All News A–Z
12 Medical Sciences Graduates Make History
On Friday 17th July 2015 twelve Bangor University students will be the first to graduate from the pioneering BMedSci Medical Sciences programme developed by the School of Medical Sciences, the University’s youngest academic department.
Publication date: 17 July 2015
2nd year biomedical student wins competitive studentship
Congratulations to Fazeelat Hamid from the School of Medical Sciences on gaining a studentship at Lancaster University funded by North West Cancer Research.
Publication date: 10 April 2017
A&E waiting times worst on record – but using AI to unblock beds could be part of the solution
January is the busiest month of the year for the NHS – with patients often queuing in corridors and ambulances.
In 2019 Emergency Department waiting times in England were the worst on record, with 2000 patients waiting for more than 12 hours for a hospital bed in December. At the same time latest researchshows that over the past three years almost 5500 patients have died in emergency departments while waiting for a hospital bed.
Part of the problem is that patients who are admitted as emergencies to hospital can be really sick and unstable. So making the decision as to when they are getting better and are safe to go home (and the bed is free) is complicated and risky.
This article by Christian P Subbe, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Acute & Critical Care Medicine, School of Medical Science,s is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Publication date: 24 January 2020
A human stem cell-specific gene usually only active in the testis can influence cancer cell proliferation and prognosis in a wide range of different cancers
This is the finding of a team of scientists from the North West Cancer Research Institute in the School of Medical Sciences at Bangor University.
Publication date: 12 June 2017
Amputation rates fall
Patients' limbs saved thanks to Diabetic Foot Service at Ysbyty Gwynedd.
Publication date: 20 August 2012
Ancient Chinese text revealed to be an anatomical atlas of the human body
The standard history of anatomy traces its roots back to classical Greece, but a new reading of a recently discovered Chinese text argues that the Chinese were also among the earliest anatomists.
Writing in The Anatomical Record, Vivien Shaw and Isabelle Winder of Bangor University, UK and Rui Diogo of Howard University, USA, interpret the Mawangdui medical manuscripts found in a Chinese tomb in the early 1970s, as the earliest surviving anatomical description of the human body.
Publication date: 2 September 2020
Awards success for the second year running at MediWales
A team led by Dr Chris Subbe, Senior Lecturer, School of Medical Sciences at Bangor University and a practicing clinician at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has been awarded the MediWales Award for "NHS Partnership with UK and International Industry" sponsored by Health & Care Research Wales and Roche.
Publication date: 15 December 2015
Bangor Academic chosen to represent Wales on UK’s Biomedical Sciences representative body
Mr Merfyn Williams, course director of the BSc Biomedical Science degree in the School of Medical Sciences has had the honour of being invited to join the Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences (HUCBMS) Executive Committee. HUCBMS is a representative body for the biomedical sciences in the UK and has a membership of over 60 universities, which includes Bangor University, within the UK and overseas. Its mission is ‘to promote the development and enhancement of biomedical sciences teaching and research’.
Publication date: 22 February 2016
Bangor Academics create impact with BMJ papers
A paper co-authored by a Bangor academic has made the front cover of the prestigious British Medical Journal while another research re-evaluation published by the BMJ, in the same month, received international media attention.
Publication date: 29 September 2015
Bangor appears in UK Top 10 League Tables
Bangor University is among the top 10 universities in the UK for six subjects taught at the university according to the Complete University Guide for 2019.
The University appears third in the Wales University table, coming equal 62nd overall in the first free-to access complete ranking of all the UKs universities.
Publication date: 25 April 2018
Bangor Institute for Health and Medical Research Launch
Bangor University is launching the new Institute of Health and Medical Research on Thursday February 25th 2016.
Building on an established foundation of research excellence, the new Bangor Institute for Health and Medical Research (BIHMR) will facilitate more interdisciplinary research that spans discovery in the laboratory through to research that solves complex health problems in the real world. In this way, BIHMR will contribute to improvements in local health and healthcare, as well as making an impact across Wales, the United Kingdom and internationally.
Publication date: 22 February 2016
Bangor Medical Sciences new agreement with Graduate Medicine at Cardiff
Bangor University and Cardiff University have signed an historic progression agreement for Medical Sciences (BMedSci) graduates from Bangor to the MBBCh Medicine programme at Cardiff. Each year students (up to a maximum of 10) who reach the threshold eligibility criteria will be guaranteed an interview for the 4 year graduate entry MBBCh Medicine programme at Cardiff. The aim of this agreement is to support the widening participation agenda for Medicine and to also support Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) in its efforts to increase the recruitment of Doctors into the NHS in north Wales.
Publication date: 13 March 2014
Bangor Science without Borders student presents research at prestigious Oxbridge conference
Emily Ane Araujo Santana is a Science without borders student and she has recently presented her research at the 5TH Oxbridge Conference on Brazilian Studies, which is a joint venture by Oxford and Cambridge universities. Emily beat off stiff competition from other students to be awarded the opportunity to present her research that is focused on sexually transmitted diseases in Brazil.
