Publisher Health

McGill University researchers have developed an artificial intelligence tool that can detect previously invisible disease markers inside single cells.
In a study published in Nature Communications, the researchers demonstrate how the tool, called DOLPHIN, could one day be used by doctors to catch diseases earlier and guide treatment options.
“This tool has the potential to help doctors match patients with the therapies most likely to work for them, reducing trial-and-error in treatment,” said senior author Jun Ding, assistant professor in McGill’s Department of Medicine and a junior scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre.
Zooming in on genetic building blocks
Disease markers are often subtle changes in RNA expression that can indicate when a disease is present, how severe it may become or how it might respond to treatment.
Conventional gene-level methods of analysis collapse these markers into a single count per gene, masking critical variation and capturing only the tip of the iceberg, said the researchers.
Now, advances in artificial intelligence have made it possible to capture the fine-grained complexity of single-cell data. DOLPHIN moves beyond gene-level, zooming in to see how genes are spliced together from smaller pieces called exons to provide a clearer view of cell states.

“Genes are not just one block, they’re like Lego sets made of many smaller pieces,” said first author Kailu Song, a PhD student in McGill’s Quantitative Life Sciences program. “By looking at how those pieces are connected, our tool reveals important disease markers that have long been overlooked.”
In one test case, DOLPHIN analyzed single-cell data from pancreatic cancer patients and found more than 800 disease markers missed by conventional tools. It was able to distinguish patients with high-risk, aggressive cancers from those with less severe cases, information that would help doctors choose the right treatment path.
A step toward ‘virtual cells’
More broadly, the breakthrough lays the foundation for achieving the long-term goal of building digital models of human cells. DOLPHIN generates richer single-cell profiles than conventional methods, enabling virtual simulations of how cells behave and respond to drugs before moving to lab or clinical trials, saving time and money.
The researchers’ next step will be to expand the tool’s reach from a few datasets to millions of cells, paving the way for more accurate virtual cell models in the future.
About the study
“DOLPHIN advances single-cell transcriptomics beyond gene level by leveraging exon and junction reads” by Kailu Song and Jun Ding et al., was published inNature Communications.
This research was supported the Meakins-Christie Chair in Respiratory Research, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Fonds de recherche du Québec.

Researchers have discovered a way to make the immune system’s T cells significantly more effective at fighting cancer. By blocking a protein called Ant2, they were able to reprogram how these cells consume and generate energy — essentially rewiring their internal power supply. This shift makes T cells more active, resilient, and better at attacking tumors. The findings open the door to new treatments that could strengthen the body’s own immune response, offering a smarter, more targeted approach to cancer therapy.
A new study may pave the way for a new generation of cancer therapies — by training the body’s own immune system to work smarter and hit harder. Led by PhD student Omri Yosef and Prof. Michael Berger from the Faculty of Medicine at Hebrew University, in collaboration with Prof. Magdalena Huber of Philipps University of Marburg and Prof. Eyal Gottlieb of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the international team discovered that fine-tuning immune cells metabolism dramatically improves their ability to destroy cancer.
At the heart of the research is a powerful insight: when T cells — key players in the immune system — are forced to rewire how they convert energy, they become significantly more effective at identifying and attacking tumors.
“By disabling Ant2, we triggered a complete shift in how T cells produce and use energy,” explains Prof. Berger. “This reprogramming made them significantly better at recognizing and killing cancer cells.” In simpler terms, blocking this protein forces the immune cells to adapt their metabolism, turning them into stronger, faster, and more aggressive cancer fighters.
Published in Nature Communications, the study focuses on the mitochondria — the “metabolic hub” of cells. By deliberately disrupting a specific energy pathway inside T cells, the team essentially rewired the cells’ engines, creating a state of heightened readiness and potency. The altered T cells exhibited greater stamina, faster replication, and sharper targeting of cancerous threats.
Perhaps most importantly, the researchers showed that this metabolic rewiring can be triggered not only through genetic modifications but also with drugs — opening the door for potential clinical applications.
This discovery is part of a growing movement in cancer immunotherapy that focuses not only on guiding the immune system but upgrading its inner machinery. While more studies and clinical trials are needed, the implications of this breakthrough are promising: new treatments that harness the body’s own defenses, fine-tuned for peak performance.
“This work highlights how deeply interconnected metabolism and immunity truly are,” says Prof. Berger. “By learning how to control the power source of our immune cells, we may be able to unlock therapies that are both more natural and more effective.”

