Director DDS Business Enablement & Implementation

Oxford Population Health researcher recognised for contribution to brain imaging research. 15 June 2026 Thomas Nichols, Professor of Neuroimaging Statistics at Oxford Population Health, has been named a 2026 Fellow of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) for his leadership in the field of brain imaging research over more than 20 years. OHBM is an international society dedicated to advancing the study of the human brain through the use of neuroimaging. Being named an OHBM Fellow is an honour bestowed on members who have demonstrated academic and intellectual leadership in their disciplines over an extended period of time. Nichols joined Oxford Population Health in 2017 from the University of Warwick, after serving as Director of Modelling and Genetics at GlaxoSmithKline's Clinical Imaging Centre in London. He is the Associate Head (Innovation and Training) at the Big Data Institute. His work focuses on developing advanced statistical and machine learning methods for brain image data. He is known for bringing advanced statistical methodology to brain imaging and making it accessible to non-statistician users of neuroimaging. His current work includes developing methodology for population scale neuroimaging data, neuroimaging meta-analysis and neuroimaging genetics. Nichols said: OHBM has played a central role in my career. The annual OHBM meeting is where I introduce new statistical methods to neuroscientists and where, in turn, I learn about the latest brain imaging technologies and how neuroscientists use them to understand the brain. I'm incredibly honoured by this recognition. He was inducted as a Fellow at OHBM's Annual Meeting in Bordeaux, France on 14 June and joins 17 existing Fellows. 23 June 2026 Zhengming Chen receives ERC Advanced Grant for research exploring obesity, metabolic disease and health across diverse populations. 23 June 2026 New study reveals why some people defy genetic expectations, offering insights into rare diseases and future treatments. 17 June 2026 A large study has found that resurfacing the kneecap during total knee replacement is likely to be the most cost-effective approach for patients and healthcare systems.

Claimed hep B cure in chinese deal. 13 May 2026 Pharmaceutical giant GSK has announced that it has entered into an exclusive collaboration with the Hong Kong-based pharma company Sino Biopharmaceutical to sell in mainland China, a chronic hepatitis B drug which is still under review in many health jurisdictions. China is a growing market for pharmaceutical products and with a third of the world's hepatitis B cases (more than 70 million people are living with hepatitis B in China) there will potentially be a huge demand for bepirovirsen, the product in the agreement. In January Community News reported on this potential hepatitis B cure, which GSK claimed was showing positive results in phase-III trials as a treatment for chronic hepatitis B. GSK claimed that bepirovirsen demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful functional cure rate for HBV, which would be a dramatic development. Frustratingly, the actual research data itself remains unreleased outside of broad details in media releases and PR articles. GSK maintains that the full results of their research will be presented at the end of May at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) congress. In the meantime, bepirovirsen is being reviewed by regulatory bodies in under way in the EU, Japan and the US, and is currently being assessed by China's National Medical Products Administration. At the moment the available treatments for hepatitis B often require lifelong therapy and the functional cure rates remain low, with only a few percent of patients reaching this point. Functional cure for chronic hepatitis B is defined as being when the virus can no longer be detected in the blood, as measured by the sustained loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (a viral protein that signals ongoing infection) and undetectable hepatitis B virus DNA for at least 24 weeks after a finite course of treatment finishes. This allows the immune system to control the infection without further medication. Functional cure is associated with significant reduction in the risk of long-term liver complications, including liver cancer, as well as other associated health problems. According to GSK, the functional cure from bepirovirsen was achieved in over 1,800 patients from 29 countries. Hepatitis SA keenly await the release of the full data for more details. Last updated 15 May 2026

WEST, OnSide and GSK partner to inspire the next generation in STEM. Home - uncategorized - WEST, OnSide and GSK partner to inspire the next generation in STEM. WEST Youth Zone, company is proud to announce a new partnership with GSK, uniting its shared ambition to inspire young people and open up opportunities in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). As a global biopharma company, GSK, will support the partnership with the creation of dedicated Maker Zones at Unitas, Barnet Youth Zone and WEST, Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zone. These zones will provide engaging and accessible spaces where young people can explore STEM through hands-on activities. Alongside this, a pilot programme of intensive STEM workshops will be delivered in May and October, in collaboration with The Franklin Institute, a renowned science and technology learning museum in Philadelphia, USA. Experts will travel from the United States to work directly with young people and train Youth Zone staff, helping to embed high-quality STEM provision for the long term. This partnership builds on a longstanding relationship between GSK and WEST, which began in 2018, and marks an exciting new phase as WEST Youth Zone, company work with OnSide to expand the reach and impact of this initiative. By combining GSK's expertise and commitment to science with OnSide's national network of Youth Zones, this programme aims to make STEM relevant, exciting and achievable for all young people, particularly those who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities. Stephanie Dean, Director of Programmes, Charitable Investments at GSK said: "Through engaging, practical activities that make scientific concepts tangible, our partnership helps students explore the range of STEM careers available to them. Science drives what we do at GSK every day, and we're delighted to support and inspire future scientists. Activities like the 'Be a Chemist' programme will introduce young people to a range of real-world STEM careers, helping to broaden horizons and raise aspirations." Employee engagement is also a key focus, with colleagues from three GSK sites volunteering their time. They will bring additional skills, insight and inspiration to young people participating in the programme. Looking ahead, its ambition is to develop a scalable model that can be rolled out across the wider OnSide Network, reaching thousands more young people and helping to build a more inclusive future STEM workforce. Jamie Masraff, CEO at OnSide said: "We're incredibly grateful to GSK for their support and commitment to helping young people access opportunities in STEM. Through our Youth Zones, we're creating spaces where young people can discover what they're capable of, and by bringing STEM to life in a hands-on, accessible way, this programme will open up new possibilities and future pathways. We're proud to be working with GSK, Unitas and WEST to inspire the next generation and help more young people find their passion and their purpose."