Southampton researchers are improving understanding and treatment of a group of rare diseases. Patients with fibrotic lung diseases experience shortness of breath that gets worse over time. The most common form is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Researchers in our NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) hope to uncover its biological cause. This could result in better treatments. Dr Joseph Bell is driving the project forward. He explains how he got started in research and what he hopes to achieve through a one-year BRC Postdoctoral Bridging Fellowship. How did you become interested in research? Since I was a little kid, I’ve always been interested in how things work – everything from space rockets to special effects! I’ve always loved Biology. I studied Biochemistry at university as it seemed like the ultimate in “how things work” – the hidden mechanisms inside us which make everything else tick. That curiosity is ultimately what led to my PhD and current work looking at mechanisms of disease in the lung. I am channelling my curiosity into something that can be beneficial to people. What is the healthcare challenge that you are seeking to address? My main interest is fibrotic lung disease. This is a broad term for a set of conditions where people’s lungs progressively fill with scar tissue, leading to difficulty breathing. In many cases, this is fatal, with worse prognosis than several forms of cancer. While not as common as other lung conditions, it is on the rise in the UK and currently has no cure. Existing treatments only serve to slow the disease’s progress. My broad aim is to try and identify the biological mechanisms which cause the disease. This could ultimately help to generate new and better ways to treat it. What do you hope to achieve in your research at the BRC? My research focusses on trying to characterise and replicate the complex environment found within the lungs of people with this disease. I’m using technology that shows where specific molecular signatures exist within microscopic areas of the lung. My aim is to identify what changes between healthy and diseased lung. I will replicate these changes in cultured human cells to try and model what is happening within the disease. The end goal is to use these findings to identify how to reverse these mechanisms of disease. This could eventually lead to new treatments for lung fibrosis. How would you sum up your fellowship in three words? Modelling lung environments What's it like being an early career researcher in Southampton? Being an ECR here is great! I’m lucky enough to be in a fantastic group of other researchers here in the Brooke Lab at Southampton General Hospital and I receive great support from more senior colleagues. I find there’s a lot of freedom to explore my research interests, as well as some world-class research facilities. Life here is quite fast paced. I tend to have multiple projects to work on at any one time. Southampton itself is a good place to be – 20 minutes from the New Forest, sunny and surprisingly green! What advice would you give other early career researchers? Network! This is the point in your career where you need to be building up contacts and collaborators in your own right. It can be intimidating, especially with senior academics, but the days of the cloistered academic in their ivory tower are long gone. Having access to different points of view and sources of expertise is vital, and often very rewarding to boot. Good time management is also key. As you transition to becoming an independent researcher, there will always be multiple drains on your time. Being able to manage different commitments is crucial to being an effective scientist. Finally, try and enjoy it. At the end of the day, you’re figuring out things that nobody has ever worked out before! That’s a pretty fun place to be.

Southampton researchers have designed an interactive lighthouse sculpture with a local school. The eight-foot lighthouse is part of a free, family-friendly trail that is running for the next seven weeks across Southampton and Cowes. It will help Southampton Hospitals Charity raise funds for Southampton Children’s Hospital. Researchers and students from Southampton’s Digital Health and Biomedical Engineering group developed the idea, led by Professor Adriane (Age) Chapman. Prof Chapman co-leads the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre’s data, health and society theme. The Wellbeing Beacon Known as the Wellbeing Beacon, the lighthouse is an interactive sculpture, highlighting how research into technology can support people to improve their health and wellbeing. The researchers developed the sculpture in partnership with Mount Pleasant Primary School. They collaborated with artist and teacher Emily Harper to bring it to life. “The Lighthouse project has exemplified the collaborations and partnerships that lead to better health research and translation,” said Professor Chapman. “The project was co-designed by Mt Pleasant Primary School pupils, implemented by undergraduate students in Biomedical Engineering, PhD students and academics in Electronics and Computer Science (ECS), and brought to life by a local artist.” Interactive sculpture The Wellbeing Beacon is equipped with a working lighthouse light, made from panels of LEDs, and nine touch screens. It is located on Level 3 of Southampton’s Westquay shopping centre. The lower five screens focus on the choices people can make to improve their health and wellbeing, based on “ The Healthy High Five ”. The upper four screens describe how technology can help when this isn’t enough. They cover mechatronics for health, electronic systems, digital health, and artificial intelligence (AI) for health. This is based on the University of Southampton’s new Biomedical Engineering programme. The team has also added some extra functionality to the light, based on lighthouse viewer’s choices. You can make the light change if you find all of these. “Health and health technology research requires interdisciplinary researchers from all areas, at all levels of experience,” explains Prof Chapman. “It cannot be done without co-design from groups such as patients and carers, health professionals and IT staff, as well as implementation by technologists. “ECS and the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre’s data, health and society theme are working together to find novel ways of improving how we approach health.” Light the South The Light the South art trail is running from 13 July to 1 September. It features 40 Lighthouse sculptures designed by local and national artists. There are also 40 Little Lights created by schools and community groups. Southampton Hospitals Charity are presenting the walking trail, in partnership with Red Funnel and Wild in Art. It will guide visitors through some of Southampton and Cowes’ most well-loved and historic landmarks and streets. The trail will shine a light on art and culture in the heart of the city. As well as encouraging local residents to rediscover the city they love, the spectacle is expected to attract thousands of visitors from outside the area. Each sculpture is sponsored by local businesses from across the region. They will be auctioned on the 20th September at the Southampton International Boat Show. Ellis Banfield, Southampton Hospitals Charity Chief Executive, said: “We’re thrilled to be launching Light the South. “As well as creating a brilliant adventure for families, this spectacular trail will help Southampton Hospitals Charity raise vital funds for our Children’s Hospital, one of the top three paediatric centres across the country.”

