News
United for Health: Films launched about involving minoritised communities in research
South Asian community group Dhek Bhal and the University of Bristol have launched United for Health, a collection of films about involving minoritised communities in health research. The films were funded by the Brigstow Institute and supported by the NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). It is important to include…
People living with obesity denied joint replacement surgery contrary to national guidelines
People with a high body mass index (BMI) are being denied joint replacement surgery, despite guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) saying decisions on whether to offer surgery should not be based only on a person’s BMI. These are the findings from a study involving…
New £1m fund to accelerate research access to health and care data in the South West
The South West Secure Data Environment (SDE) is encouraging organisations that hold health and social care data in the South West to share more of their data, to drive ground-breaking research and innovation to improve patient outcomes. A funding call of £1m is available to help organisations make their data…
Somali men’s workshop sheds light on barriers and opportunities for prostate cancer conversations
A recent community workshop brought together Somali men in Bristol to talk openly about prostate cancer – a topic which, for many, was associated with fear and uncertainty. The event, held at the Easton Christian Family Centre on Tuesday 9 September 2025, ran from 6 -8pm. It was organised in…
‘Care’ in public, patient participation as an ethical practice
Dr Kanwal Mand is a Research Fellow in the INSiGHTS team, part of the Mental Health in Development theme at the Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre. She’s also a member of the BRC Qualitative Social and Behavioural Research Network. Here she reflects on the ethical considerations of patient and public…
Avoidable cancellation of knee replacement operations costs NHS millions and increases waiting times
Thousands of NHS knee replacement operations are cancelled at short notice every year, many for avoidable reasons, according to a new study published today [1 December]. This costs the NHS millions of pounds and increases waiting times for patients, many of whom are in severe pain. The study, led by…
New project explores data sharing between Children of the 90s and South West SDE
A new project led by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Bristol BRC) will explore how data from Children of the 90s can be made available through the South West Secure Data Environment (SDE). The project aims to establish a framework for trusted…
Pleural fluid cell differentiation does not accurately diagnose the cause of fluid around the lungs
Using pleural fluid cell differentiation as a test to determine the reason for fluid building up around the lungs does not provide an accurate diagnosis, according to a new study. Findings from the study, performed by a team including BRC researchers, are published in the Journal of…
Medical Research Council Millennium Medal awarded to Bristol BRC Scientific Director
One of the most influential figures in modern epidemiology, Professor George Davey Smith, has been awarded the UKRI Medical Research Council’s prestigious personal award for his exceptional contributions to improving human health through world-class medical research. George Davey-Smith, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Bristol…