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Evaluating AI adoption in healthcare: Insights from the information governance professionals in the United Kingdom.
No full textArtificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into healthcare to improve diagnostics, treatment planning, and operational efficiency. However, its adoption raises significant concerns related to data privacy, ethical integrity, and regulatory compliance. While much of the existing literature focuses on the clinical applications of AI, limited attention has been given to the perspectives of Information Governance (IG) professionals, who play a critical role in ensuring responsible and compliant AI implementation within healthcare systems. This study aims to explore the perceptions of IG professionals in Kent, United Kingdom, on the use of AI in healthcare delivery and research, with a focus on data governance, ethical considerations, and regulatory implications. A qualitative exploratory design was employed. Six IG professionals from NHS trusts in Kent were purposively selected based on their roles in compliance, data governance, and policy enforcement. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematically analysed using NVivo software, guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Thematic analysis revealed varying levels of AI knowledge among IG professionals. While participants acknowledged AI's potential to improve efficiency, they raised concerns about data accuracy, algorithmic bias, cybersecurity risks, and unclear regulatory frameworks. Participants also highlighted the importance of ethical implementation and the need for national oversight. AI offers promising opportunities in healthcare, but its adoption must be underpinned by robust governance structures. Enhancing AI literacy among IG teams and establishing clearer regulatory frameworks will be key to safe and ethical implementation. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
How microsampling is impacting pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic studies: volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS)
No full textMicrosampling, using minute amounts of biological specimen, is uniquely suited for carrying out human and animal pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic studies. Indeed, it provides important advantages over common blood-drawing procedures (e.g. increased analyte stability, simpler and cheaper storage and shipping, self-sampling possibility, reduced consumption of materials and animals) while also maintaining similar performance and result reliability. In the microsampling space, volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) is currently considered one of the most important and widespread technologies, thanks to its volume accuracy capabilities, making it natively suitable for quantitative analysis. In this review, an exhaustive treatment of pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic studies using VAMS is presented, as well as several examples of analytical methods prospectively enabling the employment of VAMS for the same purpose
Co-inference and collaboration: Empowering higher education staff and students through a GenAI literacy development framework based on mind-metaphor
No full textHigher education staff and students are yet to emerge from the liminal space created due to the exponential rise in Generative Artificial Intelligence technologies such as Large Language Models. Both groups exhibit a low or developing understanding of such tools. On one hand, staff in many institutions are concerned about critical skills development, plagiarism, ethical implications and long-term cognitive effects of the use of such tools. Equally, students are concerned about the acceptability of the use of such tools at university and work related GenAI skills. On the other hand, foundational large language models are being trained on larger and better data sets and have evolved into “reasoning” models that can allegedly “think”. Furthermore, with the emergence of agentic AI, systems that can “act” independently, claims of shifting agency away from humans to machines are common. This has implications for the world of work and for higher education institutions. This opinion piece presents a new framework that I have developed for enhancing GenAI literacy of staff and students and to empower them to learn and work with GenAI tools in a balanced, meaningful and collaborative way, whilst maintaining their agency. The Mind-Metaphors framework includes techniques such as: mind-surfing, mind-mending, mind-bending, mind-gaming, mind-storming and mind-stretching, which can help staff and students in developing trust in their chosen GenAI models and mastering collaborative GenAI use. I have developed and evaluated the framework iteratively during several one-to-one and one-to-many training sessions with over 250 academic and industry staff and with student representatives from various disciplines. I show how these mind-metaphors empower staff and students to emerge from the liminal space by developing their GenAI literacy and their agency when using GenAI. This work shows examples of co-inferring and collaborating with GenAI for learning, teaching and research and draws upon some of the concerns reported in literature. Implications for the world of work for students are also highlighted
Why apprentices drop out: Factors influencing the completion of apprenticeships in the Local London Region and how drop out rates might be reduced
No full textExecutive Summary
This mixed method study explores the factors related to the non-completion of apprenticeship courses in the Local London region. This is in line with the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) which specifically refers to the need to ‘direct system changes and training courses’ and to ‘make skills more accessible and address barriers to progression’ (LSIP, 2023. p.1). Local London comprises nine boroughs in the north-east and south-east of the capital. Across the area around 12-13,000 apprentices start every year, between 25-30,000 apprentices are on programme and between 5-10,000 complete every year
Xanomeline-trospium: defining its place among the current antipsychotic landscape
No full textProgress in the development of new and improved medications for psychosis has been notably slow and disappointing. The first treatment for schizophrenia was introduced in early 1950s and the majority of medications available today exclusively function through dopamine antagonism. The search for a new drug treatment with a different mechanism of action was extremely slow-paced mainly due to the limited understanding of the aetiology, pathophysiology and genetics of schizophrenia. Given the fact that a third of people do not respond to dopamine antagonists, there is a clear need for an antipsychotic with a different mechanism of action. In 2024, FDA approved a new medication for psychosis branded as Cobenfy. This xanomeline-trospium combination works via cholinergic pathway and the dual M1 and M4 receptor activation helps regulates dopaminergic and glutaminergic neurotransmission as well, thereby restoring balance in these circuits. Acetylcholine also helps improve cognitive processing including attention, learning and sensory gating. In this article, we try to understand the place of this unique drug in the antipsychotic ladder. We also explore the clinical scenarios where this medication can be effective as well as the potential future outlook when it comes to the treatment of schizophrenia
