Oxford Martin School epilepsy programme launches innovative research centre
3 February 2025
International, national and local partners have been welcomed to the launch of the world’s first centre dedicated to empowering global epilepsy research and care.
Identifying fake COVID-19 vaccines by analysing vial labels and vaccine liquids
31 January 2025
Researchers in the Nuffield Department of Medicine and their collaborators, including the Serum Institute of India, have published an innovative method to identify falsified vaccines without opening the vaccine vial. The new method analyses the vaccine vial label and its adhesive and therefore allows genuine vaccine vials to be retained in the supply chain. This technique can also differentiate genuine Covid-19 vaccine liquid from falsified vaccine surrogates.
Blog: Research priorities for a warming world
30 January 2025
Professor Deirdre Hollingsworth, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at NDM’s Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health and the Big Data Institute, looks at potential ways to advance research on the impact of climate change on malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
RECOVERY trial finds that sotrovimab reduces the risk of death in some patients hospitalised with COVID-19
27 January 2025
The Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) trial has found that sotrovimab reduced the risk of death in patients hospitalised with COVID-19, but only in those with higher levels of the virus present in their blood. The results have been published on medRxiv and will be submitted to a peer-reviewed medical journal.
Our Future Health database open to researchers
21 January 2025
Our Future Health’s database is open to researchers who conduct health research for the public good.
The Global Health Network reaches 1 million members
15 January 2025
The Global Health Network has achieved a remarkable milestone: one million members worldwide. This dynamic and inclusive community of healthcare professionals and researchers is addressing two of the most pressing challenges in global health. By equipping teams to tackle everyday diseases of poverty and strengthening the ability to detect and respond to emerging threats, The Global Health Network is saving lives and safeguarding the future of global health.
Myanmar-Thailand: Healthcare access without barriers
14 January 2025
In Myanmar, the United Nations reports that 3 million people have been displaced due to the ongoing civil war. The 2021 coup intensified conflicts and worsened the humanitarian crisis, forcing at least a hundred thousand to seek refuge and medical care in Thailand.
Inhaled vaccines could reduce viral transmission
9 January 2025
An important step toward advancing vaccines for human use, a recent study has shown that inhaled vaccines could potentially improve efficiency and reduce viral transmission.
New Hospital Networks for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Vietnam
23 December 2024
OUCRU Ha Noi and the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases (NHTD), under the guidance of the Department of Health, are collaborating to establish local hospital networks for Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) across Vietnam. This initiative, connecting district hospitals with provincial hospitals, leverages existing systems and resources to enhance AMS implementation and strengthen efforts against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
National reference labs are key to effectively managing endemic and pandemic infectious diseases
20 December 2024
National microbiology reference laboratories are central to global health and must be adequately funded, according to a viewpoint article published in The Lancet Digital Health by researchers at Oxford Population Health and the Invasive Respiratory Infection Surveillance (IRIS) Consortium.
Winners of new “After the End” poetry competition announced
20 December 2024
Nigerian poet, Chiwenite Onyekwelu, is the winner of the first poetry competition to consider concepts of endings, with his poems ‘On Memory and Forgetting’ and ‘Time/Our Time’. ‘On Memory and Forgetting’ describes Onyekwelu’s father’s recollections of the Biafra war and ‘Time/ Our Time’ reflects on the impact of oil spills into the Niger Delta.
New study reveals the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on other causes of death
20 December 2024
An international study involving researchers at the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science has found significant effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on many causes of death across 24 countries.
Optimising testing for disease surveillance with machine learning
19 December 2024
A new machine learning-informed strategy could support public health leaders to design better disease surveillance during a disease outbreak.
Certain antimalarial drugs show moderate effect in preventing COVID-19
19 December 2024
Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) have led the world’s largest study on the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to prevent COVID-19. With results showing moderate protection against the virus, the trial involved over 4,600 participants and found a 15% reduction in symptomatic COVID-19 among those who took the medications compared to those who took a placebo.
Current WHO guidelines may not be relevant for accurately monitoring schistosomiasis-related disease
18 December 2024
A new study by researchers at the Big Data Institute indicates that current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for monitoring the control and elimination of schistosomiasis-related disease, especially severe disease such as periportal fibrosis (PPF), may not give an accurate picture of how many people are affected. The study is published in The Lancet Global Health.
Launch of largest-ever study tracking chikungunya burden in East Africa
13 December 2024
A team of scientists in the UK, Kenya and Tanzania will soon find out the extent to which chikungunya, a debilitating mosquito-borne disease causing large outbreaks in Asia and South America, is also affecting countries in East Africa.
What psychology reveals about climate worry and the ensuing will to engage in sustainable action
11 December 2024
A researcher at the Environmental Change Institute has been studying how climate change impacts people’s mental health and their subsequent ability to take action.
Trial results for first vaccine against blood-stage malaria show it is well-tolerated and offers effective protection
10 December 2024
Results of a clinical trial into a new malaria vaccine candidate (RH5.1/Matrix-M) show it is well-tolerated and offers effective protection against the blood-stage of the disease – the first inoculation to do so.
PSI’s Md Zakiul Hassan recognised as 2024 ISID Emerging Leader
10 December 2024
The award from the International Society for Infectious Diseases acknowledges early-career excellence in the field.
OUCRU workshop bridges research and clinical practice on Pneumococcal infections
4 December 2024
On November 22, 2024, the Zoonoses research group at OUCRU, in collaboration with Children's Hospital 2, Ho Chi Minh City, successfully organised a scientific workshop: "Community-acquired pneumonia: Update on pneumococcal infection with vaccines, drug resistance and multiple infections". The workshop attracted nearly 70 experts, including doctors, nurses, medical students, and technicians.