Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
School News: Social and Community Medicine
Amy Green, John Potokar, Claire Durant and Maria Barnes grant award
24 November 2014
Improving healthcare for survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence and
abuse 19 November 2014
Healthcare professionals, researchers and survivors of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) are
meeting today [19 November] at a conference in Bristol to discuss the findings of a five-year
research programme, the largest of its kind in the UK.
Perinatal mental health crucial for physical and mental wellbeing of both
parents and child14 November 2014
The importance of looking after the mental health of parents during pregnancy and after
childbirth, in order to promote the physical and mental wellbeing of both parents and child, is
highlighted in The Lancet today.
Could walking to work help fix the nation’s health woes? 13 November 2014
Businesses will be encouraging their workers to walk to work as part of a new £1 million trial
which gets underway this month.
Trial evaluates new laser operation for prostate surgery 10 November 2014
A £1.2 million trial to evaluate the use of new laser technology for benign prostate surgery – one
of the most common operations performed on the NHS - is underway in Bristol.
Thinking about our futures: festival puts society in the spotlight 27 October 2014
Who has access to your health records? What do women want from the general election? Can
Britain handle the threat of international terrorism? These are some of the hot topics being
debated at a thought-provoking series of events across Bristol next month.
New Dean of Health Sciences 23 October 2014
Professor Jonathan Sandy, currently Interim Dean of Medicine and Dentistry, has been
appointed Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, which will take effect from 1 August 2015.
Teenage self-harm linked to problems in later life 22 October 2014
Those who self-harm as teenagers are more at risk of developing mental health and substance
misuse problems as adults, new research from the biggest study of its kind in the UK has
revealed.
Could technology transform GP consultations? 20 October 2014
The way we interact with our GPs could be transformed thanks to a new £458,000 project
exploring whether consultations could viably be conducted via email, text message, telephone or
via the internet.
New meningitis vaccine only cost-effective at low price 10 October 2014
The ideal cost per dose for a new meningitis vaccine ranges from £3 up to a possible £22 only if
several vaccine favourable factors all coincide, according to research which has analysed how to
maximise the reduction in cases while making a new vaccination programme cost-effective.
RCGP Research Paper of the Year Award prize 9 October 2014
Rachel Dommett, Theresa Redaniel, Mike Stevens, Richard Martin and Willie Hamilton won a
category prize in the 2013 RCGP Research Paper of the Year Award for their research paper
entitled “Risk of childhood cancer with symptoms in primary care: a population-based casecontrol study,” published in the British Journal of General Practice. In their paper, 12 features of
childhood cancers were identified, each of which increased the risk of cancer at least tenfold.
These symptoms, particularly when combined with multiple consultations, warrant careful
evaluation in general practice.
Simple blood test could be used as tool for early cancer diagnosis
25 September 2014
High levels of calcium in blood, a condition known as hypercalcaemia, can be used by GPs as an
early indication of certain types of cancer, according to a study by researchers from the
universities of Bristol and Exeter.
University collaborates with At-Bristol on innovative Brain Lab workshops
22 September 2014
At-Bristol Science Centre, in collaboration with the University of Bristol, has been awarded a
grant from the Wellcome Trust, in a UK first to lead an innovative and immersive series of
workshops, using real human brain tissue to stimulate discussion about the social, ethical and
legal issues around neuroscience and neuroscience research.
Gene variant that dramatically reduces ‘bad’ lipids 16 September 2014
Research using data collected from around 4,000 healthy people in the UK has enabled
scientists to identify a rare genetic variant that dramatically reduces levels of certain types of
lipids in the blood.
How learning to talk is in the genes 16 September 2014
Researchers have found evidence that genetic factors may contribute to the development of
language during infancy.
Binge drinking in pregnancy can affect child’s mental health and school
results 11 September 2014
Binge drinking during pregnancy can increase the risk of mental health problems - particularly
hyperactivity and inattention - in children aged 11 and can have a negative effect on their school
examination results, according to new research.
HIV survival boost for South African patients 11 September 2014
South Africans with HIV have chances of remaining alive after two years on antiretroviral therapy
(ART) that are comparable to those of North American patients, provided that therapy is started
promptly, according to new research published today in PLOS Medicine.
One in five child deaths in England preventable 5 September 2014
Child deaths have fallen to very low rates in all industrialised countries, but many deaths in
children and adolescents are still potentially preventable, and much more could be done to cut
future deaths, according to a new three-part series on child deaths in high-income countries,
published in The Lancet.
