Running Mad Professor

06/11/2026

Sharing this opportunity from the RCP for members and fellows currently considering a research project.

The Whitney-Wood Scholarship offers up to £50,000 in funding, with applications particularly encouraged for research focused on cancer.

More details on eligibility and how to apply below.

Whitney-Wood Scholarship: up to £50,000 in research funding 🔬

Applications are open for the Whitney-Wood Scholarship, offering funding of up to £50,000 for research in health and medicine.

Applications focused on improving our understanding and management of cancer are especially encouraged.

The scholarship supports projects lasting up to 12 months full time, or the part-time equivalent.

Applicants must be subscribing members or fellows of the RCP.

👉 Find out more and apply: https://ow.ly/stV850ZEqQ4

05/11/2026

Shamonda virus has now been detected in Great Britain for the first time, with cases identified in cattle on two dairy farms in Wales and England.

The development follows the first confirmed human infection, reported in France in October, and brings the virus closer to home.

Shamonda virus is thought to be spread primarily by biting midges and has been detected in livestock across several European countries during 2026.

So what does this mean for human health?

At present, only one human infection has been confirmed worldwide. UK health authorities consider the risk to the general population to be very low, and there is currently no evidence of wider human transmission or a food safety risk.

Nevertheless, its detection in UK livestock highlights the importance of continued surveillance and collaboration between animal and human health experts.

I'm quoted in The Guardian's article, sharing insight into the first reported human infection.

Read the article: www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/shamonda-virus-detected-in-human-first-time-france

Investigations under way to determine whether virus normally found in livestock contributed to man’s death

04/11/2026

There's still time to apply!

The deadline for the President's Bursary places at RCP Med+ 2026 has been extended to Sunday 8 November.

Find out more about the bursaries and how to apply on the link below.

📅 New deadline: 11.59pm GMT, Sunday 8 November 2026.

President's bursary places for UK medical students at RCP Med+

Working alongside the British Medical Association Medical Students Committee we are offering up to 5 in-person places and 15 online places for UK medical students to attend RCP Med+ 2026, in support of widening participation in medicine (https://ow.ly/fc0H5101BtE).

RCP Med+ 2026 takes place on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 November 2026 at RCP Regent's Park, London and online. This is limited to conference tickets only, those successful in receiving an in-person place will need to self-fund their travel and accommodation if required. The tickets are non-transferable.

Places will be offered on an application basis, and applicants will be scored on specific criteria.

📅Deadline extended: apply by Sunday 8 November 2026 (11.59pm GMT)

Find out more and apply: https://ow.ly/7aUP5101BtF

04/11/2026

I've been involved in research into herpes simplex virus encephalitis for many years, including work looking at the importance of early diagnosis and prompt antiviral treatment.

It's encouraging to see further research highlighting just how important timely treatment and continued follow-up are for patients.

Thank you to Encephalitis International for sharing these findings.

New research suggests that faster antiviral treatment is linked to better survival in herpes simplex virus encephalitis. 🧠

A Danish study of 154 adults also found that diagnosis was often delayed, and that close follow-up after leaving hospital matters.

Read our blog on the findings via the link: https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/82/6/e1384/8495099?login=false

To read our factsheet on herpes simplex virus encephalitis, click here: https://www.encephalitis.info/types-of-encephalitis/infectious-encephalitis/herpes-simplex-virus-encephalitis/

03/11/2026

🌍 Med+ 2026 is bringing the world of medicine together!

From across the UK and around the world, it’s exciting to see where our delegates will be joining us from for the RCP’s largest specialty conference.

📍 Our bespoke conference platform offers delegates the opportunity to access expert-led learning and practical insights from more than 15 specialties, wherever they are in the world.

Can’t join us on 23-24 November? Don’t worry, all tickets come with on demand access to all conference content until February 2027, so that you really can learn anywhere and at anytime that suits you.

🎟️ Book your place: https://rcpconferences.co.uk/med-plus-2026/book-now

29/10/2026

Preparing for the next pandemic starts long before it happens.

At The Pandemic Institute we bring together expertise from academia, healthcare, industry and civic organisations to help strengthen our ability to predict, prepare for and respond to future pandemics.

Liverpool has a wealth of research expertise and a strong track record of collaboration, including pioneering approaches to community testing and pilot events during COVID-19.

We’re keen to connect with organisations who share our ambition to improve pandemic preparedness and build a more resilient future.

Find out more about working with us: https://www.thepandemicinstitute.org/collaborate/

28/10/2026

How is artificial intelligence changing the role of a doctor – and what does it mean for the future of medicine?

At RCP Med+ 26 on Monday 23 November, I’ll be chairing the Goulstonian Lecture, where Dr Dr. Lennard Lee FRCP will explore this fascinating and timely question.

I’ll also be joining Professor Mumtaz Patel, President of the Royal College of Physicians to open the conference.

Looking forward to two days of discussion, ideas and debate about the future of medicine.

Join us in person or online on 23–24 November.

Book your place: https://rcpconferences.co.uk/med-plus-2026

26/10/2026

How might the 2026–27 El Niño affect infectious disease risks in the UK?

A new editorial in the Journal of Infection, co-authored by colleagues from the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections and the NIHR HPRU in Climate Change and Health Security, explores the potential implications for UK infection services.

The main concern is the possible impact on infections among returning travellers, including vector-borne and enteric infections. The authors highlight the importance of proportionate vigilance and being prepared to recognise changing risks.

Our previous work has explored the potential for West Nile virus to reach the UK – a reminder of the value of looking ahead to emerging infection threats.

Read the editorial here:

22/10/2026

These figures make for sobering reading.

New research published in The Lancet Public Health has found that death rates among 25–49-year-olds in the North of England were 42% higher than in the South in 2024. In 1981, that gap was 13%.

The divide has more than tripled in four decades, and the findings show that the gap is widening among working-age adults, particularly women.

This isn’t simply a healthcare issue. Understanding and tackling the wider factors that shape health – from deprivation and housing to employment and opportunity – must be part of the response.

We need to understand why these inequalities persist, and turn robust evidence into meaningful action.

Read more about the research from University of Liverpool

Death rates among 25–49-year-olds 42% higher in the North than the South of England

21/10/2026

Are you a UK-based neurologist, neurology trainee or SAS doctor, or considering a career in neurology?

A new national survey is exploring UK neurology professionals’ exposure to ‘global neurology’ during training and professional practice, their views on its place in UK neurology, and the barriers and priorities they perceive.

Global neurology involves equitable clinical, education, research and health-systems partnerships to improve brain health worldwide, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

The survey is open to doctors at all career stages, including pre-specialty-training doctors planning a career in neurology, specialty trainees, post-CCT fellows, SAS doctors, and consultant neurologists, including academic and retired consultants.

It takes just 3–5 minutes to complete and is completely anonymous. No previous involvement in global neurology is needed.

🔗 Take part in the survey: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/F1JDpp4vvu

Please share with your UK neurology colleagues.