Natalie Healey
Science/health journalist
Natalie Healey is a freelance journalist, editor and medical writer. She writes about science, health, social care and society for Nature, Wired, Scientific American and more.
Nature
Tumor infiltrating lymphocyte approval heralds new era for precision cancer immunotherapy
FDA approval of Iovance’s lifileucel for melanoma shows the promise of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for the treatment of solid tumors, with trials ongoing for lung cancer, cervical cancer and more.
evidence.nihr.ac.uk
Researching long COVID: addressing a new global health challenge
Long COVID is a new disease with many unanswered questions. This uncertainty creates huge challenges for patients and clinicians.
NIHR asked me to write a report summarising the portfolio of research it is funding to improve our understanding of - and find treatments for - long COVID.
cancergrandchallenges.org
A better understanding of how chronic inflammation drives lung cancer
Inflammation coaxes lung epithelial cells to be replaced by those more commonly seen in other organs - a clinically relevant event that can be studied using accurate in vitro models of the human lung.
raconteur.net
How Covid-19 rocked rare disease communities
People living with rare and complicated health conditions have experienced more challenges than most during the pandemic. However, emerging remote health services offer new opportunities
Nature
The mouth’s curative superpowers
Wounds in the mouth heal faster than in skin — and without scarring. Could unravelling the mechanisms that drive regeneration in the oral cavity lead to better wound therapies?
Wired UK
The science that could help you live to 100
This is what we’ve learnt from worms, fruit flies and centenarians about defying the steady march of time
raconteur.net
Does big pharma’s R&D justify high drug prices?
It’s easy to attack pharmaceutical giants for their eye-watering profits, but list prices for new medicines don’t give the full picture
thelowdown.com
What’s the best contraceptive pill for acne?
Birth control can help or hinder your dreams of clear skin. Find out how each type of contraception affects acne – and the best way to treat it
Wired UK
How to use science to focus at work
Neuroscience can help you beat the sea of distractions whether you’re headed back to the office or still working from home
raconteur.net
Ovarian cancer screening disappoints, but lessons remain
A trial found that ovarian cancer screening doesn’t save lives, but the research still taught experts much about the disease
Reader's Digest
Sexual bereavement: The grief we don’t talk about
We’re getting better at acknowledging that sex in later life is important, but grieving for physical intimacy when a partner dies is rarely spoken about
rosloverseas.org.uk
Nobody is safe until everyone is safe - Overseas Online
COVAX is the international effort for sharing Covid vaccines with the world’s poorer countries. But could more be done by rich nations to ensure that recovery from the pandemic is more equitable? Natalie Healey investigates.
Nature
Is there more to a healthy-heart diet than cholesterol?
A high-fat diet is thought to increase the risk of a heart attack. But some say that the long-held dogma of ‘bad’ cholesterol might be flawed.
raconteur.net
The challenges facing the NHS during COVID and beyond
The British public holds the NHS in high regard, but leaders must address a number of major challenges if it is to meet the country’s growing medical needs
raconteur.net
The real dangers of vaccine hesitancy
A coronavirus vaccine is on the way, but a big challenge will be convincing vaccine-hesitant people to have it and combating misinformation about the jab