NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)

Using directed acyclic graphs to determine whether multiple imputation or subsample-multiple imputation estimates of an exposure-outcome association are unbiased Abstract. Missing data are a pervasive problem in epidemiology, with multiple imputation (MI) a commonly used analysis method. MI is valid when data are mi

Congrats to the research team @pmadleydowd.bsky.social, Rachael Hughes, Maya Mathur, Jon Heron and Kate Tilling
Read the full paper published in the American Journal of Epidemiology here:
academic.oup.com/aje/article/...

Improving how missing data is handled in studies - Bristol Biomedical Research Centre A new tool to help statisticians decide how to handle missing data in studies has been published by Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) researchers. In health research, it’s common to have missin...

🛠️New tool to help statisticians decide how to handle missing study data.

🎯Multiple imputation (MI) is where missing values are filled using stats techniques. The tool uses directed acyclic graphs to help decide whether MI will lead to misleading results.

www.bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/improving-ho...

Using AI to help with quality assurance in surgical studies - Bristol Biomedical Research Centre Surgery improves and saves millions of lives each year. Many operations are tested in randomised controlled trials (RCTs), which compare treatments to find out which works best. However, surgical RCTs...

Could AI improve quality assurance (QA) in surgical studies?

A new project just published on our website exploring whether AI can help analyse QA videos more quickly and efficiently.

Led by Natalie Blencowe.

#AI #SurgicalResearch #ArtificialIntelligence
www.bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/using-ai-to-...

Linking data to understand mental health care - southwestsde-nhs-uk Mental health records from a major trust in the South West are to be linked to other datasets to unlock new research, thanks to a new project.

We're teaming up with @bristolbrc.bsky.social to develop a secure mental health data pipeline. It will enable de-identified electronic patient records from Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Trust (AWP) to be securely available for research via the SDE.
www.southwestsde.nhs.uk/understandin...

Can we improve autistic people’s health by changing the medicines we prescribe? - Bristol Biomedical Research Centre Autistic people often have more health problems and a shorter life expectancy than non-autistic people. Healthcare differences may be a reason for this. For example, medicines that alter mood and brai...

🆕 New project!
Can we improve autistic people’s health by changing the medicines we prescribe?💊

❓Is over-prescribing or under-prescribing some types of medicine causing health problems for people with #autism?

👉 bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/can-we-impro...

@draipsych.bsky.social

Understanding how patients use e-bikes - Bristol Biomedical Research Centre Our research has shown that e-cycling provides at least moderate intensity physical activity, which could improve physical and mental health. We’ve also shown that e-cycling is an acceptable form of p...

💡 New project!
Understanding how patients use e-bikes 🚴‍♂️

We want to know how patients use e-bikes, to inform guidelines for using them as a health promotion tool among patients 👉 bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/understandin...

Research by @drmirandaarmstrong.bsky.social and Jessica Bourne #SocialPrescribing

Global gaps in use of two life-saving antenatal treatments for premature babies, reveals worldwide analysis - ARC West A new global analysis of two antenatal treatments that reduce the risk of cerebral palsy and respiratory complications in premature babies reveals significant international variation in implementation...

📢 New paper!
Worldwide analysis reveals gaps in use of two life-saving antenatal treatments for premature babies

👉 arc-w.nihr.ac.uk/global-gaps-...

@hannah-b-edwards.bsky.social
@karenluyt.bsky.social
@frankdv.bsky.social
@vtoxfordnetwork.bsky.social
@bristoluni.bsky.social

My first paper for 20 years - a bit of a change from mass spectrometry 😂

Research conversation: Masking and mental health in neurodivergent young people - Bristol Biomedical Research Centre About the event The ‘Masking and mental health in neurodivergent young people’ project aims to support young people who mask their neurodivergence, such as autism or ADHD. This is also known as camouf...

⏰ Don't miss it!
Research conversation: Masking and mental health in neurodivergent young people

🗓️ Tomorrow (25 Feb) 5-6pm, online

Sign up 👉 bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/research-con...