Agnostic biomarkers and molecular signatures in colorectal cancer—Guiding chemotherapy and predicting response
No full textThe concept of agnostic biomarkers—molecular modifications that guide therapy irrespective of tumor origin—has gained increasing relevance in oncology, including colorectal cancer (CRC). This review aims to critically evaluate the role of such biomarkers in CRC, highlighting their clinical significance as therapeutic targets and indicators of prognosis. Through a PubMed search using the terms “agnostic treatment AND colorectal cancer,” eight key studies were identified and qualitatively analyzed. We focus on several biomarkers commonly regarded as agnostic across tumor types, including BRAF V600E mutation, receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and PI3K fusions, the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), high tumor mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). These markers are inspected for their prevalence in CRC, underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of cancer promotion, and predictive or prognostic implications. Moreover, we integrate findings from broader oncologic studies to contextualize the evolving role of agnostic biomarkers beyond organ-specific paradigms. Emerging evidence suggests that leveraging these molecular signatures may inform the use of targeted and immunotherapeutic agents as first-line options in select CRC populations. Collectively, agnostic biomarkers represent an auspicious avenue for personalizing CRC treatment, particularly in advanced-stage disease where traditional treatment options remain limited
Athletes with intellectual impairments and their support personnel’s experience of anti-doping
No full textNo research has specifically examined the anti-doping experiences of athletes with intellectual impairments. We responded to this gap by interviewing athletes and their support personnel (e.g., parents and coaches) about their experience of anti-doping policy and practice. International athletes (N = 10; 20% female) with intellectual impairments and their support personnel (N = 16; 50% female) volunteered to participate in the study. Using an interpretive paradigm, participants attended an online, semi-structured interview. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and three higher order themes were created. First, while athletes had an awareness of anti-doping and believed it was important to stop cheating, they found it difficult to understand more complex anti-doping policies and practices and questioned why they themselves needed to be drug tested. Second, anti-doping education was inaccessible and as a result, many reported negative emotional distress during drug testing and great difficulty engaging with educational resources. Finally, a number of best practices were outlined for those with intellectual impairments, which included ensuring anti-doping control staff are empathetic and considerate of the athletes’ needs, shortening, simplifying and repeating educational sessions over the year, and educating support personnel alongside their athlete to offer help throughout the season. In conclusion, anti-doping policy and practice needs to be adapted and tailored for athletes with intellectual impairments to help increase their understanding of their anti-doping rights and responsibilities and in turn, ensure their well-being
Closing the gap in engineering education: A positive psychology approach to CDIO
No full textUniversity engineering education aims to equip students with the technical and employability skills sought by employers. This often requires resilience, teamwork, and adaptability to succeed in collaborative, real-world projects. The CDIO (Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate) framework provides a solid foundation for fostering these competencies. However, student well-being and engagement remain underexplored and pedagogically underdeveloped within engineering curricula. This paper introduces the "Together Empowered" project, a Royal Academy of Engineering-funded initiative addressing equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) challenges in engineering education through Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs). The project integrates workshops, mentorship, and real-world problem-solving to enhance the psychological and professional competencies of students from diverse backgrounds. A five-phase implementation process was adopted, including EDI awareness training, industry collaboration, structured positive psychology activities, and evaluations using qualitative and quantitative methods. Findings demonstrated significant improvements in student well-being across the PERMA dimensions (positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment), with a 30% increase in positive emotions and substantial gains in engagement and relationships between the start and end of the module. Students also reported improved communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Additionally, the project fostered a stronger sense of belonging and cultural sensitivity, supporting retention and progression within engineering degree programs. The integration of PPIs and EDI principles within the CDIO framework not only enhanced academic outcomes but also bridged the gap between academia and industry. The paper concludes by discussing the broader implications of these findings for creating inclusive, supportive learning environments that prepare students to contribute meaningfully to society and achieve sustainable career success in engineering
Linguistics, media discourse and multimodality
No full textThis invited lecture introduces key concepts in multimodality and social semiotics, before looking at how these can be applied to investigate media discourse
Critical reflections and future perspectives on research in arts and health: Network meeting and conference 3-4 April 2025 Salzburg, Austria
No full textThe inaugural meeting of the International Network for the Critical Appraisal for Arts and Health Research (INCAAHR) took place in person and online on 3 April 2025, followed by a one-day conference in person and online on 4 April 2025. The background for these meetings lies in a series of papers published between 2021-24 by us and a growing number of colleagues of INCAAHR internationally, identifying concerns with the quality and accuracy of research and evidence reviews in the field of arts and health (Clift et al., 2021, 2022, 2024; Grebosz-Haring et al., 2022, 2023; Kaasgaard et al., 2024). The goal of these two events was to reflect on recent developments in the field. We aimed to raise the profile of arts and health, and arts in medicine across Austria, while also learning from good practice internationally and from recent developments in the United States and the UK, supported by the World Health Organization. It appeared timely to us to engage in a balanced and constructive discussion concerning the current state of research in arts for health.
The conference was organised by the Interuniversity Organisation Science & Arts (University of Salzburg and Mozarteum University Salzburg), and we were aided in the planning and running of the two events by staff at Salzburg Global/Health Programs, and Salzburg Institute for Arts in Medicine. We had the pleasure of meeting at Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg, home of the von Trapp family in The Sound of Music