News and features
Researchers study for the first time how children’s thinking skills change alongside brain development during first 5 years of life
11 April 2025
Why do some children struggle when starting school whilst others flourish? A new University of Bristol-led research project will investigate how a child’s brain develops, allowing them to learn new things, and how new experiences might shape brain changes during the first 5 years of their life. This is the first time changes in the brain and children's developing skills have been studied in a lab-based setting across early childhood in the same group of children.
- Researchers study for the first time how children’s thinking skills change alongside brain development during first 5 years of life 11 April 2025 Why do some children struggle when starting school whilst others flourish? A new University of Bristol-led research project will investigate how a child’s brain develops, allowing them to learn new things, and how new experiences might shape brain changes during the first 5 years of their life. This is the first time changes in the brain and children's developing skills have been studied in a lab-based setting across early childhood in the same group of children.
- Landmark study identifies new genetic cause of neurodevelopmental disorders, bringing long-awaited answers to families 10 April 2025 A new genetic cause of neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) has been uncovered by an international team of researchers. The discovery, published in Nature Genetics [10 Apr] and led by the University of Bristol, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York and KU Leven in Belgium, offers diagnostic certainty and hope to potentially thousands of families worldwide who have long been searching for answers.
- Students' AI football footage innovation wins share of £72,000 startup funding 10 April 2025 An invention that enables smartphones to film grassroots football matches by automatically following the play has won a share of £72,000 at a University of Bristol pitching competition.
- Study finds 'optimistic' medical detection dogs excel in tasks, while 'pessimistic' dogs shine in scent specificity 9 April 2025 A new study into medical detection dogs — which use their scent detection abilities to detect diseases or assist individuals with chronic health conditions — reveals that dogs displaying more "optimistic" responses in judgment bias tests tend to perform better overall in detection tasks. In contrast, "pessimistic" dogs exhibit greater scent detection specificity. The University of Bristol-led study, published in PLOS One, could offer valuable insights for improving the training, selection, and support of medical detection dogs.
- Relaxation techniques may help lower high blood pressure—at least in the short term 8 April 2025 Relaxation techniques may help lower high blood pressure—at least in the short term—but the longer term effects are unclear, finds a pooled data analysis of the existing research. The study, led by the Universities of Bristol and Exeter and published in BMJ Medicine, is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
- Scientists make water-repellent breakthrough to replace toxic ‘forever chemicals’ 8 April 2025 A team of international scientists has invented a substitute for synthetic chemicals, called PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances), which are widely used in everyday products despite being hazardous to health and the environment.
- Bristol quantum start-up developing next generation motion sensing technology secures £4m funding 8 April 2025 Bristol-based start-up, Zero Point Motion, has successfully closed a £4m funding round to develop their advanced sensor technology which will underpin the next generation of positioning and navigation equipment.
- Bristol scientist awarded £125,000 from Academy of Medical Sciences for mitochondria and nerve cells research 8 April 2025 A University of Bristol academic is one of over 50 scientists to be awarded funding through the Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard programme. In its largest-ever funding initiative for early-career researchers, the Academy is investing £7.6 million to tackle urgent health challenges from Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and obesity to addiction and climate change impacts on health.
- Research to receive £7m grant from EPSRC to develop sustainable electrification 8 April 2025 Researchers from the Universities of Nottingham, Newcastle and Bristol are to receive a £7 million grant from a funding council to develop sustainable technologies to reduce energy wastage.
- Researchers demonstrate the UK’s first long-distance ultra-secure communication over a quantum network 8 April 2025 Researchers have successfully demonstrated the UK’s first long-distance ultra-secure transfer of data over a quantum communications network, including the UK’s first long-distance quantum-secured video call.
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