A behind the scenes peek at BioMed Central publishing roles
What is your science background?
Ben: My main research interest has always been viruses, which started during my undergraduate degree in virology at the University of Warwick. I then spent four years researching influenza virus for my doctoral research at the University of Reading. After this I moved on to a postdoc position at Imperial College London to test safer smallpox vaccines.
Ripu: I have a PhD in human genetics specializing in human diversity and evolution in sub-Saharan African. I also have a Master’s degree in Medical Parasitology and a Diploma in infectious diseases, and while studying for these two degrees, ...
Source: BioMed Central Blog - February 11, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Dana Berry Tags: Biology Health Medicine #moretoscience careers early career researchers PhD Science>Careers Source Type: blogs
The Atlanta Declaration: A 21st Century Vision For US-Based Global Noncommunicable Disease Research
The United States has been synonymous with innovation. Conducting research to better understand the world and to experiment with new ideas has been an important part of this country’s progress. However, at this critical juncture in history, when chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) (e.g., cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mental health disorders) are rapidly becoming the largest global health burdens, affecting human welfare and productivity worldwide, US institutions must better align opportunities, pathways, and resources for 21st century scientists and future leaders in health policy.
To this end, we ...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - September 9, 2015 Category: Health Management Authors: Sandeep Kishore, John Bartlett, Gerald Bloomfield, Douglas Heimburger, Lindsay Jaacks, Kasia Lipska, Christine Ngaruiya, Robert Peck, Melissa Burroughs Peña, Karen Siegel, Olivia Manders, K.M. Venkat Narayan and Mohammed K. Ali Tags: Costs and Spending Equity and Disparities Featured Global Health Health Professionals Organization and Delivery Population Health Public Health Google HIV/AIDS NCDs Research Source Type: blogs
Health Cooperation In The New U.S.-Cuban Relationship
Four months after the surprise announcement of his determination to normalize relations with Cuba, President Barack Obama is rapidly translating that wish into reality, with the cooperation of Cuban counterparts and widespread support among Americans. On April 11, the Summit of the Americas featured the first meeting of the two countries’ presidents in over fifty years. Three days later, even amidst a struggle with Congress over a possible nuclear deal with Iran, the Obama administration announced it will remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, a step Carl Meacham, Director of the Center for Strate...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - April 29, 2015 Category: Health Management Authors: J. Stephen Morrison Tags: Featured Global Health Bill Frist Cuba cuban health care Raúl Castro U.S.-Cuban relationship Source Type: blogs
Does Public Health Have A Future?
Ebola’s arrival in the U.S. hit Americans with a jolt. Regardless of how you feel about the response to date, it should remind everyone of the importance of public health.
Fortunately, public health in the U.S. has built an extraordinary track record of success. Smallpox, one of the most dreaded diseases in history, was eradicated worldwide. New vaccines have sharply cut the toll of deaths and disabilities from H flu meningitis, tetanus, pneumococcal sepsis and other deadly diseases.
Adding folate to foods dramatically reduced neural tube defects in newborns. Safer cars and better roadway designs cut fatal crashes per m...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - December 10, 2014 Category: Health Management Authors: Arthur Kellermann and Mark Kortepeter Tags: All Categories Environmental Health Prevention Public Health Source Type: blogs
Ebola Update: New Bill to Fast Track Ebola Treatment; FDA Focuses on Importance of "Randomized Trials"
On Wednesday, November 12, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson will appear before the Senate Appropriations Committee to testify on the government’s response to Ebola. CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, as well as other officials from the State Department, Defense Department, USAID and the Joint Chiefs of Staff are also expected to testify.
Challenges and Incentives for Development
The companies that are working to come up with vaccines and treatments for Ebola are faced with several challenges that...
Source: Policy and Medicine - November 7, 2014 Category: American Health Authors: Thomas Sullivan Source Type: blogs
Research and Reviews in the Fastlane 053
This study combines the results from the WARFASA and ASPIRE trials looking at aspirin prophylaxis. The results are promising. Aspirin 100 mg reduced the rate of recurrent VTE from 7.5%/year to 5.1%/year (HR = 0.68) without a significant change in bleeding rate (0.5%/year vs 0.4%/year). We often see patients in the ED with a history of unprovoked VTE who are on no long-term prophylaxis. This article argues that we consider aspirin for all these patients.
Recommended by: Anand Swaminathan
Trauma
Stevens AC, Trammell TR, Billows GL, Ladd LM, Olinger ML. Radiation Exposure as a Consequence of Spinal Immobilization and Extri...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - October 14, 2014 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Nudrat Rashid Tags: Alternative Medicine Anaesthetics Cardiology Education Emergency Medicine Haematology Intensive Care Neurology Pediatrics R&R in the FASTLANE Respiratory Resuscitation Toxicology and Toxinology Trauma critical care literature Source Type: blogs
Health Affairs Event Reminder: Advancing Global Health Policy
TweetPlease join us on Monday, September 8, when Health Affairs Editor-in-Chief Alan Weil will host a briefing to discuss our September 2014 thematic issue, “Advancing Global Health Policy.” In an expansion of last year’s theme, “The ‘Triple Aim’ Goes Global,” we explore how developing and industrialized countries around the world are confronting challenges and learning from each other on three aims: cost, quality, and population health.
