UCL School of Life and Medical Sciences

Prolonging the Buzz with Grandma

May 22, 2013 17:05PM

Dr Matthew Piper (UCL Genetics, Evolution & Environment) comments on the genetics of aging and the evolutionary selection pressures. Read: Scientific American

Britons show Victorian attitudes to epilepsy as children who suffer from the condition are accused of being 'possessed'

May 22, 2013 16:27PM

Professor Helen Cross (UCL Institute of Child Health) said: “These high levels of prejudice have a huge impact on how children can manage their condition. If you’re worried about being bullied then you don’t want to talk to people about it, which means you don’t have buddies who know what to do if you have a seizure.” Read: Independent

Professor slams A&E closures

May 22, 2013 14:16PM

Professor Simon Shorvon (UCL Institute of Neurology) said: “London A&Es are finding it difficult to cope already. Not only would it take patients more time to get there under these plans, which is crucial in emergency care, but it’s difficult to see how they’ll cope.” Read: Evening Standard

Greater access to genetic testing in NHS will help cancer fight

May 22, 2013 13:15PM

The outlook for women with BRCA genes will improve, with greater access to genetic testing and screening and risk reducing surgery for women who have not yet developed cancer, says Dr Lucy Side (UCL Women's Cancer). Read: The Conversation

Beating cancer doesn’t make you kick habit

May 22, 2013 09:16AM

“Anecdotally, we often hear that a cancer diagnosis is a ‘wake-up call’, but the results from our large study show that this is not the general rule,” said Professor Jane Wardle (UCL Epidemiology & Public Health). Read: Times (£)

George Hook: O’Driscoll risks brain damage by staying on

May 22, 2013 08:47AM

“The risks of suffering repeated head injury are extremely serious. It could lead to a neurodegenerative disease, similar to Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s," said Professor John Hardy (UCL Molecular Neuroscience). Read: Irish Sun

The truth and nothing but the truth

May 21, 2013 14:59PM

Professor Geraint Rees (UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience) comments on the latest lie detecting technology. Listen: BBC Radio 4 (from 4 mins)

The medical advances in tackling heart disease

May 21, 2013 11:12AM

Dr Vassilis Georgiadis (UCL Medical Molecular Biology Unit) and Dr Suwan Jayasinghe (UCL Mechanical Engineering) comment on their research into repairing damaged hearts. Read: Independent

One in ten teenage girls has an eating disorder

May 21, 2013 10:50AM

Up to one in ten teenage girls has an eating disorder, and increasing numbers of boys are also at risk, according to a new study from the UCL Institute of Child Health. Read: Daily Mail More: Times (£) Scotsman Mirror BMJ Guardian

Climbing Everest for a high chance of survival

May 20, 2013 15:33PM

Dr Dan Martin (UCL Centre for Altitude, Space and Extreme Environment Medicine), and Xtreme Everest researchers are currently packing up their equipment and sending it and the collected data back to the UK, where the results will be assessed. Read: Scotsman Irish Examiner

New operation can end distress for million Britons with badly protruding ears

May 20, 2013 14:45PM

The Royal Free Hospital, London are offering a pioneering new procedure to correct protruding ears, using an implant inserted under local anaesthetic in just 15 minutes. Read: Daily Mail

Spot the boss who is mad, bad and dangerous to hire

May 20, 2013 11:16AM

Professor Adrian Furnham (UCL Psychology) discusses management derailment and three indicators of problems ahead. Read: Sunday Times (£)

Introduce standard cigarette packets now

May 20, 2013 11:00AM

The argument for plain tobacco packaging is clear—it would save lives—and the arguments used against it are false, argues Professor Robert West (UCL Epidemiology & Public Health). Read: BMJ

How changing weather can affect you and what you can do about it

May 16, 2013 10:34AM

Dr Gavin Donaldson (UCL Respiratory Medicine) explains how hot and cold weather can increase heart attach risk. Read: Mirror

Work stress and unhealthy lifestyle ups heart disease risk

May 15, 2013 15:21PM

"These observational data suggest that a healthy lifestyle could substantially reduce the risk of coronary artery disease risk among people with job strain," said Dr Mika Kivimaki. Read: Business Standard More: Science The Conversation Hindustan Times

Royal Free and UCL search for architect to design world-class research

May 15, 2013 12:46PM

The Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead has begun the search for an architect to design a £22 million research centre into some of the world’s most serious diseases. Read: Building Design

Extreme science: Two doctors united to research high altitude and aerospace

May 15, 2013 12:07PM

In 2000, Nasa enthusiast Dr Kevin Fong and mountaineer Professor Mike Grocott decided to join forces to investigate the body’s response to extreme conditions. They established the Centre for Altitude, Space and Extreme Environment Medicine (CASE Medicine) at UCL. Read: Metro

Europeans are one big family

May 09, 2013 09:45AM

Professor David Balding (UCL Genetics Institute) comments on research that suggests that those of European descent still living on the continent are related to each other through a common ancestry dating back just 1,000 years. Read: Daily Mail

Royal Society scientists angered by Prince Andrew's election as fellow

May 08, 2013 13:21PM

“The Royal Society was founded to advocate the idea that science is what matters, not deference to authority,” said Professor David Colquhoun (UCL Biosciences). Read: Sunday Times (£) More: Guardian Daily Mail Guardian (2) Times (£) Independent FT Kashmir Times Gulf Times Telegraph (no link)

The Serpent’s Promise: The Bible Retold as Science by Steve Jones

May 07, 2013 15:08PM

A review of The Serpent's promise by Professor Steve Jones (UCL Genetics, Evolution & Environment). Read: Times (£) More: Telegraph Sunday Times (£)