Southampton researchers are looking at new ways to maintain muscle strength and resilience in later life. Sarcopenia causes a loss of muscle mass and function in older age. As it progresses, people can become weak, frail and lose their independence. Researchers in our NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) are leading new approaches to prevent weakening of muscles. They include Dr Mark Burton. He explains what he hopes to achieve through a one-year BRC Postdoctoral Bridging Fellowship and shares advice for other early career researchers. How did you become interested in research?   From a young age I was passionate about sports and how exercise affects human physiology and anatomy. This led me to complete a degree in Sports Studies and Psychology.  During my third-year undergraduate research project, I became increasingly interested in medical sciences.  I enjoyed using laboratory-based approaches to answer important questions about the human body. I did a second degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Southampton, followed by an MSc in Molecular Neuroscience at the University of Bristol. This exposed me to a range of different scientific research techniques and ideas. I returned to Southampton in 2013 to complete a PhD within the Epigenetics research group. I have since been employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow.  This year, I have been promoted to Senior Research Fellow.  I have also secured a NIHR Southampton BRC-funded Bridging Fellowship to support my transition to academic independence. A career in medical research is diverse, challenging and rewarding. It requires you to develop a variety of skills through guidance from experts in the field. The challenges of this career allow me to continually learn, stimulate my creative thinking and engage in complex problem solving. This enables me to answer new and innovative questions linked to improving health. What is the healthcare challenge that you are seeking to address? As we age, muscle mass, strength and function decline. However, some people experience more severe and accelerated muscle loss. This leads to an age-associated condition called sarcopenia. Approximately 2.7 million people in the UK are currently living with the disease.  This number is expected to soar as life expectancy increases. Muscle is essential for posture, physical function and metabolic health. Muscle loss leads to increased risk of falls, fractures, physical disability and premature death. As such, sarcopenia is a major cause of lost independence in older age. There are no effective treatments. There is an urgent need for new molecular targets. My research aims to bridge the gap between molecular biology and clinical intervention. Discovering novel molecular biomarkers of sarcopenia is key to improving diagnosis and treatment. What do you hope to achieve in your research at the BRC?   My research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind sarcopenia. This will help us to identify biomarkers for early diagnosis and potential treatment targets.   My BRC Bridging Fellowship is supporting me to prepare high-quality external fellowship applications.  I hope to secure funding to continue my research into age-associated muscle dysregulation Such fellowships will help me move towards academic independence. I’m also delivering cutting-edge projects through the MyAge research network. How would you sum up your fellowship in three words? Innovative, transformative, pivotal What's it like being an early career researcher in Southampton?   Being an early career researcher (ECR) at the University of Southampton is a privilege. It is a superb setting to be involved in cutting-edge research that has the potential to improve health and wellbeing. I enjoy being part of a collaborative team of excellent academics. They are at the forefront of medical research, developing new ideas to approach real world problems linked to ageing health.   Research can be challenging - but I always find the role rewarding. I have excellent support from my research group and senior management. Southampton is a great city to be located near to and is surrounded by so many excellent places to visit.   What advice would you give other early career researchers?   My primary advice to other ECRs would be to never limit your ideas or creativity. Collaborate with colleagues who support your ideas and always keep an open mind about what is possible. Sometimes the best research stems from ideas that pop into your head when you are not at work. These ideas may seem abstract at the time but in fact lead to a new way of thinking about or approaching a problem.