International clean air campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah CBE has highlighted the importance of tackling poor air quality in the South. She gave a powerful talk in Southampton this week for Clean Air South. The new partnership has been set up to drive better understanding of how air pollution is impacting people’s health across the region. Rosamund’s nine-year-old daughter, Ella Roberta, had a fatal asthma attack in 2013. She was the first person in the UK to have air pollution recognised as a factor in her death. Rosamund has spent the decade since her daughter’s death campaigning on air pollution. Her trip to the south coast included an event at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). She was shown some of the latest asthma research taking place at the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility (CRF). ‘A silent killer’ Air pollution is linked to 43,000 deaths a year in the UK. It is the largest environmental risk to public health. Children, the elderly and people who are clinically vulnerable are more susceptible than others. There is strong evidence that pollution accelerates the progression of coronary heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases, dementia and lung cancer. Research also shows that it contributes to the start of asthma, makes it worse over time and can contribute to early death. In an inquest in 2020, a coroner ruled that air pollution had “made a material contribution” to Ella’s death. Her family lived just 30 metres from London’s South Circular Road. This is one of the most polluted roads in the capital. In the years since her daughter’s death, Rosamund has become one of the most powerful voices in the pollution debate. “Air pollution is a silent killer and a pandemic,” she said, “killing more people than Covid.” Rosamund continued: “On the days there is a spike in pollution, more people go to hospital. If we clean up the air it wouldn’t be such a burden on the NHS. “My daughter died a horrible death and children continue to die from asthma. It is our right to breathe clean air and we will keep battling to be heard.” Pioneering research Rosamund spent the morning with Clean Air South delegates at the University of Southampton’s (UoS) Future Towns Innovation Hub. She then met medical students, nurses and consultants at UHS. They spoke about efforts to raise awareness of the impact of air pollution in relation to patients in their care. At UHS, Rosamund also visited the NIHR Southampton CRF to see trials that are improving treatments for children with asthma and other conditions. She was introduced to Nikita, a 13-year-old who is part of a trial for children with severe asthma. Dr Thom Daniels, consultant respiratory physician at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), said: “Poor air quality is one of the major public health challenges of our time. It contributes to the shortened lives, poor health and deaths of thousands of people in the UK. “We are delighted to welcome Rosamund to our hospital, giving her the chance to hear and see some of the work we are doing around this vitally important issue, including leading the way with clinical research that aims to provide better treatment and outcomes for our patients.” Improving air quality Rosamund’s visit was arranged by Sir Stephen Holgate, a world-leading clean air expert. He is a Professor of Immunopharmacology at UoS and part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. Rosamund and Stephen have worked closely together for many years. Stephen played a key role in the second inquest into Ella’s death. Prof Holgate said: “Rosamund has become one of the world’s most successful campaigners on clean air. We are very keen to hear her personal story which is such a powerful reminder about the human toll of air pollution. We want to use this chance to accelerate work to improve air quality in the south with its unique air pollution issues.” Clean Air South is overseeing a landmark report into the state of air quality in the Wessex area. The report is sponsored as part of UoS’ civic impact activities. Its authors are Professor John Boswell and Adam Meylan-Stevenson. The report will outline initial findings, important gaps in the evidence and opportunities for policy makers in the region to improve the air we all breathe. Driving change Clean Air South aims to improve air quality by connecting health researchers with policy makers. It is jointly led by Wessex Health Partners and UoS’ Sustainability and Resilience Institute. The partnership, which brings together expertise in research, innovation and education, aims to: Identify gaps in research and promote deeper understanding of air quality and its impact in the central south region Better understand local population health needs in relation to air quality Develop and implement innovations and policy change Develop education and training for both the general population and healthcare professionals to prevent, manage and treat ill health associated with poor air quality Help reduce the percentage of the local population with co-morbidities associated with polluted air for future generations Christine McGrath, Wessex Health Partners Managing Director, said: “We know polluted air, indoor and outdoor, is a major threat to health in the south and exacerbates health inequalities. This includes communities in areas of higher pollution, such as those living close to busy roads, children, the elderly and those with long term health conditions. “With the right research in place, and by linking people together, we can support policymakers to enact bold policies which drive change. This will help protect our most vulnerable residents.”

