News
Holistic modelling could help shift the dial on obesity
An holistic modelling approach to evaluating obesity interventions could significantly improve policy effectiveness, according to a new paper published in the BMJ. The analysis was led by National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded researchers at the University of Bristol alongside Germany’s Agency for Health Economic Assessment…
New name for our local Secure Data Environment as funding confirmed to March 2025
The South West Secure Data Environment (SDE) is the new name for the Great Western SDE. This change of name reflects the SDE’s geographic area in plainer, more recognisable language. The change of name was approved by NHS England in June, alongside confirmation of the SDE’s…
Improving shared decision making in surgery
Shared decision making is when patients and healthcare professionals work together to agree on a treatment plan. It is a collaborative process that aims to make sure patients’ treatment decisions align with their preferences, values and lifestyle. This is particularly important when making decisions to have surgery because the consequences…
Study find incidents of mental illness can increase for up to a year following severe COVID-19
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…
Around 160,000 joint replacement surgeries lost by COVID-19 pandemic, study finds
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…
New study identifies two proteins that may contribute to stroke recurrence
The study discovered genetic markers in inflammation that may be related to a second stroke or other major cardiovascular event following a stroke. These findings could help identify drug targets to mitigate stroke-related disability and mortality. People who experience an arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic…
Three new projects funded by Bristol BRC Director’s Fund
Three new research projects have secured funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Bristol Biomedical Research Centre’s (Bristol BRC) Director’s fund. The Director’s Fund supports exciting new projects across all our research themes which we hope will be developed into something that could directly benefit patients.
Contributing to the BRC Surgical Innovation Group as a public and patient representative
In this blog post, Val Snelgrove talks about her experience of working as a public and patient representative with a team based at the Bristol BRC’s surgical and orthopaedic innovation theme, training opportunities in public involvement and a Learning for Patient and Public Voice (PPV) course she recently attended. My…
Suicide rates lower for almost all ethnic minority groups living in England and Wales
Suicide rates among almost all ethnic minority groups living in England and Wales are lower than among the majority White-British population. However, this does not apply to people from a Mixed-heritage background and those identifying as Gypsy / Irish Travellers, according to a study published in Lancet…