New research shows that, in a head-to-head comparison of five tests used to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, an assay developed by an academic partnership led by the University of Oxford and one manufactured by Siemens had the most accurate results. The study comparing these ‘immunoassays’ has been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, as part of … Read more
News for Antimicrobial Resistance and Modernising Microbiology
Mild COVID-19 symptoms might not result in positive antibody test, research finds
Oxford researchers have found that COVID-19 antibody tests might not give a positive result if people have only had mild symptoms, like loss of taste and smell. Microbiology and data experts from the Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Oxford made the initial findings, published as a pre-print, as part … Read more
AI test identifies COVID-19 within an hour in emergency departments
University of Oxford scientists specialising in infectious disease and clinical machine learning have developed an artificial intelligence test that can rapidly screen for COVID-19 in patients arriving in emergency departments. The initial findings of the ‘CURIAL’ AI test, which has been supported by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), appeared in a preprint paper. The test … Read more
Varying risk of COVID-19 to health workers revealed
A study at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust has revealed the different levels of risk faced by healthcare workers dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. In a major collaboration with the University of Oxford, almost 10,000 staff were tested both for presence of the virus responsible for COVID-19 and antibodies to the virus. In … Read more
Oxford-based citizen science project reaches three million classifications in fight against antibiotic resistance
The Bash the Bug citizen science project has achieved three million classifications, after seeing a rapid increase in participation over the last two months. Hosted on the Zooniverse platform, Bash the Bug has over 20,000 volunteers worldwide helping researchers to understand and predict which strains of tuberculosis bacteria will be resistant to which antibiotics. The … Read more
Large-scale COVID-19 infection and antibody test study launched
Some 20,000 households across England are being contacted to take part in the first wave of a major new government study to track the COVID-19 coronavirus in the general population. The study will help improve understanding around the current rate of infection and how many people are likely to have developed antibodies to the virus. … Read more
Common antibody test can be adapted for COVID-19, study finds
Research led from Oxford has found that an immunological assay commonly used to measure antibodies, antigens and proteins in biological samples can be specifically adapted to detect and quantifying COVID-19 antibodies. The investigations by the National COVID Testing Scientific Advisory Panel were co-ordinated by Prof Derrick Crook at the University of Oxford. The trial involved researchers at … Read more
Oxford researchers to play key role in fight-back against COVID-19
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
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
BRC researchers elected Fellows of Academy of Medical Sciences
Three Oxford BRC-supported researchers are among eight University of Oxford scientists elected to join the prestigious Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) this year. The BRC researchers among the new Fellows are: Professor Helen McShane, Professor of Vaccinology in the Nuffield Department of Medicine, Deputy Director of the Medical Sciences Division and Director … Read more
Oxford medical researchers win prestigious national awards
Four leading healthcare academics in Oxford have received a prestigious national award. The University of Oxford professors have been named National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigators in recognition of their “outstanding contribution to clinical and applied health and social care research”. The successful candidates are all prominent researchers in the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre … Read more
Pills as good as injections to treat bone and joint infections, paper finds
Pills are just as effective as intravenous (IV) injections in tackling bone infections, a study led by Oxford-based researchers has found. The findings, published on 30 January in The New England Journal of Medicine, challenge the long-held belief that injections into the vein are the best way to give antibiotics for bone and joint infections, … Read more
Award-winning citizen science project tackling TB gets millionth classification
An award-winning Oxford-based international project to tackle antibiotic resistance has achieved its one millionth classification. BashTheBug is an initiative based in the University of Oxford’s Modernising Medical Microbiology Group at the John Radcliffe Hospital and supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). It is a global citizen science project, run … Read more
Oxford team use DNA sequencing and patient data to halt infection outbreak
Clinical and research teams at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust, using infection prevention and control best practice, whole genome sequencing and electronic patient data, have halted an outbreak of a potentially deadly fungal pathogen after detecting that multi-use patient equipment was responsible. The breakthrough at the John Radcliffe Hospital is significant as this … Read more
UK-led study marks shift towards genetic era in tackling TB
In a landmark study that may herald a quicker, more tailored treatment for the millions of people around the world living with tuberculosis (TB), UK researchers have shown how our understanding of TB’s genetic code is now so detailed that we can now predict which commonly used anti-TB drugs are best for treating a patient’s … Read more
Study looks at why co-amoxiclav-resistant E coli infections are on the rise
A study looking at health records in Oxfordshire over nearly 20 years has suggested that measures to improve antibiotic use in GP surgeries might help to combat the spread of difficult-to-treat, antibiotic-resistant E coli infections. The study, published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases, found that increases in incidence of E coli bloodstream infections were driven … Read more
Oxford medical researchers win prestigious national awards
Leading health researchers in Oxford have been recognised in a prestigious national competition. Eight professors have been named National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigators in recognition of their “outstanding contribution to clinical and applied health and social care research”. The successful candidates are all prominent researchers in the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre … Read more
Oxford research project wins digital award for Bashing the Bug!
An Oxford-based international online project to tackle antibiotic resistance has picked up a national health research award. BashTheBug, an initiative funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), brings together volunteers from all over the world to take part in the online research study, which has looked at hundreds … Read more
Pregnant women to help test vaccine against childhood virus
Pregnant women receiving antenatal care in the Women’s Centre at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital (JR) may be asked to take part in a world-first clinical trial to find a vaccine against a common and potentially serious viral infection in babies. Women are being asked if they would like to take part in a research trial … Read more
Drop ‘complete the course’ message for antibiotics, experts say
Oxford researchers are among a group of infectious disease experts to argue that the advice that patients should complete a course of antibiotics is not supported by evidence and should be dropped. In a paper published on Thursday by the BMJ, the authors, who include National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre … Read more