New computational technique reveals changes to lung function post COVID-19 infection
5 October 2022
Coronavirus COVID-19 General Research
A new study led by Oxford researchers found that prior COVID-19 infection was associated with more uneven inflation of the lungs during normal breathing, smaller lung volumes, and greater respiratory dead space.
Oxford spinout Optellum secures $14m funding to advance pioneering AI-powered lung cancer diagnosis technology
3 October 2022
Optellum, a University of Oxford spinout that provides a breakthrough AI platform to diagnose and treat early-stage lung cancer, has raised $14 million in a Series A funding round.
Celebrating Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
3 October 2022
September was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and researchers in Department of Paediatrics took action to help raise awareness for this cause.
New study shows higher rate of fractures in people with intellectual disability
30 September 2022
In the most comprehensive study of its kind, researchers at the University of Oxford and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust found a substantially higher rate of fractures in people with intellectual disability compared with people of the same age and gender without an intellectual disability.
New evidence for how our brains handle surprise
30 September 2022
A new study from the Bruno Group is challenging our perceptions of how the different regions of the cerebral cortex function. A group of ‘quiet’ cells in the somatosensory cortex that rarely respond to touch have been found to react mainly to surprising circumstances. The results suggest their function is not necessarily driven by touch, but may indicate an important and previously unidentified role across all the major cortices.
Language learning difficulties in children linked to brain differences
27 September 2022
A new study using MRI has revealed structural brain changes in children with developmental language disorder (DLD), a common but under-recognised difficulty in language learning. Children with DLD aged 10-15 showed reduced levels of myelin in areas of the brain associated with speaking and listening to others, and areas involved in learning new skills. This finding is a significant advance in our understanding of DLD and these brain differences may explain the poorer language outcomes in this group.
The Gene Therapists Headline at Glastonbury 2022
26 September 2022
Rosie Munday writes about her experience taking science to the masses at the Glastonbury Festival.
New research reveals relationship between particular brain circuits and different aspects of mental wellbeing
23 September 2022
Researchers at the University of Oxford have uncovered previously unknown details about how changes in the brain contribute to changes in wellbeing.
Night-time blood pressure assessment is found to be important in diagnosing hypertension
23 September 2022
Around 15% of people aged 40-75 may have a form of undiagnosed high blood pressure (hypertension) that occurs only at night-time. Because they do not know about this, and therefore are not being treated for it, they are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease such as stroke, heart failure, and even death, suggests new research from the University of Oxford published in the British Journal of General Practice.
Major new NIHR Global Health Research Unit to focus on data science and genomic surveillance of antimicrobial resistance
22 September 2022
Awards and Appointments General
The Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, part of the Big Data Institute at the University of Oxford, has been awarded funding worth £7m for their work as an NIHR Global Health Research Unit (GHRU) for the next five years. The Centre’s research and capacity building work focuses on delivering genomics and enabling data for the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
How artificial intelligence is shaping medical imaging
21 September 2022
Dr Qiang Zhang of the Radcliffe Department of Medicine explains how artificial intelligence is being used to help researchers and physicians interpret medical imaging.
Researchers describe how cancer cells can defend themselves from the consequences of certain genetic defects
16 September 2022
Researchers in Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics have identified a rescue mechanism that allows cancers to overcome the consequences of inactivating mutations in critically important genes.
Obituary – Professor Dame Valerie Beral, 28 July 1946 – 26 August 2022
13 September 2022
Epidemiologist who resolved important questions about women’s health
The passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
8 September 2022
The University of Oxford is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The University enjoyed a close relationship with the Queen throughout her reign and gives thanks for her 70 years of service to the nation.
Malaria booster vaccine continues to meet WHO-specified 75% efficacy goal
8 September 2022
Researchers from the University of Oxford and their partners have today reported new findings from their Phase 2b trial following the administration of a booster dose of the candidate malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M™ – which previously demonstrated high-level efficacy of 77% over the following 12 months in young west African children in 2021.
Why our brain wiring’s insulation matters
8 September 2022
Alberto Lazari of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences explains the importance of insulation in our brains' wiring.
Gero Miesenböck awarded Horwitz Prize for foundational work on Optogenetics
8 September 2022
Awards and Appointments General
Congratulations to Professor Gero Miesenböck (Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics) who is to be awarded the 2022 Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize, together with Professors Karl Deisseroth and Peter Hegemann, for research that laid the foundation for the field of optogenetics.
Oxford’s clinical staff awarded OAHP funding for research skills training
7 September 2022
Awards and Appointments General
£73,000 of professional development grants are being awarded to Oxford’s nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and research practitioners to develop skills that will support them to research new and improved ways of delivering healthcare to patients and service users.