#autism #ADHD #neurodivergence #masking #MentalHealth #ResearchConversations

Analysis of the equality, diversity and inclusion strategies at NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and Clinical Research Facilities - Bristol Biomedical Research Centre A new study provides the first systematic analysis of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategies across all NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) and NIHR Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs)...

📢 New publication!
Analysis of equality, diversity and inclusion strategies at NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and Clinical Research Facilities 👇

www.bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/analysis-of-...

#EDI #ResearchInclusion

@corylus.bsky.social @shobadawson.bsky.social @capcbristol.bsky.social

2026: NIHR SPCR PhD Studentship 2026 | Centre for Academic Primary Care | University of Bristol

📢#PhD opportunity: 📢

Applications are open for a @nihrspcr.bsky.social funded PhD Studentship in #PrimaryCare here in Bristol, working on a co-design study to improve the system within which families access child & adolescent vaccination programmes.

Closes: 4pm, 2 March 2026.

tinyurl.com/9cww353

2026: NIHR SPCR Summer Internships 2026 | Centre for Academic Primary Care | University of Bristol

📢Summer Internships! 📢

Applications open for @nihrspcr.bsky.social funded undergraduate summer internships 2026.

We have 2 exciting internship opportunities here in Bristol for UK undergraduates (any discipline) who are interested in primary care research.

👉 Find out more: tinyurl.com/4fpxjunb

Increasing the inclusivity of physical activity research - Bristol Biomedical Research Centre Being physically active in childhood is important for staying healthy. Regular activity helps children maintain a healthy weight and supports their physical and mental wellbeing. However, many childre...

🆕 New project!

❓ How inclusive is physical activity research?
❓ How physically active are children with special educational needs or neurodiverse traits?

➡️ We're trying to answer these questions
bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/increasing-t...

#HealthyChildhood #SEN #neurodiversity @bibresearch.bsky.social

Booster jabs reduce the risks of COVID-19 deaths, study finds 👇

Booster jabs reduce the risks of COVID-19 deaths, study finds - Bristol Biomedical Research Centre Booster vaccines reduced the risk of COVID 19–related hospitalisation and death, according to a new study of over 3 million adults who had the autumn 2022 vaccine in England. The research, led by the ...

📢 New study!
💉 Booster jabs reduce the risks of COVID-19 deaths

👉 www.bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/booster-jabs...

#COVID #vaccination
@bristoluni.bsky.social @imsepidemiology.bsky.social @bennettoxford.bsky.social

Bristol BRC researchers awarded £2.3 million for follow-on research - Bristol Biomedical Research Centre Bristol BRC researchers have been awarded £2.3 million by NIHR to study whether prehabilitation can help frail patients having total hip or knee replacement, following a successful Bristol BRC feasibi...

🎉 Bristol BRC researchers have been awarded £2.3 million for follow-on research!

🧓 The grant from NIHR will allow the researchers to study whether #prehab can help frail patients having total hip or knee replacement

👉 www.bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/bristol-brc-...

#BristolBRCimpact

Man talking to pharmacist in pharmacy

📰News!📰Community pharmacies are a promising site for expanding access to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), according to a recent study. This is a highly effective medication can be used to reduce the risk of getting HIV.
More ▶️ tinyurl.com/ysn6kkkh @arc-west.bsky.social @jhorwood.bsky.social

Illustration of woman struggling with drug addiction

📢New blog!📢Helping people to live and survive co-use of benzodiazepines/z-drugs and opioids: the importance of asking how and why people co-use. By @drnscot.bsky.social,
Dr Gabriele Vojt, @jokesten.bsky.social, @hannah-family.bsky.social, @jscottuob.bsky.social
Read more▶️ tinyurl.com/2wp9fhwc

‘Hidden’ cost of social care after hip fracture exceeds £1.25bn a year in UK, study estimates | NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre

The cost of social care following hip fractures is an estimated £1.25 billion per year in the UK, according to new research oxfordbrc.nihr.ac.uk/hidden-cost-... @ndorms.bsky.social @ouhospitals.bsky.social @nihr.bsky.social @medsci.ox.ac.uk

Seven patients now participating in Neuralink trial There are now seven patients participating in the GB-PRIME study involving Neuralink’s brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, which aims to improve independence for people who are paralysed.