Publication date: 7 June 2016
Bangor University contributes to new PRIME Centre Wales for primary and emergency care research
Bangor University, alongside partner universities Cardiff, Swansea, and South Wales, has been awarded £3.6M for the ‘PRIME Centre Wales’ for Primary and Emergency Care Research.
Publication date: 30 June 2015
Bangor University maintains leadership position in Student Satisfaction
Bangor University again leads Welsh universities in the most recent measure of student satisfaction, and is among the top 10 of the UK’s best non-specialist universities, the traditional institutions who offer a broad range of subjects.
Publication date: 12 August 2015
Bangor University rated Gold
Bangor University has been awarded the Gold standard in the UK Government’s new Teaching Excellence Framework, and is the only University in Wales to achieve this standard.
The framework assesses universities against a range of criteria and is part of the UK government’s plans for raising standards in higher education. It also gives students more information so that they can make the most informed decisions when deciding which university to attend.
Publication date: 22 June 2017
Bangor University research into access to rare disease medicines
New research from Bangor University, shows that patients with rare diseases often experience a challenging journey that poses difficulties for the National Health Service. Researchers at the University's Centre of Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation at the University's School of Healthcare Sciencesfound that patients often face difficulties in diagnosing their condition, accessing specialist care, and having effective treatment available.
Publication date: 12 November 2015
Bangor University set for another busy National Eisteddfod week at Llanrwst
Bangor University is proud to be taking part again this year at the National Eisteddfod in Llanrwst.
As well as contributing to activities the on the Maes, there will also be buzz on the University's stand again this year.
Publication date: 1 August 2019
Bangor University’s satisfied students
Bangor University continues to rise in popularity among its students. The University again retains its place at 14th in the UK and is second in Wales in a new university experience survey (Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2016).
Publication date: 17 March 2016
Bangor University student awarded Ebola Medal
Following Sierra Leone has being declared free of the Ebola virus, a Bangor University PhD student has been awarded a medal in recognition of her bravery and dedication in tackling the crisis in West Africa.
Publication date: 9 November 2015
Bangor University subjects join elite in world table
Newly published analysis of the latest influential QS World University Rankings, which saw Bangor University soar to 411th position worldwide, now provides further information on rankings for different subject areas among the world’s best universities.
Six subjects and one subject area taught at Bangor University feature among the world’s elite universities in this year’s release of the QS World University Rankings by Subject, with Agriculture and Forestry appearing in the top 100 institutions worldwide who teach the subject and rising from among last year’s 200 top Universities.
Publication date: 8 March 2017
Bangor University to reward outstanding impact from its research and enterprise activities
Twelve projects at Bangor University have been shortlisted for the University’s third annual Impact and Innovation Awards 2015, supported by Santander Universities.
These prestigious awards at Bangor University recognise and celebrate the recent impact that the University’s research, innovation and enterprise activities have on the wider economy and society. This year, the University is also introducing a new award category, Outstanding Contribution to Wales, to recognise activities that have led to impact of national significance in Wales.
Publication date: 27 November 2015
Bangor wins Future Leader Fellowship
An academic at Bangor University’s School of Medical Sciences has been awarded a prestigious Future Leader Fellowship by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a major UK funding body.
Dr Chris Staples joins top researchers and innovators from across the country to receive a portion of a £78 million cash boost provided as Future Leader Fellowships. This investment is designed to propel the next generation of scientific leaders, as they conduct cutting-edge research and develop their research independence.
Publication date: 20 September 2019
Beer, Bread and better health
There is apparently a connection between, beer, bread and better health- and that connection is yeast.
Jessica Fletcher, a scientist from Bangor University, will be explaining to the public what that connection is in a Soapbox Science’ event at Swansea University on Saturday 6 June.
Publication date: 21 May 2015
Beer, Bread and Better Health
Soapbox Science Swansea 6.6.15
There is apparently a connection between, beer, bread and better health- and that connection is yeast.
Jessica Fletcher, a scientist from Bangor University, will be explaining to the public what that connection is in aSoapbox Science’ event at Swansea University on Saturday 6 June.
Publication date: 27 May 2015
Bench to Bedside and Beyond
Bangor University officially launched its innovative new institute on Thursday (25th February) to widespread acclaim.
The Bangor Institute for Health and Medical Research (BIHMR) will sustain and extend Bangor’s already excellent record in health and medical research, bringing together renowned academics in a broad range of fields.
Publication date: 14 March 2016
Bilingual Prescription labels can now be introduced
A Welsh language or bilingual service is vital for the welfare of Welsh speaking patients, according to an enquiry by the Welsh Language Commissioner. A recommendation endorsed by the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Wales is for bilingual labels on prescription medicines to be made available to patients.
A team comprising language specialists and pharmacists at Bangor University and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has made the first step by translating 30 cautionary instructions given to patients on prescription medicines.
Publication date: 24 February 2016
Boost for medically related teaching and research at Bangor
The School of Medical Science is delighted to announce the formal transfer of a number of Undergraduate and Postgraduate degree programmes along with a number of staff from the School of Biological Sciences and North West Cancer Research Fund Institute.
