Watching too much TV is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease regardless of an individual’s genetic makeup, say a team of scientists at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge and the University of Hong Kong. In a study published today in BMC Medicine, the researchers show that – assuming […]

The ability to collect a blood sample painlessly from people at home without the need of a healthcare worker visit could transform the way healthcare and health research are conducted. This has been demonstrated by new study results published on 10 May 2022 in the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. Lockdown learning At the height […]

Inhaled cortical steroids (ICS) can help patients manage asthma symptoms, and recent updates to asthma treatment guidelines have expanded recommended, low-dose treatment. But concerns persist that ICS may reduce production of the steroid hormone cortisol in the body leading to adrenal suppression. While initial adrenal suppression symptoms are subtle, continued progression can lead to fatigue, […]

They say a picture can convey a thousand words, and researchers have found that using medical imaging technologies that can visualize health may discourage risk-related behaviours more than non-visual information. The meta-analysis, published by scientists at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Public Health and Primary Care and MRC Epidemiology Unit in the open access […]

A study published in PLOS Medicine found that restricting the outdoor advertising of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) foods and drinks across the Transport for London (TfL) network significantly decreased the average amount of calories purchased by households every week from these products. Led by scientists at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical […]

Stasa Stankovic, a PhD student in the Unit’s Early Life Aetiology and Mechanisms programme, has reached the top 10 biomedicine finalists in STEM for Britain – a major scientific poster competition organised by the UK government’s Parliamentary & Scientific Committee. STEM for Britain is a major scientific poster competition and exhibition which has been held in […]

In September 2021, the UK government and devolved administrations announced the decision to introduce mandatory fortification of UK non-wholemeal flour with folic acid, the synthetic form of the vitamin folate (also known as vitamin B9). Folate is necessary for DNA synthesis and replication required for normal cell development and growth. The main dietary sources of […]

In this article originally published in The Conversation, Dr Marinka Steur and Professor Nita Forouhi discuss new research indicating that the heart disease risk associated with saturated fats depends on the foods it is found in. Heart disease is a major cause of death worldwide – responsible for some 9 million deaths a year. But […]

In a study undertaken in more than 10,000 individuals, and published today in Nature Communications, scientists have shown that integrating information derived from different technologies to measure proteins can identify otherwise hidden links between proteins and human health and disease. The international research team led by scientists from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit […]

Scientists have discovered how a receptor in the brain, called MC3R, detects the nutritional state of the body and regulates the timing of puberty and rate of growth in children and increases in lean muscle mass. These findings, published today in the journal Nature, may explain how humans have been growing taller and reaching sexual […]