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News archive: Research press releases 2011

Heritage Minister gives protection to Star Carr

Monday 19 December 2011

Heritage Minister John Penrose has today protected one of the UK’s most outstanding historical sites whose importance has been established through work by the University of York’s Department of Archaeology.


Estimating the costs of specialised care: updated analysis using data for 2009/10

Thursday 15 December 2011

Research by the Centre for Health Economics at the University of York shows hospitals should receive additional funding in recognition of the higher costs associated with providing some types of specialised care.


York's key role in new online environmental footprint tool

Wednesday 14 December 2011

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) at the University of York has played a key role in developing a unique new tool for mapping ecological carbon and water footprint data across all 27 EU member states.


Children from less-affluent backgrounds 'more likely to die' following treatment for leukaemia in the UK

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Children with leukaemia are more likely to die if they come from less-affluent areas or backgrounds, according to a comprehensive study carried out by researchers at the University of York.


Can communities rise to the age challenge?

Monday 12 December 2011

Researchers at the University of York warn that action is needed now to adapt communities in the UK to address the pressures created by unprecedented demographic changes.


CRD to review the effectiveness and safety of bone growth product

Tuesday 6 December 2011

The Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) at the University of York is to conduct a major independent review of the effectiveness and safety of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), a product used in spinal surgeries to promote bone growth.


International network's new perspective on the slave trade

Thursday 1 December 2011

The transatlantic slave trade represents one of the most brutal chapters in modern history, and is now widely recognised as a crime against humanity. A network co-ordinated by the Centre for GeoGenetics at the University of Copenhagen brings together an unprecedented range of researchers to examine the history of the transatlantic slave trade and explore its challenging long-term legacies.


Scientists unlock the mystery surrounding a tale of shaggy dogs

Thursday 24 November 2011

Researchers from the University of York have produced the first clear evidence that textiles made by the indigenous population of the Pacific coast of North America contained dog hair.


Johnny Rotten's graffiti: the new heritage?

Monday 21 November 2011

Archaeologists typically record and analyse the traces of past human activities. The caves of Lascaux in southern France are celebrated as a place where early humans made their marks on cave walls. The cave is now protected, and an exact replica is what the public now encounter.


Immigration into Medieval England 'has lessons for today'

Thursday 17 November 2011

Scholars at the University of York are to launch a major research project focusing on the impact and extent of immigration into England in the Middle Ages.


More support needed for adult siblings of people with autism

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Researchers from the University of York have highlighted the need for greater awareness of the issues faced by siblings of people with autism plus a learning disability.


Ancient DNA provides new insights into cave paintings of horses

Monday 7 November 2011

An international team of researchers has used ancient DNA to shed new light on the realism of horses depicted in prehistoric cave paintings.


Jawbone from Devon provides new clues about early humans

Friday 4 November 2011

Researchers from the Hull York Medical School and the University of Hull have played a key role in an international project to find out more about when our earliest ancestors arrived in Europe.


Future survival of animals unknown in climate change age

Wednesday 2 November 2011

The likelihood of animals surviving global warming will be more difficult to predict than previously thought based on the vastly different responses to climate change and human actions discovered in woolly mammoths and other large mammals living as far back as 50,000 years ago, new research has found.


Yoga aids chronic back pain sufferers

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Yoga can provide more effective treatment for chronic lower back pain than more conventional methods, according to the UK’s largest ever study into the benefits of yoga.


Research to enable greater end-of-life choice for haematological cancer patients

Wednesday 26 October 2011

University of York researchers have received funding from Marie Curie Cancer Care to carry out a three-year study into place of care and death in patients with haematological cancers.


Ancient cooking pots reveal gradual transition to agriculture

Monday 24 October 2011

Humans may have undergone a gradual rather than an abrupt transition from fishing, hunting and gathering to farming, according to a new study of ancient pottery.


Researchers trace evolution of diversity in Hawaiian Honeycreepers

Thursday 20 October 2011

An international team of scientists has determined the evolutionary family tree for one of the most strikingly diverse and endangered bird families in the world, the Hawaiian honeycreepers.


Helping the NHS decide how to invest in innovation

Thursday 20 October 2011

A major survey, devised by academics at the University of York, aims to give people a bigger say in the way the NHS is run.


Centre to assess new medical devices

Wednesday 19 October 2011

York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC) at the University of York working with the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NUTH) today launches an assessment centre for new medical technologies.


When should NICE restrict access to new drugs until more research has been undertaken?

Monday 17 October 2011

A new decision framework to support NICE recommendations on the use of new drugs and devices in the NHS is published today by the Centre for Health Economics at the University of York.