The Bluebelle Study: Undressing wound infections 28 August 2014
Wound infections are a common complication of surgical procedures, and contribute major costs
for the NHS as well as pain, discomfort and inconvenience for patients. A new study will examine
whether a main trial comparing wound dressings with no dressings is possible and whether
dressings are effective in reducing infection and helping surgical wounds to heal.
Fighting prostate cancer with a tomato-rich diet 27 August 2014
Men who eat over 10 portions a week of tomatoes have an 18 per cent lower risk of developing
prostate cancer, new research suggests.
Combatting childhood obesity from the age of two 11 August 2014
A successful American initiative to tackle childhood obesity will be trialled in the UK, thanks to a
new £431,495 research project targeting children as young as two.
International Journal of Epidemiology tops the Impact Factor Ratings 7 August
2014The 2013 impact factor ratings released on the 30th July (ISI Web of Science Journal
Citation Reports) sees the International Journal of Epidemiology (IJE) at the top of its field –
Number one out of a field of 160 journals.
Five Bristol scientists named among “the world’s leading scientific minds”
6 August 2014
Five University of Bristol academics have been named by Thomson Reuters as among the top
one per cent of scientists who are “the world’s leading scientific minds” and whose publications
are among the most influential in their fields.
Primary care telephone triage does not save money or reduce practice
workload 4 August 2014
Demand for general practice appointments is rising rapidly, and in an attempt to deal with this,
many practices have introduced systems of telephone triage. Patients are phoned by a doctor or
nurse who either manages the problem on the phone, or agrees with the patient whether and
how urgently they need to be seen.
National Institute of Health Research Public Health Research Programme
Award 30 July 2014
Dr Ruth Kipping and colleagues have been awarded £431,495 by the National Institute of Health
Research Public Health Research Programme to undertake a feasibility cluster randomised
controlled trial in child care settings
New research to tackle treatment for lung disease 29 July 2014
Research into improving treatment for patients with one of the UK’s most common respiratory
diseases has received a £810,000 funding boost.
New promotions/progressions in SSCM 23 July 2014
Richard Huxtable has been appointed Professor of Medical Ethics and Law. Sarah Purdy has
been appointed as Professor of Primary Care. Congratulations to them for this well-deserved
recognition of their outstanding achievements. Congratulations are also due to Pete Blair and
Nicky Welton on their promotion to Reader, and to Laura Howe on her promotion to Senior
Research Fellow.
School scheme unable to boost healthy eating and activity among children
17 July 2014
A school-based scheme to encourage children to eat healthily and be active has had little effect,
conclude researchers in a study published on bmj.com today.
Approval of prison modelling study 17 July 2014
Gilead Sciences has approved a research proposal at the School of Social and Community
Medicine, University of Bristol. The investigator-sponsored research proposal is entitled "The
impact and cost-effectiveness of HCV treatment in prison in the DAA era: modelling analyses in
England and Scotland".
Sir Henry Dale Fellowship awarded 17 July 2014
GRANT AWARDS
Pl
Project title
Funder
Award
date
Amount
Dr Peter Vickerman
HIV Modelling Consortium
Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation
14/07/2014
90622
Mr Angus Mcnair
Starter Grants for Clinical Lecturers: The
DISCLOSE study
Academy of
Medical Sciences
15/07/2014
19870
Dr Jeremy
Horwood
Health Checks NSPCR 2014
NIHR - NSPCR
Tranche II
18/07/2014
49679
Prof Matthew
Hickman
Evaluation of interventions designed to
increase diagnosis and treatment of
patients with hepatitis C virus infection in
primary care and drug treatment settings
NIHR-PRP
29/07/2014
471480
Dr Nicky Welton
(UOB) NMA for Pharmacometrics and
Drug-Development
MRC
30/07/2014
196566
Dr Nicky Welton
HTA Project 14/141/01: FINAL Costs - AF
Screening (April 2014)
NIHR-HTA
30/07/2014
163037
Prof Alan Emond
Centre for Children's Burns Research
The Healing
Foundation
08/08/2014
200000
Prof Matthew
Hickman
Revised: 'Excessive drinking and alcohol
related harms in Adulthood: ALSPAC at 24
MR/L022206/1'
MRC
14/08/2014
1378535
Prof Peter Fleming
Neonatal hearing Screening and the risk of
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Lullaby Trust
02/09/2014
44030
Prof Matthew
Hickman
Final Costs: DrinkThink - Alcohol Screening