Group classes can help patients prepare well for surgery and recover quicker, new research shows. The analysis shows that this preparation can lead to shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times. The study team are now recommending more research in the area. Imogen Fecher-Jones, a Perioperative Advanced Clinical Practitioner at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), led the study. It is the most comprehensive review of surgery schools to date. Findings have been published in BJA Open . Preparing for surgery Patients who increase their physical activity through exercise, eat healthily and manage their emotional well-being before surgery have been shown to have better outcomes. This is where surgery schools come in. They teach patients how to physically and emotionally prepare for surgery, and how to recover effectively. At UHS, surgery school is delivered as the ‘universal’ element of our Prehabilitation Service. It is a one-off interactive video conference call that lasts about an hour and a half. Around ten patients attend each session. Family and friends are also encouraged to attend. The session helps patients prepare for their operation by making changes to their lifestyle. It covers nutrition, emotional well-being, exercise, and what to expect from their hospital visit. At the end of the session, patients set goals based on what they’ve learnt. Improving patients’ recovery The researchers analysed data from 27 studies that took place between 1976 and 2022, involving almost 6,000 people. They looked at the patient outcomes each study reported. They found that surgery schools are associated with a shorter length of hospital stay and may reduce the risk of complications. The analysis also showed reductions in perception of pain and anxiety. Attending surgery school did not, however, increase patient satisfaction with surgery and hospital stay. The researchers say more research is needed to understand why. Imogen Fecher-Jones is part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. She is also undertaking a doctoral clinical academic fellowship supported by the Southampton Academy of Research. She said: "We know from our own service evaluation that people find surgery school useful. Many of our patients report making lifestyle changes. “However, this is the first time an international review of this type has been undertaken. We can now say that surgery schools may actually improve clinical outcomes. “We need to understand more about how this works, but one of the likely mechanisms is that patients are making the lifestyle changes suggested at surgery school, improving their health and therefore their recovery following surgery.” Currently there is no standardised curriculum as to what should be taught at surgery schools. Imogen’s doctoral research is aiming to establish consensus and best practice on what should be taught. As a result of this work, she is currently working as a clinical advisor to NHS England advising on patient preoperative education programmes.

Southampton researchers are leading a study to improve the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in care homes. Antibiotic resistant infections are difficult to treat, making even minor infections potentially life-threatening. Overuse of antibiotics is contributing to a global rise in these hard-to-treat infections. The DISCO UTI study, led by Professor Nick Francis, is helping tackle this by reducing the amount of antibiotics prescribed in care homes. It is looking at new ways to accurately diagnose and treat UTIs in these locations. This month, one of the diagnostic tools in the study has made headlines by winning a decade-long competition to tackle superbugs. A difficult choice UTIs are a common problem, especially in the care home population. Diagnosing UTIs in this population is challenging because symptoms are often non-specific. Residents with cognitive impairment may not be able to accurately describe their symptoms. It is also common for care home residents to have bacteria in the urine even when they don’t have an infection, and collecting uncontaminated urine samples can be difficult. Furthermore, current testing methods for UTIs take about three days. This leaves prescribers with a difficult choice. If they delay treatment, the UTI could get worse and become serious. Alternatively, if they give antibiotics to a patient with no infection, it contributes to the rise in antibiotic resistance. Speeding up diagnosis The DISCO UTI study aims to improve the targeting of antibiotic treatment and reduce the overall amount of antibiotics prescribed. One of the approaches being tested is the PA-AST system, developed by Sysmex Astrego. This can diagnose a UTI from a urine sample. Within 15 minutes, the test can reveal whether the infection is bacterial, and within 45 minutes, which antibiotics would work to treat it. It has been awarded the £8 million Longitude prize for tackling antibiotic resistance. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is assessing its impact on patients as well as its cost-effectiveness. Tackling antibiotic resistance Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria evolve defences against the antibiotics used to kill them. When bacteria are exposed to an antibiotic frequently, only the toughest survive. These resistant bacteria, which cannot be killed by the antibiotic, then multiply. Professor Francis is Professor of Primary Care Research at the University of Southampton. He is leading the DISCO UTI study as part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. He explained: “Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to health worldwide. Reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics is key, and a large proportion of antibiotics are prescribed for UTIs. “We aim to explore whether new technologies, such as the PA-AST system, can help prescribers make informed decisions in the care home population. This will help to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and tackle this growing threat.”

Building trust and increasing inclusion can be at the heart of health research, according to a new commentary. Involving people in health research is about more than asking them to take part in a trial or study. Volunteers also help to shape our research activities – what we do and how we do it. We call this Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE). This helps to ensure our trials and studies are relevant to people’s needs and provide maximum benefit to people’s health. However, some ethnic minority communities are often underrepresented in this process. An international team of researchers and public partners have outlined six ways to address this issue in a new paper published in Public Health . Based on previous research Southampton researchers played a key role in the national Co-POWeR study. It explored the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of people from ethnic minority communities. The Southampton team, led by Professor Maria Stokes, focused on physical activity and nutrition. Five public partners were recruited to guide this work. They were actively involved in steering project activities and decision-making. “The project enabled us and the rest of the community to feel and experience inclusion”, one public partner explained. “Everyone, regardless of their backgrounds, age or other protected characteristics, was encouraged to be involved and share their voice.” Promoting inclusion The new paper details six main strategies to foster trust and inclusion. They are: Early recruitment and engagement of PPIE partners Relationship-focused engagement Co-production and consultation activities Open communication and iterative feedback Co-production of project closure activities Diverse research team In Co-POWeR, this work led to widespread inclusion of ethnic minority communities. By engaging with communities face-to-face, researchers were able to build strong relationships and trust. They found this supported recruitment - even among those who were initially reluctant to join the project. Olatundun Gafari, a Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Southampton, was the paper’s lead author. She said: “Building trust and working with communities with different cultures and experiences can sometimes be a challenge. It is important that the way research is done, and its outcomes, are relevant to our communities. To achieve this, we need to start doing things differently. “It was such a privilege working closely with diverse members of the Southampton community and to have some of them as authors of this paper, which highlights some important steps to make research more relevant. We hope the strategies we outline will help researchers, practitioners and policy makers when planning their public health projects.” Get involved Opportunities to help shape our research are varied and will depend on your interests. If you would like to find out more, please email PublicInvolvement@uhs.nhs.uk .

Southampton researchers are making advances in disease modelling that could lead to new drugs being identified. They are developing models that better reflect human disease. This will help them to identify new drug targets for hard-to-treat diseases like lung fibrosis. Dr Joseph Bell is a Research Fellow at the University of Southampton. He led the new analysis, which has been published in Cell Reports Medicine . Dr Bell is now advancing this research through a one-year Postdoctoral Bridging Fellowship at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). His work takes place in the Brooke Lab at Southampton General Hospital. Read more about how he is driving the project forward here . “A pressing need” Patients with lung fibrosis experience shortness of breath that gets worse over time. This is caused by a build-up of scar tissue. "Lung fibrosis has a devastating impact on patients, with a life expectancy of just 3-5 years from diagnosis," said Dr Bell. “There is a pressing need for drugs that can halt the progression of this disease. Our research aims to improve disease models so we can find better drug targets and increase the chances of success in clinical trials.” The study uses a technology called spatial transcriptomics. It allows researchers to see gene and protein activity within specific regions or individual cells of tissue samples. This method provides a clearer picture of how diseases work at a cellular level. It makes preclinical drug studies more accurate. “Many drugs fail in clinical trials because the models used to test them don't adequately represent human disease,” Dr Bell explained. “By using spatial transcriptomics as a reference, we aim to create disease models that more closely match what happens in human tissue. This could make drug studies more reliable before they reach clinical trials.” Improving drug discovery The study was supported by NC3Rs, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the UK Medical Research Council. The paper also looked at a drug called simtuzumab. It had initially seemed promising based on its performance in animal models. However, the research team found that the drug did not work as expected when it reached clinical trials. The study was overseen by Professor Mark Jones. He is a specialist in Respiratory Medicine at the University of Southampton and part of the NIHR Southampton BRC. Prof Jones said: “Our findings suggest that relying on traditional models contributed to simtuzumab's failure. We think that using models which better reflect human disease will reduce the likelihood that a drug then fails in clinical trials.”

Southampton’s LifeLab programme has been shortlisted for a national award.    This recognition highlights its impactful work with young people. The awards are organised by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).   LifeLab is a unique research-based educational programme. It is a collaboration between the University of Southampton, NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and University Hospital Southampton. The programme is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.   Encouraging healthier life choices   LifeLab launched in 2008. It empowers children and young people to understand the science behind their health. This informs the choices they make for their own lives – for their health now, in the future, and for their future families.   More than 15,000 students from over 100 schools have visited the facility at Southampton General Hospital.   The programme is now reaching primary school children across the city for the first time.   It is also growing a global network of partner organisations. Programmes are up and running in cities including Dublin, Sydney and Soweto.   Making a difference   LifeLab is a finalist in the Health at Every Age category.   It celebrates initiatives that improve the health of a specific age group in the here and now, while also protecting their future health.   LifeLab Programme Manager, Professor Kath Woods-Townsend said:   “We are delighted to be recognised by such a prestigious organisation. Everyone involved in LifeLab strongly believes that we can improve the health of the population by starting with the younger generation.   “Being shortlisted in this fantastic category is a testament to everyone’s dedication to helping young people understand more about their bodies and the impact of their choices.”   The winners will be announced at the RSPH awards ceremony in London this November.

Most people do not realise the importance of thinking about health before pregnancy, according to a new project. ‘Preconception care' supports women and their partners to improve their health before pregnancy and parenthood. This helps give children the best start to life. However, a new public consultation has found that the term is not well understood. Many people are unaware of the potential benefits it can offer them and their future children, the results suggest. The project was led within the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and the University of Southampton. It was a collaboration with the UCL Institute for Women’s Health. Researchers say it highlights the need for new strategies to spread awareness. Their findings have been published in Health Expectations . Supporting future parents Research shows that women and men who are healthy and well when they (or their partner) get pregnant are less likely to develop complications. Their children also tend to have better long-term developmental and health outcomes. Preconception care promotes healthy behaviours such as a balanced diet and taking folic acid supplements. It also addresses risk factors such as smoking, alcohol and obesity. Gathering views The new paper, led by Dr Danielle Schoenaker, details the findings of a public consultation. It involved 54 people aged 18-50 years living in the UK. None of the contributors were currently expecting a child. Researchers organised virtual group discussions to explore public understanding of ‘preconception health’. The questions they asked included: How would you describe the time before pregnancy? Why might health be important during this time? Have you heard of and/or what are your thoughts on the term ‘preconception health’? What are important things to consider when communicating about preconception health? What can we do to raise awareness of preconception health? The consultation revealed that very few contributors understood the term ‘preconception health’. There was a lack of knowledge around what it meant and why it is important. During the discussions, it became clear that most contributors knew of some factors that may affect the ability to conceive. These include taking folic acid supplements and the mother's age. However, they were largely unaware of the link with health in pregnancy and beyond for parents and children. Increasing understanding Contributors shared their views on how researchers can raise awareness of preconception health. Their recommendations included using terms that are easier to understand. The most popular were ‘planning for parenthood’, ‘health and wellbeing during the childbearing years’ and ‘health and wellbeing before pregnancy and parenthood’. They felt targeted messaging would help increase understanding of when, why and for who preconception health is important. This should communicate immediate benefits for the person, as well as for a future pregnancy and child. Using gender-sensitive language was also seen as important. Dr Schoenaker, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, said: “Our public consultation reveals a significant gap in public awareness and understanding of preconception health. This must be urgently addressed to support people to plan and prepare for pregnancy and parenthood. “To raise awareness, we need to co-develop effective strategies. This should start with education in schools and continue through social media campaigns and NHS support."

Southampton researchers have partnered with the local council to map the city’s food system. The project is a collaboration between Southampton City Council (SCC) and researchers from the University of Southampton and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). It is funded by the Centre for the South. The team examined the impact of the current food system on public health and the environment. They have highlighted areas in the city which need better access to healthy food options. Next month, they will present their findings and recommendations to the council’s Health and Wellbeing Board. Dr Ravita Taheem is one of the project’s leads. She is a Senior Public Health Practitioner at SCC and part of the NIHR Southampton BRC.   Childhood obesity Rates of childhood obesity in Southampton are higher than the England national average. Data from 2022/23 shows that 40.5% of Southampton’s year six children are overweight and 26% are obese. The national average for overweight children is 36.6%, with 22.7% living with obesity. These children face lifelong health consequences, as a high proportion of overweight children will become overweight adults. Obesity increases the risk of many health diseases. These include type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer. It also has a significant effect on quality of life and mental health. Increasing inequalities The Southampton data shows that obesity rates disproportionately affect children living in less advantaged communities. 44.3% of children in the most deprived parts of Southampton are overweight or obese, compared to 23.8% in the least deprived areas. “This is deeply concerning”, says Dr Taheem, “especially as we’ve seen this gap widen in recent years.” She adds: “Urgent action is needed to bridge this alarming divide. Our focus is on developing a whole-system approach to tackling childhood obesity. This will help us ensure access to healthy, affordable food is as easy as possible.” Improving the food system Dr Jenny Baverstock, Principal Enterprise Fellow in the School of Biological Sciences, is the project lead at the University. She said: “In addition to high rates of childhood obesity in Southampton, the evidence we gathered found that 41% of residents responding to the city’s cost of living survey had experienced food insecurity. “We have looked at the challenges holistically, analysing data and working with stakeholders such as community groups and food distribution organisations. This has enabled us to understand where and why there are challenges to accessing healthy food, and to make recommendations on improving the food system.” They found that more than one in four homes in Southampton are over a 16-minute walk from a healthy food outlet. These homes were primarily in areas of high deprivation. “Getting fresh fruit and vegetables can be quite difficult. This is especially true in areas of the city where access to healthy affordable food isn’t easy,” continues Dr Baverstock. The team’s recommendations include: Improving the supply of healthier produce Upskilling and enabling people to provide healthier options Building on existing projects and partnerships to improve food waste and food bank services More information is available here . A food partnership is currently being formed in Southampton. It will bring together those involved in the local food system with a shared aspiration to improve it. Both the University of Southampton and Southampton City Council are active participants in this partnership.

Support to improve the health of people from ethnic minorities is most effective when it aligns with their values, research has found. Southampton researchers recommend three ways policy makers and researchers can boost the uptake of healthy eating and physical activity programmes among ethnic minority communities. Tackling UK obesity Around 26% of UK adults are obese, second only to the USA. About two in five do not meet the 150 minutes of recommended physical activity, while only a third of us eat our five-a-day. These trends are worse for ethnic minorities. Yet people in these communities continue to experience political, social and economic disadvantages. These affect their abilities to eat healthily or be active. These disadvantages may have contributed to many people in these communities not engaging with initiatives that support healthy eating and physical activity. Southampton researchers aimed to find out if future initiatives can be made relevant. They worked with 41 participants and 51 community partners. Through interviews and community engagement activities, they identified values underlying health behaviours. The research is published in the journal Discover Public Health . Three questions The researchers suggest three questions policy makers and researchers can ask. These can help to make their policies or programmes more relevant to UK ethnic minority communities. The questions ask if the project or policy: Aligns with the community’s cultural, family, community, social and health values? Supports them to incorporate healthy activities and behaviours into their routines? Accounts for factors such as racism, cost and location? The researchers also recommend ‘co-production’. This is where people from the target communities work in partnership to develop the policies or programmes. They suggest involving people from the communities at an early phase of policy or programme development. The hope is that this will mean programmes may be more suited to these communities. This, in turn, will support more people to make the changes they need to live healthier lives. Olatundun Gafari, a Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Southampton, was the paper’s lead author. She is an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Research Fellow at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. She said: “People behave in ways that align with their personal values and priorities. This study was therefore important to understand what the values and priorities were for people from different ethnic minority communities, and how physical activity and healthy eating programmes can be developed in a way that align with these values. “Physical activity and healthy eating behaviours are shaped by many factors. However, when programmes and policies begin to take into consideration the specific needs, contexts and priorities of the intended population, while working with them right from the start, the programmes stand a better chance at being well received and impactful. “We encourage policy makers and those involved in the development of interventions and programmes to adopt the recommendations shared in this paper.”

Local teens have experienced what being a doctor is like through a summer school at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). The two-day course was run by Southampton’s LifeLab programme. It was attended by pupils from 25 schools across Hampshire and Dorset. LifeLab is a unique research-based educational programme. It empowers children and young people to understand the science behind their health. The programme is a collaboration between the University of Southampton, NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and UHS. It is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Gaining experience Pupils practiced clinical skills such as venesection, cannulation, suturing, blood pressure and urine testing. They were also given a tour of our NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility. This is an extensive, dedicated space for early-stage clinical research. It is where our volunteers come to take part in research trials and studies. Kate Bartlett, Developing Talent Lead for LifeLab, said: “We were delighted to see so many pupils take part in our medical summer school. There is a shortage of clinical staff across our country, so it is vital to give young people valuable experience of what a role in healthcare could be like.” ‘A brilliant course’ Leona Birchenough’s daughter, Paige, took part in the course. It has helped her decide on a career in medicine. Leona added: “[there was] so much good information for her. It’s a brilliant course.” The pupils experienced anatomy teaching in labs and spoke to current medical students about what it’s like to study medicine. They also heard from Dr Laura Croucher, a Paediatric Registrar in Dorset, about working in the NHS. More than 15,000 students have visited the LifeLab facility at Southampton General Hospital from over 100 schools. Visit the LifeLab website to find out more.

A new trial will see if a vaccine can protect babies against a common respiratory virus from birth. The trial, known as RSVoyage, is being led by researchers at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). Pregnant women are being invited to come forward to take part in the research. The vaccine aims to protect babies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from the moment they are born. Leading cause of hospitalisations RSV is a leading cause of hospitalisation for babies and young children, causing between 20 and 30 infant deaths each year in the UK. Young children are at greater risk of severe RSV infection, especially those under six months, because their respiratory and immune systems are not fully developed. In adults, RSV usually causes mild illness. Symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat, cough and headache. Some babies, however, develop severe lung problems such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The virus is responsible for around 33,000 NHS hospitalisations annually in children under five years old. Passing on protection The vaccine will be given to pregnant women, to determine whether it can protect babies during the first few months of their life. It works by passing on immunity through the placenta. Dr Chrissie Jones is Chief Investigator of the trial in the UK. She is a paediatric infectious disease specialist and an international expert in vaccines in pregnancy. She is also part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. “I am passionate about the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases before birth,” she said. “RSV is a very contagious infection, and every year our wards are full of babies affected by this virus with breathing and feeding problems. “These hospital admissions are highly distressing for families, and cause a huge winter burden on the NHS. Protecting babies against RSV from the moment they are born would make a massive difference to families and the NHS.” From September this year, a new national immunisation programme to tackle RSV infections will start for older adults and pregnant women. Pregnant mothers who are not eligible to receive an RSV vaccine as part of the national immunisation programme may be able to receive one by taking part in the RSVoyage trial. To ensure a secure global supply of vaccines to protect babies against RSV, it is important to have several vaccines which are safe and effective. It is therefore important to test investigational vaccines aimed at protecting infants against RSV, which may be offered by the NHS and feed into other immunisation programmes around the world. Inviting pregnant women The trial is running at six sites in the UK, led by UHS. Clinical trials facilities within Wessex Research Hubs will enrol women in late pregnancy from across Hampshire and Dorset. To join the RSVoyage trial, you must be: •         18 to less than 40 years of age •         In good health •         28 to 36 weeks pregnant at the time of the vaccination visit This trial is supported by Moderna. It is being undertaken as part of the Moderna-UK Strategic Partnership. This is bringing mRNA vaccine manufacturing to the UK and building resilience to future health emergencies. Under the 10-year partnership with the government, Moderna has also committed substantial investment to research and development. This includes running a number of clinical trials, such as this one, in the UK. Ailsa Cox, mum-of-three from Hambledon, is urging mothers to come forward. Her children Ruaraidh and Tiodhlac were both cared for in Queen Alexandra hospital, Portsmouth, after they picked up the infection. “It’s difficult to see your children so poorly with this virus,” she said. “Both my younger two were hospitalised within one week of each other with RSV and bronchiolitis, a common secondary complication with RSV. “It’s hard to describe how distressing it is to see them struggling to breathe when they’re so small. We were lucky they didn’t have additional complications. I have friends whose children have needed intensive care due to RSV.”

Southampton’s LifeLab programme is inspiring young people to make healthier life choices. They marked successes at a celebration event last week. It took place in the facility at Southampton General Hospital. LifeLab is a unique research-based educational programme. It is a collaboration between the University of Southampton, NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and University Hospital Southampton. The programme has welcomed more than 15,000 students through its doors. It is celebrating its 10th anniversary this summer. Empowering young people LifeLab empowers children and young people to understand the science behind their health. This informs the choices they make for their own lives – for their health now, in the future, and for their future families. Last week’s event celebrated successes since the pandemic. They include the roll-out of Early LifeLab. The programme is now reaching primary school children across the city for the first time. Teenagers are researching the issues that matter most to them through new Youth Panels. They are employed by the University and paid for their time. LifeLab has also launched a new initiative called the Young Researcher Training Programme. Special event The event was attended by students, teachers, volunteers and staff from across the university-hospital partnership. Selected students were invited to display their work from the past year and speak with attendees. They were all presented with certificates at the end of the event. Kath Woods-Townsend, LifeLab Programme Manager, said: “Our annual showcase event is always a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and reflect on everyone’s efforts over the past year to make a difference in the lives of our young people. “It’s wonderful to see so many of our students and supporters come together to recognise this important programme.”