The treatment of people with chronic pain is to be discussed at conference in Northern Ireland on Tuesday. It is being opened by Health Minister Edwin Poots and will involve 300 people including patient groups, clinicians, regional health commissioners and the pharmaceutical industry. The aim is to sign up to a Northern Ireland road map for action on pain. This will outline seven policies to improve the quality of life for those living with this long-term condition. The conference comes afte

A simple drawing test may help predict the risk of older men dying after a first stroke, a study in the journal BMJ Open suggests. Taken while healthy, the test involves drawing lines between numbers in ascending order as fast as possible. Men who scored in the bottom third were about three times as likely to die after a stroke compared with those who were in the highest third. The study looked at 1,000 men between the ages of 67 and 75 over 14 years. Of the 155 men who had a stroke, 22 died

Copenhagen played host to this year's DIA EuroMeeting and for the fifth year running, several of the BioKinetic team were in attendance and benefited from a few days of quality seminars and networking...

A blood test that can detect breast cancer decades before the disease develops could be available in five years, scientists have announced. The test could help doctors to identify women at high risk of the disease allowing them to take preventive medicines and switch to healthier lifestyles. Researchers have identified a 'genetic switch', carried by one in five women, that doubles their risk of developing breast cancer. Experts described the breakthrough by scientists at Imperial College London

The prospect of a drug to treat autism has been raised after symptoms of the condition were reduced in experiments on mice that were performed by the US National Institutes of Health. There is no cure for the condition. The results published in Science Translational Medicine showed increased social skills and less repetitive behaviour in animals taking a drug. However, treatments which work in mice frequently fail in humans and potential medication would be years away. Autism spectrum disord

Three-dimensional images of tissue samples could help spot cancer early, say researchers. Scientists from the University of Leeds have created a technique to generate hi-resolution, colour 3D images of a piece of tissue. The images can be rotated on a computer screen and examined from any angle. Cancer Research UK said the technology could help researchers understand how cancer grew and spread, and learn how to treat it more effectively. The findings are published in the American Journal of

A "miniature honeycomb" - or scaffold - could one day be used to encourage damaged nerves to grow and recover, according to an international group of researchers. The scaffold can channel clusters of nerves through its honeycomb of holes, eventually healing a severed nerve. The findings of their study on mouse nerves are published in the journal Biofabrication. Academics hope to one day treat spinal cord injuries with the scaffold. When nerves are severed, such as in car accidents, it can re

Researchers in Britain have successfully renewed a level of sight in visually impaired mice, opening the possibility that the same can be achieved in humans. The University College London researchers transplanted immature vision cells directly into the mouse retina. They noted that within weeks the cells began to integrate into the retina and the researchers, led by Prof Robin Ali in the university?s Institute of Ophthalmology, were able to show that vision began to return to the mice. The cel

Scientists at the University of St Andrews have begun a project to develop new light technology that could improve the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The team will work to overcome current obstacles that limit how light penetrates a cell to assess its health. Researchers believe the work could eventually have implications for the detection and treatment of conditions such as Alzheimer's and epilepsy. They have been given a grant of ?5.6m for the project. Their research focuses on the sci

A new technique to treat early prostate cancer may have far fewer side-effects than existing therapies, say experts. A 41-patient study in the journal Lancet Oncology suggests targeted ultrasound treatment could reduce the risk of impotence and incontinence. Researchers say it could transform future treatment if the findings are repeated in larger studies. The Medical Research Council (MRC), which funded the study, welcomed the results, which it said were promising. Each year 37,000 men in t

Shift workers getting too little sleep at the wrong time of day may be increasing their risk of diabetes and obesity, according to researchers. The team is calling for more measures to reduce the impact of shift working following the results of its study. Researchers controlled the lives of 21 people, including meal and bedtimes. The results, published in Science Translational Medicine, showed changes to normal sleep meant the body struggled to control sugar levels. Some participants even de