Publication date: 3 June 2015
Brachyury discovery contributes to undressing of human health, cancer and ageing
The Cell Differentiation group, from the North West Cancer Research Institute within Bangor University’s School of Medical Sciences have identified a sub-group of cells within in the normal adult human gut which are marked by the presence of a protein, known as Brachyury, which was previously thought only to be active during embryonic development and cancer.
Publication date: 6 April 2016
Cancer patients diagnosed more quickly
THE TIME taken to diagnose some of the more common cancers – from the point when a patient first reports a possible symptom to their general practitioner (GP) – fell in adults by an average of five days in just under a decade, according to research* published in the British Journal of Cancer, today (Wednesday 5 February 2014).
Publication date: 5 February 2014
Cancer research in Wales gets £200k boost for World Cancer Day
A research project which will look at the way in which cancer cells grow and divide has been given a boost of £200,000 thanks to North West Cancer Research.
The money will fund a three-year research project based at the North West Cancer Research Institute at Bangor University.
Publication date: 3 February 2017
Cancer research published in Science Advances
Cancer is a disease that has touched us all, and although we now know a lot about how cancers develop and grow, we still have a lot to learn. A major factor in cancer development and in treatment resistance is the presence of genome instability. This essentially involves frequent alterations to the genomic DNA of the cell, including changes to the letters of the genetic code as well as more obvious changes such as chromosome deletions, or even movement of large DNA fragments from one chromosome to another. Work in UKRI Future Leader Fellow Dr Chris Staples’ laboratory housed at the North West Cancer Research Institute (in the School of Medical Sciences at Bangor University) focuses on how cells normally prevent such genome instability from occurring.
Publication date: 26 July 2020
Cancer Research Wales funding boosts efforts to fight Cancer at Bangor
The majority of people will have been affected directly or indirectly by cancer. Though curing cancer remains an enormous challenge, years of gradual progress have resulted in earlier diagnosis, improved treatments and increased survival times for many cancer patients.
Publication date: 21 January 2019
Can ‘lay carers’ help more at the end of life?
Most people in the UK who are dying would prefer to be looked after at home. Health care professionals try to enable this to happen. A new research project led by Bangor University is investigating one way to make this a reality for more people.
Home care is usually provided by District Nurses, working with many other team members including general practitioners, hospice doctors and nurses, and Macmillan or Marie Curie services. Family members are taught how to care for their loved one, and generally call a District Nurse if there are difficult symptoms. As people get weaker in the last few weeks or days of life, they become unable to swallow. At this point, a syringe driver is set up to give medicines under the skin over 24 hours. While this often relieves most symptoms, some symptoms may break through and need extra doses of medication (called ‘breakthrough’ symptoms). Then, the family usually call in the district nurse who can give extra doses of medicine as injections. But, this can take a long time, often more than an hour. The wait can be distressing for the patient and their carers, who then feel powerless to help. Usually, family care would not include giving injections for these breakthrough symptoms, even though this is legal and practical.
Bangor University is working with partners in Cardiff University and Gloucester NHS Trust, to research whether lay carer role extension to give these ‘as needed’ injections should be more widely adopted or not in the UK.
Publication date: 15 March 2017
Cardiff-Bangor collaboration brings medical training to North Wales
Medical students will be able to complete all of their medical training in North Wales for the first time as part of a new initiative between Cardiff University and Bangor University.
The collaboration will enable Cardiff University’s highly successful MBBCh Medicine programme (C21) to be delivered through the School of Medical Sciences at Bangor University.
Publication date: 2 May 2019
Chris Coleman visits Bangor University to receive Honour
Chis Coleman, Wales’ national football team manager joins Bangor Business School graduating students to receive an Honorary Fellowship, marking Wales’ outstanding achievement at Euro 2016, when the national team reached the semi-finals in an historic and memorable campaign.
Publication date: 17 July 2017
Cilia: cell's long-overlooked antenna that can drive cancer — or stop it in its tracks
You might know that our lungs are lined with hair-like projections called motile cilia. These are tiny microtubule structures that appear on the surface of some cells or tissues. They can be found lining your nose and respiratory tract too, and along the fallopian tubes and vas deferens in the female and male reproductive tracts. They move from side to side to sweep away any micro-organisms, fluids, and dead cells in the respiratory system, and to help transport the sperm and egg in the reproductive system.
This article by Angharad Mostyn Wilkie, PhD Researcher in Oncology and Cancer Biology, at the School of Medical Sciences republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Publication date: 27 August 2019
Climate change should not affect near elimination of malaria
Some good news in the face of climate change has emerged from health economists: a study into the health economics of combatting malaria in countries nearing elimination has shown that climate change will not have too great an effect and should not dissuade health organisations from continuing to scale- up their current elimination methods.
Publication date: 16 February 2015
Coming of age in 2020 – the summer without exams or school proms
The transition from childhood to adulthood is marked by humans in a wide variety of ways across the world. Many of these “coming of age” celebrations are held at puberty. For instance, the filing of front teeth in Bali is said to ease the “sad ripu” or six evils of lust, greed, wrath, pride, jealousy and intoxication. In contrast, the Jewish bar mitzvah marks the point at which children are deemed to be responsible for their own actions.