13 minutes agoShareSaveDominic HughesHealth correspondentShareSaveGetty ImagesLast month we reported on research that found in nearly a quarter of cases involving sexual misconduct, the MPTS imposed sanctions on doctors that were more lenient than those recommended by the regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC). The criticism was based on the outcomes of 46 cases with offences including harassment, rape, and assaults of patients, colleagues and children.Some medics were handed suspensions instead of following GMC advice to strike them off the medical register.At the time, the Royal College of Surgeons accused the MPTS of failing victims and compounding the trauma they had suffered. Now there is new guidance for these types of cases, including more detail about how to assess the seriousness of allegations.’An area of scrutiny and concern’Gill Edelman, who is interim chair of the MPTS, says she hopes the new guidance will support consistent and well-reasoned decisions in cases of sexual misconduct.”Hearings involving allegations of sexual misconduct remain an area of scrutiny and concern,” she said.”We recognise the impact tribunal decisions have on doctors and on complainants.”It is therefore paramount that our tribunals reach fair, proportionate and transparent decisions and that there is clarity for all concerned in the range of outcomes that can be expected.”The new guidance means that for the first time, the members of the tribunal will have to consider what are described as “sanctions bandings”. That is meant to indicate the range of outcomes that can be expected in different types of cases, once a tribunal has decided whether a doctor poses a low, medium or high level risk to the public.There is also more detail about assessing how serious an allegation is, and what features may increase seriousness. For example, allegations involving sexual assault, improper relationships or violence will usually fall at the higher end of the spectrum. The guidance also means that persistent or repeated behaviour, and behaviour directed towards a vulnerable person, may increase seriousness.A system that compounds traumaMuch of the criticism of the MPTS was led by the Royal College of Surgeons of England.Professor Vivien Lees, the College’s senior vice president, says the new guidance is now a welcome step forward.She said it was “encouraging” to see that the surgical and wider healthcare community had been listened to, and that the guidance is being strengthened. “The real test will be in how this guidance will be applied. The current system of medical regulation is failing targets of misconduct. “Instead of delivering justice, the system often compounds trauma, allows perpetrators to remain in positions of authority, and ultimately undermines patient care.”Prof Lees added: “We are hopeful that these changes will lead to better support for targets, greater accountability for perpetrators, and foster a culture of safety, respect, and integrity across healthcare.”The new guidelines come into force from November.

1 hour agoShareSaveNick TriggleHealth correspondentShareSaveAFP via Getty ImagesPrice or multibuy promotions on unhealthy food and drink, such as “buy one, get one free” deals, are to be banned in England from Wednesday.The restrictions will apply to supermarkets, larger high street shops and online retailers.The measure has been under consideration for years but has been put off because of the cost-of-living crisis.Ministers argue the restrictions are an important step to tackle obesity – and in particular childhood obesity.The regulations also ban free refill promotions of certain drinks in restaurants and cafes.It will be followed by a ban on the advertising of less healthy food and drink on television before 21:00 and a complete ban on online promotions from January.A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the restrictions were a “crucial step” in giving children a healthy, happy start in life.”Obesity robs children of the best possible start in life, sets them up for a lifetime of health problems and costs the NHS billions.”The government has introduced a classification system to define what food and drinks are classed as unhealthy, which is based on the products thought to have most influence on child obesity.So, in terms of drinks it includes fizzy drinks such as lemonade and cola that contain sugar.And for food it covers everything from crisps, sweets and chocolates to ice creams, pastries, cakes, fishfingers and some pizzas.What difference will it make?Obesity rates have risen sharply over recent decades, with more than a quarter of adults and a fifth of children at the end of primary school classed as obese.Greg Fell, president of the Association of Public Health Directors, said this move should not be seen as a “silver bullet”, but said it was long overdue, arguing it should not have been delayed from 2022 in the first place.”Multi-buy promotions do not save people money – in fact, they encourage them to spend more.”They are designed to encourage impulsive purchases and to normalise buying more and more frequently.”He said he hoped retailers would now turn towards promoting healthy products more, to make healthier choices easier and more accessible.Obesity rates had risen at an unprecedented rate over the years and were now a “key driver” of health inequalities as people in more deprived areas were nearly twice as likely to be obese, Mr Fell added.”These are a long-overdue first step, but the government is far away from meeting its manifesto commitment to end junk food advertising to kids.”In particular he said there needed to be a tightening of restrictions on sponsorship of sporting and leisure events, as well as wider society investment to promote active travel and improve the quality of food in schools.There is evidence to suggest restrictions on the promotion and sale of unhealthy products can have an impact.A University of Leeds study published earlier this year looked at the impact of the one measure introduced in 2022 as planned – the ban on selling unhealthy products at key locations, such as checkouts, aisle ends and store entrances.Before the ban, 20 out of every 100 items sold were what was classed as unhealthy, while after that it dropped to 19.The researchers said this worked out at two million fewer products per day.Although it was also noted there was a downward trend for the sale of these products before the legislation was introduced and high rates of inflation could also have had an impact.There has been industry lobbying of government against the restrictions over the years. But some retailers, including Sainsbury’s and Tesco, introduced their own restrictions some time ago.And Andrea Martinez-Inchausti, from the British Retail Consortium, said the vast majority of his members were already now compliant.”There will not be a big change for them. “Food retailers are supporting their customers to make healthier choices through better calorie labelling, reformulation of products, and portion control.”Wales is introducing similar restrictions next year and Scotland has said it will follow suit.Former prime minister Boris Johnson first announced a UK-wide ban on TV adverts for food high in sugar, salt and fat before 21:00 to help tackle the problem in 2021.The ban was later delayed to 2025, with the Conservative government saying it wanted to give the food and drink industry time to prepare for the change because of the cost of living crisis.

