The latest news, research updates and announcements from the Nuffield Department of Medicine.
For media enquiries, background information on any of our research, or to arrange interviews with relevant scientists please contact Marin Hirschfeld, NDM Head of Communications. We also have photos and videos of our work available for B-roll purposes.
What's new
New shingles vaccine could reduce risk of dementia
25 July 2024
The new recombinant shingles vaccine ‘Shingrix’ is associated with a reduced risk of dementia compared to an earlier shingles vaccine, according to a major new study published in Nature Medicine.
ORTU awarded £2.8m to study treatment for pleural infection
23 July 2024
The Oxford Respiratory Trials Unit (ORTU) at the Nuffield Department of Medicine has been awarded a £2.8 million grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) to conduct the MIST4 study.
Policy changes needed as drug-resistant malaria spreads in East Africa
22 July 2024
The efficacy of artemisinin derivatives, the cornerstone of current treatments for malaria, is being compromised in Africa where over 1,000 children are estimated to die each day from the disease. The spread of artemisinin-resistant malaria parasites across East Africa and beyond could result in millions more deaths without immediate health policy changes, warn experts in a paper published in Science.
Community voices shaping tuberculosis research in Viet Nam
19 July 2024
A recent publication by OUCRU researchers, published in the journal Public Health Action, highlights the importance of community engagement in TB research.
Oxford scientists launch first-in-human vaccine trial for deadly Marburg virus
18 July 2024
Launch of UK trial is major milestone in developing a vaccine against Marburg virus – a highly virulent disease that is fatal in up to 88% of cases.
Côte d’Ivoire becomes first nation to deploy R21 malaria vaccine
16 July 2024
Côte d’Ivoire will become the first country to roll-out the new R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine with the first child vaccinated in Abidjan, marking a critical step and historic milestone in the global fight against malaria. 15 African countries are expected to introduce malaria vaccines with Gavi support in 2024, and countries plan to reach around 6.6 million children with the malaria vaccine in 2024 and 2025. The new vaccine has been authorised by Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic, and many others are preparing to receive shipments.
New discovery renews hope for thousands with neurodevelopment disorders
15 July 2024
A global collaboration led by scientists at the University of Oxford has discovered that genetic variants in a specific gene cause a rare neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD). NDD is a collective term for severe impairments in how the brain functions that impact learning, behaviour, speech, and movement. Most NDDs are thought to be genetic and caused by changes to DNA, however, to date, around 60% of individuals with these conditions do not know the specific DNA change that causes their disorder.
COVID-19 phone apps shown to provide insights into epidemic dynamics
12 July 2024
Researchers analysing data from mobile phone apps used during the COVID-19 pandemic found that digital contact tracing provides rich insights into epidemic dynamics with unprecedented resolution and speed. Findings show how digital contact tracing can help public health bodies to better monitor and analyse evolving epidemics.
COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing recognised at engineering awards
11 July 2024
The Royal Academy of Engineering celebrated the University of Oxford, AstraZeneca and partners as the runners-up for the 2024 MacRobert Award. Fourteen individuals who led the programme to develop an innovative new process for manufacturing the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine were named as the finalists, including Prof. Sandy Douglas and Dr Adam Ritchie from the Jenner Institute
Peijun Zhang elected to European Molecular Biology Organization membership
10 July 2024
120 scientists from across Europe and beyond have been elected to the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) membership, an honour that celebrates research excellence and outstanding achievements in the life sciences, including Dr Peijun Zhang from the Nuffield Department of Medicine.
Study details major global impact of herpes infections
8 July 2024
Genital herpes infections and their related complications lead to billions of dollars in health care expenditures and productivity losses globally, say researchers who calculated the first-ever global estimates of the economic costs of these conditions.
Discovery of a new cell type that mediates genetic risk of heart disease
5 July 2024
A new study has used state-of-the-art single cell multiomic techniques to discover a novel population of immune cells that mediate a substantial proportion of the genetic risk of heart disease. The characteristics of these cells make them potential targets for new treatments.
Lennard Lee recognised by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology
3 July 2024
Dr Lennard Lee, an associate professor at the Centre of Immuno-oncology at the Nuffield Department of Medicine, was awarded the 'SciTech Superhero' award for 2024 by Sarah Munby, the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology at a ceremony in London last week.
Cross-species immune responses could lead to innovative treatments
24 June 2024
A new study published by Oxford researchers as part of an international collaboration in the Journal of Biological Chemistry has found that an important section of our immune system, that involves the molecule MR1 and MAIT cells, is evolutionarily conserved in multiple species.
Sepsis patients could get the right treatment faster based on their genes
21 June 2024
Sepsis patients could be treated based on their immune system’s response to infection, not their symptoms. New research uncovers how different people respond to sepsis based on their genetic makeup, which could help identify who would benefit from certain treatments and lead to the development of targeted therapies.
Novel data method sheds light on hidden patterns of kidney inflammation
20 June 2024
Globally kidney disease is forecast to be the 5th leading cause of death by 2040, and in the UK more than 3 million people are living with the most severe stages of chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease is often due to autoimmune damage to the filtration units of the kidney, known as the glomeruli, which can occur in lupus, a disease which disproportionally affects women and people of non-white ethnicities, groups often underrepresented in research. Treatment options are limited, can have life threatening side-effects and often don’t slow the disease, which can then progress to end stage, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Nicky Whiffin selected as a 2024 Lister Prize Fellow
18 June 2024
Prof Whiffin is an Associate Professor and Sir Henry Dale Fellow at the Big Data Institute and Centre for Human Genetics at NDM. She is also a Research Fellow at St Anne’s College with the Centre for Personalised Medicine, and a visiting scientist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
NDM researchers honoured in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours List
17 June 2024
The King's Birthday Honours 2024 Lists have been published, marking the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK, including two researchers from the Nuffield Department of Medicine who have both been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Children’s Health in Cambodia and Thailand.
Existing interventions are effective in reducing antimicrobial resistance
16 June 2024
In a new study published in The Lancet, a team of international researchers has highlighted the urgent need for action to address the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
Benefit of blood transfusion in Visceral Leishmaniasis patients unclear
14 June 2024
A new review summarises existing evidence gaps regarding when blood transfusions should be carried out for visceral leishmaniasis patients. The review is published in Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.