This article by Isabelle Catherine Winder, School of Natural Sciences and Gwyndaf Roberts, and Vivien Shaw, School of Medical Sciences is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Publication date: 8 June 2020
Coronavirus: experts in evolution explain why social distancing feels so unnatural
For many people, the most distressing part of the coronavirus pandemic is the idea of social isolation. If we get ill, we quarantine ourselves for the protection of others. But even among the healthy, loneliness may be setting in as we engage with pre-emptive social distancing.
This article by Isabelle Catherine Winder, Lecturer in Zoology, School of Natural Sciences and Vivien Shaw, Lecturer in Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Publication date: 26 March 2020
Creating a ‘computer-simulated’ virtual patient to train clinicians
In the future, should you need complicated surgery, the surgeon will be able to prepare and even practice for the procedure on a virtual simulation of your own body or body part that needs attention.
The technology is currently in development to create complete whole body ’simulations’ to train surgeons and other medical professional how to undertake various medical procedures, using ‘virtual’ dummies that appear to be there, and even ‘feel’ as though they’re there, by use of 3D computer graphics haptic or ‘force feedback’ devices.
Leading the field in Wales in developing this technology is Bangor University’s Professor Nigel John, an expert in visualisation technology at the School of Computer Science.
Publication date: 29 August 2013
Dementia: “illness” label may lower mood
North Walians have taken part in research which has just been published and indicates that people who perceive dementia symptoms as an illness feel more negative than those who see it as an inevitable part of getting older.
Publication date: 1 March 2016
Dementia Services training features in documentary
The work done to support and train carers of people with dementia, carried out by Bangor University’s Dementia Services Development Centre features in Dementia: Making a difference, to be shown on BBC 2 Wales tonight (24.5.12) at 22.00.
Publication date: 24 May 2012
DNA Day 2020
DNA Day commemorates the successful completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 and the discovery of DNA’s double helix in 1953.
The goal of National DNA Day is to offer students, teachers and the public an opportunity to learn about and celebrate the latest advances in genomic research and explore how those advances impact their lives.
Publication date: 24 April 2020
Dr Coetzer shortlisted for BPS Book of the Year 2016
Dr Coetzer, who holds a joint appointment with Bangor University and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has had his book ”Working with Brain Injury” shortlisted for the prestigious British Psychological Society Book Awards 2016. Dr Coetzer’s lectures on the MSc Principles of Clinical Neuropsychology and that fact that his book is nominated in the ‘Practitioner’ category is a excellent illustration of the exposure to modern neuropsychology practice that Clinical Neuropsychology MSc students get at Bangor.
Publication date: 16 August 2016
Final Year Biomedical Science Student Makes Break-Through Cancer Discovery
A long standing enigma in cancer biology is how the cell growth regulator Cdc2 can be active and inactive at the same time. Human cells stop dividing in the presence of genetic damage by inactivating Cdc2, but they also need active Cdc2 to remove the genomic defects.
Publication date: 2 July 2015
Funding Boost for Cancer Research in North Wales
This summer, Cancer Research Wales, has pledged almost £500,000 for a series of new cancer projects in North Wales, bringing the total money spent over the last 5 years for cancer research in the area to almost £3M.
Publication date: 8 October 2019
Getting Welsh GPs to act more quickly on cancer symptoms
A research project at Bangor University will look at early cancer diagnosis - a priority area for the Welsh Government, as late presentation of cancer is thought to significantly contribute to the relatively poor survival of Welsh cancer patients compared to the rest of the UK. The award had been made to Professor Richard Neal from the University's North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research, himself a practicing G.P and a world-leader in the field of early cancer diagnosis.
Publication date: 1 March 2016
Graduation Profile – Alec Jukes
Alec is 23 and from Morfa Nefyn graduating from: MSc in Medical Molecular Biology with Genetics (with Distinction).
Publication date: 12 December 2019
Graduation Profile: Jessica Nixon
Publication date: 19 July 2019
Graduation Profile: Priyogi Patel
Publication date: 19 July 2019
Graduation time for ChildLine volunteer
A former Cardiff High School pupil graduates from Bangor University this week, having embraced the vast array of opportunities available.
Publication date: 18 July 2017
Higher use of general health care services throughout adult life linked with traumatic childhoods
Experiencing physical, sexual or emotional abuse as a child, or other stresses such as living in a household affected by domestic violence, substance abuse or mental illness, can lead to higher levels of health service use throughout adulthood.
A research paper in the Journal of Health Service Research & Policy provides, for the first time, the statistical evidence showing that, regardless of socio-economic class or other demographics, people who have adverse childhood experiences use more health and medical services through their lifetime.
Publication date: 12 July 2017
Highlighting Cancer research at Bangor University
An event at Bangor University marks World Cancer Day on 4 February 2020.
A free event at Pontio Lecture Room 2, between 6.00 and 8.15 pm highlighting the cancer research being undertaken at Bangor University marks the 20th anniversary of World Cancer Day. There will be a number of short talks from oncologists and university researchers followed by a question and answer session.
