Bristol researchers say the discovery of a key pathway in the brain, published in the journal eLife, offers a potential new drug target for treating anxiety and psychological disorders, which affect an estimated 264-million people worldwide.
New Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences1 March 2022Three University of Bristol academics are amongst 47 researchers conferred to the Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences.
Bristol researcher awarded fellowship to help change the lives of people suffering with chronic pain18 February 2022A new £300k research fellowship has been awarded to Dr Robert Drake at the University of Bristol to carry out research exploring how injury affects brain function to cause chronic pain. The award, which is part of a £1.2 million Medical Research Foundation grant, aims to improve pain diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, for the vast number of people who live with unrelenting pain.
People’s long-term pain after knee surgery is reduced, new treatment has shown1 February 2022With one in five people experiencing ongoing pain long after knee replacement surgery, new research, led by the University of Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and published in The Lancet Rheumatology today [27 January], has shown a way to help reduce people’s continuing pain that could also save the NHS time and money too.
New research project aims to change how people talk about death and grief26 January 2022Grief effects everyone but is still very much a taboo subject in the UK. A new research project - Good Grief Connects - led by the University of Bristol aims to change society's attitude towards grief, death and dying thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.
Bristol Neuroscience Research Showcase, 13 January 202214 January 2022Learn about the Bristol Neuroscience Research Network’s half-day showcase which served to welcome new neuroscience research staff at the University of Bristol. The event comprised a series of presentations from: Bristol Medical School; School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience; and School of Psychological Science recruits, and two external keynote speakers: Loren Frank (UCSF) and Essi Viding (UCL). Over 120 people registered for the event on 13 January 2022, from undergraduate students straight through to senior staff. The aims of the event included introducing ideas for future research or potential collaborations, expanding understanding of the many different aspects of neuroscience, and getting to know some of the newer members of staff from across the University of Bristol and welcoming them to the wider community.