Running Mad Professor

11/06/2026

Great to see the rollout of the MMRV vaccine being explained so clearly here. A combined vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella is a really positive step for routine childhood immunisation.

Please click through on the UKHSA link to learn more.

10/06/2026

Good to see this work focusing on how health systems can maintain essential services through climate shocks, conflict, and wider crises.

As highlighted in relation to El Niño risks, these pressures are becoming increasingly interconnected. Similar challenges were evident when discussing the Ebola outbreak in the DRC recently, where system resilience is critical to effective response and recovery.

As the UN warns of a possible strong El Niño event later this year, health systems around the world face increasing pressure from climate-related shocks.

Researchers at LSTM's Institute for Resilient Health Systems are working with partners across Africa, Asia and the Middle East to understand how health systems can continue delivering care through climate shocks, conflict and crisis.

Read more: https://lstm.ac/elnino

09/06/2026

Earlier this year at the Royal College of Physicians Medicine 2026 conference, we had a fascinating discussion on the future of AI in the NHS with Anne Kinderlerer, Alastair Denniston and Jessica Rose Morley, PhD.

One statistic from that session has stayed with me: 70% of physicians believe AI can improve healthcare, yet 68% feel the NHS is still not digitally ready to realise its full potential.

The challenge is no longer whether AI will become part of clinical practice - it already is. The real question is how we ensure its adoption is safe, effective, equitable and genuinely beneficial for patients.

That means addressing some of the issues we discussed at RCP: interoperability, governance, workforce training, digital infrastructure and building systems that support rather than replace clinical judgement.

These are exactly the conversations that need to continue, which is why the upcoming RCR Global AI Conference is so timely. Innovation alone is not enough. Success will depend on how well we translate technological advances into better care, better experiences for patients and better outcomes across the health service.

hashtag

AI is reshaping clinical practice. Are you ready to support its safe adoption and integration?

Lock in your spot for the Conference. Savings end tomorrow at 23:59 (BST). Book now: https://rcraiconference.com/2026/pages/fees

Here is what’s waiting for you:

⭐5 dynamic streams covering safe and practical AI - from foundations to the frontline

⭐100+ talks packed with real-world clinical insights and live Q&A

⭐100 Global AI experts and keynote speakers sharing pioneering strategies

⭐20 innovative AI exhibitors showcasing next-gen tools

⭐50+ CPD credits and 30 days on-demand access

⭐Immersive fringe events including a Clinical Escape Room, silent symposium, innovation zone and exclusive networking reception & more!

05/06/2026

Congratulations to everyone involved in securing approval for the new University of Liverpool campus in Bengaluru, which received its Letter of Approval from the Government of India this week at an event attended by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and senior ministers from both countries. This is a fantastic development for both the UK and India.

I have worked in Bengaluru since the early 2000s (when it was still Bangalore!) in partnership with National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru. It is a brilliant place to work - home to fantastic scientists, highly motivated teachers, and incredibly dedicated healthcare professionals.

Bengaluru is one of the world's great centres for innovation, research and education. This new campus represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen academic links, foster new research collaborations, and help develop the next generation of scientists, clinicians and global leaders.

I look forward to seeing the impact it will have in the years ahead.

https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2026/06/05/bengaluru-campus-receives-approval-from-government-of-india-at-event-attended-by-uk-foreign-secretary/

Government of India approves Bengaluru campus at event attended by UK foreign secretary

04/06/2026

04/06/2026

The Call for Abstracts for Encephalitis Conference 2026 is still open! 🧠

If you have been working on encephalitis research and are ready to share your findings, this is your opportunity to present to a global community of encephalitis professionals and advocates.

Submit your abstract, help shape the future of encephalitis research, and compete for the Best Presentation and Best Poster prize. 🏆

Every submission takes us one step closer to better outcomes for people living with encephalitis around the world. Don't miss your chance to be part of that story. 💙

🔗 Submit here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7UKsvTiLykWXkJOtslcAkjv33vRfQqdNoPorLojXuBFURENSRDk2RFJDWFNJUUxONDdFMUU0R1MxTC4u"

03/06/2026

Pastries. Bacon. Hans Christian Andersen.

And, of course, some outstanding discussions on the diagnosis and treatment of neurological infections.

If you're interested in CNS infections and the latest developments in diagnosis, management, and long-term outcomes, do join us in Denmark this September for the ESCMID ESGIB course - 'Diagnosis and treatment of CNS infections'.

The programme covers everything from CSF interpretation to difficult-to-treat CNS infections and emerging therapies.

Registration details here: https://www.escmid.org/event-detail/diagnosis-and-treatment-of-cns-infections/

02/06/2026

Are you a clinician-researcher with a translational research project that could make a real difference to patient care?

The Dwyer-Hart RCP Medical Research Grant is currently open for applications, offering up to £60,000 in funding to support a 12-month research project focused on bridging scientific discovery and real-world healthcare delivery. Projects from all areas of health and medicine are welcome, provided they demonstrate a clear pathway to tangible patient benefit.

The grant is open to eligible Royal College of Physicians members and fellows based at UK academic or clinical institutions and is designed to support impactful, clinician-led translational research.

⏳ Application deadline: Sunday 7 June 2026, 23:59

For researchers looking to advance innovative ideas from bench to bedside, this is an excellent opportunity to secure funding and contribute to improving patient outcomes.

For full details and application information, visit: https://www.rcp.ac.uk/membership/research-funding-prizes-and-lectureships/the-dwyer-hart-rcp-medical-research-grant/

The Dwyer-Hart RCP medical research grant has been established through the generous support of the Dwyer-Hart medical research charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) to support impactful research and create a lasting legacy for patient benefit.

01/06/2026

Ever struggled with a patient with a brain infection? Then the NeuroID course is for you!

The Liverpool Neurological Infectious Diseases Course (NeuroID) is an approved 2-day CPD course aimed at clinicians of all grades (including medical students) working in Adult and Paediatric Neurology, Infectious Diseases, Acute Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Medical Microbiology who want to update their knowledge and improve their skills.

The NeuroID has taken place every year in Liverpool since 2007, and has now trained more than 1000 delegates from 40 countries. Delivered by experts in the field, the course, has been oversubscribed every year.

We now have the last few places remaining for 17th and 18th June!

Learn more here - https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/neuroidcourse/

28/05/2026

I spent most of Medicine 2026 dashing between parallel sessions trying to hear everything - from the impact of TikTok and ChatGPT on symptom-based disorders, to lessons from RCP invited reviews, to global health challenges at mass gatherings like the Hajj.

Thankfully, the catch-up sessions are now available on MedPlayer, so you can watch the ones you missed (or revisit the best bits properly this time). You won’t want to miss them!