Cleaner routes to pharmaceuticals could be achieved by exploring new reactivity in metal free catalysis, researchers at Cardiff University claim. Their cutting edge RadicalCAT project, led by Professor Rebecca Melen from the School of Chemistry, is supported by a European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant. The Cardiff University team will explore innovative ways to drive … Continue reading Developing cleaner, smarter ways to make important molecules

A risk evaluation aimed at helping protect women from domestic violence is working but could be improved to help more victims, according to researchers. The Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Harassment and Honour-Based Violence (DASH) tool is used by police forces throughout the UK to assess risk of future domestic abuse. Last year, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State … Continue reading Study puts the spotlight on an assessment tool used to predict deadly domestic abuse

Scientists have tested, for the first time, how biodegradable wet wipes break down when flushed rather than composted discovering that most wipes remain after five weeks, a finding the research team say challenges the marketing of these products. Researchers from Cardiff University’s Schools of Biosciences, Chemistry and Engineering tested two widely available brands of wipes … Continue reading Biodegradable wet wipes remain in rivers for more than five weeks

mRNA vaccines, like Covid-19 vaccines, work better if patients are in a good mood, according to new research by Cardiff University. A new study has uncovered how our psychological state can impact the antibody responses to two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. The study observed that greater positive mood and fewer depressive symptoms were … Continue reading A good mood helps Covid-19 vaccines work better

A new tool to aid forensic investigations of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) has been developed by a team of researchers in collaboration with practitioners from law enforcement, healthcare and industry. Cardiff University says the advanced physics based AI driven technology introduces a mechanics informed machine learning framework to help police and forensic teams accurately predict … Continue reading New AI powered tool could enhance traumatic brain injury investigations in forensics and law enforcement

Childbirth is often described as one of life’s most profound experiences, but for many, it can be fraught with anxiety, pain and trauma. Autism is a lifelong neurotype, which affects around 3% of people. It is linked to differences in communication and sensory processing. Women have historically been under diagnosed with autism, diagnosed at an … Continue reading Autistic women face barriers to safe and supportive maternity care

Bacterial infections could be the trigger for type 1 diabetes, according to new research by Cardiff University. For the first time, scientists have found that proteins from bacteria can trigger the immune system to attack insulin producing cells, leading to the development of type 1 diabetes. The new research showed that killer T-cells, a type … Continue reading Bacteria triggers type 1 diabetes

A team of researchers from Cardiff and Aberystwyth Universities have been awarded funding of nearly £1.2m by UKRI to develop a novel point of care mycobacterium tuberculosis detector for humans and animals capable of delivering a result within one hour. Cardiff University says the technology will be completely transformative in the rapid diagnosis of TB … Continue reading New user friendly technology will revolutionise the rapid diagnosis of TB

Cardiff University researchers are examining how the use of WhatsApp can engage Black men in Butetown and Grangetown with prostate cancer risk information and increase prostate cancer awareness. New research funded by Cancer Research UK will fund a collaborative project at Cardiff University to examine the effectiveness of using WhatsApp as a tool for sharing … Continue reading How WhatsApp can help with prostate cancer detection and diagnosis

In a study of 128,294 women from the UK, a team from Cardiff University’s School of Medicine and Bipolar UK investigated whether perimenopause, the years surrounding the final menstrual period, is associated with an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders for the first time. The study was inspired by the firsthand experiences of women that … Continue reading Increased risk of bipolar and major depression before menopause