Researchers supported by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre will play a crucial role in tackling the current COVID-19 pandemic, ranging from the development of a new vaccine to developing the most effective drug treatments for people who have contracted the virus. A team from the Oxford Vaccine Group and the University of Oxford’s Jenner … Read more
News for Clinical Informatics and Big Data
Heart failure care must address patients’ broader health if survival rates are to improve
Oxford BRC-supported researchers have provided new evidence that might explain why the prognosis of heart failure patients has improved so little over the past decade. Findings show that a decline in cardiovascular deaths has been offset by an increase in the number of deaths from infections and respiratory problems, highlighting the importance of focusing on … Read more
Achieving Type 2 diabetes treatment targets would improve health and reduce healthcare costs
Improvements in health and reductions in healthcare costs could be achieved if blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol treatment targets were met. Researchers from the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, assessed the long-term impact of achieving treatment targets for Type 2 diabetes on diabetes-related complications, life expectancy, and healthcare costs. The study, … Read more
Clinical data project leads to potential advance in understanding of chronic hepatitis B
Researchers and clinicians in Oxford have provided fresh insights into how some people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can be cleared of the disease, as part of a national initiative to better use NHS patient data to tackle emerging health issues. It is hoped that the research, the first study on CHB under the auspices … Read more
Stroke deaths in England halved in ten years, study finds
Deaths from stroke in England halved in the first 10 years of the 21st Century, thanks to improved treatment, a study by Oxford BRC-funded researchers has found. However, the study, published in the BMJ, warned that there had been an increase in the number of people under the age of 55 who had had strokes. … Read more
Women and older people most likely to experience shortcomings in heart failure care
A study of 93,000 UK adults with heart failure has revealed critical care shortcomings in diagnostic tests, drug prescriptions, and follow-up patterns, with women and those over 75 years of age disproportionately affected. The study by The George Institute for Global Health at the University of Oxford, supported by the Oxford BRC, investigated the medical … Read more
NIHR Oxford BRC Senior Research Fellows named
The Oxford BRC is delighted to announce the appointment of seven new Senior Research Fellows. They were chosen from an extremely strong field of 47 applicants from across the scientific and clinical community because they demonstrated that their research was high impact and of high quality . They were also able to demonstrate leadership, independence … Read more
New project to accelerate clinical trial recruitment
A new project, led by the University of Oxford, will use NHS data to accelerate recruitment into clinical trials and increase the opportunities for NHS patients to participate in research. Every NHS hospital keeps a detailed record of activities. A monthly report is sent to NHS Digital, who host the data in trust for the … Read more
Concerns raised as opioid prescriptions rise across UK
Researchers supported by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre(BRC) have recommended greater action to promote best practice, as a new study revealed a rise in prescriptions of opioids for treating chronic pain over thepast 20 years. The research reviewing opioid prescribing, published in the Lancet Psychiatry, showed that UK doctors are prescribing more and stronger … Read more
Genetic changes associated with physical activity emerge thanks to machine learning pioneers
Time spent sitting, sleeping and moving is determined in part by our genes, University of Oxford researchers have shown. In one of the most detailed projects of its kind, the scientists studied the activity of 91,105 UK Biobank participants who had previously worn an activity monitor on their wrist for a week. The scientists taught … Read more