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Surgery boost for children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Nicole A F Hofmans — 2012-05-17T14:03:55Z

Children with drug-resistant epilepsy across England will benefit from a major expansion of specialist brain surgery and assessment, the NHS has announced today.

Five new UCL fellows of Academy of Medical Sciences

Justine E Abbott — 2012-05-11T08:30:51Z

Five medical researchers from UCL have been recognised for excellence in medical science by election to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Research reveals association between red hair gene and rare birthmarks

Justine E Abbott — 2012-05-11T08:26:27Z

Research carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the UCL Institute of Child Health has identified that the gene causing red hair - melanocortin-1-receptor (MC1R) - is more common in children with Congenital Melanocytic Naevi (CMN), a rare form of birthmark.

Improving access to education and employment and reducing the risk of transport-related injury are among the best ways to improve adolescent health

Justine E Abbott — 2012-04-26T11:38:16Z

The second paper in The Lancet Series on Adolescent Health addresses the social determinants that affect health in this age group. It concludes that the most effective interventions to improve adolescent health are likely to be structural changes to improve access to education and employment for young people and to reduce the risk of transport-related injury. But a wide range of other factors are also at play, including a country’s national wealth, income inequality, and the presence of safe and supportive families and schools. The second paper is by Professor Russell Viner, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, and Professor Sir Michael Marmot, University College London, and colleagues.

Not enough is known about prescription drug use in pregnancy, say experts

Justine E Abbott — 2012-03-30T13:38:54Z

Prescription drug use during pregnancy is prevalent, however, not enough is known about the adverse effects they may have on the developing fetus, concludes a new review published in The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (TOG) today.

Genetic variant inherited from the mother significantly increases birth weight

Justine E Abbott — 2012-03-22T16:12:59Z

Researchers at the UCL Institute of Child Health have found a single gene variant, which increases a baby’s birth weight, but only if inherited from the mother.

Clean delivery kits linked to substantial reduction in neonatal deaths in South Asia, study shows

Justine E Abbott — 2012-03-06T15:47:09Z

Providing clean delivery kits and improving birthing practices could halve the number of neonatal deaths following home births in South Asia, according to research funded by the Wellcome Trust.

Gene therapy shows clinical effect in third immune disease

Justine E Abbott — 2012-03-05T16:29:19Z

Doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital/ UCL Institute of Child Health report that five patients with x-CGD have responded to gene therapy, showing clear clinical benefit. Patients saw a clear but temporary improvement in their immune system, which helped with their serious illness at the time. However the correction of the gene defect was not permanent.

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity announces plans to build a Centre for Children’s Rare Disease Research

Justine E Abbott — 2012-03-05T16:24:38Z

Announcement made on Rare Disease Day

Genetic testing for antibiotic related deafness

Justine E Abbott — 2012-01-17T11:38:33Z

New research carried out by a team at the UCL Institute of Child Health has added weight to the argument for genetic testing of children before treatment with certain antibiotics. The use of aminoglycoside antibiotics can lead to profound deafness when given to children with a particular genetic make up. The study cost £30,617 and was funded by children’s medical research charity, Sparks.

New approach on bone marrow transplant infections

Justine E Abbott — 2012-01-16T15:09:21Z

Children who have bone marrow transplants are often vulnerable to dangerous viral infections. A new technique using white cells from the donor has been backed by the Technology Strategy Board.

No consistent decrease in child maltreatment despite years of policy initiatives designed to achieve it

Justine E Abbott — 2011-12-09T14:59:58Z

There has been no consistent decrease in child maltreatment over the last two decades, research published today in The Lancet has found.

Tate Liverpool exhibition inspires pioneering science games

Justine E Abbott — 2011-11-29T15:49:15Z

Source: Tate Liverpool Press Release

Child Health Research PhD Studentships 2012-13

Nicole A F Hofmans — 2011-11-10T16:56:01Z

For further information please visit the website:

Mitochondria genes and cardiomyopathy

Justine E Abbott — 2011-09-28T07:53:29Z

Hypertropic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a rare, potentially deadly disease of heart muscle. For example, around 6% of patients listed for paediatric heart transplants have HCM.

Under 16s make up less than one per cent of NHS patient surveys

Justine E Abbott — 2011-09-26T13:02:41Z

Archives of Disease in Childhood Press Release - research carried out by Dr Dougal Hargreaves and Professor Russell Viner, UCL Institute of Child Health

ICH Open Day 2011

Nicole A F Hofmans — 2011-09-23T09:57:50Z

The ICH Open Day will this year be held on Wednesday 16th November, from 2.30pm onwards.

Gene therapy success for children born without functioning immune system

Justine E Abbott — 2011-08-25T08:34:57Z

Papers published today in Science Translational Medicine report success in two established gene therapy programmes to cure children born unable to fight infection.

£36 million boost for children's health research

Nicole A F Hofmans — 2011-08-19T15:25:50Z

The National Institute for Health Research, advised by an international panel of experts, has confirmed a further five years’ funding for the Biomedical Research Centre based at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the UCL Institute of Child Health. The award is of approximately £36 m and supports the only Biomedical Research Centre in the UK solely focussed on children.

Science: From Cradle to Grave

Justine E Abbott — 2011-08-04T10:39:10Z

Professor Carol Dezateux (UCL Institute of Child Health), Professor Sir Michael Marmot and Professor Diana Kuh (UCL Epidemiology & Public Health) contributed to a BBC Radio 4 programme exploring the past, present and future of longitudinal studies. The programme was presented by Dr Ben Goldacre. To listen to the programme, click on the following link to the UCL main site http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/headlines-list

Eating disorders linked to fertility problems and negative feelings towards pregnancy

Justine E Abbott — 2011-08-04T10:28:07Z

Eating disorders are associated with fertility problems, unplanned pregnancies and negative attitudes to pregnancy, finds new research from King’s College London and UCL, published today in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Molecular scalpel hope for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Nicole A F Hofmans — 2011-07-25T10:40:44Z

A 'molecular scalpel' shows promise in patients with a deadly muscle wasting condition, according to new research led by Professor Francesco Muntoni (UCL Institute of Child Health).

UCLB and NCYPE announce a commercialisation agreement with Special Products Limited for Epistatus®

Justine E Abbott — 2011-07-25T09:15:28Z

UCL Business PLC (UCLB) and the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy (NCYPE), a specialist epilepsy charity, have signed a commercialisation agreement with Special Products Limited, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on niche therapeutic areas, in preparation for the marketing of the Special Product’s proprietary epilepsy treatment Epistatus® as a licensed medicine.

New Policy Research Unit in the Health of Children, Young People and Families

Justine E Abbott — 2011-07-22T08:52:25Z

Delivering the best policy research in the health of children, young people and families

Fight for Sight awards £1 million for retinal disease research

Justine E Abbott — 2011-07-19T08:21:07Z

Every year the charity awards grants for original and ground-breaking research into the causes of sight loss at universities and hospitals across the UK. The new grants will support researchers based at the UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, the University of Birmingham, Queen Mary, University of London and the University of Liverpool.