From today, every GP practice in England will have to offer online appointment bookings throughout the day.The move, ordered by the government, is aimed at reducing the so-called ‘8am scramble’ to get through to practices on the phone.Surgeries will have to provide the service from 08:00 to 18:30 Monday to Friday.Alongside requesting non-urgent appointments, patients will also be able to ask questions and describe symptoms and request a call back.It comes after the British Medical Association (BMA) called for a halt to the introduction, warning that potentially serious health problems could be missed by some GPs and lead to patients being harmed.The doctors union said there would be a “potential online triage tsunami” and urged more to be done to provide safeguards, such as allowing practices to temporarily switch off the online booking mechanism if staff are struggling to handle patient numbers.It said on Monday it would consider industrial action in the form of a work-to-rule if need be.But ministers have decided to push on with the plan, arguing they have provided enough financial support to allow GP practices to introduce the new measure.Many practices have already been offering this option for years – although some do turn it off during busy periods.Currently, around 6 million appointments a month are booked online – about one in five of the total.Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said: “We promised to tackle the 8am scramble and make it easier for patients to access their GP practice – and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.”We are bringing our analogue health service into the digital era, giving patients greater choice and convenience. We’ve learned from GPs who are already offering this service and reaping the rewards.”This is the second major digital announcement this week after the prime minister unveiled plans for NHS Online – a virtual hospital service – at the Labour Party conference on Tuesday.Digital innovation was one of the core themes of the 10-year NHS plan unveiled over the summer.The government said it had invested an extra £1.1 billion to support this move.The government has argued online GP booking will help free up phone lines for those who need to get through to a doctor urgently, as well as relieving pressure on A&E units. Research show that when patients struggle to get through to their GP on the phone they are more likely to turn to A&E.Currently just over half of patients report that it is easy to get through on the phone, according to NHS England’s GP patient survey.The government said the change was agreed with the BMA back in April as part of the reforms the government made to the GP contract.Dr Amanda Doyle, of NHS England, said: “This step will help modernise general practice by making online access as easy as calling or walking in to your practice, ensuring the phone lines are available for those who need them most and making it easier for practices to triage patients based on clinical need.”And Jacob Lant, chief executive of the patient watchdog National Voices, said: “Online booking systems are a fundamental building block of a 21st Century NHS, but until now implementation has been frustratingly patchy.”The best GP practices have shown what’s possible. It is true that primary care is under immense pressure, but the answer to managing demand has to be in using these digital systems more effectively.”Practices are also now being required to publish on their websites a new patient charter dubbed “You and Your GP” – informing patients what they can expect from their practice and how to give feedback or raise concerns.

Contrary to widespread belief, yoga may be less effective than conventional forms of exercise in enhancing vascular health, according to a new study published in Advances in Integrative Medicine.
The study systematically reviews existing literature, including randomized controlled trials, crossover trials, and non-randomized studies, comparing yoga and other exercise interventions in sedentary adults.
The researchers point out that their aim has been to assess the impact of these interventions on vascular function, as measured by ultrasound.
Vascular function refers to the ability of blood vessels to efficiently transport blood to tissues. The elasticity and responsiveness of these vessels are critical indicators of cardiovascular health.
