News

Smartwatch technology could help with future alcohol interventions, new study finds 2 April 2025 Alcohol harm costs NHS England £3.5 billion annually, with 70 people dying every day from alcohol-related causes in the UK (1). According to new University of Bristol-led research smartwatches could provide a more accurate picture of people’s daily drinking habits than current methods. The technology could be a key element for future alcohol interventions.
Bristol BRC to host new translational research collaboration in surgery and perioperative care 1 April 2025 The NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) - hosted by the University of Bristol and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) - is bringing together 12 other BRCs to host a translational research collaboration focusing on surgery and perioperative care.
Landmark research recommends gastric bypass for people with severe obesity undergoing surgery 31 March 2025 Gastric bypass is the most clinically and cost effective form of interventional surgery for people living with severe obesity, reveals landmark research. The new University of Bristol-led trial, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is published today [31 March] in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
Bristol cardiac surgeon who pioneered life-saving surgery receives Lifetime Achievement Award 24 March 2025 Professor Gianni Angelini, Director of the Bristol Heart Institute at the University of Bristol, and cardiac surgeon at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for Coronary Artery Surgery for his pioneering work.
Electric scooter schemes reduce bicycle collisions by 20%, study suggests 21 March 2025 Electric scooter schemes appear to reduce the risk of bicycle collisions by around 20%, according to a University of Bristol-led study. The research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is published in Injury Prevention today [21 March].
Bristol study awarded £5.2 million to continue groundbreaking health research across three generations 7 March 2025 The Children of the 90s health study at the University of Bristol, which researches the lives of thousands of families in the south west, has been awarded £5.2 million to continue its pioneering work to improve people’s health.
Brilliant Bristol students win “ludicrously tight” University Challenge quarterfinal 4 March 2025 Bristol students came from behind to win the first of their University Challenge quarterfinals.
Largest ever DNA resource for over 37,000 UK children and parents to unlock insights into child health and development 4 March 2025 For the first time, a new resource containing DNA sequencing data for over 37,000 children and parents collected over multiple decades from across the UK is now available to researchers worldwide. The resource, which includes data from three UK long-term birth cohorts including the University of Bristol’s Children of the 90s study, will allow scientists to explore the relationship between genetic and environmental factors in child health.
Paramedics in GP surgeries may ease workload but not NHS costs, study finds 28 February 2025 Paramedics working in GP surgeries help reduce GP workload but do not contribute to cost savings to the NHS, according to the first major study of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of paramedic compared with GP consultations.
Greater openness about the use of complementary and alternative medicines in UK dairy farming could bring benefits 26 February 2025 Greater openness about complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) use has the potential to strengthen farmer-vet relationships, which may prevent potential unintended harm to animals, reduce antibiotic use and improve herd health management, new research has found. The study, led by the University of Bristol, is published today [26 February] in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
Young adults more likely to switch from smoking to vaping when aware of reduced harm, but misinformation deters change 14 February 2025 Young adults are more likely to give up smoking and switch to vaping if they understand the reduced harm of vaping, according to a new study involving University of Bristol researchers. However, many inaccurately believe that vaping is as bad for you or worse than smoking.
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in childhood may protect 60% of 13-year-olds from smoking their first tobacco cigarette 11 February 2025 Teenagers may be less likely to start tobacco smoking if they take part in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) from childhood, a new study by the University of Eastern Finland in collaboration with the universities of Bristol and Exeter has shown. The results are published in Behaviour Research and Therapy.
Mechanical heart valve replacements have better long-term survival, study finds 11 February 2025 Patients aged between 50 to 70 years with a mechanical heart valve replacement had better long-term survival compared to those with a biological valve, new research led by the University of Bristol has found. The study is published in the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.
Age and gender impacts effectiveness of new gene therapy treatments for eye diseases, new study finds 10 February 2025 Older women could be vulnerable to harmful inflammation from new gene therapies to treat incurable eye diseases, new research has found. The University of Bristol-led study, published in Molecular Therapy, reveal how age and gender affects inflammation caused by gene therapy treatments and could cause damage to the eye. The findings could help improve the therapy’s effectiveness for eye conditions and highlights the need for personalised treatment to reduce risk and ensure a better outcome for all patients.
Innovative new pooch treats fuel food for thought about future of ‘greener’ diets 6 February 2025 Dogs in Bristol were amongst the first in the country to woof down snacks made from lab-grown meat in a bid to advance the future of alternative protein sources and help cut carbon emissions.
New AI project will predict a patient’s hospital readmission risk to help ease pressure on NHS 29 January 2025 A new University of Bristol-led project aims to ease pressure on the NHS by developing an artificial intelligence (AI) model to predict and reduce a patient’s risk of readmission to hospital.
NHS rolls out national genetic test to reduce risk of donor kidney failure 27 January 2025 Hundreds of potential kidney donors of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage can now get a simple blood test to help reduce the risk of kidney failure.
Child mortality has risen since pandemic, new study shows 23 January 2025 While child deaths in England fell temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have now risen to new heights, a new study from researchers at the University of Bristol and based on unique National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) data has found.
Signposting children to weight management services could happen when parents attend an adult programme 21 January 2025 Parents attending an adult weight management programme, who were worried about their child’s weight, would accept support and signposting to services for their child if it was offered, new research led by the University of Bristol has found. The study is published today [21 January] in BMJ Paediatrics Open.
Bristol researchers part of £50M research award to develop cutting-edge new therapies for heart disease 20 January 2025 Bristol’s heart scientists are involved in one of two new Medical Research Council Centres of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE) that aims to develop new advanced therapeutics for currently untreatable diseases. Both Centres will receive up to £50 million each over 14 years.