A Cardiff University study has concluded the number of people in the UK with Type 2 diabetes has trebled over the last two decades (Cardiff University, 2017). The new findings, based on data collected by GP services in the UK between 1991 and 2014, also show a marked increase in life expectancy for people with … Continue reading Number of people with Type 2 diabetes trebles since 1991

The Bevan Commission Academy for Health Leadership and Innovation has been formally opened at Swansea University’s Bay Campus by Dr Andrew Goodall, Director General of NHS Wales (Swansea University, 2017). The Bevan Commission Academy responds to the findings of the Commission for stronger leadership and innovation through a more prudent approach to health and wellbeing … Continue reading Bevan Commission Academy officially opens

Researchers at Cardiff University have devised a new way of creating artesmisinin, a drug commonly used as the first line of defence against malaria (Cardiff University, 2017). Artemisinin is a drug recommended by the World Health Organisation for treatment of all cases of severe malaria and works by attacking all stages of the malaria parasite … Continue reading New way to make artesmisinin

Estimates suggest that 40% of eczema flares are treated with topical antibiotics, but findings from a study led by Cardiff University suggest there is no meaningful benefit from the use of either oral or topical antibiotics for milder clinically infected eczema in children (Cardiff University, 2017). Eczema affects around one in five children in the … Continue reading No meaningful benefit using antibiotics for mildly infected eczema in children

Bangor University has invested £1m in a new state-of-the-art facility, the PAWB Centre, at its School of Sport Health & Exercise Sciences (Bangor University, 2017). Two new exercise physiology laboratories, which research the functioning of the human body and a large new teaching laboratory will extend and complement the School of Sport Health & Exercise … Continue reading Bangor University opens new health and wellbeing labs

A team of researchers led by the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) is developing a wearable robotic system for minimally invasive surgery, that will offer surgeons natural and dexterous movement as well as the ability to sense, see, control and safely navigate through the surgical environment (UWE Bristol, 2017). The €4m research … Continue reading Wearable robotic tools developed for surgery

Bedcovers which form a barrier to house dust mites appear to reduce asthma flare ups in children, according to new research conducted by the University of Manchester (University of Manchester, 2017). Mite allergy is one of the most common asthma triggers, and in partnership with viral infection can greatly increase hospital admission risk. In the … Continue reading Mite-proof bedcovers may reduce asthma flare ups in children

Research at Swansea University could help predict further attacks and detect problems in heart attack patients (BBC News, 2017). Scientists have analysed a cell found in heart scar tissue which could cause increased risk of cardiac arrest. Myofibroblasts cells in patients might increase the likelihood of an electrical “short circuit”. Professor Chris George said “Cells … Continue reading Swansea University research could predict further heart attacks

Researchers from the University of Bristol and the University of Manchester have found a way to mimic the way cells in living organisms talk to the world around them by creating a synthetic receptor which can respond to chemical signals just like its natural equivalent (University of Bristol, 2017, University of Manchester, 2017). Professor Jonathan … Continue reading Synthetic receptor mimics the the way cells talk to the world around them

Researchers from the University of Liverpool and the Sichuan Antibiotics Industrial Institute have discovered a novel treatment for advanced prostate cancer which raises concerns about the way treatment is currently conducted (University of Liverpool, 2017). Professor Youqiang Ke, from the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Translational Medicine, led the research, published in Oncotarget, which focused … Continue reading New approach to treat advanced prostate cancer