Research Themes

Join the WISDOM Schools Research Network this Children’s Mental Health Week

9th February 2026

9–15 February 2026 Children’s Mental Health Week has been empowering the voices of children and young people since it began in 2015, raising awareness of the importance of their wellbeing…

Study tests whether deep brain stimulation can treat chronic pain

2nd February 2026

The first three patients have undergone revolutionary brain surgery in a bid to treat the chronic pain they have experienced since suffering a stroke. A research study by Oxford neurosurgeons…

Public contributors draw up recommendations for involving underserved communities in research

20th January 2026

A group of patient and public involvement contributors have developed some key recommendations for researchers when engaging with under-served communities, including ensuring that the right people were involved, building relationships…

60 seconds with… Dr Shaun Davidson, BRC: Oxford Health Better Sleep Theme researcher

16th January 2026

In the latest of our 60 seconds interview series, we spoke with Dr Shaun Davidson Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC: Oxford Health) Better Sleep Theme researcher, and Postdoctoral Research Associate in…

Latest updates from our BRC

15th January 2026

January’s newsletter bring a fresh roundup of updates, research highlights, and news from us and our partners at BRC: Oxford Health. In this first edition for 2026, discover what’s shaping…

Night-time changes in metabolism may be driving common liver disease

14th January 2026

Researchers at the University of Oxford have discovered that the most common liver disease follows a strong day-night pattern, and the metabolic changes that drive the disease are most pronounced…

New animation explains 5 principles of good sleep health

13th January 2026

The start of a new year prompts many of us to reflect on our bad habits and instil better ones, particularly with regards to our health. While the longer evenings leave many…

New NIHR Oxford Senior Research Fellows announced

12th January 2026

Eight mid-career researchers identified as having the potential to become future translational research leaders have been appointed as the next cohort of NIHR Oxford Senior Research Fellows. The selection process was a coordinated effort by…

BRC: Oxford Health signs HRA Shared Commitment to Public Involvement

9th January 2026

Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC: Oxford Health) has joined more than thirty national health organisations in pledging to improve public involvement in health and social care research. Recently, BRC:…

Stopping weight-loss drugs linked to faster regain than ending diet programmes

8th January 2026

Research supported by researchers in our Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre Preventing Multiple Morbidities Theme has found that people tend to regain weight rapidly after stopping weight-loss drugs, and faster than after ending behavioural weight loss programmes. The findings of a new…

From insight to impact at Oxford Health R&D 2025

6th January 2026

Introduction Across Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s research infrastructures, the Trust’s Research and Delivery teams, the NIHR Oxford Health Clinical Research Facility (CRF: Oxford Health), NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC: Oxford Health) and the NIHR Mental Health Translational…

Three Years of Impact – BRC: Oxford Health and NIHR MH-TRC driving mental health research

18th December 2025

For the last 3 years, the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC): Oxford Health has been at the forefront of innovation in brain and mental health research in the UK, working…

New study offers breakthrough in detecting risk for psychosis and bipolar disorders

16th December 2025

A study published recently in The Lancet Psychiatry has unveiled a new approach to identifying individuals at risk of developing psychotic disorders or bipolar disorder. Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia,…

Celebrating Nurses, Midwives, Allied Health Professionals, Pharmacists, and Psychologists at BRC: Oxford Health

15th December 2025

NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC): Oxford Health has launched a dedicated page showcasing the profiles of Nurses, Midwives, Allied Health Professionals, Pharmacists, and Psychologists (NMAHPPs) who are driving mental and brain health research. The new NMAHPPs Staff Profiles…

Simple scoring system could help clinicians identify possible cases of NMDAR-antibody encephalitis

12th December 2025

Scientists have identified a key set of symptoms and developed a scoring system to help clinicians in frontline medical and mental health services consider the possibility of a rare form…

New study reveals how gut bacteria influence antidepressant effectiveness

4th December 2025

New findings of a study looking into the complex relationship between antidepressants and the gut microbiome offers fresh insights into how gut bacteria may shape the success of depression treatments….

Art, science, and lived experience: a new lens on chronic pain

3rd December 2025

Recently, the official launch of What We Carry, a collaborative art-science project led by artist Marysa Dowling was celebrated at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The project explores the…

Driving change in mental health care: BRC: Oxford Health in focus

2nd December 2025

The Oxford Academic Health Partners (OAHP) recently published a spotlight feature on Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC: Oxford Health), in conversation with our Director Professor Rachel Upthegrove MBE. The…

BRC: Oxford Health researchers named among Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers 2025

28th November 2025

Congratulations to eight leading academics affiliated with BRC: Oxford Health who have been recognised in Clarivate’s prestigious Highly Cited Researchers 2025 list, which identifies the world’s most influential scientists whose…

MSc in Pain Neurosciences – advancing research and clinical insight

21st November 2025

The University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN) has launched the MSc in Pain Neurosciences, designed to equip researchers and clinicians with a rigorous understanding of pain mechanisms…

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