News
Analysing sleep may help us monitor brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease
Sleep may contain information to help us understand and potentially monitor some of the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from the University of Camerino, in collaboration with the University of Bristol, have shown that poor sleep may not simply be a consequence of the disease. It may also…
Bristol-led study of pain relief in children undergoing surgery awarded £3.3m
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded £3.3m to a study exploring the best way to manage pain for children who have had abdominal surgery. The Caterpillar Study is a randomised controlled trial to see whether using wound infusion catheters in children and…
Severe asthma linked to changes in brain structure
People living with a severe form of asthma show subtle differences in the structure of their brains compared with people whose asthma is well controlled, according to new research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The study, led by researchers from NIHR…
Children may benefit when parents adopt healthier habits to lose weight
Independent research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Paediatrics Open found that many parents attending weight management groups reported positive changes in their children’s health behaviours, including increased physical activity and eating healthier food. The survey, funded by the National Institute for Health…
Remote technology could make sleep and dementia research more accessible
Older people, including those with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, can successfully take part in long-term sleep research from home when technology is simple, reliable and supported by researchers, a new study has found. Researchers from the University of Bristol, North Bristol NHS Trust and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre:…
Researcher perspectives: Tom Lunn
Tom Lunn is a physiotherapist working at Bristol Royal Infirmary. He specialises in respiratory physiotherapy, working with critically ill patients on the Intensive Care Unit. Alongside his role at the hospital, he has been carrying out research funded through the National Institute for Health…
Antidepressant use in pregnancy linked to small increases in some birth risks, study finds
An international study led by researchers from the UK, Norway and Sweden has found that antidepressant use during pregnancy may be associated with a small increase in the risk of preterm birth and a low Apgar score, although the overall chance of these outcomes remained low. The research,…
Researcher perspectives: Jody Salton
Jody Salton is one of our PhD students. She is exploring whether the micronutrient content of food could be influencing our food choices. She is supervised by Professor Jeff Brunstrom, Professor Julian Hamilton-Shield, and Dr Dani Ferriday. In August 2026, we spoke to Jody about her academic journey, her PhD…
Bristol psychiatrist wins prestigious NIHR Rising Research Leaders Prize
A University of Bristol clinical academic psychiatrist developing new ways to improve perinatal mental health support has received a prestigious national research leadership prize. Dr Katie Hall, a psychiatrist and NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, has been named one of…