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Scientists Launch A Pre-Emptive Strike On Deadly Post-Transplant Infection

A potential new treatment to protect immunosuppressed patients from human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been discovered by scientists at the University of Cambridge.

Robotic Dogs And Laughter Therapy: 10 Ways To Combat Loneliness And Isolation While Social Distancing

Robotic dogs, laughter therapy and mindfulness are some of the ways that might help people – particularly the elderly – cope with loneliness and social isolation while social distancing, say researchers at the University of Cambridge.

Proper Fit Of Face Masks Is More Important Than Material, Study Suggests

A team of researchers studying the effectiveness of different types of face masks has found that in order to provide the best protection against COVID-19, the fit of a mask is as important, or more important, than the material it is made of.

Free Online Tool Calculates Risk Of COVID-19 Transmission In Poorly-Ventilated Spaces

The vital role of ventilation in the spread of COVID-19 has been quantified by researchers, who have found that in poorly-ventilated spaces, the virus can spread further than two metres in seconds, and is far more likely to spread through prolonged talking than through coughing.

Study Highlights Risk Of New SARS-Cov-2 Mutations Emerging During Chronic Infection

SARS-CoV-2 mutations similar to those in the B1.1.7 UK variant could arise in cases of chronic infection, where treatment over an extended period can provide the virus multiple opportunities to evolve, say scientists.

Function Identified Of ‘Mystery Protein’ That Kills Healthy Brain Cells Of People With Parkinson’s

Scientists have made a ‘vital step’ towards understanding the origins of Parkinson’s disease – the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.

Climate Change May Have Driven The Emergence Of SARS-Cov-2

Global greenhouse gas emissions over the last century have made southern China a hotspot for bat-borne coronaviruses, by driving growth of forest habitat favoured by bats.

Successive Governments’ Approaches To Obesity Policies Have Destined Them To Fail, Say Researchers

Government obesity policies in England over the past three decades have largely failed because of problems with implementation, lack of learning from past successes or failures, and a reliance on trying to persuade individuals to change their behaviour rather than tackling unhealthy environments.

Pfizer Biontech Vaccine Likely To Be Effective Against B1.1.7 Strain Of SARS-Cov-2

The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine BNT162b2 is likely to be effective against the B1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2, even though its efficacy is modestly affected, say scientists at the University of Cambridge.

Likelihood Of Severe And ‘Long’ COVID May Be Established Very Early On Following Infection

New research provides important insights into the role played by the immune system in preventing – and in some cases increasing the severity of – COVID-19 symptoms in patients. It also finds clues to why some people experience ‘long COVID’.

DNA Test Can Quickly Identify Pneumonia In Patients With Severe COVID-19, Aiding Faster Treatment

Researchers have developed a DNA test to quickly identify secondary infections in COVID-19 patients, who have double the risk of developing pneumonia while on ventilation than non-COVID-19 patients.

High Insulin Levels During Childhood A Risk For Mental Health Problems Later In Life, Study Suggests

Researchers have shown that the link between physical and mental illness is closer than previously thought. Certain changes in physical health, which are detectable in childhood, are linked with the development of mental illness in adulthood.

Study Identifies Genetic Changes Likely To Have Enabled SARS-Cov-2 To Jump From Bats To Humans

A new study, involving the University of Cambridge and led by the Pirbright Institute, has identified key genetic changes in SARS-CoV-2 - the virus that causes COVID-19 - that may be responsible for the jump from bats to humans, and established which animals have cellular receptors that allow the virus to enter their cells most effectively.

Mindfulness Can Improve Mental Health And Wellbeing – But Unlikely To Work For Everyone

Mindfulness courses can reduce anxiety, depression and stress and increase mental wellbeing within most but not all non-clinical settings, say a team of researchers at the University of Cambridge.

‘Virtual Biopsies’ Could Replace Tissue Biopsies In Future Thanks To Technique Developed By Cambridge Scientists

A new advanced computing technique using routine medical scans to enable doctors to take fewer, more accurate tumour biopsies, has been developed by cancer researchers at the University of Cambridge.

Helping Adolescents To Feel Competent And Purposeful – Not Just Happy – May Improve Grades

Study of 600 teenagers suggests that having stronger self-awareness and sense of purpose may raise GCSE Maths scores “by a couple of grades”.

World’s Most Threatened Seabirds Visit Remote Plastic Pollution Hotspots

Analysis of global tracking data for 77 species of petrel has revealed that a quarter of all plastics potentially encountered in their search for food are in remote international waters – requiring international collaboration to address.

Older Adults Who Remain More Active Have A Better Quality Of Life, Study Finds

A reduction in the amount of time spent physically active when adults are over 60 years old is linked to lower quality of life, a Cambridge study of almost 1,500 adults has shown.

Weak Policies And Political Ideologies Risk Jeopardising Plans To Tackle Health And Climate Change, Says Cambridge Expert

Efforts to tackle major issues facing the UK, including the nation’s health and climate change, are being hampered because politicians often ignore the existing evidence when setting policies, according to Dame Theresa Marteau, a public health expert at the University of Cambridge.