Two WIPH Professors appointed as 2023 NIHR Senior Investigators 1 March 2023
WIPH is proud to announce that two of our outstanding researchers, Professors Claudia Cooper and Steph Taylor, have been appointed as NIHR Senior Investigators.
NIHR awards £1.8 million to develop digital hearing tests for dementia diagnosis 28 February 2023
The NIHR has awarded £1.8 million to fund the DIADEM (Digital assessment of auditory perception in dementia) project, led by Dr Charles Marshall of the WIPH Preventive Neurology Unit
Impact of multiple COVID-19 waves on UK gynaecological cancer services 24 February 2023
A WIPH-led study published in Cancers assesses responses to surveys of staff in UK cancer hospitals after the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Covid waves, and quantifies the impact of multiple COVID-19 waves on UK-wide gynaecological cancer service provision.
Surge in nitrous oxide abuse: New guidelines to help clinicians recognise cases and prevent spinal cord damage 23 February 2023
Recommendations from a research paper on the diagnosis and treatment of spinal cord damage caused by nitrous oxide abuse have been simultaneously adopted as official clinical practice guidelines by the Association of British Neurologists. The unprecedented speed in translating research into practice is necessary as medical cases of nitrous oxide abuse surge in parallel with increased use of what is now the second most popular recreational drug among young people in the UK.
Cochrane Review: Taking vitamin D does not reduce risk of asthma attacks 6 February 2023
Taking vitamin D supplements does not reduce the risk of asthma attacks in children or adults, according to an updated Cochrane Review.
MRC awards £863k for study to investigate whether toxic metal exposure is contributing to ethnic and social inequalities in young people 4 January 2023
The Medical Research Council (MRC) has awarded a grant of £863k to Seif Shaheen, WIPH Professor of Respiratory Epidemiology, to lead a three year epidemiological project to determine whether exposure to toxic metals is contributing to ethnic and social health inequalities in children and young adults in England.
Link between anti-epileptic drugs and increased risk of Parkinson’s 3 January 2023
New research identifies an association between commonly used UK anti-epilepsy drugs and increased risk of Parkinson’s. The risk increased with the number of different anti-epileptic drugs prescribed, and with the number of anti-epileptic drug prescriptions issued. Authors believe this is the first study to identify the link.
Pandemic impact on timeliness and equity of MMR vaccinations in NE London 5 December 2022
The proportion of children receiving the Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine on time in North East London fell from 79% to 72% during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study by WIPH researchers.
Cochrane Review: E-cigs more effective than traditional NRT to quit smoking 18 November 2022
The latest Cochrane Review has found “high certainty” evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes (or vapes) are more effective than traditional nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT) such as patches and chewing gums in helping people quit smoking.
£7 Million NIHR award for new Global Health Research Centre 26 October 2022
Professor Vicky Bird (Centre for Psychiatry and Mental Health) has been awarded a £7 million grant by the National Institute for Health and Care Research to co-direct a new Global Health Research Centre with partners across Latin America. The Centre will work with communities to develop innovative, low-cost solutions to improve healthcare for non-communicable diseases, with a key focus on indigenous populations.
Tower Hamlets awarded £5million for research to address health inequalities 14 October 2022
Psychologically Informed Planned Environments in prisons 14 October 2022
The Ministry of Justice has published a major report, authored by WIPH researchers, on the use of Psychologically Informed Planned Environments (PIPEs). The report shows that, within prisons, the intervention can lead to improved social and relational functioning, associated with improving social climate and positive staff disposition.
Using timed breast screening appointments in London could have detected 100 more cancers during Covid-19 recovery period 12 October 2022
Results from a new study suggest that an additional 100 breast cancers could have been detected by screening in London between September 2020 and March 2021 if timed appointments, rather than open invitations, had been used throughout.
Suicide risk almost seven times higher after diagnosis of young onset dementia 3 October 2022
A study of nearly 600,000 people in England shows that suicide risk in the first three months following a dementia diagnosis for patients aged under 65 is nearly seven times higher than in patients without dementia.
Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection after primary and booster vaccinations 29 September 2022
A prospective population-based study of over 25,000 UK adults vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 up to February 2022 has found that vaccine type, socioeconomic status, age, and behaviours affect risk of breakthrough infection after primary and booster vaccinations.