A highlight of the event will be a discussion of international health policy—led by Weil—featuring former CMS and FDA administrator ...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - September 5, 2014 Category: Health Management Authors: Chris Fleming Tags: All Categories Global Health Source Type: blogs
Alcohol and Your Heart
Health benefits of moderate drinking come under fire.One of those things that “everybody knows” about alcohol is that a drink or two per day is good for your heart. But maybe not as good for your heart as no drinks at all.Joint first authors Michael V. Holmes of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College in London, and Caroline E. Dale at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in London, recently published a multi-site meta-analysis of epidemiological studies centering on a common gene for alcohol metabolization. The report, published in the UK journal BMJ, brings “the hypoth...
Source: Addiction Inbox - August 25, 2014 Category: Addiction Authors: Dirk Hanson Source Type: blogs
Health Affairs Briefing: Advancing Global Health Policy
TweetPlease join us on Monday, September 8, when Health Affairs Editor-in-Chief Alan Weil will host a briefing to discuss our September 2014 thematic issue, “Advancing Global Health Policy.” In an expansion of last year’s theme, “The ‘Triple Aim’ Goes Global,” we explore how developing and industrialized countries around the world are confronting challenges and learning from each other on three aims: cost, quality, and population health.
A highlight of the event will be a discussion of international health policy—led by Weil—featuring former CMS and FDA administrator ...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - August 22, 2014 Category: Health Management Authors: Chris Fleming Tags: All Categories End-of-Life Care Global Health Health Care Delivery Hospitals Innovation Pharma Policy Source Type: blogs
A vacation book review…
The good thing about vacation is that time off is essential. The bad thing is the reentry, which, lately, is harried enough to induce arrhythmia. Almost. Thankfully, I made it through the reentry week and now sit in peace on Saturday morning with my MacBook. I thought I would tell you a little about my unplugged vacation—mostly the book reading.
You have to understand that I am behind in my education. While many of you were reading classic books, writing papers, learning grammar and becoming educated, I was playing sports, memorizing science, excelling in math and then, later in life, learning only medicine. I kick mysel...
Source: Dr John M - August 2, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr John Source Type: blogs
Evaluation of the choice of GP practice pilot, 2012-13: final report
This report found that the Department of Health's Choice of GP pilot scheme saw modest demand overall, but that participants were generally positive about the scheme and there was little sign of major increased cost to primary care trusts.
Report
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - news (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - March 24, 2014 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Knowledge Service Tags: Developments in primary and community care Patient involvement, experience and feedback Source Type: blogs
Media release: Travel-acquired infections and illnesses in Canadians: surveillance report
This study, then, provides information that until now we have had to infer from travel-acquired illness in other groups.
The study uncovered a number of surprises for travelling Canadians and Canadian immigrants. For example, travel to visit friends and relatives carries a particularly high risk of illness. Serious diseases, like malaria, malaria or enteric fever, are in fact common imported illnesses. And diseases significant to public health, like hepatitis B and tuberculosis, are common as well among returning travellers.
“In order to maximize opportunities for prevention of these types of potentially serious infectio...
Source: Open Medicine Blog - - February 11, 2014 Category: Medical Publishers Authors: Carlyn Zwarenstein Source Type: blogs
Health experts critical of pharma industry's new transparency rules
The European pharmaceutical industry association EFPIA has published new ethical commitments on clinical trials aimed at allaying accusations that a lack of transparency on how new drugs are tested is hurting patients. Critics however are unconvinced.
Speaking on Tuesday (27 August), the director of EFPIA, Richard Bergström, said the industry's new ethical commitments were aimed at preventing public health problems down the line.
The commitments include improving data sharing with researchers, enhancing public access to clinical study information, sharing results with patients who participate in clinical trials...
Source: PharmaGossip - August 29, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
An ophthalmology clinic in your pocket
Via the BBC
A modified smartphone is being tested in Kenya to see if it can prevent blindness in some of the poorest parts of the world.
The kit, designed by a researcher from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, can scan the back of the eye, check for a cataract and perform a basic vision test.
The World Health Organization says 285 million people are blind or visually impaired.
Health and science reporter James Gallagher went to a London Park with a willing volunteer to find out how simple the kit is to use
Looks like a modification running off an Android smartphone.
Visit the website – PEEK –...
Source: The Palmdoc Chronicles - August 15, 2013 Category: Technology Consultants Authors: palmdoc Tags: Medical/PDA Eye Ophthalmology Source Type: blogs
Are Clinical Trial Data Shared Sufficiently Today?
On bmj.com yesterday [Tuesday 9 July 2013] two authors debated the issue of publicly sharing clinical trial data. This will also be the subject of this week's reader poll on bmj.com.
Ben Goldacre, research fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says we need all the evidence to make informed decisions about medicines.
The lack of progress on transparency has been startling, he writes. Current estimates suggest that around half of all trials for the treatments being used today have gone unpublished; and that trials with positive results are twice as likely to be published.
There is legislation manda...
Source: PharmaGossip - July 10, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