Sedentary behavior and prolonged sitting are known to impair vascular function, increasing the risk of hypertension, cholesterol buildup, and thrombosis.
Co-author Dr. Leena David, a specialist in medical diagnostic imaging and lecturer at the University of Sharjah, says:
“Think of blood vessels like flexible garden hoses. If they stiffen, the risk of heart attacks and strokes increases. Our study shows that structured exercise keeps those hoses flexible, while yoga provides some benefits but not as reliably. Middle-aged and older adults often notice improvements from yoga, but younger adults might not.”
The findings are particularly relevant for the estimated 300 million people worldwide who practice yoga and the more than 620 million individuals affected by cardiovascular disease as of 2023.

The researchers conclude that traditional exercise modalities, such as Tai Chi, Pilates, and high-intensity interval training, consistently outperform yoga in improving vascular function among sedentary individuals.
Dr. David emphasizes that while movement is essential, the type, intensity, and consistency of physical activity are key determinants of vascular health.
“Even simple routines can make arteries more resilient. Blood vessels have a memory — and every workout helps them forget the damage of sitting all day,” she adds.
She also describes prolonged sitting as “the new smoking — silent, sneaky, and stealing years from your arteries,” adding that “movement is the perfect antidote.”
While yoga remains accessible and culturally significant, the study suggests that individuals seeking consistent cardiovascular benefits may need to supplement yoga with more vigorous forms of exercise.
The authors advocate for a nuanced approach to physical activity, especially in public health messaging.

“Yoga has deep cultural roots and shows promise as an inclusive, accessible health intervention,” Dr. David notes.
“At the same time, the fitness and digital health industries can leverage these insights to develop structured exercise programs and technology-driven solutions for sedentary populations.”
The researchers hope their findings will encourage healthcare providers to recommend exercise not only for weight management but also as a proven strategy for improving vascular health.
Although yoga may not consistently enhance vascular function, it remains a valuable option, particularly for older adults and those unable or unwilling to engage in high-intensity workouts.
“On a larger scale, public health campaigns could emphasize that movement is medicine,” Dr. David explains. “This may encourage a mix of exercise and yoga to make heart health more accessible and culturally appropriate.
Forget the fitness goals — this is about protecting your body’s internal GPS system that keeps you alive.”

A sunscreen scandal in Australia is continuing to grow, with 18 products now pulled from shelves in the skin cancer hotspot over safety concerns.Analysis by a consumer advocacy group in June found several popular and expensive sunscreens did not provide the protection claimed by their makers.One product, Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen Skinscreen, is supposed to offer a skin protection factor (SPF) of 50+ but instead returned a result of SPF 4 and was voluntarily recalled in August.An investigation by the medicines regulator has now warned about 20 more sunscreens from other brands, which share the same base formula, and raised “significant concerns” about a testing laboratory.”The preliminary testing indicates that this base formulation is unlikely to have an SPF greater than 21,” the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said in an update, adding that for some of the goods the SPF rating may be as low as four.Of the 21 products it named, eight have been recalled or manufacture stopped completely. The sale of another 10 products have been paused, and two more are being reviewed. One product named by the TGA is made in Australia but is not sold in the country.Australia has the highest rate of skin cancers in the world – it is estimated that two out of three Australians will have at least one cut out in their lifetime – and it has some of the strictest sunscreen regulations globally.The scandal has caused a massive backlash from customers in the nation, but experts have warned it may also have global implications. Problems have been identified with both the manufacture of some sunscreens and the integrity of lab testing relied upon to prove their SPF claims.The manufacturer of the base formula in question, Wild Child Laboratories Pty Ltd, has stopped making it as a result, the TGA said.In a statement, Wild Child Laboratories boss Tom Curnow said the TGA had found no manufacturing issues at its facility.”The discrepancies reported in recent testing are part of a broader, industry-wide issue,” he said.The TGA has previously said it is looking into “reviewing existing SPF testing requirements” which can be “highly subjective”, but in the update on Tuesday said it had significant concerns about testing undertaken by Princeton Consumer Research Corp (PCR Corp), a US lab.”The TGA is aware that many companies responsible for sunscreens manufactured using this base formulation relied on testing by PCR Corp to support their SPF claims.”Mr Curnow said Wild Child had ceased working with PCR laboratories and had submitted its formulas for testing with other accredited, independent laboratories.All companies using the problematic base formula and the PCR lab have also been contacted by the TGA, it said.”The TGA has also written to PCR Corp regarding its concerns and has not received a response.”The BBC has contacted PCR Corp for comment.