There are calls for the abolition of upper-age limits in clinical drug trials, with one medical specialist saying not enough is known about how medication affects frail elderly patients. There is evidence that increasing numbers of elderly Australians are being hospitalised because of the combined side effects of the cocktail of medications they take. Professor Richard Lindley from the George Institute for Global Health estimates about 10 per cent of elderly patients end up in hospital because

Great to see the continued innovation within the Life Sciences sector in Northern Ireland. Belfast-based pharmaceutical engineering company, Sepha Ltd, has announced a strong half-year sales performance for the six months ended March 2012 which includes new orders from the pharmaceutical giant, Novartis, for their leak inspection machine, Visionscan.

A study has found that men who eat diets high in flavonoids, found in berries, tea, apples and red wine, were less likely to develop the condition than those who ate few of these foods. The research was conducted by a team at Harvard University and University of East Anglia and is published in the journal Neurology. They followed 130,000 men and women for 20 years and found that 800 developed Parkinson's disease in that time. By analysing their diet, lifestyle and other factors, they concluded t

Taller women have a slightly higher risk of ovarian cancer, according to a review of studies. Obesity is also a risk factor among women who have never taken HRT, say international researchers. Previous studies have suggested a link, but there has been conflicting evidence. The latest research, published in the journal PLoS Medicine, analysed all worldwide data on the topic. It looked at 47 epidemiological studies in 14 countries, including about 25,000 women with ovarian cancer and more than

A team of scientists led by Johns Hopkins researchers have found that more than four in 10 people considered at high risk for hereditary pancreatic cancer have small pancreatic lesions long before they have any symptoms of the deadly disease. Moreover, they report, the frequency of the abnormal precancerous lesions increases with age and that ultrasound via endoscopy is better than MRI and significantly better than CT scans at finding the lesions. The researchers say their work signifies some pr

A review of research on alcohol and breast cancer has found that just one drink a day can increase the risk of breast cancer by five per cent. Women drinking 'heavily' by having three or more drinks a day are up to 50 per cent more likely to develop breast cancer than those who abstain, it was found. It could mean that thousands of cases of breast cancer in Britain each year are caused by alcohol. The link between breast cancer and alcohol is already known but it has not been clear if there was

The prime minister this week launched his Challenge on Dementia, alongside the Alzheimer's Society's report, Dementia 2012: a national challenge. This clear commitment from the government, and the prime minister personally, to tackle the issue will change the experience of care for people living with dementia in clinical, community and personal settings. Everyone involved in dementia care does not need to be told the extent of the problem. The number of people affected is increasing, an estimat

GPs could soon offer their patients free smartphone apps to help with managing health conditions. The Department of Health says its initiative is the "next step" in the drive to give patients more control over their own health. The apps could help diabetics keep a check on their blood sugar and patients monitor their own blood pressure. Details of how this will work will be in the government's Information Strategy expected this Spring. It may be that GPs will be able to prescribe apps that w

BioKinetic Europe are currently recruiting for the following vacancies: Clinical Trial Recruitment and Data Specialist. Clinical Research Nurse. For more information please contact Janice Flanigan on 028 90818381.

The Obama administration is boosting funding for Alzheimer?s research by $50 million this year to further investigate the genetic underpinnings of the disease and test drugs that may arrest its development.About 5.1 million Americans suffer from the condition and caseloads are expected to double by 2050, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The cause of the degenerative condition is unknown and there is no cure.Alzheimer?s ?has quickly become one of our nation?s most

The lives of almost 80,000 heart attack victims have been saved in just under a decade as deaths have halved due to healthier lives and better treatment, research has found. The greatest decline in heart attacks and deaths was in the middle-aged with the smallest decrease among younger and older people, the study conducted at Oxford University found. There were 18,576 fewer deaths from heart attacks in 2010 compared with 2002, and 76,978 fewer deaths in total over those years. Researchers

