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Research at King's College London (KCL) showed that use of cannabis, especially high potency types such as `Skunk', increases the risk of psychosis. The work has demonstrated that adolescents who start early and carry some genetic vulnerability are at highest risk and that experimental cannabis administration alters brain function and induces transient psychosis. KCL research has led to increased public awareness of the adverse effects of cannabis use on mental health, in the UK and abroad, and sparked a public debate in the UK on the legal status of the drug ending with the Government reclassifying cannabis from Category C to Category B. KCL research on brain function has facilitated a collaboration with industry to develop new psychiatric medication.
Studies conducted at Imperial College, over the last 20 years, have improved the rational, evidence-based treatment of schizophrenia. Our research has covered symptomatology, neurocognitive function, medication side effects, and comorbid substance use, and involved clinical trials of pharmacological and psychosocial treatments. We lead national quality improvement programmes supporting the implementation of psychopharmacological practice standards. Our work has impacted upon the understanding, clinical assessment and treatment of this condition in both first-episode patients and established schizophrenia, and has improved prescribing practice and the identification and assessment of side-effects.
Our research on cannabis, ketamine and MDMA (ecstasy) has used pioneering methods to provide a unique new evidence-base on which illegal drugs can be evaluated. This work has influenced government policy and legal proceedings in the UK and abroad. We have engaged widely with drug users, other members of the public, drug services and the media to disseminate our findings widely, and increase public knowledge of the topic. Our research on the effects of recreational drug use thus has changed national and international media discourse about this topic, and has increased public awareness and engagement.
A Cardiff researcher has led an International 15 year programme resulting in multiple novel findings which have led to changes in the recommended diagnosis and treatment of acquired haemophilia A (AHA). The research has, for the first time, allowed the comparison of immunosuppressive regimens for inhibitor eradication and comparison of the efficacy of treatment strategies to control bleeds. Studies led directly to the production of UK and International guidelines on the management of AHA with 14 of the 18 specific recommendations in the UK guideline being underpinned by Cardiff-led research.
Epilepsy, a condition that affects ca. 1% of the world's population, has severe clinical consequences; people with epilepsy (PWE) and poorly controlled seizures exhibit nearly an order of magnitude increase in premature death relative to the general population. About one-third of PWE do not benefit from treatment with currently approved medicines. Although historical evidence has suggested that cannabis might be useful in the control of epilepsy, work initiated by Drs Ben Whalley and Gary Stephens at University of Reading revealed that non-psychoactive components of cannabis can control epileptic seizures in animal models. This finding has led to a funded collaboration of ca £1.4M with GW Pharmaceuticals (UK) and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (Japan) to establish a case for translation of two such components, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidavarin (CBDV), to human clinical drug trials. In particular, Reading research has resulted in GW trialling CBD (Phase 2, 50 participants, design stage) for a new indication of epilepsy treatment. A Phase 1 trial for CBDV (20 participants) began in July 2013, with a Phase 2 trial to begin immediately after successful completion of Phase 1. Results from the use of CBD on an open-label basis have shown major quality-of-life improvements for the patients concerned.
A new family of antiviral agents, bicyclic nucleoside analogues (BCNAs), discovered in Cardiff University has led to a highly potent anti-VZV (shingles) molecule, FV-100. On a worldwide basis more than two million patients are affected by shingles annually. FV-100 has successfully completed Phase II clinical trials, showing it is safe, potent and effective and with clinical advantages over the current standard of care. FV-100 has received more than $30 million in R&D investment, generating patents and creating highly skilled jobs in the UK and the USA, with the parent company currently valued at $397 million. It will enter registration trials in late 2013.
Cardiff University research into the causes and triggers of bipolar disorder led to the development and verification of a first-in-class online intervention programme for patients with bipolar disorder. On-line delivery enabled the widespread availability of psycho-education, delivering patients and healthcare professionals insight into the illness, health behaviour, personal patient routines and attitudes towards medication. Shown to be safe, effective and resource-friendly, the package has been embraced by BipolarUK, components have been incorporated into the Wales Government Strategy for Mental Health and healthcare workers have been trained in its use in the UK, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Turkey.
The Galatean Risk and Safety Tool (GRiST) is a clinical decision support system (CDSS) conceived and developed by computer scientists at Aston University from 2000 onwards, where it is being delivered as a cloud-computing service. It is used every day by mental-health practitioners in the NHS, charities, and private hospitals to assess and manage risks associated with mental-health problems. Between 1/1/2011 and 31/7/2013, clinicians provided 285,426 completed patient risk assessments using GRiST. It has changed organisational and clinical processes by its systematic collection of risk information, explicitly linking data to clinical risk judgements, and showing how those judgments are derived. Increasing international awareness has come through presentations to mental-health practitioners in Europe, America, and Australia.
Research into impaired cognitive performance related to drug misuse began at Edge Hill University (EHU) in 1998. It has predominantly concentrated upon impairments related to use of the illegal drug `ecstasy' (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine: MDMA), although some has focussed upon cannabis related impairments in order to identify which of these drugs was related to a specific performance decrement. The impacts presented arise from contributions to policy development through the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), the consultation response team of the British Psychological Society (BPS), media debate drawing upon our research, and through informing the design of a drug use prevention campaign.
We have formulated and executed an extensive public engagement and outreach programme based on our leading technical and scientific involvement in the Herschel Space Observatory, a €1 billion astronomical satellite which was launched in 2009 and operated until April 2013. Herschel observed the Universe at far-infrared and submillimetre wavelengths with three scientific instruments, one of which (SPIRE) was built by an international team led by the Cardiff Astronomy Instrumentation Group, and Cardiff astronomers have been at the forefront in scientific use of Herschel and SPIRE. The beneficiaries of our PR and outreach programme include schoolchildren teachers, the media and the general public. The programme has achieved high exposure and impact locally, nationally and internationally. It provides inspirational personal contact and up-to- date material and information which has stimulated widespread and continuing interest in Herschel and also helped to raise the profile of STEM subjects, ultimately benefiting the economy.