15 minutes agoShareSaveTom OakleyEast MidlandsShareSaveFacebookA former NHS gynaecologist’s risky practices and shortcuts contributed to women suffering severe physical harm, a long-awaited report into his care has found.Daniel Hay joined the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) NHS Foundation Trust in 2005, and operated on hundreds of women before retiring in 2020. A report – which scrutinised Mr Hay’s care between 2015 and 2018 – was commissioned after concerns were raised by colleagues, and found failings in his practices, how he was managed and added only “good fortune prevented further harm”.After publication of the report on Wednesday, the NHS trust said it was “truly sorry” to the women who received care “below the standards expected”.The report was commissioned by the Gynaecology Review Steering Group, which included representations from NHS England, UHDB, and the Derby and Derbyshire clinical commissioning group.As part of the report, the panel contacted 325 women who had been treated by Mr Hay between 2015 and 2018, asking them to share their experiences.In addition to the 325 patients, 58 women had already been reviewed in an earlier assessment carried out in 2019.In Wednesday’s report, the steering group panel identified two women as suffering “severe physical harm”, with three sustaining “moderate physical harm” under Mr Hay’s care. Among the issues identified were women who had a hysterectomy – a surgical procedure that removes the womb – with some patients made to feel like it was their “only option” when less invasive options may have been available.This “adversely affected” the mental health of women who dreamed of starting families but were unable to do so, affecting their relationships and jobs.The report also found Mr Hay “demonstrated poor clinical practice”, “failed to recognise possible risks”, while the NHS trust that employed him “somehow allowed this to continue until he eventually retired due to ill health”.His consent processes – in which patients should be able to make informed decisions over surgery – were poor, his record-keeping was inadequate, and his communication with patients was often dismissive, the report added.Concerns about Mr Hay were raised by consultants, theatre staff and managers as early as 2017-18, but the panel said it was “surprised” those staff members were not interviewed by the trust until 2022 – some five years later.What did Mr Hay’s patients tell the review?The report published multiple testimonies from women, who were not named. They described being rushed into having hysterectomies. One woman was being treated by Mr Hay for heavy menstrual bleeding, and was offered a hysterectomy after a 10-minute consultation with no scan or alternatives discussed, the report said. She said the surgery left her in pain, suffering anxiety and depression Another woman felt she was not given any option other than to have a hysterectomy – even though there was no examination or scan investigation. She said: “Was such a drastic major operation the only option I had?”One woman found Mr Hay to be “erratic”. She told the panel: “I remember Mr Hay asking, ‘what do you want?’ ‘I just want the bleeding to stop’ was my reply. He immediately got his diary out and told me ‘you can have a hysterectomy in April’One patient asked why she had to have an open hysterectomy, rather than via a keyhole approach, and was astounded when Mr Hay answered “I like slicing”, the report saidMeanwhile, another patient added: “I will never set foot in an NHS hospital again. If my leg were hanging off, I would amputate it myself.”PA MediaOf the 325 women whose care was scrutinised, the panel graded each case red – for major concerns – amber for some concerns, or green – in which none were identified.In total, 48 cases were rated red, 68 amber and 209 green, though the review did not define the exact nature of the concerns.The panel found it was only because of “the support of good colleagues” and good fortune” that further harm was prevented from being caused.Mr Hay, who is in his 60s and from Alfreton in Derbyshire, is currently being investigated by Derbyshire Police and was interviewed under caution earlier this year.He spoke to officers about the procedures he carried out at Royal Derby Hospital and Ripley Hospital.A police spokesperson said: “Due to the complex nature of the case, inquiries have taken time, however, throughout the investigation we have remained in close contact with those affected and will continue to do so as the investigation continues.”Mr Hay has not officially commented on the matter for more than four years.His statement in July 2021 said: “I apologise to the women affected by the NHS investigation. I am co-operating with the investigation, however, due to my ongoing mental health issues, I ask that you please respect my privacy at this time.”The Medical Defence Union, on Mr Hay’s behalf, did not wish to comment when approached by the BBC.Following the report, a series of recommendations were made to the trust, including introducing measures to “identify poorly performing clinicians”, that no consultant should work in isolation, and that attending multidisciplinary team meetings should be mandatory for clinicians.It also called on the trust to invest in more gynaecological support for women under its care.Another recommendation was for the trust to review Mr Hay’s care of women before 2015, which has now been accepted with the aim of starting in the autumn.Once ready, the trust will contact women who fall within the scope of the “Phase 2” review to invite them to take part.’Important changes’A second report, which reviewed governance at the UHDB trust at the time, was published alongside the major review into Mr Hay’s care.It said Mr Hay’s care from 2012 should also be reviewed.Dr Gis Robinson, executive chief medical officer at the NHS trust, said: “We want to reiterate our unreserved apologies to the women who received care from Mr Hay that was far below the standards expected.”Following the report we made important