Imperial College London

UK study shows RSV infections lead to 640,000 antibiotic prescriptions annually, contributing to AMR. New RSV vaccination program aims to reduce infections and antibiotic use, aligning with the UK's five-year AMR action plan.

Six years after UK legalized medical cannabis, families demand NHS access due to low prescribing rates. Only 27% of NHS trusts prescribe licensed cannabis medicines, with 1,104 patients receiving such prescriptions in 2023. Contrastingly, 35,000 patients use private sector prescriptions, highlighting a gap in NHS services. Pediatric access remains limited, with only 50 children able to afford private prescriptions. The NHS and Department of Health and Social Care cite limited evidence as a barrier to wider prescription, despite calls for action from the Cannabis Industry Council.

Carlisle MP Julie Minns invites the chancellor to visit the new Pears Cumbria School of Medicine, set to open in 2025, aiming to address NHS staff shortages. Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledges the importance of the project in addressing healthcare needs and reducing waiting times.

Graham Hancock and 'alternative researchers' claim The Sphinx could be at least 12,500 years old, sparking 'archaeology wars' with the academic establishment. Hancock believes in a lost Ice Age civilisation of seafaring shamans using psychedelics, which influenced ancient sites like The Sphinx and megalithic temples, challenging conventional wisdom.

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in 'magic mushrooms,' is compared to the antidepressant escitalopram in a six-month trial for depression. Psilocybin showed greater flexibility in brain states and higher well-being scores, but both treatments had comparable depressive symptom improvements. Critics argue for more extensive trials and addressing issues like cost and patient selection before widespread use.

Women with lipoedema report significant symptom relief from weight-loss jabs like Ozempic, despite no clinical proof. Patients advocate for NHS funding, and experts call for trials to validate these drugs' effectiveness for lipoedema treatment.

On World Polio Day 2024, MHRA highlights training 25 countries in Direct Detection by Nanopore Sequencing (DDNS), halving polio detection times to 19 days, crucial for eradication. Jointly with Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, and Biosurv International, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, MHRA aims to support global polio eradication and adapt DDNS for other diseases.

Semaglutide (Ozempic) reduced Alzheimer's risk in type 2 diabetes patients, outperforming other diabetes meds in a study. GLP-1 drugs may target Alzheimer's pathways, including inflammation.

Psilocybin vs. escitalopram in treating depression: Psilocybin showed greater joy and well-being at six months, but challenges remain in scaling and cost. Brain scans revealed increased flexibility in psilocybin users, predicting better outcomes.