and Brief Intervention Evaluation
NIHR - SPHR
03/09/2014
175027
Dr Frank De Vocht
Cancer Mortality & Incidence in the British
Rubber Industry - A 45-Year Follow-Up
Cancer Research
UK
05/09/2014
151868
Mr Andrew Boyd
BIS - HE Successful Entry Study
CFE Research
11/09/2014
14081
Dr John Potokar
'Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease'
Research Award 2014: 'Sleep disturbance
in patients with inflammatory bowel disease'
Crohn's & Colitis
UK
15/09/2014
19288
Prof Jenny
Donovan
UK Full Randomised Controlled Trial of
Arthroscopic Surgery for Hip Impingement
versus best coNventional Care (UK
FASHIoN) via Warwick
NIHR HTA
18/09/2014
25093
Dr Lesley Wye
Researchers in residence
NIHR
01/10/2014
52459
Dr Sean Cowlishaw
The Role of Army Reservists: An Analysis
of their Experiences and the Attitudes and
Perceptions of Civilian Employers, Regulars
and Significant Others
ESRC
09/10/2014
10257
Pl
Project title
Funder
Award
date
Amount
Dr Sofia Dias
NIRG: Bayesian evidence synthesis of
multiple outcomes
MRC
16/10/2014
323624
Dr Peter Vickerman
Systematic review of the synergism
between OST and ART and modelling the
implications for the impact of OST and ART
on HIV transmission amongst people who
inject drugs (PWID)
Aids Alliance
30/10/2014
42639
Prof Rona
Campbell
OAFI: The Filter FE Challenge: Pilot trial
and process evaluation of a multi-level
smoking prevention intervention in further
education settings
NIHR - PHR
11/07/2014
Dr Peter Vickerman
Revised SILCS Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
- Scope of Work: Phase 2 - June 2014 to
December 2015
PATH
15/07/2014
Prof Alastair Hay
Childrens drops for ear pain in acute otitis
media: the CEDAR randomised controlled
trial 2014 (BRTC)
NIHR HTA
16/07/2014
Dr Rebecca Barnes
OAFI: Testing the feasibility of a
consultation-level intervention for frequent
attenders with clinically inexplicable
symptoms in primary care
NIHR - RFPB
18/07/2014
Dr Natasha Martin
The impact and cost-effectiveness of HCV
treatment in prison in the DAA era:
modelling analyses in England and
Scotland
Gilead Sciences Inc
21/07/2014
Dr Matthew Ridd
HTA: The BEEP Trial - A Randomised
Controlled Trial to Determine Whether a
Skin Barrier Enhancement with Emollients
Can Prevent Eczema in High Risk Children
NIHR HTA
22/07/2014
Dr Elsa Marques
OAFI: The choice between hip prosthetic
bearing surfaces in total hip replacement:
evidence synthesis, statistical analysis and
decision modelling to evaluate the
effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of
prosthetic implants for the NHS
NIHR - RFPB
25/07/2014
Prof Matthew
Hickman
Amendment #1: Evaluating the impact of
opiate substitution treatment on drug
related deaths in the population: a natural
experiment using primary care, other drug
treatment databases & model projections
NIHR
29/07/2014
Dr Frank De Vocht
Year 2: Cancer Mortality & Incidence in the
British Rubber Industry - A 45-Year FollowUp
Cancer Research
UK
10/09/2014
Pl
Project title
Funder
Award
date
Prof Chris Salisbury
OAFI - The potential of alternatives to face
to face consultation in general practice, and
the impact on different patient groups
NIHR HS&DR
16/09/2014
Prof Richard Martin
YEAR 4: Breastfeeding promotion trial and
adolescent IQ and lung function
National Institutes
of Health
29/09/2014
Dr Frank De Vocht
Creation of a quantitative historical jobexposure matrix for plutonium workers and
feasibility of its use with reconstructed
occupational histories for epidemiological
purposes
NIHR - PRP
27/10/2014
Richard Martin and
Caroline Relton;
with several coinvestigators across
SSCM, the
University of Bristol,
Manchester
University and the
International
Agency for
Research in
Cancer in Lyon.
CRUK Programme Grant
The CRUK have
awarded £4.1
million and
recognised this as
'an ambitious
programme with
potential for high
impact'.
Reducing the burden of cancer: causal risk
factors, mechanistic targets and predictive
biomarkers.
The programme seeks to strengthen causal
inference in cancer epidemiology through
the application of Mendelian randomization
approaches and the exploration of
epigenomic and metabolomic intermediates
in 6 types of cancer (lung, prostate, renal,
breast, ovarian, and head and neck). The
team leading the programme was also
recognised by the CRUK as 'being at the
cutting edge of developing and deploying
Mendelian randomization methodology'.
The programme will be affiliated to the
MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit.
RECENT FELLOWSHIP SUCCESSES
Abigail Fraser – MRC Career Development Fellowship
Matthew Ridd – NIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship
Dan Lawson – Sir Henry Dale Fellowship
Amount
£4.1
million