Researchers study ageing's effect on the brain

Monday 10 October 2011

Research by biologists at the University of York and Hull York Medical School has revealed important new information about the way the brain is affected by age.


Research to help tackle chronic neck pain

Monday 10 October 2011

A major UK trial at the University of York funded by Arthritis Research UK will investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture and Alexander Technique lessons in alleviating chronic neck pain.


Has competition in the NHS increased health care inequalities?

Monday 10 October 2011

Increased competition in the NHS has not harmed deprived neighbourhoods, according to new research from the Centre for Health Economics (CHE), University of York.


Researchers at the University of York to work on new treatment for early osteoarthritis

Tuesday 4 October 2011

Arthritis Research UK and the University of York are launching a £6 million experimental tissue engineering centre which aims to regenerate bone and cartilage by using patients’ own stem cells to repair the joint damage caused by osteoarthritis.


Research reveals the cradle of English Literature

Monday 3 October 2011

Researchers at the University of York have played a pivotal role in a project to identify the 'movers and shakers' in the production and dissemination of English Literature and the rise of English as a national language during the Middle Ages.


Study provides new evidence on the risk of heart attack associated with use of popular anti-inflammatory drugs

Wednesday 28 September 2011

An international study led by the Hull York Medical School has found that the use of popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke by a third.


York scientist wins prestigious international award for prostate cancer research

Friday 23 September 2011

A York scientist funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research has won a prestigious international award for his groundbreaking research into prostate cancer.


Academia and industry join forces to improve quality of life for cancer patients

Tuesday 20 September 2011

A new research partnership between York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC), the University of York, and AstraZeneca will seek to improve oncology care by encouraging more extensive patient feedback on their symptoms and well-being during clinical trials.


A new 'OPEC' for a greener future

Wednesday 14 September 2011

A scientist at the University of York will today announce a new project aimed at producing valuable biomass-derived chemicals, materials and fuels from waste orange.


Hearing the past through our ancestors’ ears

Friday 9 September 2011

Researchers in audio and acoustics from the University of York will take centre stage in a radio programme which will examine how scientists are re-creating the sounds of the past next week.


Effective care for older people with depression

Friday 9 September 2011

The UK's largest ever study into the primary care of older people with depression is being carried out by researchers at the University of York.


Research points to early death risk for bereaved parents

Thursday 8 September 2011

Parents who lose their child during the first 12 months after birth are at significantly increased risk of an early death, and the effect can last for up to 25 years, according to new research led by a University of York academic.


Creating a better understanding of recessive genetic disorders

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Researchers from the University of York are investigating why so few fathers are tested for sickle cell and thalassaemia during ante-natal care when their partner is a known carrier.


Cracking cellulose: a step into the biofuels future

Wednesday 31 August 2011

Scientists from the University of York have played a pivotal role in a discovery which could finally unlock the full potential of waste plant matter to replace oil as a fuel source.


Major EU grant for physics team

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Researchers at the University of York have been awarded a major EU grant to help gain a clearer understanding of the underlying physics behind ultrafast magnetic processes.


Ancient wild horses help unlock past

Tuesday 23 August 2011

An international team of researchers has used ancient DNA to produce compelling evidence that the lack of genetic diversity in modern stallions is the result of the domestication process.


Careers advice 'crucial' in encouraging greater science take-up

Tuesday 23 August 2011

More pupils do physics and chemistry after the age of 16 in schools which provide a more comprehensive range of careers supervision and advice, according to new research by academics at the University of York.


Further, faster, higher: wildlife responds increasingly rapidly to climate change

Thursday 18 August 2011

New research by scientists in the Department of Biology at the University of York shows that species have responded to climate change up to three times faster than previously appreciated. These results are published in the latest issue of the leading scientific journal Science.


YCR invests £2.15m in York stem cell research

Friday 12 August 2011

Yorkshire Cancer Research has awarded £2.15m to the University of York to further its internationally award-winning progress into prostate cancer stem cell research.


Escaping gravity's clutches: the black hole breakout

Thursday 11 August 2011

New research by scientists at the University of York gives a fresh perspective on the physics of black holes.


The last 3 million years at a snail's pace: a tiny trapdoor opens a new way to date the past

Thursday 4 August 2011

Scientists at the University of York, using an 'amino acid time capsule', have led the largest ever programme to date the British Quaternary period, stretching back nearly three million years.


Research to create better understanding of surgical wounds

Monday 18 July 2011

A multidisciplinary research team led by the University of York and the Hull York Medical School has been awarded £2 million to study surgical wounds.


Greater freedom for NHS hospitals 'making no difference'

Friday 8 July 2011

Giving hospitals greater autonomy may not lead to enhanced productivity and performance, according to new research from the University of York.


Putting sunshine in the tank

Tuesday 5 July 2011

Scientists from the University of York are part of a team working on how to use the energy of the Sun to make fuels, which could help to solve the world’s escalating energy crisis.


Research finds the under-reporting of children with significant reading difficulties

Tuesday 28 June 2011

New research at the University of York has found that nearly 50 per cent of secondary school pupils with reading difficulties are not on the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Register.


Discards ban 'will boost fisheries', says new research

Thursday 23 June 2011

Banning fisheries discards in the North Sea will promote fish stock recovery and increase fishermen’s incomes, according to new research by scientists at the University of York.


More than eight out of ten newborn babies 'now start to breastfeed'

Tuesday 21 June 2011

The proportion of newborn babies in Britain breastfed by their mothers increased from six out of ten to eight out of ten between 1990 and 2010, according to new research by academics at the University of York.


Scientists from SEI help launch major climate study

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Fast action on pollutants such as black carbon, ground level ozone and methane may help limit near term global temperature rise and significantly increase the chances of keeping temperature rise below 2 degrees C, says a new assessment launched today.


York nursery assistants commended for role in pre-school language research

Friday 10 June 2011

The University of York is hosting a special celebration to thank nursery assistants for their enthusiastic support of research designed to improve the language skills of pre-school children.


Surprise Bronze Age discovery by York students

Friday 10 June 2011

University of York Archaeology students have unearthed a rare Bronze Age cremation urn during excavations on the University’s campus.


New appointments to world-class institute

Wednesday 8 June 2011

An innovative £6 million partnership between the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the University of York to create a world-leading inter-disciplinary plasma research centre has gained new momentum with three senior appointments.


First national evaluation of higher level nursing assistant roles

Monday 6 June 2011

Researchers from the University of York have carried out the first national evaluation of the impact of introducing higher level nursing assistants into UK acute hospital wards.


New study reveals environment's role in post-natal depression

Thursday 19 May 2011

New research involving the University of York explores the interplay between genes and environment when determining whether a mother is at high or low risk for post-natal depression.


Researchers 'engineer' debate on sound recording

Monday 16 May 2011

Researchers from the University of York are hoping to create a better understanding of engineering by exploring its role in sound recording.


Breast-fed babies become children with fewer behaviour problems

Tuesday 10 May 2011

Babies who are breastfed are far less likely to become children with behaviour problems by the time they reach the age of five than those who receive formula milk, according to research by a team that included University of York academics.


Animals have personalities too…

Thursday 28 April 2011

An individual’s personality can have a big effect on their life. Some people are outgoing and gregarious while others find novel situations stressful which can be detrimental to their health and wellbeing. Increasingly, scientists are discovering that animals are no different.


Nanoscience may hold key to surgical recovery

Tuesday 26 April 2011

New nano-systems developed in York may eventually help patients recover from surgery without the danger of allergic reactions to drugs.


Scotland's first marine reserve already producing benefits

Friday 22 April 2011

Scotland’s first fully protected marine reserve, and only the second in the UK, is already providing commercial and conservation benefits, according to new research.


Habitat restoration could help species to cope with climate change

Monday 18 April 2011

Animals and plants may need extra habitats to survive the challenge of climate change, according to research by scientists at the University of York.


Conservation policies 'impaired by over-confident predictions'

Monday 18 April 2011

Inappropriate conservation policies may be implemented as a result of scientists failing to sufficiently acknowledge the uncertainty of their models, according to Dr Colin Beale, of the University of York.


New 'spin' on magnetic reversal

Thursday 14 April 2011

Research by an international team of scientists into magnetic reversal could have a dramatic effect on the future speed of data processing by hard drives within computers and laptops.


Europe's wildlife under threat from nitrogen

Thursday 14 April 2011

An international study published today warns that nitrogen pollution, resulting from industry and agriculture, is putting wildlife in Europe at risk. More than 60 per cent of the EU’s most important wildlife sites receive aerial nitrogen pollution inputs above sustainable levels.


The wetter the better for daddy longlegs – and birds!

Monday 4 April 2011

Keeping moorland soils wet could prove vital in conserving some of Britain's important upland breeding bird species – by protecting the humble daddy longlegs, according to new research.


3D lab experiments aid adult stem cell versatility

Thursday 31 March 2011

A type of adult stem cell is now proving itself more versatile for research and therapies thanks to revolutionary 3D experiments.


