Researchers in Primary Care Clinical Sciences undertook the first ever review of studies that measure the effects of continued smoking after diagnosis of lung cancer. There is an established link between smoking and lung cancer; indeed lifelong smokers have a 20-fold increased risk compared with non-smokers. However, until now scientists have not known if cessation on diagnosis can improve prognosis.
Dr Nicola Gale, from Primary Care, and Dr Eliot Marston, the BUPA Translational Research Manager, have set up a Birmingham University Research Network for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
The team had been provisionally registered 2 years ago, so this is a most significant and welcome confirmation of the considerable investments they have made in the PCCRTU structures and capacity to support or deliver safe and effective trials.
The 2009 John Ash Lecture, sponsored by the Arthur Thomson Trust, took place on 25 November in the Leonard Deacon Lecture Theatre of the Medical School.
Dr Jonathan Ives, in Primary Care Clinical Sciences, has recently been successful in obtaining a grant from the Economic and Social Research Council to research men’s experiences of making the transition into first time fatherhood.
History of Medicine Unit Director, Jonathan Reinarz, has produced his long-awaited history of the Birmingham teaching hospitals, a history that spans three centuries, nine hospitals and a number of medical specialties, as well as the history of the medical school in Birmingham.
Yemisi Takwoingi has won the Thomas C Chalmers Award for the best presentation at the meeting addressing methodological issues related to systematic reviews for her presentation:
“An empirical assessment of the validity of uncontrolled comparisons of the accuracy of diagnostic tests” (Yemisi Takwoingi, Jac Dinnes, Mariska Leeflang, Jon Deeks).
The Birmingham Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyle for Children Study (BEACHES) have recently been awarded funding (£2.475 million) by the HTA to do a cluster randomised controlled trial of obesity prevention in children.
Rachna Begh, in Primary Care, has recently had a successful funding application to NPRI. Rachna has also been awarded an NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship.
September 2009 sees the start of the newly designed MPH programme.
