News
Higher levels of interleukin-6 in patients with pleural infection are linked to more serious disease
Patients with a pleural infection who have higher levels of interleukin-6 in their blood or pleural fluid are likely to be more unwell than patients with lower interleukin-6 levels, a new study shows. This suggests that treatments which inhibit the activity of interleukin-6 may be useful against pleural infection. The…
Space for play is being ‘designed-out’ of urban childhoods
Children growing up in British cities face barriers to safe, playable spaces as financial constraints, policy misalignment and housing pressures cause planners to prioritise property over parks, according to a new study involving Bristol BRC researchers. Published in Cities and Health, the study – part of the Play…
South Asian men share experiences to support prostate cancer research
A recent community workshop brought together South Asian men in Bristol to talk openly about prostate cancer – a topic often described as taboo in their communities. The event held at Wellspring Settlement near the University of Bristol’s Barton Hill micro-campus, was organised in collaboration with community partners CAAFI Health. It…
The role of social context in promoting physical activity in primary schools
A new study has highlighted the difficulties primary schools face in promoting physical activity, and the specific role the social context of a school plays in this. Pressure to deliver the curriculum means schools may rely on staff who are passionate about sport to promote physical activity, and schools with…
Researcher and GBBO finalist team up to explain Bristol BRC project in cake form
Bristol Biomedical Research Centre researcher Lavinia Paternoster has teamed up with Great British Bake Off 2023 finalist Josh Smalley to bring a research project to life through the medium of cake. The pair baked vanilla cupcakes with passionfruit curd to explain Lavinia’s Medical Research Foundation funded project…
Growing as a researcher: Insights from my summer internship in surgical research methodology
Maria Eze, a second year biological sciences student at the University of Edinburgh, completed an internship within the NIHR Bristol BRC and the Centre for Surgical Research at the University of Bristol. Her internship was funded through the NIHR Undergraduate Internship Programme. Here, she reflects on her experience. This…
Using genetic data to pinpoint the causes of medication side-effects
From weight-gain to low white blood cell count, side-effects are the main reason people stop taking antipsychotic medication. The biological mechanisms causing these side-effects have been revealed in a new, ground-breaking study. The research, published in PLOS Genetics, was led by University of…
Researchers discover tantalisingly ‘sneaky’ way to help diners make healthier, greener menu choices
Pioneering research has uncovered a cunning way to curry favour with diners’ food choices, so they’re more likely to select meals which have a much lower carbon footprint and reduced fat content. This Bristol BRC study, led by the University of Bristol and published today [11 August] in…
Primary schools can play to their strengths in boosting child physical activity
A 4 month rapid ethnography study in 3 primary schools across Bristol reveals that “one‐size‐fits‐all” physical activity strategies will fall short. Schools differ widely in culture, resources, and objectives, meaning they need tailored, context‑specific physical activity interventions, according to the study results, published in BMC Public Health. Led by…