News
Researcher and GBBO finalist team up to explain Bristol BRC project in cake form
Bristol Biomedical Research Centre researcher Lavinia Paternoster has teamed up with Great British Bake Off 2023 finalist Josh Smalley to bring a research project to life through the medium of cake. The pair baked vanilla cupcakes with passionfruit curd to explain Lavinia’s Medical Research Foundation funded project…
Using genetic data to pinpoint the causes of medication side-effects
From weight-gain to low white blood cell count, side-effects are the main reason people stop taking antipsychotic medication. The biological mechanisms causing these side-effects have been revealed in a new, ground-breaking study. The research, published in PLOS Genetics, was led by University of…
Study reveals stark ethnic and social disparities in stillbirths within individual hospitals and healthcare trusts in England
Stillbirth rates are known to be higher for Black and Asian women than for white women, and those living in the most deprived areas are more at risk than those in the least deprived areas. Now a new University of Bristol-led study involving Bristol BRC researchers, published in the…
Study looks at impact of COVID-19 pandemic on rates of congenital heart disease procedures among children
Major reallocation of healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic meant that elective surgery in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) was significantly reduced, so that those needing urgent, lifesaving and emergency surgery could be treated. However, this prioritisation of the most severely ill children did not increase overall post-operative…
Using data to tackle NHS and social care pressures in the South West
Two new research projects will help the NHS and councils in the South West improve how patients move through the health and care system. The projects could help ease pressure on both NHS services and social care by shedding light on what happens when patients leave hospital. …
New name for our local Secure Data Environment as funding confirmed to March 2025
The South West Secure Data Environment (SDE) is the new name for the Great Western SDE. This change of name reflects the SDE’s geographic area in plainer, more recognisable language. The change of name was approved by NHS England in June, alongside confirmation of the SDE’s…
Study find incidents of mental illness can increase for up to a year following severe COVID-19
A new study that examined health data on 18 million people reveals higher incidence of mental illnesses for up to a year following severe COVID-19 in unvaccinated people. Vaccination appeared to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 on mental illnesses. The University of Bristol-led study, published in…
New study identifies two proteins that may contribute to stroke recurrence
The study discovered genetic markers in inflammation that may be related to a second stroke or other major cardiovascular event following a stroke. These findings could help identify drug targets to mitigate stroke-related disability and mortality. People who experience an arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic…
Three new projects funded by Bristol BRC Director’s Fund
Three new research projects have secured funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Bristol Biomedical Research Centre’s (Bristol BRC) Director’s fund. The Director’s Fund supports exciting new projects across all our research themes which we hope will be developed into something that could directly benefit patients.