Department of Public Health and Primary Care
School of Clinical Medicine
Congratulations to the Addition team!! The ADDITION paper “Screening for type 2 diabetes and population mortality over 10 years (ADDITION-Cambridge): a cluster-randomised controlled trial” was voted the BMJ Awards Research Paper of the Year. The paper was authored by Rebecca Simmons, Justin Echouffo-Tcheugui, Stephen Sharp, Lincoln Sargeant, Kate Williams, Toby Prevost, Ann Louise Kinmonth, Nicholas Wareham and Simon Griffin. Richard Lehman, from [...]
This month, the University of Cambridge is profiling research that addresses public health. To begin, Professor Carol Brayne, Director of the Cambridge Institute of Public Health explains how the goals of a new University Strategic Network, PublicHealth@Cambridge, will generate fresh insight into the health and well-being of populations. Read more here
Health problems may linger longer if they’re coupled with mental health problems. A new study finds that depression is a risk factor for more time spent at the hospital. Researchers suggest that treating depressive symptoms in patients with physical illnesses could result in shorter stints in the hospital and overall less cost in health care. [...]
Tall women are more likely to develop ovarian cancer than their shorter friends, research suggests. Oxford University scientists reviewed 47 studies involving more than 100,000 women – many of them with ovarian cancer – and found a link with height. They also found the disease is more common in overweight women. Dr Paul Pharoah, a [...]
Arthritis drugs could provide a new approach to treating heart disease by targeting inflammation, research suggests. Two new genetic studies have found a clear causal link between a specific inflammation signalling pathway and the development of coronary heart disease. The evidence indicates that heart disease can be tackled using certain anti-inflammatory drugs. One such drug, [...]
Patient information reveals women, young people, ethnic minorities and people with less common cancers have the highest number of pre-referral consultations. More than three quarters (77%) of cancer patients who first present to their family doctors (GPs) with suspicious symptoms are referred to hospital after only one or two consultations, a new study has found. [...]
Researchers have identified three new genomic regions they believe are linked with breast cancer that may help explain why some women develop the disease. All three newly identified areas “contain interesting genes that open up new avenues for biological and clinical research,” said researcher Douglas Easton, a professor of genetic epidemiology at the University of [...]
Findings could help in developing new treatments and improve prediction of coronary heart disease In a study to be published in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics on September 22nd, an international consortium of scientists report the discovery of five new genes that affect risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart attacks. Coronary artery [...]
Research: Chocolate consumption and cardiometabolic disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis High levels of chocolate consumption might be associated with a one third reduction in the risk of developing heart disease, finds a study published on bmj.com today. The findings confirm results of existing studies that generally agree on a potential beneficial link between chocolate consumption and heart [...]
Researchers have discovered five inherited genetic differences that can increase the risk of men developing an aggressive form of prostate cancer. The researchers hope that their findings could eventually pave the way for a simple blood test to identify patients who need aggressive treatment and those who would benefit from a more conservative monitoring before treatment approach. The [...]
It may sound terrifying but a freestyle freakout with a room full of strangers is the perfect workout. To read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/aug/01/dance-dance-party-party
EPIC-Norfolk, Saturday, 20 August 2011 The Atrium 9am – 5pm A study looking at the links between diet, lifestyle and health – the nutrition games. Come and meet the study team to play your nutritional cards right; balance the leaning tower of pizza; and enjoy a ‘trolley dash’ through the EPIC supermarket, all whilst learning about [...]
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death and disability worldwide. For South Asians, though, this global killer poses an even more sinister threat. Over the past three decades, the incidence of heart attacks and strokes among South Asians has risen steeply. Today, South Asians, even those living in other countries, are considerably [...]
Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health, paid a visit to the Behaviour and Health Research Unit (BHRU) on Friday 24th June to learn more about the work of the Unit. Mr Lansley and the BHRU team enjoyed a stimulating and wide ranging interchange. Discussions focussed on the scientific basis for understanding everyday behaviour, using [...]
Professor Stephen Gilliam, GP in Luton and Director of Undergraduate Public Health Teaching for the University of Cambridge has recently published a guide to help undergraduate, junior doctors and more experienced practitioners become effective leaders and managers. The guide called Leadership and Management for Doctors in Training a practical guide was published by Radcliffe Publishing [...]
Professor Simon Thompson, Director of Research, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, was elected to the Academy Fellowship following the Council meeting in April 2011. Forty distinguished medical researchers will be recognised for the contributions to medical science this year. “Fellowship of the Academy is based on exceptional contributions to the medical sciences either [...]
A new international study funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) challenges the idea that obese people with an apple shape (fat deposition on the middle of the body) are at higher risk of heart attacks and strokes than obese people with other types of fat distribution. The Emerging [...]