A potential new malaria vaccine has shown promise in animal studies, according to research. An Oxford University team is to start safety trials in human volunteers after lab tests showed the vaccine works against all strains of the parasite. UK scientists recently found the route malaria uses to enter blood cells. They hope to target this pathway in a new approach to developing a vaccine against malaria, which kills hundreds of thousands of people a year. Several potential malaria vaccines a

In 2010, around 43% of cancer cases seen in the UK were caused by lifestyle and environmental factors, according to several news sources today. This equated to around 134,000 cancers caused by potentially avoidable behaviours such as smoking, drinking alcohol and eating a poor diet. The news is based on an extensive report that has estimated how lifestyle factors can influence a range of cancers. Tobacco smoking was the biggest risk factor for cancer, responsible for over 19% of all new cases. O

Arthritis means inflammation of joints. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common form of arthritis. (There are various other causes of arthritis and RA is just one cause.) About 1 in 100 people develops RA at some stage in their life. It can happen to anyone. It is not an hereditary disease. It can develop at any age, but most commonly starts between the ages of 40 and 60. It is about three times more common in women than in men. Understanding Joints A joint is where two bones meet. Joints allow

World Diabetes Day, on the 14th November every year, has grown from humble beginnings to become a globally-celebrated event to increase awareness about diabetes. Comprising hundreds of campaigns, activities, screenings, lecture, meetings and more, World Diabetes Day is proving internationally effective in spreading the message about diabetes. For World Diabetes Day 2011, Diabetes.co.uk are launching a UK appeal campaigning for all people with type 2 diabetes to have access to free prescription

Light is a "promising" tool in the fight against cancer, say researchers in the US. A study, published in Nature Medicine, showed how a drug could be created which sticks to tumours, but is then only activated when hit by specific waves of light. It means a treatment can be highly targeted and not damage the surrounding tissue. A cancer charity said the treatment showed early promise. Currently, treatments for cancer can be separated into three categories: blasting it with radiation, surgica

The number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK has increased by nearly 130,000 to 2.9 million in the last year, reports Diabetes UK. This is a rise of almost 50% since GPs first published diabetes data in 2005, the charity adds. The rise is mainly in cases of type 2 diabetes, which accounts for around 90% of all diagnoses. While type 2 diabetes commonly develops in people who are overweight, the charity is urging people to be aware of the other risk factors associated with the conditio

A malaria vaccine has shown promising results in a clinical trial in Africa. Infants given the prototype vaccine had about half the risk of getting malaria compared with those who did not receive the jab, say researchers. The vaccine, known as RTS,S, is one of two experimental malaria vaccines being tested around the world. More than 15,000 children aged under 18 months took part in the year-long study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine . The trial was conducted in seven Afric

The risk for type 2 diabetes may be linked to the amount of vitamin D in your bloodstream. This is the conclusion of a study from the Western Hospital at the University of Melbourne in Australia. An article on Msnbc.msn.com from April 27, 2011 reported that people whose vitamin D levels are lower than average have a 57 percent greater risk for type 2 diabetes. The recommendation from the Institute of Medicine is for adults to take in approximately 600 IUs of vitamin D daily. The article goes

THE LACK OF understanding of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been highlighted by new research which shows that 60 per cent of the population mistakenly believe the disease is preventable, curable and not that prevalent. An estimated 15,000 Irish people suffer from IBD, with the vast majority diagnosed when they are between the ages of 15 and 30 years. IBD is a name for a group of disorders which cause inflammation of the intestine, including Crohn?s disease and ulcerative colitis. The re

About World Arthritis Day World Arthritis Day was established in 1996 by Arthritis and Rheumatism International (ARI) and is celebrated each year on 12 October. Now, people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) from around the world can join together to make their voices heard on this day. World Arthritis Day is an ideal focus for organisations to raise awareness of issues affecting people with RMDs and for individuals to support campaigns. Although 12 October is the official Wor

A massive recruitment drive is under way to match up thousands of diabetes patients with research projects aimed at finding a cure for the disease. The scheme is being likened to a kind of "dating agency" that puts researchers and patients in contact. Researchers say about 30% of cancer patients may be taking part in clinical trials, but for diabetes that figure is less than 1%. About 2.8 million people in the UK are known to have diabetes. But the charity Diabetes UK believes another 800,0

A trial of a new cancer drug, which accurately targets tumours, has been so successful it has been stopped early.

