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Flu and COVID-19 vaccine programs to start earlier than planned in England

This year's autumn flu and COVID-19 vaccine programmes will start earlier than planned in England as a precautionary measure following the identification of a new COVID-19 variant.

30 Aug 2023

Could automated, saliva-based PCR testing be the future of COVID-19 surveillance?

In a large-scale study funded by Kings College London, researchers successfully implemented an automated PCR-based testing program for SARS-CoV-2 using saliva samples from asymptomatic students and staff. The system achieved 85% sensitivity and 100% specificity, provided rapid results within eight hours, and offered a cost-effective and scalable approach to community surveillance of COVID-19.

28 Aug 2023

Inflammatory diets raise dementia and Alzheimer's risk

This research study links higher Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) scores to an increased risk of developing dementia, specifically Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest that anti-inflammatory diets may offer a preventive strategy for dementia, underlining the need for further research to validate these associations.

28 Aug 2023

Study highlights the economic burden of cardiovascular diseases in the European Union

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) cost the EU an estimated €282 billion in 2021, according to late breaking research presented at ESC Congress 2023.

28 Aug 2023

Malaria vaccine and drug combination reduces hospitalizations, deaths in children

The final results of a landmark study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases confirm that the benefits of combining the RTS,S/AS01E (RTS,S) malaria vaccine with antimalarial drugs in settings of highly seasonal malaria transmission continue over five years.

22 Aug 2023

AI-powered eye scans could revolutionize early detection of Parkinson's

Markers that indicate the presence of Parkinson's disease in patients on average seven years before clinical presentation have been identified by a UCL and Moorfields Eye Hospital research team.

21 Aug 2023

DDNS technique could reduce the time to detect polio, study shows

A new study, 'Sensitive poliovirus detection using nested PCR and nanopore sequencing: a prospective validation study', published today (17 August 2023) in Nature Microbiology, proves that using DDNS to detect polio outbreaks can save public health authorities crucial time and money.

18 Aug 2023

Problematic social media use linked to depression symptoms

Receiving therapy for problematic social media use can be effective in improving the mental wellbeing of people with depression, finds a new study by UCL researchers.

11 Aug 2023

Illustrating the safety of a new drug treatment designed for spinal cord injury

New orally available drug for spinal cord injury found to be safe and tolerable in healthy participants.

11 Aug 2023

UKHSA unveils world-leading Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today unveiled its world-leading Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC), which is building on its pandemic legacy and helping develop life-saving new vaccines for the UK and worldwide.

7 Aug 2023

Independent sector to help cut NHS waiting lists

Thirteen new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) - including eight independently run CDCs - are being launched across the country as part of government plans to use the independent sector to cut NHS waiting lists, Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay will announce today.

3 Aug 2023

Analytical and clinical evaluation of antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests against the most encountered SARS-CoV-2 variants

A recent study has assessed the sensitivity of Ag-RDTs against the most prevalent BA.5 Omicron sub-lineage.

2 Aug 2023

New £3 million research unit seeks to tackle dementia

Funded by a £3 million grant from The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the DeNPRU will produce research on prevention, diagnosis and treatment, care service, and workforce needs.

1 Aug 2023

New COVID-19 vaccine from HIPRA Human Health approved by MHRA

Bimervax, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by HIPRA Human Health, has today been authorized by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

1 Aug 2023

The impact of COVID-19 on healthcare providers' attitudes towards self-care

Researchers evaluate changes in self-documented attitudes, perceptions, and practices of self-care among healthcare professionals during the pandemic.

31 Jul 2023

Is COVID-19 vaccination protective against thrombotic complications?

Researchers explore the potential association of both arterial and venous thrombosis with COVID-19 vaccination.

31 Jul 2023

NHS needs bold solutions to survive, says leading psychiatrist

Whether it's setting up a Bank of England-type body to run it or fining patients for missing appointments, healthcare leaders, policymakers and practitioners past and present have a wealth of ideas about how they would change the NHS for the better.

28 Jul 2023

Government unveils a £600 million package to help with recruitment in social care

The government has today unveiled a £600 million package to help with recruitment and retention in social care. The fund will support the social care workforce and boost capacity in social care, in turn supporting the NHS ahead of winter and through into next year.

28 Jul 2023

Pupils in schools are much more likely to be excluded if they have a history of social care

Pupils in state secondary schools in England are much more likely to be excluded if they have a history of receiving social care or special educational needs services, finds a new study by UCL researchers.

27 Jul 2023