Publication date: 30 January 2020
Honorary Senior Lecturer publishes book on trench diseases
Dr Rob Atenstaedt publishes “The Medical Response to the Trench Diseases in World War One”.
Publication date: 20 August 2012
How cancer abducts your immune cells – and what we can do about it
Thomas Caspari, Reader in Cancer Biology writing in The Conversation. Read the fully illustrated original article.
Cancer cells play it dirty to get what they want. They are survival artists with a strong criminal streak. They surround themselves with a protective shield of extra-cellular material and then secure supply lines by attracting new blood vessels.
To achieve both of these aims, they set immune cells a honey trap by releasing attractants in the form of messenger molecules which lure immune cells to growing tumours. At the cancer site, the abducted immune cells release growth hormones to guide new blood vessels to the tumour and help build a protective shield.
Publication date: 1 July 2015
Impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis research acknowledged in the US
A paper written by Prof. Andrew Lemmey (School of Sports Health & Exercise Sciences) titled “Tight control of disease activity fails to improve body composition or physical function in rheumatoid arthritis patients”was adjudged the most popular article on rheumatoid arthritis in 2016 by Rheumatology Advisor (U.S. weekly newsletter which cherry-picks and summarises articles from all the major international rheumatology journals).
Publication date: 10 February 2017
Insulin pumps are no better – but are more expensive – than injection devices for children in the first year after diagnosis with Type 1 Diabetes
Dr Colin Ridyard and Professor Dyfrig Hughes from the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation (CHEME) led the health economic analysis of a recently published study investigating whether insulin administered using infusion pumps was more effective and cost-effective than using injections in babies, children and young people who had just been diagnosed with type I diabetes.
Publication date: 13 September 2018
KESS II supporting efforts to develop gel for chronic diabetic wounds
Diabetics' wounds are more difficult to manage than those of the general population and often can heal more slowly and in worse cases lead to amputation, due to elevated blood glucose levels and poor circulation.
Publication date: 16 August 2016
Learning Disability Nurse Lecturer wins 2019 RCN Wales Award
Dr Ruth Williams, a Learning Disability Nursing lecturer at Bangor University won the 2019 RCN Wales Nurse Education Award. The award acknowledges two strands of Ruth’s work in particular, her leadership and commitment to education and her focus on people with learning disabilities and the Welsh language.
Publication date: 20 November 2019
Lockdown challenges – what evolution tells us about our need for personal space
Humans are intensely social creatures. We all need company and social contact. But for many of us, being at home for long periods with a small group of people – even those we love best – can become frustrating.
One key to understanding why constant contact with our family feels so unusual comes from looking at how social groups work in other primate species.
This article by Vivien Shaw of the School of Medical Sciences and Isabelle Winder of the School of Natural Sciences is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Publication date: 4 May 2020
Lord Mostyn visits Bangor cancer research labs as charity commits to funding £400,000
Lord Mostyn has met with leading researchers, scientists and clinicians in North Wales who are pioneering advances in cancer research and treatment.
Gregory Mostyn made the visit to the North West Cancer Research Institute at Bangor University's School of Medical Sciences recently and met with Institute chair Dr Edgar Hartsuiker, who gave a behind the scenes tour of the state of the art research laboratories.
Publication date: 15 December 2016
Lowest Diabetic Foot Amputation Rates in the World
Thanks in large part to Prof. Dean Williams, who is both Head of the School of Medical Sciences at Bangor University and a leading surgeon at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor is leading the way in diabetic foot care with the lowest amputation figures in the world. In 2014 there were no amputations at the hospital in Bangor, even though it’s a known risk for people with diabetic foot disease, and the commonest cause for their hospital admission. The importance of this for those affected can’t be exaggerated and the BBC News Website features one patient whose story is typical of the positive outcomes being achieved.
Publication date: 16 September 2016
Major Festival of Behaviour Change announced
Behaviour change is widely recognised as an essential tool for public services and organisations responding to the considerable contemporary social and demographic changes we are experiencing in Wales, and beyond.
A major Festival of Behaviour Change (#BehFest16) running for two weeks between 9-20 May at Bangor University, will showcase the latest thinking in applied behaviour change science, to individuals and organizations interested in learning about, designing, and implementing some of these behaviour change techniques for the benefit of their organisations or of the public at large.
Publication date: 27 April 2016
Medical education in north Wales
Bangor University has welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement that it plans to expand medical education across Wales, which includes new opportunities to study in north Wales.
From 2019, through collaboration between Cardiff and Bangor Universities, students will be able to undertake the entirety of their undergraduate medical degree in north Wales.
Publication date: 9 July 2018
Medical Sciences PhD student awarded Excellence Achievement Award by the Saudi Arabian Ambassador
Othman Alzahrani, a 3rd year PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics was one of just 78 (of the 15000 Saudi students in the UK) to be awarded an Excellence Achievement Award from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In recognition of this distinction Othman’s name will be engraved on the roll of honour board in the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London. The award ceremony was held at the Saudi Embassy in London recently and Othman is pictured here receiving his certificate from HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the Saudi Ambassador to the UK.
