News
Depression linked to immune response in some people
A link between depression and changes in counts of several types of immune cells in the blood has been revealed by researchers at the University of Bristol’s MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit. These findings, published in Molecular Psychiatry, suggest that changes to different components of…
Hard Evidence – a theatrical and research legacy
Thriving Theatre is a new theatre support group for people with lived experience of domestic abuse. It was established by the team behind Hard Evidence, a play about domestic abuse, mutual support and the empowering effect of public involvement in research. The characters and storyline of Hard…
Early involvement of public contributors can benefit product development in healthcare
Involving public contributors at an early stage of product development might benefit companies trying to improve healthcare, according to research published in Health Expectations. Researchers from the Bristol BRC found not only that patients and public contributors could feasibly work with small healthcare companies but that they…
New animation explains trauma-informed healthcare and evidence for UK implementation
A new animation, co-produced by researchers at the University of Bristol and part-funded by the Bristol BRC, explains what a trauma-informed approach in healthcare is. It also talks about how UK healthcare organisations can become trauma-informed to prevent re-traumatisation in services and improve experiences and outcomes for all. The four-minute…
Forecasting long-term demand in emergency departments
Policies designed to improve both health-related behaviours and personal circumstances could reduce the number of people attending emergency departments (ED) and improve the quality and safety of care in the long-term. Researchers from Bristol’s BRC combined statistical models looking at population health and health service capacity to predict monthly ED…
Lived experience stories of self-harm may help and reduce stigma
Lived experience stories of self-harm may be helpful for those with a history of self-harm but they should reflect a range of personal journeys to encourage relatability and avoid using stigmatising language. People with recent self-harm experience were able to positively engage with lived experiences stories found online, according to…
World Cancer Day – An interview with Professor Richard Martin discussing interdisciplinary cancer research
This interview was originally published by PLOS ONE on 3 February 2023. World Cancer Day, held every 4 February, is a global initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to raise awareness, improve education and catalyze action. This year’s theme is…
Remote research methods could be more inclusive for autistic adults
Online methods for obtaining consent and taking part in research remotely could make research more inclusive for autistic people, according to a study published in Autism in Adulthood. Researchers from Bristol’s BRC wanted to explore how the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic affected autistic people.
Prioritising surgical demand during COVID-19
Prioritising which patients should undergo surgery when demand exceeded capacity was incredibly challenging for surgeons during the pandemic, a study part-funded by the Bristol BRC has found. During the CONSIDER-19 study, researchers interviewed healthcare professionals to investigate their experiences of prioritising patients for surgery, while the national…