🧠 There are now seven patients participating in the GB-PRIME study involving @officialneuralink.bsky.social's brain-computer interface technology.

The technology aims to improve independence for those who are paralysed.

All patients surgeries were conducted at @uclh.bsky.social.

#27 Understanding colorectal cancer risk in IBD - with Professor James East

Last year, Prof James East led a team who published major new guidelines for the monitoring of patients with # IBD to prevent them going on to develop #BowelCancer. Listen to him speaking about the risks and how to minimise them on the Wrestling the Octopus podcast: open.spotify.com/episode/0Oq8...

OH BRC February #newsletter has landed 📬

Read about the EPIONE deep brain stimulation study, research equity in women’s #mentalhealth plus our latest 60 Second interview.

Catch up now 👇
tinyurl.com/Issue24OHBRC

Supporting surgeons identified as negative outliers to improve patient care - Bristol Biomedical Research Centre Hip and knee replacements are common and usually successful operations. However, around 2-5% of patients need further surgery within 5-10 years. Revision surgery is more complex, carries greater risks...

🚨 New project! 🚨
Supporting surgeons identified as negative outliers to improve patient care🪡

👉 Read more: www.bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/supporting-s...

#SurgicalInnovation #PatientSafety

❓ Planning to perform a #ScopingReview?

▶️ Read our new paper on the #protocol for a scoping review of #EDI considerations in surgical studies

👉 bit.ly/40e96h4

Part of this project 👉 bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/a-scoping-re...

@kerryavery.bsky.social

“We need clear pathways and structured support for allied health professionals to pursue a research career” | NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre

We’re proud of the women who play key roles at all levels of our BRC and are determined to support their career pathway. One who has benefitted is radiographer Miriam Lacharie. Read her story #womeninscience oxfordbrc.nihr.ac.uk/we-need-clea... @rdm.ox.ac.uk @medsci.ox.ac.uk

This #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek, we are highlighting a study into learning and mood in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

The study aims to learn more about brain functioning in NF1 to help develop future treatments.

tinyurl.com/ybdnaesz

We're supporting the drive to #BePartofResearch here in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Sign up today: bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/join?utm_sou...

@nihr.bsky.social

Understanding the link between sleep and Alzheimer’s disease - Bristol Biomedical Research Centre Over 55 million people in the world live with dementia. Alzheimer’s disease, the commonest cause of dementia, is slowly progressive, with changes in the brain long before symptoms appear. Early treatm...

🆕 New project!
😴 What is the link between #sleep and #Alzheimers disease?

🛌 Our new study aims to find out how altering slow-wave sleep affects people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease
➡️ This could lead to new treatments

👉 www.bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/understandin...

@lizcoulthard.bsky.social

How PE kit shapes a girl’s health for life – and practical ways to keep them active Of the 64% of girls who drop out of sport by 16, a third of those do so because of kit

🎉 Our research features in Women's Health magazine‼️

🗨️ "How PE kit shapes a girl’s health for life – and practical ways to keep them active"

👉 Read the article: bit.ly/46DeMVp

#PEkit #InclusiveSportswear #PhysicalActivity #EveryBodyBelongs

Opportunities and challenges in qualitative research: Reflections from the BRC network meeting - Bristol Biomedical Research Centre Katie Whale, Rachael Gooberman-Hill and Kirsten Bell reflect on the recent Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) Qualitative Social and Behavioural Science Network meeting.

From AI to NIHR priorities, the Qualitative Social and Behavioural Science Network for all #NIHRBRCs met to consider the opportunities & challenges in #quali research

In this blog Katie Whale, Rachael Gooberman-Hill and Kirsten Bell reflect on discussions.
www.bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/opportunitie...