Publication date: 10 October 2016
Minister hears about Health education and research
Health and Social Services Minister, Mark Drakeford visited Bangor University recently to hear first-hand about the latest developments regarding the University’s health-based research, nurse education and links with the NHS.
Publication date: 3 March 2014
Mobile app helping chemotherapy patients stay safe during treatment at Ysbyty Gwynedd
Doctors at Ysbyty Gwynedd are testing a smart phone app as part of a clinical trial to help patients stay as safe as possible during their chemotherapy treatment.
Patients who have been invited to take part in the ‘Keep Me Safe’ trial are using the app to help them take the right steps if any complications occur during their treatment.
Publication date: 20 May 2019
Monkey teeth fossils hint several extinct species crossed the Atlantic
Most mammal fossils are visually unimpressive: a handful of teeth here and a fragment of bone there. Some are not even enough to identify the species they belonged to. But even a tiny fossil found in the right place can raise some really exciting questions about evolution.
This article by Vivien Shaw, School of Medical Sciences and Isabelle Catherine Winder, School of Natural Sciences, is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Publication date: 16 April 2020
New insight into cancer drug resistance mechanism
Research from the laboratory of Dr. Edgar Hartsuiker at the Bangor North West Cancer Research Institute, School of Medical Sciences, has been published in the latest issue (29 May) of the high-ranking journal Science Advances.
Many cancer drugs kill cancer cells by inhibiting the replication of their genetic material, the DNA. One of these drugs is Gemcitabine, used to treat, among others, pancreatic, bladder and lung cancer. Gemcitabine mimics one of the building blocks of DNA, the nucleoside deoxycytidine, and competes with it for integration into cancer cell DNA. Once integrated, it inhibits DNA replication and thus division of the cancer cell.
Publication date: 3 June 2020
New partnership for student counsellors
Bangor University, Grwp Llandrillo Menai, and the Primary Mental Health Counselling Service (PMHCS), part of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), are forming an exciting new partnership, working together to support MSc Counselling students.
Publication date: 5 July 2017
New Physician Associate postgraduate program
A Physician Associate post-graduate diploma program in the School of Medical Sciences has just been validated at Bangor University and is accepting application for September 2016 entry now.
Publication date: 27 June 2016
New study calculates alcohol cancer risk in cigarette equivalents to help communicate risk
The well-established link between cancer and tobacco may provide a way to help communicate the links between moderate levels of alcohol and cancer, and raise public awareness of alcohol-associated cancer risks, according to a study published in the open access journal BMC Public Health.
A team of researchers at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Bangor University and University of Southampton have estimated the risk of cancer associated with drinking moderate levels of alcohol, and compared this to the risk of cancer associated with smoking.
Publication date: 28 March 2019
North West Cancer Research earmarks multi-million pounds’ worth of cancer research funding at Bangor University
A charity dedicated to funding life-saving cancer research in North Wales has announced it will contribute £1.34 million to advancing cancer research at Bangor University.
Publication date: 14 September 2017
Older people helping to grow the Welsh economy
With more people living and working in Wales past the age of 65 years, the contribution that they make to the Welsh economy is growing.
So say health economists from the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation (CHEME) at Bangor University in their report Living well for longer: The economic argument for investing in the health and wellbeing of older people in Wales launched today (30 July 2018).
Publication date: 30 July 2018
Patients with mouth and oesophageal cancers take longer to seek help from GP
PEOPLE with cancers of different parts of the mouth (oropharyngeal) and the oesophagus are waiting longer between first noticing a symptom and going to their GPs compared to patients with other types of cancers, according to research* published in the International Journal of Cancer, today (Tuesday).
Publication date: 11 February 2014
People with dementia benefit from goal-oriented therapy
Ninety people who are living with dementia and their carers from across north Wales, have contributed to new research findings which have shown that personalised cognitive rehabilitation therapy can help people with early stage dementia to significantly improve their ability to engage in important everyday activities and tasks.
The large-scale trial presented at the international Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2017 on Tuesday July 18, found that cognitive rehabilitation leads to people seeing satisfying progress in areas that enable them to maintain their functioning and independence.
Publication date: 18 July 2017
Physician Associate student presents research
Bangor Physician Associate student presents research at the prestigious “the Intensive Care Society State of the Art 2016” conference In London on 5th December 2016.
Publication date: 13 December 2016
Pioneering programme helping elderly people access specialist care nominated for national healthcare award
A pioneering programme using video technology to help frail and elderly people in rural communities access appointments with consultants has been highly commended at a national award ceremony.
Publication date: 16 June 2016
Prof Dean Williams influences NICE Guidelines
Diabetic foot disease is an ever increasing problem and a major burden on healthcare provision worldwide. Foot ulceration is associated with serious complications including loss of limb that have devastating personal and socio-economic implications. The cost of diabetic foot care in England in 2010–2011 was estimated at £580m.
