The latest updates on our research and how it is improving people’s lives.
Understanding the physics of the immune response necessitates new technology
23 October 2020
Professor Marco Fritzsche has joined the Kennedy Institute as the Principal Investigator of the Biophysical Immunology Laboratory (BPI), as part of a joint appointment with the Rosalind Franklin Institute. His lab is leading the development of a lattice light sheet microscope that will significantly advance the study of live cells.
CD2 corolla calls T cells to arms
20 October 2020
A team from the University of Oxford has visualised how key cells of the immune system lock onto cancerous or infected cells to destroy them. The work was led by the Mike Dustin’s group at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology and experts in colorectal and ovarian cancers from across Oxford and computational biologists at the University of Birmingham.
Likely culprits causing blood vessel lesions in vasculitis identified
19 October 2020
NDORMS researchers identify a subset of immune cells that could be a new therapeutic target to treat inflamed blood vessels in Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) and other forms of inflammatory vascular disease.
Review of proposed FDA regulation reveals the extent of financial ties to industry
15 October 2020
A review of public comments on a proposed FDA regulatory framework, for modifications to artificial intelligence and machine learning-based software as a medical device, has found that 63% came from parties with financial ties to industry, and that the majority, 86% did not cite any scientific evidence.
Professor Stride announced as Honorary Fellow of IET
8 October 2020
Institution of Engineering and Technology announces 16 Honorary Fellows to mark its 150th year. Professor Stride was awarded the Fellowship in recognition of her contribution to biomedical engineering and research into treatment of major diseases.
Carpal tunnel decompression surgery found to be a safe option for patients
7 October 2020
One of the leading causes of workplace absence, carpal tunnel syndrome, can be treated successfully with decompression surgery without serious complications according to research from NDORMS.
Hospitalised COVID-19 patients shown to be younger and healthier than flu patients
6 October 2020
Patients hospitalised with COVID-19 were more likely male, younger and, in both the US and Spain, had fewer comorbidities and lower medication use than hospitalized influenza patients according to a recent study published recently by the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) community.
Research review reveals potential to improve colon cancer treatments
2 October 2020
Researchers at the Kennedy Institute review the growing body of literature on the role of the microbiome in colorectal cancer
Oxford researchers start new trial on the use of anti-TNF to treat Covid-19 in care homes
30 September 2020
Researchers at the University of Oxford are starting a new study to explore the effectiveness of the anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drug adalimumab as a treatment for patients with COVID-19 in the community, especially care homes. The AVID-CC trial, which will be conducted by Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit (OCTRU), will enrol up to 750 patients from community care settings throughout the UK.
Professor Chris Lavy awarded prestigious honorary fellowship by British Orthopaedic Association
23 September 2020
Professor of Orthopaedic and Tropical Surgery and Consultant Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon Chris Lavy has been awarded a prestigious honorary fellowship by the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA).
Key discovery in Psoriatic Arthritis points way for developing targeted treatments
21 September 2020
A new study has revealed psoriatic arthritis may be activated by the same trigger in different patients. Researchers from the University of Oxford and the Wellcome Sanger Institute identified high levels of a specific receptor in immune cells from psoriatic arthritis patients, giving the strongest evidence yet of a single cause for the disease.
Research success leads to expansion
11 September 2020
A new wing is being built to expand the Botnar Research Centre and advance its research into musculoskeletal science and bioengineering technologies.
Patients set to benefit from new guidelines on Artificial Intelligence health solutions
10 September 2020
Patients could benefit from a faster and more effective introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) innovations to diagnose and treat disease – thanks to the first international standards for reporting of clinical trials for AI.
Workload linked with an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis
9 September 2020
Men and women working in heavy manual occupations are twice as likely to suffer from knee osteoarthritis (OA), the most common joint disorder, compared to those in sedentary occupations according to a new study published in the prestigious journal Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism.
Cancer care during COVID-19: lessons from The Oxford Bone Tumour and Soft Tissue Sarcoma service
26 August 2020
Sarcoma cancer in Oxford was reorganised during the pandemic. Two studies reveal their success and serve as a guide to other units facing the similar challenge of supporting patients.
Largest global study on hydroxychloroquine safety finds increased cardiovascular risk with azithromycin
24 August 2020
The combination of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and azithromycin (AZM) has been linked to significant cardiovascular risks including mortality, in the largest safety study ever performed on both HCQ and HCQ+AZM.
Patient’s fundraising takes him to the top of Scafell Pike
20 August 2020
Hip replacement patient Nick Birch scales his second mountain to raise funds for University research
IL-22 pathway linked to poor prognosis in colon cancer
18 August 2020
Research shows how IL-22 interacts with KRAS mutant tumours to promote excessive growth in colorectal cancer
Pain trajectory defines knee osteoarthritis subgroups
13 August 2020
Researchers at NDORMS have identified four subgroups of knee osteoarthritis which will improve patient treatment and drug development.
Grant towards OHDSI Global Research on COVID-19 treatments
10 August 2020
Main Statistics and epidemiology
An international cohort of OHDSI collaborators obtain a grant from the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator to lead an effort to compare the effectiveness of treatments, including corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, under current evaluation for COVID-19 across an international observational data network.