UK governments need set out a clear strategic vision to support research and innovation, including doing more to advertise opportunities for scientific researchers to access funding supplied by the European Union (EU), says Cancer Research UK (CRUK).

Innovative UK research has identified a high-speed method of developing drugs which could have a game-changing impact on the worldwide pharmaceutical industry.

A ?4.4m investment between Almac and Queen's University is aimed at improving tests for cancer.

Providing weight-loss courses free of charge on the NHS could be the key to combating obesity, according to major new study published today in The Lancet.

Injecting modified bacteria related to those which cause tuberculosis could protect against the lung disease, US scientists say.

Independent Research illustrates safety of vaccines.

A Longer-Term Strategy to Combat Malaria

US researchers say they have identified how a high-fat diet can trigger type 2 diabetes, in experiments on mice and human tissue.

An Article By Geoff Bird, Producer of Radio 5 live explores the importance of participation.

BioKinetic achieves Phase 1 Supplementary and Standard Accreditation from the MHRA.

As new UK scheme is being introduced, research shows putting calorie information on menus encourages healthy eating - but only in a limited way.

Better regulation is needed to govern rapidly expanding research in animals containing human tissue or genes, the Academy of Medical Sciences says.

Advances in medical research, awareness of risks, early diagnosis and lifestyle changes can all contribute to its' avoidance.

A new report by London-based business information company visiongain predicts that world pharma clinical trial services revenues will reach $32.73bn in 2015.

IVF embryos can be screened for diseases

The dramatic increase in obesity-related Type 2 diabetes is one of the most serious global health problems.

Researchers in Oxford, UK have begun creating a bank of artificially grown brain cells from Parkinson's patients.

A pill that triggers the heart to repair itself after an attack is being developed by scientists in the UK in a major step towards one of the "holy grails" of medical research.

A blog from Judith Potts a former actress and now a voice, acting and presentation coach. She is married with two children, three stepchildren and recently became a grandmother. She lives in west London and Yorkshire. In 2008 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She can be contacted at judith.potts@telegraph.co.uk.

Research Councils UK (RCUK) have released a new film (25 May)that shows how engaging with the public is important for research.

Queens University Belfast pioneers new research using stem cells.

UK scientists are to start work on a groundbreaking healthcare study which could speed up the testing process of Alzheimer?s drugs.

Children living near nuclear power plants in Britain are no more likely to develop leukaemia than those living elsewhere, experts have found.

Exciting new development, published in the British Journal of Cancer

Queens University Belfast has developed a new technique to reduce trauma and improve dosing regimens for this vulnerable patient group.

Public online register gives access to information on clinical trials

A New Notification Scheme is available for certain trials involving medicinal products authorised in any EU Member State.

The excellence of medical research in Northern Ireland continues...

Experimental technology uses cold, not neurotoxin, researchers say

This report outlines recent findings into the health research pathway in the UK.

New research organised by the University of Cambridge in Britain suggests that having diabetes at 50 may reduce a person's life expectancy by an average of six years.

Want to learn five ways to limit your exposure to mobile phone energy emission?

Microbes on farms render the children of farmers more protected from asthma and atophy

CIPD highlights the profile shift within the scientific employment community in the UK

An article outlining the importance of conducting clinical trials in elderly populations.

Medical Research Council (MRC)Scientists have developed the first accurate blood test for the human form of BSE or Mad Cow Disease.

Scientists at Queen's University, Belfast, have been awarded a £1.74m grant to help Cystic Fibrosis sufferers.

An article by Lorraine Shah in the UKTI Springboard Magazine gives us food for thought.

An article outlining tighter controls planned for the Indian market

BioKinetic launches it's new website