Research
The UK has recorded the lowest MMR vaccination rate among G7 nations, as nearly 30m children globally are not fully protected against preventable diseases. New figures show that just 89 per cent of UK children received their first MMR jab in 2024, compared with 96 per cent in Germany, 95 per cent in France, Italy [...]
Scientists have completed full-body scans of 100,000 people in what is believed to be the world’s largest body imaging study. The decade-long initiative has produced one billion anonymised images showing internal organs, blood vessels, bones and joints, which researchers can now use to explore how ageing and disease develop. Each participant contributed around 12,000 images, [...]
A new wearable wristband can monitor glucose levels, blood pressure and other key health markers continuously, offering a more complete picture of diabetes and cardiovascular health. The device uses small, pain-free microneedles to sample interstitial fluid beneath the skin and measure glucose, lactate and alcohol in real time using embedded enzymes. It also combines ultrasound [...]
New research has revealed a promising and novel method to aid the scalp cooling process in the prevention of hair loss in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, offering hope to hundreds of thousands of people around the world affected by the distressing side effect of treatment every year. Researchers in the Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre, at [...]
A robot trained using surgical videos has performed a gallbladder removal on a life-like patient model, achieving a level of precision described as equal to that of a skilled human surgeon. The system completed 17 tasks independently, including identifying blood vessels, placing surgical clips, and cutting tissue with scissors. It also adapted to changes during [...]
Children living with multiple long-term health issues experience severe emotional distress alongside physical challenges, according to a study that used AI to analyse their social media activity. Researchers examined nearly 400 posts from paediatric patients and their caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic, using artificial intelligence language models to assess emotional and psychological wellbeing. Led by [...]
A new study could improve screening and early detection of lung cancer for high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma survivors, following a £1.3 million funding award. The University of Manchester project has been awarded the grant through the NHS Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call with support from SBRI Healthcare (Small Business Research Initiative) as part of a new, [...]
A drug that could slow the progression of type 1 diabetes is being trialled by patients in the UK for the first time. Teplizumab, already approved in the US, works by training the immune system to stop attacking insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. It can delay the need for daily insulin injections by an average [...]
Health Tech World explores the latest developments in the world of health technology. Synthetic DNA nanoparticles for gene therapy A grant has been awarded for research in synthetic DNA nanoparticles, which have potential applications in gene therapy. The grant will support work in synthesising nanoparticles and studying how they behave inside cells in a laboratory [...]
A new plastic material free from harmful “forever chemicals” could provide a more environmentally friendly option for wearable electronics, sensors and other electrical applications. Researchers have developed a ferroelectric polymer that does not contain fluorine – a persistent environmental pollutant used in conventional electronic plastics. The material retains its electrical properties without the need to [...]