changes, with clearer consent procedures and enhanced clinical oversight so any issues with care can be identified more quickly, and improved post-procedure reviews for women.”We will continue to closely monitor and review these to ensure they are effective and fully integrated, and use our learning to support and inform the next stage of the review.”Getty ImagesAnalysisBy Rob Sissons, East Midlands health correspondentThe report is full of numbers but, of course, behind the numbers are the real lives of women who say their relationships have been ruined through poor care.I have spoken to two women involved in the review who, to some extent, blame themselves for going along with what Mr Hay said. Both felt dismissed and not listened to, but of course, they put their trust in a surgeon in one of the most personal and sensitive areas of medicine, gynaecology.In large organisations – the NHS is the country’s biggest employer – things will go wrong, but the question is always are the systems and processes in place robust enough to pick up poor performance, and do management do enough when problems are exposed and colleagues speak out? In the Hay case, it is now apparent more could and should have been done.More cases are now going to be reviewed. The scrutiny of this NHS consultant’s work and his employer’s handling of it goes on.More on this storyRelated internet links

2 hours agoShareSaveCatriona MacPheeBBC Scotland DisclosureShareSaveBBCIn my seven weeks undercover in an overstretched care home I witnessed many scenes of poor care and distress but there was one incident that I suspect will remain with me for a long time.On the worst days, when staffing was at its lowest levels, the residents would sometimes shout for help as they heard my cleaning trolley rumbling past their rooms. Some were desperate for help to go to the toilet, others simply wanted to get washed and dressed for the day.As a cleaner, there was little I could do except offer words of comfort and assurances that I’d told the care staff.One day I sat with a woman in a nightie who needed help to be taken from her bed to the bathroom, just 8ft away. Her room echoed with signs of a life well lived – a proud career, foreign holidays with her loving family, an immaculately curated wardrobe of cashmere cardigans.As we waited for a carer to come, she begged me not to leave. She was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.I tried to distract her with small talk about the view and the weather. She listened until she could no longer hide her distress. As her physical capacity to wait for the toilet finally crumbled, she began to sob.I felt sadness many times in the care home but that totally avoidable loss of dignity was the first time I felt anger.Our investigation was sparked by an interview with Susan Christie, whose father spent two years in Castlehill, the largest care home in Inverness.It is billed as a luxury home and charges up to £1,800 per week.But Susan had become so concerned by the standard of her father’s care that she installed a secret camera in his room – and she was appalled by what she saw.”He wasn’t being washed properly, he was being left in an incontinence pad for in excess of 12 hours, never taken to the toilet, food placed out of reach, spilling hot porridge on himself,” she told us.”It was neglect.”The final straw came when a cleaner was filmed restraining the elderly man and violently shaking the bed frame before prodding him with a walking stick. He was later sacked and Susan had nine complaints upheld by the Care Inspectorate.She moved her father out of Castlehill in May.In order to compare Castlehill to the 1,000 other care homes across Scotland, the BBC sent a Freedom of Information request to sector regulator, the Care Inspectorate, to ask which care homes in Scotland had the most complaints upheld against them.Castlehill topped the list with 10 complaints upheld in 2024.We interviewed a further four families who all had stories of similar concerns – but they were all historical.The only way to judge whether this was still going on was to go in and see for ourselves. We went through the rigorous BBC internal processes of asking for permission to secretly film. There was judged to be a significant public interest in evidence-gathering of this nature.In May I found myself phoning the care home to ask if there were any cleaning jobs going. I was invited for an interview and asked to start immediately.At the same time, the home was in special measures due to improvement notices issued by the Care Inspectorate over a range of issues.They were under the spotlight – surely things would improve?What I found was an understaffed home that didn’t have the right mix of staff to deal with the basic needs of residents, particularly those with dementia.This was leading to distress, aggressive behaviour and crisis situations. As I wheeled my cleaning trolley round the corridors, I was acutely aware of pleading faces peering out of bedrooms, hoping for a few minutes of company and conversation.Those people, at least, still hoped for a moment of human connection. I came to realise others had given up.One day I reassured a man who needed the toilet: “I’ve told the carers, they say they’re coming.””Aye, so is Christmas,” he replied.Of all the things I tried to prepare for before going undercover I hadn’t anticipated forming genuine bonds with the people who lived in there.The reality of this hit me one day while I sat in my car on a break and I was overwhelmed with emotion.Earlier, while cleaning one resident’s room, I found myself retching because of the smell, unable to stay for longer than 20 seconds.The once-proud Highland gentleman whose room it was had been served his breakfast and had spent hours sitting alone in there. Nobody had thought to open his curtains or windows.At least I could walk out of there at the end of my shift. They couldn’t.During my time in the home, I often found residents lying in wet clothes or on soiled sheets.I heard women screaming from behind closed doors because male carers were doing their intimate care.The impact of overstretched staff was clear. They had had a tick list of tasks to complete and often that was too long to include meaningful engagement, support with eating or unhurried continence care.There were some carers who strove to make the lives of residents better and who managed to carve out time in their busy days to engage but those moments were few and far between.Carers were paid £13 an hour to do intimate personal care, and much more, for people with very complex needs. This is in line with industry standards.I interviewed Donald McAskill of Scottish Care for the BBC Disclosure investigation. One of his quotes has stuck with me.”You can get more for walking a dog through the meadows of Edinburgh than you can from sitting at somebody’s bedside, holding their hand as they breathe their last,” he said.”For me, I find that obscene.”The experts we interviewed were unanimous on one issue. They said the care sector is in crisis. They cited underfunding, staff shortages and unprecedented cuts to frontline dementia support services.With a backdrop of rising demand for care – the number of people with dementia is predicted to double by 2040 – all of the expert contributors in our film called for a nationwide conversation on the future of the sector.Families often told me that they had no option but to place their loved ones in a care home. It hadn’t really been a choice, it was the result of a crisis or a lack of care support at home. The guilt weighed heavily on them, as did the burden of the complex financial arrangements that come with care homes.It’s a situation that has, or will, touch most families at some point.The job was not all doom and gloom. In my final week, a new activity leader began staging music concerts and playing the mandolin in the lounges, to the great joy of some residents. A new deputy manager also set her mind to the task of tackling the smell of urine that permeated the first floor.The residents were the unexpected highlight who kept me going when I found it hard to keep walking back through the front doors of Castlehill.One man stopped me in the corridor to tell me about his volunteering work and how much he enjoyed this time helping others. As we laughed about the situations he’d found himself in, he suddenly cut the conversation short.He said his bus was due any minute and he didn’t want to miss it. It dawned on me that he thought we were two strangers chatting at the bus stop. Despite that not being the case, we both took joy from that human connection.I learned that with a few minutes of your time, you could encourage someone out of their shell or ease their confusion. That was all it took for them to walk away with a smile, or at least calmer than when they first approached you.When I worked in the home I wore a secret camera, which was recording for most of the time. I worried that someone might spot the hidden lens, or the battery would fall out of my clothes. Luckily neither of those things happened.On one occasion I forgot to wear the fake glasses I had adopted as a partial disguise.I’m from the Highlands and was worried that someone from my home town would come into the home and recognise me, so the disguise gave me a small reassurance.Half way through a staff meeting, someone asked how I could see properly without my glasses on today? I bumbled my way through an explanation of not having had my coffee yet and leaving them in the car by mistake. It was a sloppy mistake that I didn’t repeat.There were days when the camera failed, or the battery ran out. There were other days when I had to help the residents first and foremost, and was not able to switch the camera on.I was clear on one thing from the outset – my priority had to be the residents and their needs. That was the whole point of the investigation. Filming was secondary. There were some incidents of poor care that I did not record on camera but I left with a clear conscience.It was a privilege of this role to briefly cross paths with interesting, funny and charming characters, who led rich and colourful lives. We sang songs together, danced in the corridor, hugged, discussed all manner of topics – from Caravaggio and Gaelic lessons to Donald Trump and dog walking – and laughed, lots. Without realising it, the residents kept me going through a difficult job.I left Castlehill Care Home on 9 August. As I walked out the doors for the final time, one question repeated in my mind – surely they deserve better?’Significant improvements made in the last three months’A spokesperson for Castlehill Care Home, which trades under the name Simply Inverness, said: “We are appalled by the footage aired in the BBC programme. “It was not provided to us in advance and does not reflect the situation today.”The safety, health and wellbeing of residents remains our absolute priority at all times. “The Care Inspectorate has recognised the significant improvements made in the last three months. “We must ensure that these improvements are sustained. “In excess of £1m is being invested in the refurbishment of the home and we thank all residents and their families for their patience during the renovations.”A spokesperson for the Highland Health and Social Care Partnership said: “The content of the BBC Disclosure documentary about Castlehill Care Home which highlighted issues about delivery of safe, quality care was concerning for all to see, and we understand how deeply distressing this will have been for families of those residents.”We have a responsibility as a key partner with regards to support and protection of adults and we have clear expectations of standards to be met by any care home provider in Highland. “The provider of Castlehill care home did not meet those standards.”At this time care home admissions remain suspended and will continue until we are absolutely confident that the required standards have been met and sustained.”If you have been affected by the issues raised in this story, information and support can be found at the BBC’s Action Line.

18 minutes agoShareSaveJames GallagherHealth and science correspondentShareSaveOHSU/Christine Torres HicksUS scientists have, for the first time, made early-stage human embryos by manipulating DNA taken from people’s skin cells and then fertilising it with sperm.The technique could overcome infertility due to old age or disease, by using almost any cell in the body as the starting point for life.It could even allow same-sex couples to have a genetically related child.The method requires significant refinement – which could take a decade – before a fertility clinic could even consider using it.Experts said it was an impressive breakthrough, but there needed to be an open discussion with the public about what science was making possible.Reproduction used to be a simple story of man’s sperm meets woman’s egg. They fuse to make an embryo, and nine months later a baby is born.Now scientists are changing the rules. This latest experiment starts with human skin.The Oregon Health and Science University research team’s technique takes the nucleus – which houses a copy of the entire genetic code needed to build the body – out of a skin cell.This is then placed inside a donor egg that has been stripped of its genetic instructions.So far, the technique is like the one used to create Dolly the Sheep – the world’s first cloned mammal – born back in 1996.OHSUHowever, this egg is not ready to be fertilised by sperm as it already contains a full suite of chromosomes.You inherit 23 of these bundles of DNA from each of your parents for a total of 46, which the egg already has.So the next stage is to persuade the egg to discard half of its chromosomes in a process the researchers have termed “mitomeiosis” (the word is a fusion of mitosis and meiosis, the two ways cells divide). The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, showed 82 functional eggs were made. These were fertilised with sperm and some progressed onto the early stages of embryos development. None were developed beyond the six-day-stage.”We achieved something that was thought to be impossible,” said Prof Shoukhrat Mitalipov, the director of the Oregon Health and Science University’s centre for embryonic cell and gene therapy.The technique is far from polished as the egg randomly chooses which chromosomes to discard. It needs to end up with one of each of the 23 types to prevent disease, but ends up with two of some and none of others. There is also a poor success rate (around 9%) and the chromosomes miss an important process where they rearrange their DNA, called crossing over.Prof Mitalipov, a world-renowned pioneer in the field, told me: “We have to perfect it.”Eventually, I think that’s where the future will go because there are more and more patients that cannot have children.”OHSU/Christine Torres HicksThis technology is part of a growing field aiming to make sperm and eggs outside of the body, known as in vitro gametogenesis.The approach is still at the level of scientific discovery rather than clinical use, but the vision is to help couples who cannot benefit from IVF (in vitro fertilisation) because they don’t have the sperm or eggs to use.It could help older women who are no longer have viable eggs, men who don’t produce enough sperm or people whose cancer treatment has left them infertile.The field also re-writes the rules of parenthood. The technique described today does not have to use a woman’s skin cells – it could also use a man’s. That opens the door to same-sex couples having children that are genetically related to both partners. For example, in a male same-sex couple, one man’s skin could be used to make the egg and a male partner’s sperm used to fertilise it.”In addition to offering hope for millions of people with infertility due to lack of eggs or sperm, this method would allow for the possibility of same-sex couples to have a child genetically related to both partners,” said Prof Paula Amato, from Oregon Health and Science University.Build public trustRoger Sturmey, a professor of reproductive medicine at the University of Hull, said the science was “important” and “impressive”.He added: “At the same time, such research reinforces the importance of continued open dialogue with the public about new advances in reproductive research.”Breakthroughs such as this impress upon us the need for robust governance, to ensure accountability and build public trust.”Prof Richard Anderson, deputy director of MRC Centre for reproductive health at the University of Edinburgh, said the ability to generate new eggs “would be a major advance”.He said: “There will be very important safety concerns but this study is a step towards helping many women have their own genetic children.”