Blood pressure lowering reduces cardiovascular risk across all stages of chronic kidney disease
23 April 2026
A major international study led by researchers at the Nuffield Dept of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford has found that lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by approximately 9–10% for every 5 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure with consistent benefits across all stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Hiring alone won't clear NHS surgery backlogs without tackling staff strain, study finds
22 April 2026
Despite the NHS adding roughly 250,000 staff between 2018 and 2023, elective surgery waiting lists kept growing. New research analysing 132 NHS Trusts finds that staff sickness absence and unstable administrative teams – not workforce size – are key factors.
New data links 104 child deaths in England to temporary accommodation
22 April 2026
New data reveals that 104 children in England have died between April 2019 and 3 December 2024 with temporary accommodation identified as a contributing factor to their vulnerability, ill health or death.
Professor Asifa Majid awarded Humboldt Research
21 April 2026
Professor Asifa Majid of the Department of Experimental Psychology has been awarded the prestigious Humboldt Research Award by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
Women in Clinical Neurosciences (WICN) mark International Women's Day 2026
17 April 2026
To mark 2026 International Women’s Day, the NDCN Women in Clinical Neurosciences (WICN) committee organised a series of informative and inspiring talks on 6 March, with the focus on empowering career progression for all at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN).
Large UK trial shows bone healing ‘superpower’ in children
17 April 2026
Most children with a severely broken wrist can be treated without surgery, according to a major NIHR-funded UK trial led by researchers at the University of Oxford. The findings suggest that a non-surgical, cast-first approach delivers similar long-term recovery while reducing the risks associated with surgery and costs.
RECOVERY trial hailed as one of the two success stories of the COVID-19 pandemic
16 April 2026
The Chair of the COVID-19 Inquiry has described the RECOVERY trial’s identification of the drug dexamethasone as ‘one of the two success stories of the pandemic’.
New funding to fast-track ultra-fast FLASH radiotherapy into the clinic
16 April 2026
A new EPSRC-funded research project led by Dr Kristoffer Petersson aims to advance the clinical implementation of FLASH radiotherapy, an emerging technique that delivers radiation in a fraction of a second and may significantly reduce treatment side effects.
Simple menu tweak boosts vegetarian choices and cuts carbon, study finds
16 April 2026
A simple low-cost change to workplace cafeteria menus can significantly increase vegetarian meal sales, reducing the environmental impact and calorie content of food sold, according to a new trial from the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford.
Co-operation and competition in the brain - a step closer to realistic digital twin brains
16 April 2026
New study shows that a balance between cooperation and competition is a fundamental principle of how human and animal brains function, a finding which could help inform more realistic brain-like artificial intelligence, such as digital twin brains.
£3M study led by patient voices targets pain in inflammatory arthritis
15 April 2026
Researchers across the UK are banding together to tackle one of the largest unmet clinical needs in inflammatory arthritis, pain reduction, in a new £3m research programme funded by Arthritis UK.
Oxford-ZEISS Centre of Excellence in Biomedical Imaging to develop next-generation imaging technology for drug-profiling in live cells
14 April 2026
The pioneering technology will be able to precisely quantify drug behaviour at the cellular level for the development of novel therapeutics.
Matthew Freeman wins Biochemical Society Centenary Award
14 April 2026
Congratulations to Prof Freeman, Head of Department of the Dunn School of Pathology, for this prestigious award, recognising his contributions in the field of intramembrane proteases and pseudoproteases, as well as his commitment to supporting and nurturing talent within the scientific community.
Oxford-led study reveals new way to activate protein kinases, opening new therapeutic possibilities
10 April 2026
Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a new strategy to activate protein kinases — a major class of enzymes that regulate essential cellular processes — offering a potential pathway to treat diseases where current therapies remain limited.
World Parkinson’s Day: AD/PD 2026 highlights
10 April 2026
Saturday 11 April marks World Parkinson’s Day, commemorating the birthday of Dr James Parkinson, who first described the condition in 1817. To mark the occasion, the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics highlights the recent visit to the Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease (AD/PD) 2026 conference in Copenhagen – moments that reflect the exciting progress being made in Parkinson’s research.
New mental health pathway for primary school children reduces anxiety problems – study shows
10 April 2026
A new way of supporting primary age children’s mental health via schools has been shown to be highly effective in reducing anxiety problems, according to a new trial.
Global series highlights innovations and impact in post-pregnancy contraception
9 April 2026
A collection of seven articles in Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, led by Visiting Editor Anita Makins, brings together global expertise on post-pregnancy contraception - an area critical to improving maternal and newborn health outcomes worldwide.
Early pregnancy blood fat patterns linked to delayed brain development in children
8 April 2026
The INTERBIO-21st study has identified that a pattern of fats identified in the blood of mothers early in pregnancy is associated with reduced rates of brain growth in the baby, and developmental delays in the children once they reach 2 years of age.
New AI tool can predict heart failure at least five years before it develops
8 April 2026
Programme uses data from routine CT scans to help doctors identify high-risk patients earlier than ever before
Major technological advance reveals how mutations in a tiny non-coding gene cause multiple neuro-developmental disorders
8 April 2026
Researchers from the University of Oxford and the Francis Crick Institute, in collaboration with international partners, have made major advances in understanding how mutations in a single non-coding gene contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders affecting thousands of people worldwide.