Findings at this stage often grab the most headlines – a new drug tested in mice, or a new marker found in the blood of patients. These stories inspire real hope, because they are applicable to our lives and could be a step towards new treatments being available to patients sooner.

We share this excitement – well designed and thorough studies at this stage can provide strong evidence for a new treatment or intervention. But we still urge caution.

Was the study done in animals or people? How many people took part? Did they see a big effect? Do the findings back up previous evidence?

These are the questions we ask ourselves when new stories are featured in the press. Positive findings must be able to be repeated, to show that they weren’t just due to chance. As the supporting evidence builds, so do our confidence levels.