A wearable sensor that monitors breathing has been recognised with a national innovation prize. The PneumoRator has won the Healthcare and Medical Award at The Engineer's Collaborate to Innovate (C2I) Awards. Developed by researchers in Southampton and Nottingham, the sensor can be worn on a person’s chest like a sticker. It continuously monitors their breathing rate. The technology has the potential to provide a life-saving early warning system. Celebrating collaboration C2I

A pioneering antibiotic test developed in Southampton is now certified for use with patient samples - paving the way for faster, life‑saving treatment. Doctors in hospitals throughout Great Britain can now use the test to prescribe the most suitable antibiotics. The test has been developed to determine the antibiotics that will work for treating a patient's infection in hours rather than days. The iFAST Diagnostics test could save thousands of lives and shorten hospital s

Researchers at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) are leading a large study to reduce children’s overuse of reliever inhalers linked to severe asthma attacks. Children with asthma who use a high number of blue reliever inhalers are several times more likely to have severe asthma attacks, which can be life-threatening. The Prescription Alerts for Reliever Inhalers in Children (PARC) study is offering these children an enhanced check-up, led by a specialist nurse. The resea

Behind every breakthrough are people whose daily work often goes unseen - but whose impact is extraordinary. One of them is Anastasia de la Haye. She has been working at University Hospital Southampton for five years and leads the respiratory research lab. She is funded by both the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and Clinical Research Facility (CRF). We sat down with her to explore what a day in her world looks like, and what advice she has for the next generation

A Southampton-led study on severe viral infections has reached its target of 1,000 participants. The UNIVERSAL study is investigating the impact of severe respiratory viruses on patients and the NHS. The study is being led by Professor Tom Wilkinson and the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit (SCTU). University Hospital Southampton is the study sponsor. Understanding respiratory viruses Samples from the 1,000 participants will now be used to find out which infections are most pr

A new warning is calling for national action to reduce maternal obesity that affects one in four pregnancies. The report has been issued by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). It signals that obesity in women and people of childbearing age is an urgent and growing public health concern in the UK. The new RCP View on Obesity and Maternal Health was developed by a group of leading health experts. These include Southampton’s Professor Keith Godfrey. Professor Godfrey is Co-C

Southampton researchers are trialling a new rapid test that could cut the time to diagnose winter respiratory viral infections. If proven to be accurate, the test could provide the NHS with a highly scalable, low-cost diagnostic tool for flu, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This would help clinicians make faster decisions and improve patient care. The is particularly important during winter periods when hospitals face intense pressure from infections. The

by Danielle Schoenaker, Isla Davis and public contributors Michelle and Zaman Involving public contributors helps make sure studies are meaningful, relevant and grounded in lived experience. Public contributors can be invited to attend academic conferences. But what do they get out of these experiences? And how can researchers support them better? We work at the University of Southampton and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. Our research looks at how people can be

A pioneering data registry linking data on road collisions and healthcare is part of a new national road safety strategy. The Pre-hospital Research and Audit Network (PRANA) is delivered by a growing team led in University Hospital Southampton (UHS). It aims to save lives by connecting data. These new insights can inform improvements in patient care and support disease prevention. The national registry is based within the Wessex Secure Data Environment (SDE). PRANA has been h

Scientists have uncovered genetic differences that could show who is most at risk of a potentially life-threatening infection. The international research team identified gene variants that make people more susceptible to meningococcal disease – a serious bacterial infection that can be fatal. The discovery has been published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology . Dr Evangelos Bellos from the University of Southampton is first author the paper. The research lays t

An award-winning paper has warned that older people can feel unheard and unsupported as they leave hospital. Southampton researchers looked at why some older people end up back in the hospital within 30 days of being discharged. Their analysis suggests that listening to what matters most to older people can result in better care. The study brought together insights from a multi-disciplinary team. This included Dr Harnish Patel from the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research C

Professor Wilkinson has been appointed as the new Chair of the NIHR Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration. The NIHR Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration (R-TRC) brings together leading investigators from across the UK. It aims to speed up the delivery of new drugs for patients with respiratory conditions. Professor Wilkinson is Respiratory and Allergy theme lead at our NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). He is also Professor of Respirato

Image credit: DBV Technologies New trial results show a specially designed patch could help children with peanut allergy. Hundreds of young children with a peanut allergy took part at dozens of sites for the international clinical trial, including at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). The VIASKIN® Peanut Patch is designed to help children with a peanut allergy build up a tolerance. The aim is to prevent severe reactions if they accidentally eat peanut. Topline results,

Pioneering rapid tests have been recognised with a national prize. iFAST Diagnostics is developing rapid blood and urine tests. These can determine which antibiotics will work for treating a bacterial infection in hours rather than days. The spinout company has won the Institute of Physics' (IoP) Lee Lucas Award. This recognises early-stage companies taking innovative products into the medical and healthcare sector. Professor Hywel Morgan is the company’s Chief Technology Off

Big data and AI are being used to improve care for arthritis. Southampton researchers are part of a new international partnership, known as PROBE . This aims to revolutionise the way osteoarthritis is understood, diagnosed and treated. Professor Nicholas Harvey, Dr Leo Westbury and Dr Elizabeth Curtis are involved in the major new initiative. All three are researchers at Southampton’s MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre (LEC). They are also part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedi