News:WISHES Conference 2010It is with great pleasure that we would like to announce the 7th All Wales Institute of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences conference titled NEWPORT: THE 19th HOLE – GOLF AND SPORT & EXERCISE SCIENCE to be held at the University of Wales, Newport on Thursday the 8th July 2010. As with all previous WISHES conferences, attendance is free, however you are required to complete a registration form The deadline for abstract submission is Friday 28th May 2010.Should you have any queries please contact Hilary.Matheson1@newport.ac.uk MPhil Available in Exercise and Diabetes.The Sport and Exercise Science Research Group at Swansea University is offering an MPhil scholarship in the area of exercise and diabetes worth £3,390 to fully cover UK/EU tuition fees. The scholarship is available for a July 2010 start date only. Closing Date - Tuesday 4th May 2010 . Successful students will be notified by Friday 14th May in order to complete all enrolment to start during July 2010. Who is eligible? Students should be holding or expect to achieve a good bachelor’s degree in a related field which could include: Sport and Exercise Science, Science or Engineering disciplines, Psychology, Health Sciences. This will need to be 2.1 or above. For more information contact Dr. Richard M. Bracken (Email r.m.bracken@swansea.ac.uk) Workshop: The Exercising Diabetes Patient.
Swansea University
are hosting a one-day workshop on Tuesday 23rd March 2010, examining
The Exercising Diabetes Patient.
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Time |
Content |
|
9.30 -10.30 |
Registration (Exhibitors) |
|
10.30-10.45 |
Opening Comments (David Evans) |
|
10.45-11.30 |
Keynote 1 (Greg Whyte) |
|
11.30-12.15 |
Specialist parallel sessions: Peter Clarke (Sport), Bruce Davies (Exercise), Rhys Thatcher (Health). |
|
12.15-13.00 |
Posters (Exhibitors) |
|
13.00-13.45 |
Lunch (Exhibitors) |
|
13.45-15.45 |
Young Investigator Award Oral Presentations |
|
15.45-16.30 |
Refreshment break (Exhibitors) |
|
16.30-17.15 |
Keynote 2 (Nicola Phillips) |
|
17.15-17.30 |
Closing Comments/Awards |
UK Sport ‘Ideas 4 Innovation’ award launched:
UK Sport has announced that applications for the Ideas 4 Innovation: New Researchers Award are now open. The aim of the programme is to highlight outstanding and innovative student research projects that have the potential to impact on elite sport. Project ideas could be related to any one of the four main work streams - athlete equipment and accessories, coaching technologies, training science or performance medicine. For more information see the following link: http://www.uksport.gov.uk/newsarchive/
WISHES member to give inaugural lecture:
Professor Mike McNamee will give his inaugural lecture on "The ethics of doping: health, medicine and sports" on Thursday 19th, Faraday Lecture, Swansea University, at 7pm. Please see http://www.swan.ac.uk/news_centre/WhatsHappening/Headline,30601,en.php for further details. All are welcome.
UK Sport announces restructure to aid performance ambitions:
The Chief Executive of UK Sport, John Steele, has announced role changes within the organisation designed to ensure that it is fully focused on performance priorities. It is hoped that the changes will enable UK Sport to use its resources more effectively and to ensure that athletes receive the best possible support. For more information see the following link http://www.uksport.gov.uk
ECSS Abstract Submission now open:
The 14th Annual European College of Sport Science Congress will be held in Oslo, Norway from the 24th -27th of June 2009. Abstract submission is now open, with the deadline for submissions being February 15th. For more information see the congress website at the following link: http://www.ecss-congress.eu/OSLO2009/
Launch of Sports Coach UK High Performance Coaching Development Team:
Sport Coach UK have appointed a team of experienced practitioners to assist with programme developing high-performance coaches and systems. The tea will work with governing bodies of sports and will include key components such as coaching systems performance analysis and review, and tailored CPD programmes. The High-Performance Coaching-Development Team will form part of the UK Centre for Coaching Excellence (UKCCE). For more information see the following link: http://www.uksport.gov.uk/
Research recommends ‘short bursts’ of exercise:
Researchers at the University of Glamorgan have found that six 30-second sprints three times a week can have the same health and weight loss benefits as jogging or cycling for up to 45 mins several times a week. Professors Julien Baker and Bruce Davies studied exercise patterns over several years comparing short high-intensity sprints to longer endurance training, such as cycling and jogging. For this article in full see the following link: http://news.bbc.co.uk
Institute member invited to present at ASEP Conference:
Professor Julien Baker, from Glamogran University, will deliver a guest lecture at the American Society of Exercise Physiologists national conference. The conference is due to be held at Midwestern State Univeristy (Texas), on the 3rd and 4th April. For more information see the following link: www.asep.org
WRU Centre of Excellence Announced:
A £2 million Centre of Excellence for the Welsh Rugby Union teams has been unveiled. The centre, based at the Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort in Hensol, will include three new full size pitches, as well as an artificial pitch inside the Indoor Arena. In addition, gymnasium and administration facilities will be upgraded. For more information see the following link: http://www.sports-council-wales.org.uk/
Antiobesity drug withdrawn by EMEA:
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has suspended the marketing authorisation of the antiobesity drug rimonabant (brand name Acomplia), stating that the benefits no longer outweigh the risks of psychiatric disorders, especially depression. The drug has previously been restricted in patients with either major depressive disorders or those who are taking antidepressant drugs. For this article in full see: www.bmj.com
Welsh Universities work together to improve primary healthcare:
The Universities of Cardiff, Glamorgan, Swansea and Bangor are collaborating to form the Wales School for Primary Care Research. The new school aims to develop and share excellence in primary care research and work with professionals across all relevant disciplines to improve the quality and quantity of primary care research in Wales. For this article in full see the following link: http://news.glam.ac.uk
Biomechanics techniques assist vulnerable groups:
Researchers at Swansea University’s Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre (SESRC) are currently using techniques designed to maximise performance to develop training programmes to assist young children with coordination difficulties, and to improve balance among older people. The research team, including Professor Jim Watkins, Head of the SESRC, Dr Liam Kilduff, Nick Owen and Dan Cunningham, use forceplates as diagnostic test, to allow the development of highly individualised training programmes. For more information see the following link: http://www.swan.ac.uk/
Parents unable to estimate children’s physical activity levels:
Researchers at the Universities of Glasgow and Newcastle have reported evidence to suggest that parents vastly overestimate the amount of time their children spend exercising. The study, published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, showed that while parents reported that 83% of boys and 56% of girls were meeting a target of 60-minutes a day, accelerometers indicated that only 3% of boys and 2% of girls were actually meeting this target. For more information see the following link, or the journal article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
WHO report highlights social determinants of health:
A new report published by the World Health Organisation concludes that social factors, rather than genetics, are largely to blame for huge variations in ill health and life expectancy. The report, based on a three year analysis of the ‘social determinants’ of health, found that in almost all countries, poor socioeconomic circumstances equated to poor health. For this article in full see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Glamorgan University named as 2012 ‘Training Camp’:
The University of Glamorgan has been selected as an official ‘Pre Games Training Camp’ venue for the Olympic Games in 2012. Glamorgan will host Olympic athletes due to compete in the football and archery events. For more information see the following link: http://news.glam.ac.uk
Winner of UK Sport New Researcher Award announced:
UK Sport’s Research and Innovation Team have announced that Chris West, an MSc Sport Sciences graduate from Brunel University, is the first winner of their Ideas 4 Innovation: New Researchers Award. His project focused on the development of a novel device for performance enhancement in spinal cord injured athletes. The award scheme aims to acknowledge and harness outstanding research and innovation concepts, with students encouraged to enter their projects if they have the potential for enhancing elite sports performance. For more information see the following link: http://www.uksport.gov.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Research highlights mislabelling of supplements:
A study conducted by HFL Sport Science and Lucozade Sport has found that over 10% of the supplements it tested contained prohibited substances not listed on the label, highlighting the need for athletes to carefully consider the use of such products. For more information see the following link: http://www.uksport.gov.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Physical Activity and Diabetes Conference to be held at Swansea University:
A one day regional conference titled ‘Physical Activity and Diabetes – ‘Towards Improving Collaborative Research in Wales’ will take place on the 11th September 2008. The conference, organised by the Diabetes Research Network Cymru and hosted by Swansea University Institute of Life Sciences aims to provide an opportunity to explore the current knowledge base of researchers’ interests in Wales and explore avenues for future research collaboration in the use of physical activity in treating or preventing diabetes. If you are interested in attending or would like more information please contact Professor Stephen Bain (s.c.bain@swansea.ac.uk) or Dr. Richard Bracken (r.m.bracken@swansea.ac.uk). WISHES members can also view a flyer for the event via the members’ pages.
Study suggests longer duration exercise may be needed to maintain weight loss:
A study published
in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that 55 minutes of moderate
intensity exercise a day may be needed for females to maintain weight loss. The
research, which tracked a group of overweight and obese women over a four year
period, found that women who maintained a 10% weight loss after the first six
months were those who reported doing, on average, 275 minutes per week of
exercise. For a more detailed report see
the following link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Postgraduate Bursaries available for BPS conference:
The Higher Education Academy Psychology Network and the Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Network are sponsoring a session at the upcoming BPS Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology conference (11-12th December). The session aims to support postgraduates in their teaching, and to encourage postgraduates to attend, two £50 bursaries will be available. For more information and details on how to apply see the following link: http://www.bases.org.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Obesity link to pancreatic cancer in women:
A new US-based study has suggested that obesity is a significant risk factor in the development of pancreatic cancer in women. The research, published in the British journal of Cancer, found that after controlling for other risk factors, the disease was 70% more likely in women with the highest waist-to-hip ratios. For an extended article see the following link: http://news.bbc.co.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
UK Centre for Coaching Excellence launched:
It has been announced that the UK Centre for Coaching Excellence, a key component of the UK Coaching framework aiming create a world-leading coaching system by 2016, will be based at Leeds Metropolitan University. The centre will receive start-up funding of £600,000 from UK Sport and Sport England, and will focus on four main areas of development included high performance, performer development, participation and children’s coaches. For more information see the following link: http://www.uksport.gov.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
WADA hold Gene Doping Symposium:
Following their third gene-doping symposium, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reported that there are signs of a growing interest in sport in the potential of the techniques. WADA currently fund a number of research projects aimed at better understanding genetic and physiological effects of doping, and methods for the effective detection of gene doping. For this article in full see the following link: http://www.uksport.gov.uk/newsarchive/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Additional funding to target health inequalities:
The BMJ reports that the health secretary Alan Johnson has pledged an extra £34 million over the coming year to reduce health inequalities in the UK. The government plans to focus on the social determinants of health promoting healthy lifestyles, and improving access to services. For the article in full see http://www.bmj.com/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Congratulations to WISHES Vice-Chair:
Congratulations to Mike McNamee on his award of a personal chair at Swansea University. Mike is the Vice-Chair (Conference) of the Virtual Institute and is based in the Centre for Philosophy, Humanities and Law in Healthcare at Swansea University.
Emily Oliver, News editor.
‘Sporting Preferences’ survey shows public desire for success is high:
UK Sport today revealed that Olympic success is high on the public agenda, with athletics second only to football in the nation’s desire for sporting success, with swimming, boxing and gymnastics also securing places in the top ten. In addition, athletics, swimming and wheelchair basketball remain favourites for success in Paralympic sport, with the survey showing that support for Lottery investment across the Olympic sports also remains consistently strong. For more detailed information see the following link: http://www.uksport.gov.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Assessment of Beijing’s Air Quality Published:
An article published in the journal Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health reports on concentrations of air pollutants in Beijing in August and Septmeber 2007 Wen-Xing and colleagues found that average daily concentrations of sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide were lower than the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for China. Nitrogen dioxide levels met the Standard, whereas concentrations of ozone and inhalable particles were higher than the Standard. For more details see the following news article or the original article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
UK Sport opens search for Fast-Track Practitioners:
UK Sport has announced that it is seeking to recruit a new intake for its Fast-Track Practitioner Programme. Successful applicants will complete internships in areas including nutrition, performance analysis, physiotherapy, physiology, psychology and strength and conditioning. For more information see the following link: http://www.uksport.gov.uk/newsarchive/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
WISHES Treasurer heading for Beijing:
Dr Nicki Phillips, the Treasurer of the Virtual Institute, a senior lecturer in Physiotherapy at Cardiff University and the Director of Postgraduate Healthcare Studies has been appointed as the Chief Physiotherapist to the British team for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Glamorgan Professor wins International Award:
Congratulations to Professor Julien Baker of the University of Glamorgan on winning the International Investigator Award for 2008 from the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP). Julien was award the prize in honour of his contributions to JEPonline, the research journal of ASEP, during the last 10 years, and his presence and contributions to the meeting which was held this year in Minnesota.
Ossur donates funding to Virtual Institiute:
The Virtual Institute is
delighted to announce that Ossur has donated £3500 to the Institute. The
donation came from funds raised at the Ossur Sports Medicine conference held at
their Llantrisant Headquarters on Friday 18th April. All of the speakers at
that meeting (Julien Baker, Mike Benjamin, Jim Watkins, Paul Frowen, Liam
Kilduff, Ian Mathieson, Nicki Phillips and David Tod) are members of the
Institute and the audience of 120 delegates largely comprised physiotherapists,
orthotists, podiatrists and osteopaths. The whole day was very enjoyable and
successful and is part of an increasing collaboration between the Institute and
Ossur (www.ossur.com).
The management committee will consider how best to use the funds at its meeting
on July 4th (at the time of the summer conference at Swansea University).
The next joint venture between Ossur and the Virtual Institute is likely to be
in November this year.
US study links exercise to growth of tumours in mice:
A study presented at an American cancer conference has reported findings that tumours in mice given exercise expanded twice as fast as those without exercise. 50 human prostate tumours were implanted into mice, half of which were kept in cages restricting movement. The remainder were allowed to run for an average of half a mile a day. The researchers, based at Duke University Medical Centre, suggest that improved blood flow to the tumour may be a possible cause, yet emphasised that sedentary lifestyles raise the risk of other serious diseases. For a full news article see the following link: http://news.bbc.co.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
BASES Abstract Submission Open:
Abstracts can now be submitted for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Annual Conference. The conference is due to be held at Brunel University from the 2nd to the 4th of September. See the BASES website for more details: http://www.bases.org.uk/newsite/home.asp
Emily Oliver, News editor.
BPS Divisional AGM:
The AGM of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology will take place in Dublin on the 3rd April, 2008 at 11.00am . For more details see the BPS website at the following link: http://www.bps.org.uk/spex/spex_home.cfm
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Trinity College to host European Outdoor Education Conference:
It has been announced that Trinity College Carmarthen will be hosting the 9th Annual conference of the European Institute for Outdoor Education and Experiential Learning from the 17th to the 20th September 2008 . The conference, entitled ‘Landscape, Youth and Outdoor Education: What are we doing? What should we be doing?’, aims to bring together practitioners, academics and policy-makers from across Europe . For more information see the EOE website: http://www.eoe-network.org/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
BOA Annual Review is Published:
Last week the British Olympic Association (BOA) released their 2007 Annual Review. This report provides a summary of the BOA’s activites during 2007, including the progress and development of the Elite Performance Programme. To download and view the document visit the BOA website at http://www.olympics.org.uk/home2.aspx
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Sports Council for Wales receives Corporate Health recognition:
The Sports Council for Wales has received a Corporate Health Standard bronze award in recognition of its support for policies promoting the health and well-being of employees.
The Welsh Institute of Sport, the Plas Menai National Watersports Centre, and regional offices of the SCW have all successfully met criteria developed by the Welsh Assembly Government. For more information see the following link: http://www.sports-council-wales.org.uk/index
Emily Oliver, News editor.
SCW Chair to oversee New National Anti-Doping Board:
It has been announced that Philip Carling, Chair of the Sports Council for Wales , will oversee meetings to assist with the development of a new, stand-alone National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) in the UK . The board will consist of representatives of the government, national governing bodies, and law enforcement, and will meet twice ahead of presenting a detailed proposal for the NADO to Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe in the spring. For this article in full see: http://www.sports-council-wales.org.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
**** 5th Annual WISHES Conference Announced: ***
The 5th Annual WISHES conference which will be held on the 4th July at Swansea University. (see members pages for call for abstracts).
The conference is a collaboration between the School of Health Science, the Department of Sport Science and the School of Medicine. The keynote speakers are drawn from across the spectrum of disciplines of exercise, health, medicine and sports and comprise an exciting one-day program
along with the poster presentations and the Young Investigator Award.
Topics include the genetics of athletic performance, pediatric in/activity and health, sports psychology and mainstream pyschological research, and achilles tendon injuries in sedentary and athletic populations. For the first time we have included an international keynote, focusing on exercise prescription intervention in Copehagen, Denmark, in order to see what lessons we in Wales can learn from their approach to exercise and public health .
As with all previous WISHES conferences, attendance is free and you will be able to register in the near future.
For more information visit the members pages or contact g.abbott@swansea.ac.uk
We look forward to welcoming you in Swansea
Liam Kilduff, Mike McNamee, Jim Watkins and Rhys Williams
BPS Divisional AGM announced:
The British Psychological Society’s Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology will hold its AGM on the 3rd April, 2008 in Dublin . See the website for more information: http://www.bps.org.uk/spex/spex_home.cfm
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Swansea University receives health sciences funding:
The School of Health Science at Swansea University has received funding from the Leverhulme Trust to advance research and collaboration in Nanomedicine and Enhancement. The grant, obtained under the Leverhulme Fellowship Scheme, will allow Dr Christian Lenk from the University of G ö ttingen in Germany to visit the School for 12 months to develop research in the ethics of nanomedicine, and the improvement of abilities over and above ‘normal’ healthy ranges. See the following link for the full article: http://www.swan.ac.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Glamorgan University to research history of Welsh cricket:
Last week Glamorgan Cricket announced a partnership with The University of Glamorgan to gather and record information for the Museum of Welsh Cricket . The project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, will initially involve cricket clubs from Colwyn Bay , Cresselly, Gowerton, Llantwit Major, St. Fagans and Usk. See the following link for a full article: http://news.glam.ac.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
New cell metabolism study suggests weight training can reduce your chances of diabetes:
The results of a new study in Cell Metabolism suggest that weight training might help to burn fat and prevent the development of diseases such as diabetes. The research reports that when a gene was activated to trigger the growth of Type II muscle in mice, they burned fat more easily and reduced their resistance to insulin. The team, based at Boston University ’s School of Medicine , suggests that Type II muscle may play an important role in controlling whole-body metabolism. For the article in full see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Childhood obesity linked to genetics not lifestyle:
Researchers based at University College London have reported findings showing that 77% of the variance in BMI (Body Mass Index) and waist size can be attributed directly to genes. By studying over 5000 identical and non-identical twins, scientists were able to measure differences that might be attributable to the environment compared with those that might be explained by genetics. For an extended report see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Research links sedentary lifestyle to cellular ageing:
A recent paper published in Archives of Internal Medicine reports that pieces of DNA known as telomeres shortened more quickly in inactive people, which is thought to signify faster cellular ageing. Researchers from King’s College London studied lifestyles and DNA from over 2000 twins and found that the most active individuals had telomeres of a length comparable with inactive people up to ten years younger, on average. For a full article see http://news.bbc.co.uk/ or the original article at http://archinte.ama-assn.org/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
IOC announces potential locations for 2010 Youth Olympic Games:
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have announced that either Moscow or Singapore will host the Youth Olympic Games in 2010. The Summer Youth Olympics will involve over 3000 elite athletes aged between 14 and 18. Members will now vote to decide the winning city. For this article in full see http://www.olympics.org.uk/home2.aspx
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Funding for expanded exercise prescription scheme in Wales:
The Welsh Assembly Government have announced £11.5 million of funding to support a new NHS exercise referral scheme targeting those at risk of chronic disease. The scheme, launched last week by First minister Rhodri Morgan, requires GPs to identify and refer patients perceived as being at risk of developing a chronic condition. See the following link for the article in full: http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Debate over appointment of WRU Elite Performance Director:
The BBC has reported conflicting views regarding the recent appointment of Graeme Maw as the Welsh Rugby Union’s Elite Performance Director. Ex-players such as former Welsh wing Adrian Hadley have argued that the position needed to be filled by someone with a knowledge of the game, who could focus on improving skill and technique at the top level. However, Maw arrives with a strong background in performance management, having spent five years as the British Triathlon Association's performance director and prior to that working as the high performance manager for swimming at the Queensland Academy of Sport in Australia. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/ for a full summary.
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Gordon Brown reveals new health screening plan:
The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced that patients in England will soon be offered screening for signs of heart disease, kidney disease and stokes, in an attempt to reduce the number of avoidable deaths from these conditions. He also announced expanded provision of breast cancer screening and cervical cancer vaccines, with a greater focus on preventing rather than solely curing illness across the health service. For the article in full see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
BMJ publish call to act on Obesity:
A letter published this month in the British Medical Journal argues that we need to focus on improving infrastructure through environmental changes to target rising obesity levels. Nicole Lavery proposes that a saturation point has been reached in terms of research findings regarding the prevalence of obesity, and that it is now time to focus on providing large-scale solutions to combat the problem. For the letter in full see: http://www.bmj.com/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Welsh coach wins British Swimming Coach of the Year:
Swansea-based Billy Pye has been named British Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association Coach of the Year, in recognition of an outstanding season working with Wales’ Beijing Paralympic prospects. Six elite swimmers from the Swansea National Pool have shared seven world championship titles and almost as many world records between them, a success he credits partially to the facilites available to swimmers, including the scientific support. For the full article see: http://www.sports-council-wales.org.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Thesis suggests that knee operations can lead to other injuries:
A new thesis from Lund University in Sweden presents evidence that operating on an anterior cruciate ligament injury can lead to other damage to the knee. By studying cruciate ligament injuries using a magnetic resonance camera, researcher Richard Frobell discovered that most patients had additional fractures and bone marrow lesions, and that knees which were operated on displayed a poorer condition after a year than those which were not. He argues that this may mean that structured rehabilitation may be preferable unless there is clear evidence that an operation is necessary, and that returning to sport sooner may also increase athletes’ long-term risk of osteoarthritus. For an extended article see: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
BASES request feedback on strategic plan:
A draft version of the British Association for Sport and Exercise Sciences Strategic plan for 2008 to 2010 has been released for member and stakeholder feedback. Developed by the out-going Strategic Management Team and the newly-appointed Board, the plan can be reviewed via the BASES website at the following link: http://www.bases.org.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Chemical may replicate effects of exercise on mental health:
Research by scientists at Yale University has identified a chemical produced in the brain that might explain the ‘natural high’ triggered by exercise. The study, published in Nature, focuses on the gene ‘VGF’ in the hippocampus region of the brain which researchers found became more active during exercise. The gene is linked to a ‘growth-factor’ chemical which, when tested on mice, showed antidepressant behavioral effects. For an extended article see http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Cognitive Neuroscience Institute to target obesity in Wales :
Last week saw the official launch of the Welsh Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience (WICN) which draws together facilities at Bangor , Cardiff and Swansea Universities . The institute aims to develop the universities’ range of partnerships with industry, healthcare, schools and the public and to become a world-leading institute for the study and application of cognitive and clinical neuroscience. Examples of current research topics include overeating and substance abuse, and it is hoped that findings will lead to cognitively-based interevetions in these areas. For an extended article see: http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Revised World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code Approved:
Last week the Foundation Board of WADA unanimously approved revisions to enhance and strengthen the World Anti-Doping Code at the third World Conference on Doping in Sport. UK Sport contributed to consultations on the updates and will now have to work with national governing bodies to ensure compliance with the code by 1 January 2009 . For more details see http://www.uksport.gov.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
New Clearer CT Scanner announced:
GE Healthcare have revealed details of a new high-definition CT scanner which will be officially launched in next year. The scanner will be able to produce images that are 30% clearer and 100 times faster than current technology, using half the radiation dose. Of particular relevance to those involved in cardiac care and research, the makers state that the radiation reduction will be even greater for cardiac scans, potentially up to 83 percent. For this article in full see: http://www.reuters.com/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Wales ’ Health reorganisation branded a ‘costly distraction’:
A detailed study into NHS structures in Wales has concluded that the Government made errors in implementing a strategy focused on health rather than health services. In an article for the Institute of Welsh Affairs, Professor Scott Greer argued that although the intellectual justification being linking health and social care was good, the creation of 22 local health boards was a ‘costly distraction’ which had little impact on problems such as waiting lists. For an in-depth article see http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
SCW Reveals coaching award shortlist:
This week the Sports Council for Wales revealed the finalists in contention for prizes at its annual Coach of the Year Awards. Prizes are given in eight categories including Teacher Coach of the Year, Volunteer Coach of the Year and Coach to Disabled Sportspeople of the Year. The winners will be unveiled on the 23rd November at a ceremony at the Welsh Institute of Sport. For the shortlist in full visit: http://www.sports-council-wales.org.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Swansea researchers seek diabetic patients for study:
Researchers at Swansea University are seeking volunteers from Swansea and South West Wales to participate in an eight-week walking training programme. Participants need to have been recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The research team hope to gain a deeper understanding of the physiological responses to walking in Type 2 diabetes patients, which may aid promotion of this form of exercise by GPs and other health care professionals. For the article in full or details of how to participate see the following link: http://www.swan.ac.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
BOA Elite Performance Programme outlined by Woodward:
The British Olympic Association’s Director of Elite Performance, Sir Clive Woodward, has announced his plans for the progression of the BOA’s elite performance programme. In a briefing last week he identified the need for athletes to have access 24/7 to coaches and performance-enhancement specialists, as well as plans for a unique communication and analysis system which aims to achieve this. For an in-depth article see http://www.boa.org.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
New Support Network announced for North Wales ’ Athletes:
The Sports Council for Wales last week unveiled a new support system for talented athletes and coaches based in North Wales . Established with funding from the Welsh Assembly Government, The North Wales Regional Institute of Sport (NWRIS) is a network of facilities, coaches and support services, including sports science, which aims to help athletes from the region achieve world-class levels of performance. The institute will work from a base at Plas Menai Watersports Centre in partnership with the National Governing Bodies of Sports. For an extended version of this article see http://www.sports-council-wales.org.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
BPS Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology Conference Announced:
The British Psychological Society Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology have announced their Inaugural Conference which will be held on the 11th and 12th December 2008 at the Societies London Office. Additionally, division committee meeting dates for 2008 have been released; for more details see the BPS website at http://www.bps.org.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
UWIC Lecturers help boost British Basketball:
Great Britain
Senior Women’s Basketball team secured promotion to Division ‘A’ of the
European Championships this summer with support from staff based at the
University
of
Wales
Institute,
Cardiff
.
Damian Jennings and Lucy Power, both from UWIC’s Cardiff School of
Sport, spent nine weeks traveling with the squad as Assistant Coach and Team
Manager. For a more detailed article see
http://www2.uwic.ac.uk
Emily Oliver,
News editor.
Brain imaging research shows leptin reduces craving in the obese:
Research published in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has reported that giving the body's natural appetite suppressant to morbidly obese volunteers de-activated their brain's response to tasty food. Whilst off leptin, participants showed high levels of activation in brain regions associated with food craving, whereas with leptin the executive centres involved in self-control were more activated. The report’s authors suggest that their findings may lead to new and improved treatments for obesity. For an in-depth article see http://uk.reuters.com/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Fat camp for Under-5s to be televised:
ITV are offering free places on a fat camp designed specifically for the under-fives by a professor at Leeds Metropolitan University. Professor Paul Gately has previously run summer camps for overweight teenagers, and he argues that the biggest problem is often that parents don’t recognise that their child is overweight. For the article in full see http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Glamorgan researchers present keynote at Performance and Image-enhancing Drugs Conference:
A keynote lecture at the UK’s first Performance and Image enhancing Drugs conference earlier this month was presented by Dr Mike Graham, Professor Bruce Davies and Professor Julien Baker of the University of Glamorgan’s Faculty of Health, Sport and Science. The lecture, entitled ‘The pathophysiology of doping in sport’, was attended by over 200 delegates including representatives from the medical profession (doctors, pharmacologists, psychiatrists, medics, government officials, social workers, drug testing officers, the Sports Council and outreach workers. For this article in full see http://www.glam.ac.uk/index.php
Emily Oliver, News editor.
New findings suggest cancer survival rate is not affected by emotions:
The findings of a new study published in the journal Cancer suggest that people who are depressed about their cancer are no more likely to die than people who keep a positive outlook. Dr. James Coyne and his colleagues at University of Pennsylvania analyzed the emotional states of 1,093 patients with head and neck cancer, and found that emotional status was not associated with survival rate, even after taking into account factors such as gender, tumor site or disease stage. For more information see http://uk.reuters.com/ or the journal website.
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Swansea University joins elite medical research group:
Swansea University have joined the Texas-United Kingdom Collaborative, which was created to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and research in fields including cancer and heart disease. Comprised of 10 universities and medical colleges in Texas, and 8 top UK universities, the collaborative has brought together some of the world's leading scientists and medical experts to foster collaborative research projects in areas such as biomedicine, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and ICT. To see this article in full visit: http://www.swan.ac.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Latest update from BPS regarding statutory regulation:
Following a meeting on the 8th October, the British Psychological Society has released an update on the ongoing introduction of statutory regulation for psychologists. The society still has concerns over the content of draft documentation – for an update in full see http://www.bps.org.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Warning over online self-medication:
A recent Western Mail article has highlighted the dangers of Internet health research following findings that at least 1 in 100 people source prescriptions online. The British Medical Journal reported that using signs and symptoms as search terms online can lead to correct diagnosis approximately 57% of the time, however, concerns have been raised about individuals’ lack of training in dealing with available information and the possibility of mis-diagnosis. For the article in full see http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
New research examines effects of high intensity strength training:
Research by Professor Julien Baker at the University of Glamorgan using male weightlifters has shown that it can be counter-productive to spend hours at the gym, and that shorter work-outs can obtain the same strength benefits. The study, publicised in an article from efitness news, suggests that after high-intensity strength training muscles need more time to recover and become stronger. For an extended summary see http://www.glam.ac.uk/index.php or for the original article in full visit http://www.efitness.com/20_01_index.cfm
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Call for increased focus on ‘cancer lifestyle’:
Research presented at the National Cancer Research Institute conference has predicted that, without women making changes to their lifestyle, there will be 58,000 diagnosis of breast cancer a year by 2024, compared with 44,000 in the past year. Cancer Research UK has said that factors such as reducing long-term HRT use, reducing obesity, cutting down on drinking, and increasing exercise, could help to prevent up to 5,700 cases a year. However, the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer highlighted that other factors, such as genetics and even living environment also play a role, and emphasised the importance of attending regular screening. To read the report in full visit www.bbc.co.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Aber student wins BPS prize:
The Annual BPS Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology H.T.A. Whiting Undergraduate Dissertation Prize has been won by Christian Edwards, who graduated from Aberystwyth in 2007. Supervised by Dr David Tod, his dissertation examined ‘The effects of motivational and instructional self-talk on power production during the vertical jump test in University rugby union players’. For more information visit http://www.aber.ac.uk/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
UK city employs ‘obesity tsar’:
Birmingham City Council have employed an official with a specific remit to tackle childhood obesity in over 400 schools within the area. Dr Patrick Lowe will aim to reduce childhood obesity by working with schools and parents, as well as by coordinating community-level developments through planning and transport departments (e.g. creating more cycle paths). If the scheme is a success it could be introduced in cities across the UK . For more information visit the website via http://news.bbc.co.uk
Top Scientist proposes ethical code for British Researchers:
The government’s chief scientific advisor has presented a universal ethical code for scientists, which outlines seven principals that highlight the responsibilities and values of a scientific profession. The principals include respecting and acknowledging the work of other scientists, ensuring that research is justified and lawful, and more socially focussed ideals such as minimising the impact of research on people, animals and the environment and discussing the issues science raises for society. To read the article and code in full see: http://news.bbc.co.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Launch of BASES Position on 'Genetic Research and Testing in Sport and Exercise Science':
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) have launched their position stand on genetic testing in sport and exercise science. For more information or to read an executive summary or the whole position statement visit the BASES site at the following link: http://www.bases.org.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
Research from Swansea University shows benefits of ‘Ageing Well’:
A report into the national ‘Aging Well’ programme has been published by researchers from the School of Health Science at Swansea University. The Aging Well programme focuses on training volunteers aged over 50 to act as ‘health mentors’ to their peers and helps to support older people in accessing health and wellbeing services. The research report praises the positive impact of the programme on a number of factors, including improved social wellbeing, enhanced knowledge of health behaviours and increases in physical activity levels for participants. For a full report see the following link: http://www.swansea.ac.uk
North American Congress on Biomechanics 2008 Annual Meeting:
The 2008 North American Congress on Biomechanics (NACOB), a joint meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB) and Canadian Society for Biomechanics (CSB), will be held August 5-9, 2008, at the University of Michigan. For more details see the ASB website at: http://www.asbweb.org/
Emily Oliver, News editor.
BPS History of Psychiatry and Psychology Seminar Series this Autumn:
The British Psychological Society History of Psychology Centre, in conjunction with the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL, is hosting a series of seminars examining the History of Psychiatry and Psychology. Seminars titles include “ Why Was 1919 the Key Year in the Development of British Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis and Why Has Nobody Noticed this Fact?” and “The Subject of Influence: Brainwashing and Suggestion in Psychoanalysis, Sociology and Neurology”. For a full list of seminars and more information see http://www.bps.org.uk
New Web-based interactive tool for mapping Health data in Wales:
The Health Information Analysis Team at NHS Wales have developed a new interactive mapping tool which is available online. Health data for Wales is presented in user-friendly graphics, and allows users to select specific themes or indicators (e.g. proportion of current smokers) and view comparative rates across Wales. For the article in full see http://www.wales.nhs.uk
Emily Oliver, News editor.
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