Pharmaceutical Scientist with ~20y experience in Product Development, Head of Bioscience at UEL, Deputy Editor-in-Chief @bjpharmacy
London, England
Joined October 2014
- Tweets3.4K
- Following705
- Followers751
- Likes347
Pinned Tweet
Toxic/contaminated cough syrups have caused tragic incidents worldwide. To address this global health crisis, we present rapid, low-cost field assays for detecting ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) in raw materials and medicinal syrups.
nature.com/articles/s41598-0…
Pleased to speak with @BBC Radio about the #Wegovy tablets.
The availability of an oral option represents an important step forward, providing greater choice for people seeking support with weight management.
🎧 Listen the segment from 36 min, bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002y8…
@UEL_News
England needs a phased national catch-up programme for #MenB to ensure equitable and effective protection for all adolescents. #Meningitis preventable deaths – even if few – are unacceptable when an effective vaccine exists.
@MeningitisNow @M_R_F @UKHSA
uel.ac.uk/year-health/expert…
#MenB is the cause of current outbreak in Kent. All cases in 15-19 years old in 2024/25 were also caused by MenB. Should NHS consider a MenB vaccine catchup program for adolescents who didn’t had it in their infancy? MenB was only introduced from 2015! #meningitis
Hamid Merchant retweeted
Meningitis symptoms can develop quickly, so it’s important to act immediately if you spot them.
More info ➡️ nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis…
ALT Meningitis symptoms. A rash will not always appear. Symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include:
ALT Symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include: a high temperature (fever), being sick, a headache, a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop), a stiff neck, a dislike of bright lights, drowsiness or unresponsiveness, seizures (fits)
ALT Call 999 or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis. Trust your instincts. Do not wait for all the symptoms to appear or until a rash develops. Someone with meningitis or sepsis can get a lot worse very quickly.
Hamid Merchant retweeted
Number of children with high blood pressure around the world doubles in 20 years
Rising obesity seen as key to the rise of the ‘silent killer’ among those under 19
@benfarmerDT reports
telegraph.co.uk/global-healt…
A consortium of multidisciplinary researchers pioneer tech that detects toxic cough syrups, aiming to protect vulnerable communities across the globe. @UEL_News
uel.ac.uk/about-uel/news/202…
doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2025.…
NHS England invites 75–80-year-olds for their first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine but not those in their 80s. In this article we provide a case for over 80s who are at the most risk from RSV among elderly. doi.org/10.1080/20523211.202…
Offering vaccines to under-80’s for free on NHS, while asking over-80s to wait or take it privately, goes against the ethos of NHS. Why should not those in their 80s be included too?doi.org/10.1080/20523211.202…
BBC investigation has exposed a pharma company fuelling West Africa’s opioid crisis for business. Here is the report: @BBCNews @BBCIndia bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/b…
Watch the full documentary at @BBCWorld News Africa:
youtu.be/ji6tjiRjbok
This investigation then prompted intelligence in Pakistan and resulted in largest drug seizures in the history of Pakistan, details here: thenews.com.pk/print/1286559… @thenews_intl
Hamid Merchant retweeted
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN: Chief Pharmaceutical Officer's Clinical Fellow Scheme. Proudly sponsored by @davidwebb_1 at @NHSEngland.
Apply now: fmlm.ac.uk/CFS-CPO
Paracetamol 500 mg tablets recall. Tablets incorrectly packaged as Aspirin 300 mg. Manufacturer have confirmed that the pack does contain Paracetamol 500 mg tablets - it's the incorrect foil used during packaging. gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/cl… @BootsUK @rpharms @MHRAgovuk @TheGPhC
Hamid Merchant retweeted
Fake vaccines threaten global health and are hard to detect. But now, UEL and a consortium led by University of Oxford have published a new way to identify fake vaccines. 💉
Read more 👉 uel.ac.uk/about-uel/news/202… @UniofOxford #UELYearofHealth
ALT Scientist using a pipette in a laboratory. Text reads 'News', 'UEL supports new research to identify fake vaccines'.
Hamid Merchant retweeted
ICYMI: The GPhC Council has agreed to introduce enhanced processes to quality assure the education and training of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and the wider pharmacy team. Find out more >> tinyurl.com/48by7e4v
Diets higher in inflammatory foods were linked to increased dementia risk in older adults in a study over 10 years.
alz-journals.onlinelibrary.w…
Government launches a new independent review of Physician Associate and Anaesthesia Associate Professions, chaired by Professor Gillian Leng CBE.
@DHSCgovuk
gov.uk/government/news/new-r…
This review aims to address the concerns over transparency for patients and Scope of Practice for these professions. Some of these concerns over time have led to a very toxic debate and an atmosphere where doctors feel ignored and PAs feel very demoralised.
This review is very much needed to address these issues in time for the @gmcuk regulation of these roles to begin from 13th Dec 2024.