Publication date: 8 December 2015
Professor listed among world’s most influential researchers
Professor Jo Rycroft-Malone, Professor of Health Services & Implementation Research at Bangor University’s School of Healthcare Sciences has been ranked among the world’s most influential researchers.
One significant and important measure of academic research is how often academic research papers are cited or referenced in other academic articles. Prof Rycroft-Malone’s work is listed in the newly published Thompson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers 2014 list, which represents the world’s leading scientific minds.
Prof Rycroft-Malone is among over three thousand researchers from across the globe earning the distinction by writing the greatest numbers of reports officially designated by Essential Science Indicators℠ as Highly Cited Papers-ranking among the top 1% most cited for their subject field and year of publication, which has been judged by peers to be of particular significance and earning them the mark of exceptional impact.
Publication date: 26 June 2014
Professor receives Honorary membership of the UK Faculty of Public Health
Professor Rhiannon Tudor Edwards, Co-Director of the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, Schools of Health Sciences and Medical Sciences, is being presented with an Honorary membership of the UK Faculty of Public Health, at an Award Ceremony at the Faculty Conference in Manchester today (2nd July).
Publication date: 2 July 2014
REF 2014: Outstanding quality of health research in Bangor University
The Heads of both Healthcare Sciences and Medical Sciences have welcomed the REF 2014 results, in which 95% of health research at Bangor University was recognised as world-leading and internationally excellent.
Publication date: 19 December 2014
Responding to adverse childhood experiences - An evidence review
Public Health Wales’ Policy, Research and International Development directorate in conjunction with the Public Health Collaborating Unit at Bangor University, has produced a new report ‘Responding to Adverse Childhood Experiences’.
The new report, developed by Dr Lisa Di Lemma, examines evidence across a variety of programmes responding to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The report looked at programmes and interventions for 11 individual ACE types, and ACEs as a collective term, to identify common approaches across programmes.
Publication date: 16 May 2019
Safety=Design: Saving thousands of lives and millions of pounds
A project launched in collaboration with Bangor University has the potential of saving thousands of lives by simplifying the way symptoms are identified by healthcare staff and patients.
Publication date: 30 March 2016
Satisfied students place Bangor University among top UK universities
Bangor University’s students have again given the University a resounding testimonial in the annual National Student Satisfaction survey, placing the University eighth among the UK’s non-specialist universities in the UK and second among Welsh Universities.
The news follows hard on the heels of the University’s recent success in being awarded a Gold Standard in the UK Government’s new Teaching Excellence Framework, the only Welsh university to achieve this standard.
Publication date: 9 August 2017
School of Medical Sciences has the best Course Rep of the Year
At this year`s Student-led Teaching Awards, Adam Hawker, the Medical Sciences Senior Course Representative won the Student Choice Course Rep Award.
Publication date: 23 May 2016
Services to Bilingual Healthcare Awarded
A project to provide Welsh cautionary labels has won the prize for Services to Bilingual Healthcare in the inaugural Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Achievement Awards. The partners in the project were the Language Technologies Unit (LTU) at Canolfan Bedwyr and the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation (CHEME) at Bangor University, together with the pharmacy team at Ysbyty Gwynedd.
Publication date: 23 November 2016
Shubha Sreenivas bagged the prize for the best poster at the Mental Health Research in North Wales Conference
Shubha Sreenivas bagged the prize for the best poster at the Mental Health Research in North Wales Conference, 29th Sep 2015, at Technium OpTIC Centre, St Asaph.
Publication date: 1 October 2015
Six from Bangor University appointed Health and Care Research Wales Senior Research Leaders
Six health and social care researchers at Bangor University have been appointed Health and Care Research Wales Senior Research Leaders by Health Care Research Wales.
Publication date: 25 March 2016
Smoking may protect against Parkinson’s disease – but it’s more likely to kill you
This article by Thomas Caspari, Reader in Cancer Biology, Bangor University, was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Publication date: 20 June 2016
Smoking may protect against Parkinson's disease – but it's more likely to kill you' has been published on The Conversation
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Publication date: 21 June 2016
Social Science research improves quality of life and care for people with dementia
Research by Bangor University, which was carried out in several care homes in north Wales, is featured in a booklet launched in the House of Commons on Tuesday 15 March.
The latest issue of the Campaign for Social Science’s ‘Making the Case for the Social Sciences’ briefings focuses on a number of research projects on dementia at universities in the UK.
Publication date: 14 March 2016
Society Honours Founder
Bangor University’s Professor Michael Rees has been made an Honorary Member of a Society he helped establish.
Publication date: 22 January 2015
Student art competition winner inspired by cancer research hope
A budding artist from Ysgol David Hughes School has won a local art competition after being inspired by the work of some of Wales’ top cancer researchers.
Publication date: 16 March 2016
Student Led Teaching Awards 2018
The seventh annual Student Led Teaching Awards ceremony was held Friday 20th of April and celebrated the high standard of teaching and pastoral support in Bangor University.
Publication date: 21 April 2018
The alcohol harm paradox explained
New research from a collaboration including Bangor University, Liverpool John Moores University and Alcohol Research UK explains why people in deprived communities have higher levels of alcohol-related ill health than people in non-deprived communities, despite drinking the same amounts of alcohol – the alcohol harm paradox.
Publication date: 18 February 2016
The Appliance of Science!
Bangor University’s Science Festival is back for its seventh year and welcomes everyone to explore and discuss science through talks hands-on activities exhibitions demonstrations - all free to attend.
Publication date: 16 February 2017
This ancient Chinese anatomical atlas changes what we know about acupuncture and medical history
The accepted history of anatomy says that it was the ancient Greeks who mapped the human body for the first time. Galen, the “Father of Anatomy”, worked on animals, and wrote anatomy textbooks that lasted for the next 1,500 years. Modern anatomy started in the Renaissance with Andreas Vesalius, who challenged what had been handed down from Galen. He worked from human beings, and wrote the seminal “On the Fabric of the Human Body”.
This article Vivien Shaw, Lecturer in Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences and Isabelle Catherine Winder, Lecturer in Zoology, School of Natural Sciences is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Publication date: 3 September 2020
Two Excellence in Teaching Awards received by North Wales Clinical School
Two North Wales Clinical School tutors, Einir Mowll and Catrin Roberts, have been awarded Excellence in Teaching Awards from Cardiff University School of Medicine.
Publication date: 12 May 2015
Undergraduate research published in a scientific journal
James Edwards has seen his final year dissertation work at Bangor University published in Acupuncture in Medicine.
James, now 23 and studying dentistry, researched the effectiveness of acupuncture for nerve pain in the face. He compared treatment outcomes for acupuncture against drug therapy and surgery.
Publication date: 10 June 2020
University scheme begins to address GP shortages in North and Mid Wales
As Wales sees a critical shortfall in the number of family doctors to serve the increasing patient demand generated by a growing and aging population, three Welsh universities are running a pilot scheme designed to bring young doctors to North and Mid Wales.
The CARER (Community & Rural Education Route) programme, run by Cardiff University in partnership with Aberystwyth and Bangor Universities, will give Cardiff medical students the opportunity to have a year of their education delivered in GP practices in North and Mid Wales, giving them invaluable experience of working closely with clinicians and patients in community settings.
Publication date: 7 September 2018
Welsh Government to explore proposals for a North Wales medical school
Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, has set-up a group to examine the feasibility of a North Wales medical school.
The Welsh Government is already providing £7m a year to fund undergraduate medical training in North Wales and is now looking to explore a proposal by Bangor University and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for a new medical school.
Publication date: 26 September 2020
Welsh politicians learn about vital cancer research work at Bangor
The cutting edge research work on cancer being carried out in the School of Medical Sciences was highlighted to senior Plaid Cymru politicians during a recent visit to the North West Cancer Research Institute.
Publication date: 22 January 2016
What happens to biopsy tissue after it's tested? Your donated cells could be helping important cancer research
If you’ve ever had a tumour removed or biopsy taken, you may have contributed to life-saving research. People are often asked to give consent for any tissue that is not needed for diagnosis to be used in other scientific work. Though you probably won’t be told exactly what research your cells will be used for, tissue samples like these are vital for helping us understand and improve diagnosis and treatment of a whole range of illnesses and diseases. But once they’re removed, how are these tissue samples used exactly? How do they go from patient to project?
This article by Helena Robinson, Postdoctoral Research Officer in Cancer Biology at the School of Medical Sciences is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Publication date: 20 August 2019
Where do antibiotic resistant microbes come from?
The increasing threat from antibiotic resistant microbes is sufficient to cast the world back into the dark-ages of medicine according to Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking at the launch of an inquiry last year.
It is estimated that microbial strains that are resistant to drugs are responsible for 5,000 deaths a year in the UK and as many as 25,000 in Europe.
One academic from Bangor University is contributing to the battle against antibiotic resistance, and is researching on several ‘fronts’, including developing a quick and efficient test that would identify bacterial strains that carry antibiotic resistant genes.
Publication date: 29 January 2015
Why some scientists want to rewrite the history of how we learned to walk
It’s not often that a fossil truly rewrites human evolution, but the recent discovery of an ancient extinct ape has some scientists very excited. According to its discoverers, Danuvius guggenmosi combines some human-like features with others that look like those of living chimpanzees. They suggest that it would have had an entirely distinct way of moving that combined upright walking with swinging from branches. And they claim that this probably makes it similar to the last shared ancestor of humans and chimps.
This article by Vivien Shaw of the School of Medical Sciences and Isabelle Catherine Winder, of the School of Natural Sciences, is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Publication date: 5 December 2019
Work on novel proteins has potential to suppress cancerous tumour formation
Dr Chris Staples, of Bangor’s North West Cancer Research Institute in the School of Medical Sciences has recently published an article in the prestigious scientific journal “Cell Reports” on the identification of a novel potential tumour suppressor. Chris is working on several novel proteins, which prevent accumulation of DNA damage in human cells, and thus potentially suppress tumour formation with exciting implications for developing new and effective treatments.
Publication date: 10 October 2016