Lifelong benefits of statin therapy 30 August 2022
Findings from a modelling study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2022 in Barcelona show that stopping statin treatment early could substantially reduce lifetime protection against heart disease, as a large proportion of the benefit occurs later in life.
Providing resources for urgent response to polio threat in London 30 August 2022
The WIPH Clinical Effectiveness Group (CEG) is collaborating with the NHS to provide software tools and intelligence to inform the logistics of the polio booster campaign and ease the burden for GPs in North East London.
How to reduce pressure on the English NHS Bowel cancer screening programme 17 August 2022
As bowel cancer screening in England recovers from pandemic suspensions of service, new research suggests that the best option for clearing the backlog of patients awaiting colonoscopy appointments is to raise the blood level on the test that triggers a colonoscopy invitation.
Cutting adult daily salt intake in China by 1g could save 4 million lives by 2030 16 August 2022
Estimates from a modelling study suggest that a reduction of just 1g in individual daily salt intake in China could ward off nearly 9 million cases of heart disease and strokes and save 4 million lives in by 2030.
Dr Jennifer Randall awarded National Teaching Fellowship 4 August 2022
NHS Breast Screening Programme in England shows little evidence of overdiagnosis 20 July 2022
The NHS Breast Screening Programme in England has shown little, if any, evidence of overdiagnosis, according to a new NIHR-funded study.
New ABN guidelines for Anti-CD20 therapies in pregnancy and when breastfeeding 11 July 2022
A new evidence review presents Association of British Neurologists guidelines for the use of Anti-CD20 therapies for women of childbearing age, concluding that it is safe to conceive and breastfeed whilst taking anti-CD20 therapy.
Participation in the Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial 6 July 2022
The Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial, a randomised controlled trial of low dose computed tomography (CT) screening conducted in Leeds, has found that a telephone risk assessment followed by a community-based Lung Health Check with immediate access to a mobile CT scanner is an effective screening strategy, but participation appears to be lower among current smokers and the socio-economically deprived.
Socioeconomic status and dietary sodium intake in UK children 21 June 2022
Results from a study of children’s salt intake suggest that the UK salt reduction programme may help reduce health inequality, particularly benefitting the more socially deprived, who are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.
New Cochrane Review shows digital tools may cut asthma attacks by half 13 June 2022
Digital interventions, such as ‘smart’ inhalers or text messages that help people to administer their asthma medication more appropriately, may cut the risk of asthma attacks by half, according to a new Cochrane Review.
Achieving climate justice: Child marriage and environmental crises 30 May 2022
A partnership between QMUL and the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA) has produced a scoping review, an evidence brief, and a set of infographics showing that environmental changes have profound negative impacts on sexual and reproductive rights, and on women’s and girl’s bodily autonomy.
Polygenic risk score helps predict type 2 diabetes in people of south Asian origin 19 May 2022
Industry Partnership to test the CUE1 medical device for alleviating Parkinson’s symptoms 19 May 2022
A 24 month Knowledge Transfer Partnership project between WIPH Preventive Neurology Unit researchers and industry partner, Charco Neurotech, will test the feasibility of CUE1, a novel medical device to relieve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The Innovate-UK funded project will investigate the tolerability of the device and its effect on clinical outcome measures, assessing optimal stimulation settings and positioning in patients with Parkinson’s, with a goal to design a formal clinical trial.
NHS bowel screening programme significantly reduces risk of advanced stage colorectal cancer 17 May 2022
The first national evaluation of the English bowel cancer screening programme’s effect on stage of colorectal cancer has shown that the programme significantly reduced the risk of advanced stage colorectal cancer, and is therefore likely to achieve its aim of reducing mortality from the disease. Results suggest that people who are screened are 32% less likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage colorectal cancer than those who are invited to screening but do not attend.
Helping pregnant smokers quit: E-cigarettes as safe as nicotine patches and may be more effective 16 May 2022
Results from a randomised controlled trial of pregnant smokers who received either nicotine patches or refillable e-cigarettes suggest that e-cigarettes might be more effective for quitting than patches, and that e-cigarettes are as safe as patches in pregnancy.
Major Barts Charity funding for optimally-designed clinical trials 10 May 2022
Funding to evaluate AI technology for timely and equitable dementia diagnosis 9 May 2022
WIPH academic wins Global Challenges Teaching Award 5 May 2022
£3.1 million for PROTECT trial: population-based genetic testing for cancer risk in women 4 May 2022
Yorkshire Cancer Research has announced a £3.1 million grant for research led by Ranjit Manchanda to investigate the risks, benefits, and feasibility of introducing population-based genetic testing for all women to find out if they are at high risk of cancer. Thousands of women living in Yorkshire and other parts of the UK will be offered tests as part of the PROTECT (Population based germline testing for early detection and cancer prevention) clinical trial.
Triage of high-risk HPV positive women: S5 DNA Methylation testing 3 May 2022
The Electronic Personal Health and Record system for migrants and refugees in Europe 10 March 2022
Risk factors and early presentations of Parkinson’s in Primary Care in East London 6 March 2022
Increased frequency of rare placental insufficiency condition during second COVID wave in London 4 March 2022
Determinants of pre-vaccination antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in the UK 25 February 2022
Global availability of Parkinson’s Disease treatment 21 February 2022
Delayed US sodium targets may cost 250,000 lives 21 February 2022
Ethnicity and deprivation independently associated with dementia risk in East London 11 February 2022
Children play important role in lowering family salt intake in China 10 February 2022
Post-pandemic breast screening: should we focus on uptake? 4 February 2022
Projected impact of cessation of breast cancer screening in England due to COVID-19 lockdown 2 February 2022
Co-locating welfare services in healthcare settings benefits participants and demonstrates clear financial gains 2 February 2022
Co-locating welfare advice services in healthcare settings demonstrates clear financial gains and improved mental health and wellbeing, according to results from a newly published systematic review.
‘Delayed quitters’ more likely to relapse than smokers who quit on target date 31 January 2022
Most smokers who initially succeed in quitting return to smoking within the first few months, but identifying sub-groups at higher risk of relapse could help in relapse prevention efforts.
Manufacturers lag behind retailers in compliance with salt targets 25 January 2022
AWACAN-ED Project receives £2.99million NIHR Global Health Research Award 18 January 2022
A £2.99 million NIHR Global Health Research Award has been made to fund the AWACAN-ED (Advancing Early Diagnosis of Cancer in Southern Africa) programme.
Impact of March-June 2020 lockdown on mental health: mothers in the Born in Bradford study 12 January 2022
Association of etiological factors for hypomanic symptoms, bipolar disorder, and other severe mental illnesses 11 January 2022
Gaps in antihypertensive and statin treatments and benefits of optimisation in an ethnically diverse socio-economically deprived urban UK population 30 December 2021
Researchers from the Centres for Evaluation and Methods and Primary Care have worked together on a cross-sectional population study to characterise gaps in blood pressure and statin treatments among people at high cardiovascular disease risk in a large urban UK population, and to quantify the health and economic impacts of treatment optimisation.
Structure of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia 20 December 2021
Funding for Project to tackle falling pre-school immunisation rates 20 December 2021
Quality of life decrements associated with adverse events in people with diabetes 17 December 2021
New algorithm enables research into how health is affected by where we live 17 December 2021
Quality of life after cytoreductive surgery in advanced ovarian cancer 17 December 2021
OPTIMISE: MS study protocol 14 December 2021
Randomised trial of the 5:2 diet 14 December 2021
The first randomised evaluation of the 5:2 diet, a popular intermittent energy restriction method of weight management, has been carried out among 300 adults, followed up for a year.
Role of non-governmental organisations in achieving universal health coverage 14 December 2021
A systematic review of 78 studies of non-governmental organisation (NGO) interventions in public health-related activities has shown that NGOs can play a significant role in progress towards universal health coverage.
Clear linear association between salt intake and cardiovascular disease 13 November 2021
Association of Jewish identity and denomination on population BRCA genetic testing uptake 11 November 2021
Misleading nutrition and health claims on baby and toddler snacks 10 November 2021
Factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among older adults from ethnic minorities 5 November 2021
HPV Vaccine effectiveness proven, but one in ten girls still not vaccinated 4 November 2021
MC3R links nutritional state to childhood growth and timing of puberty 3 November 2021