West Runton Elephant helps unlock the past

Wednesday 30 March 2011

Researchers from the University of York and Manchester have successfully extracted protein from the bones of a 600,000 year old mammoth, paving the way for the identification of ancient fossils.


Scientists trace violent death of Iron Age man

Monday 28 March 2011

An Iron Age man whose skull and brain was unearthed during excavations at the University of York was the victim of a gruesome ritual killing, according to new research.


Genetic differences influence the structure of communities

Monday 28 March 2011

Scientists from the University of York are among a group of researchers investigating how genetic differences among individuals contribute to the way ecological communities form, interact and change over time.


Blindness treatments to benefit from new in-'sight'

Sunday 27 March 2011

New research shows that the areas of the brain responsible for vision do not reorganise themselves when the eye is damaged by disease.


Researchers seek clearer focus for climate change message

Monday 21 March 2011

Early career researchers are to host a workshop at the University of York that aims to rebuild public trust in climate change science.


Intervention offers 'best chance' to save species endangered by climate change

Thursday 17 March 2011

A University of York scientist is proposing a radical programme of 'assisted colonisation' to save species endangered by climate change.


New programme will promote maternal and infant nutrition

Wednesday 9 March 2011

The University of York is launching a £1 million collaborative programme aimed at encouraging improved nutrition for mothers and infants.


York research highlights potential benefits of off-road cycle routes

Tuesday 8 March 2011

Research suggests that using off-road cycle routes in York significantly reduces cyclists' exposure to air pollution compared with on-road cycle lanes.


Protecting children from second-hand smoke

Monday 7 March 2011

Children from across Yorkshire are being asked to help test an initiative that could reduce their exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke.


Our ancestors lived on shaky ground

Thursday 3 March 2011

Scientists find link between tectonically active landscapes and ancient sites


York scientists lead major research programme into Britain's landscapes

Tuesday 1 March 2011

A team of scientists from the University of York has been commissioned to direct a UK-wide research programme examining the role biodiversity plays in the ecosystems provided by Britain’s landscapes.


SEI has key role in blueprint to cut pollutants' impact on climate

Friday 25 February 2011

The Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York has played a key role in a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Assessment of how to reduce the impact of black carbon and tropospheric ozone which adversely affect public health, crop yields and contribute to climate change.


CRD leads new global research initiative

Tuesday 22 February 2011

A major global initiative to establish an international register that will improve the transparency of health research was launched today by Health Minister Lord Howe.


Major new research initiatives at the Centre for Health Economics

Friday 18 February 2011

Two major programmes of research are starting at the Centre for Health Economics (CHE), the result of successful bids to establish Policy Research Units funded through the Department of Health's policy research programme.


Therapy for depression can be delivered effectively by non-specialists

Wednesday 16 February 2011

Depression can be treated effectively with psychotherapy by mental health nurses with minimal training, according to new preliminary research findings.


Experts urge even greater caution in use of X-rays during pregnancy and infancy

Friday 11 February 2011

Clinicians should exercise caution in using X-rays on pregnant women and infants because of the potential for a slight increase in the risk of children developing cancer, according to a new study involving University of York researchers.


New price regulation mechanism would ‘benefit the NHS’

Wednesday 9 February 2011

Health economists at the University of York say a robust framework is needed for a new purchasing system for medicines to make sure it delivers anticipated benefits for the NHS.


University gains Wellcome Trust funding for PhD training programme in infectious disease research

Friday 4 February 2011

A new inter-disciplinary PhD programme that will offer novel approaches to research into infectious diseases will be launched by the University of York later this year.


York blood cancer research project given £3 million boost

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Scientists at the University of York have been awarded over £3 million to continue a groundbreaking research project which is helping cancer patients in Yorkshire and across the UK.


Universities combine to create doctoral training centre for social sciences

Friday 21 January 2011

A successful collaboration between the Universities of Sheffield, Leeds and York is set to lead to the creation of one of the UK’s biggest doctoral training centres for postgraduate researchers in the social sciences.


Research recommends targeted approach to home care

Wednesday 12 January 2011

A specialist re-ablement approach in home care services to help people recovering from acute illness, falls or fractures will pay dividends in terms of quality of life and effective use of health and social care budgets, according to new research led by the University of York.


Ginger is key ingredient in recipe for conserving stag beetles

Monday 10 January 2011

The humble ginger root and tiny microphones could be the key to conserving the UK's largest and most spectacular terrestrial beetle – the stag beetle.


Migrating moths and songbirds travel at similar rates

Tuesday 9 March 2010

A new study by a team including scientists from the University of York has found that night-flying moths are able to match their songbird counterparts for travel speed and direction during their annual migrations.


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