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
Evidence shows COVID-19 triggers sustained inflammatory gene expression
22 September 2023
In a study, recently published in Genomics Medicine, researchers from NDM’s Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and the CAMS Oxford Institute investigated the long-term impact of COVID-19 on immune cells.
New vaccine trial for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome launched
18 September 2023
A new clinical trial to find a vaccine to protect people against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) launched on 15 September 2023. This is the third Phase I clinical trial of the ChAdOx1 MERS vaccine, developed by researchers at the Pandemic Sciences Institute. It is the first trial in older people.
Monitoring the current Nipah virus outbreak in India
15 September 2023
Researchers at the Pandemic Sciences Institute (PSI) are closely monitoring the current outbreak of deadly Nipah virus in Kerala, India. To date, there have been five confirmed cases and two deaths reported, with many of those affected being family members of the first patient. The Institute has collaborations with scientists involved in the response, including virologists at the National Institute of Virology in Pune.
Clinical trial for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever vaccine launched
11 September 2023
A University of Oxford study has administered a new vaccine against tick-borne virus Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) to volunteers for the first time. CCHF is on the World Health Organization's top priority watchlist for viruses that could cause a future pandemic, and yet no approved vaccines currently exist.
Six NDM researchers awarded Professorships
8 September 2023
We are delighted to announce that six researchers have been awarded the Professor title, in recognition of their research achievements, contribution to teaching, and contribution to the general work of the Nuffield Department of Medicine.
NDM research teams amongst the finalists of Cancer Grand Challenges
5 September 2023
Three research teams from the University of Oxford, including those of Prof Frank von Delft, Professor for Structural Chemical Biology at NDM's Centre for Medicines Discovery and Dr Parinaz Mehdipour, Leadership Fellow at NDM’s Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, have been selected for the final stages of Cancer Grand Challenges.
Impact of Ling’s legacy on CAMS Oxford Institute Researchers
1 September 2023
One year on from the launch of the Ling Felce Award for the training of researchers in Oxford, we reflect on the impact of the award and the generosity of our donors.
Identifying factors for maternal and foetal mortality from malaria
31 August 2023
A study coordinated by NDM researchers published in BMC Medicine explores the factors predicting higher mortality in pregnant women with severe malaria and describes how severe falciparum malaria in pregnancy affects foetal health and mortality.
CEPI and Oxford to accelerate vaccine development against Disease X
30 August 2023
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the University of Oxford have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of safe, effective and globally accessible vaccines to counter the threat of future pandemics.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis control in Indonesia
23 August 2023
A new study published in The Lancet Global Health highlights the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis (TB) control in Indonesia, the nation with the second highest TB burden globally and the second highest burden of COVID-19 in the Asian region.
Prof Richard White recognised by the Society for Melanoma Research
22 August 2023
The Society for Melanoma Research is devoted to alleviating the suffering of people with melanoma and was founded to unify the field by increasing communication among researchers and building bridges of collaboration between basic, translational, and clinical investigators.
New model evaluates a path to tracking leprosy elimination
21 August 2023
A special issue of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B on challenges and opportunities in the fight against neglected tropical diseases has been released today. This special issue, compiled and edited by Kathryn Forbes, Maria-Gloria Basáñez, Déirdre Hollingsworth and Roy M. Anderson, celebrates progress made since the 2012 London Declaration on NTDs and discusses challenges currently faced to achieve these goals.
Fighting back against viral evasion of host defences
16 August 2023
In new research, published in Nature, Professor Geoffrey L Smith and a team of collaborators identified a mechanism by which poxviruses evade host immune defences, opening up new avenues for therapies using existing licensed drugs.
Investigating HIV-1 replication and reactivation
14 August 2023
In a recent study, NDM and other collaborators investigated the role of Salt Inducible Kinases in Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. Understanding how this human pathogen multiplies helps researchers develop effective medications that can slow down the virus's progression.
New collaboration to improve clinical research in low-resource settings
11 August 2023
Four major clinical trial networks, including Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, The Global Health Network, hosted by NDM’s Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, based in low-resource settings are embarking on an exciting partnership with the Good Clinical Trials Collaborative (GCTC) to enhance clinical research in low-resource settings.
Rapid Funding for COVID-19 Research in Low-Resource Settings
7 August 2023
In a research letter published in The Lancet, the authors including Professor Philippe Guerin, Director of the Infectious Diseases Data Observatory, hosted by NDM’s Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, emphasised the critical need for equity in the allocation of research funding, especially in the context of epidemic response efforts.
New collaboration to tackle antibiotic-resistant sepsis in African newborns
3 August 2023
The KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme from NDM has participated in a new European-African consortium to improve the way infections in newborns are treated. This project, called SNIP-AFRICA, aims to reduce mortality among neonates in hospitals with sepsis in Africa, in an era of increasing antimicrobial resistance.
Inspecting the WBC count variability in uncomplicated malaria patients
1 August 2023
Researchers at the Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), hosted by NDM’s Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, investigated the variability in white blood cell count in patients with uncomplicated malaria and found that using the assumed value of WBC in the calculation of parasite density led to a significant underestimation of parasite count for children and potentially sub-optimal treatment.
New partnership to enhance global surveillance of pandemic threats
27 July 2023
PSI and the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence will collaborate to improve the detection and tracking of infectious diseases.
Population-scale digital capabilities can protect cancer patients at risk of COVID
25 July 2023
Research led by the Nuffield Department of Medicine has been published in Nature Scientific Reports, investing the effect of COVID-19 across the cancer population over the course of the pandemic. This analysis is the world’s largest and most comprehensive cancer evaluation showcasing the United Kingdom’s digital capabilities and the potential of population-scale cancer studies.