Dr Rebecca Moon has been honoured with a prestigious New Investigator award. Her research is looking at the benefits of vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy. Dr Moon is an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in Child Health at the University of Southampton’s MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre. She is also part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). She was presented the award at the International Conference on Children’s Bone Health (ICCBH). The event took place in Salzburg at the end of June. Added benefits of vitamin D Dr Moon presented her findings on the impact of vitamin D supplements during pregnancy, focusing on their effect on children’s bone mineral density. This work is part of a large research project called MAVIDOS. Bone density is a measure of the amount of calcium and other minerals in bone. Bones containing more minerals tend to be stronger and less likely to break. Dr Moon’s research has shown that children born to mothers who take extra vitamin D during pregnancy have better bone health at 6-7 years of age. This could lead to a lower risk of broken bones in adulthood. Dr Moon said: “We are very excited by these findings as they suggest that a cheap and easy intervention in pregnancy may improve bone health for many people.” This phase of the MAVIDOS study was supported by Versus Arthritis and the UK Medical Research Council. Dr Moon is now leading further follow-up studies on this cohort of children as they become teenagers, funded by Action Medical Research. Southampton representation The ICCBH conference, held biennially, saw its eleventh event this year. It attracted scientists and clinicians from a wide range of disciplines across the globe. Dr Kate Ward, Professor of Global Musculoskeletal Health, also showcased the work of the MRC LEC at the conference. She hosted a symposium on bone densitometry in children and adolescents and a “meet the expert” session. Professor Nicholas Harvey is the Director of the MRC LEC. He said: “It is wonderful to have our internationally competitive work recognised in this way. I offer my sincere congratulations to Dr Moon for this fantastic achievement.”

Southampton researchers are looking at new ways to improve health through nutrition. Obesity is a major public health problem in England. It costs the NHS around £6.5 billion a year. Researchers in our NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) are helping people change their habits so they can live healthier for longer. They include Dr Helena Fisk. She explains her route into research and what she hopes to achieve through a one-year BRC Postdoctoral Bridging Fellowship. How did you become interested in research? I was always fascinated by the human body: how our body functions and how things can go wrong and why. This led me to pursue a degree in biomedical science. During my degree, I became interested in the role of nutrition in biochemistry and physiology. It was through an undergraduate research project that I discovered enjoyment in research and began to consider it as a potential career pathway. I then joined Prof Philip Calder’s group as a research technician. This experience solidified my interest in pursuing a research career, specifically in the field of nutrition. It led me to pursue a part-time PhD in nutritional medicine alongside my role as a technician. My research focuses on inflammation in obesity and ageing. I am investigating the effects of nutrients including omega-3, probiotics, and vitamin D on the immune system, inflammation, and disease. What is the healthcare challenge that you are seeking to address? I am seeking to address inflammation that occurs with obesity and ageing. This inflammation increases the risk of developing diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. It also increases susceptibility to infections and their severity. Rates of overweight and obesity in the UK are rising. 64% of the adult population are now living with overweight and obesity. We also have an increasing population of older adults who live with age related inflammation. They too are at increased risk of developing associated diseases. I aim to understand how this inflammation occurs and find ways of reducing this to decrease the risk of related diseases and improve quality of life. I am interested in how we may be able to target inflammation and support health with nutrition. A key focus of mine is how we may be able to target inflammation and the immune system using dietary lipids. What do you hope to achieve in your research at the BRC? During this fellowship I will research the effects of Vitamin D and a probiotic on inflammation and gut health in older adults. I also aim to extend this research to  understand how lipids are metabolised (broken down and used) to control inflammation in this group of people. This will shed new light on the role of gut bacteria in controlling inflammation through lipids. My goal is to become an independent researcher and establish myself as an emerging leader in the field of lipid signalling and metabolic inflammation. This fellowship will support me with progressing towards these goals. It will provide me with time to generate key data and undertake opportunities that support further career development and fellowship application. How would you sum up your fellowship in three words? Opportunity, development, encouraging What's it like being an early career researcher in Southampton? Being an early career researcher at the University of Southampton has provided me with excellent opportunities to develop my research skills and expertise. I have benefitted from access to state-of-the-art facilities, and been able to network, collaborate, and disseminate my work to establish myself within my research field and the university faculty. It has been fantastic to develop my independence in such a supportive environment. What advice would you give other early career researchers? The transition from PhD student to early career researcher seeking independence is a big step. It comes with lots of challenges, but it also presents excellent opportunities to gain new skills and further your personal development. It is important to be proactive and seek out opportunities. Don't be afraid to ask for support with your endeavours and I would advise seeking mentorship. Rejection is tough but common when applying for funding and fellowship schemes. Being reflective but keeping positive and determined is key. Put yourself out there: network, disseminate your research and make sure to celebrate your achievements.

Two laboratories at Southampton General Hospital have won awards for their sustainable practices. The Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) lab and Biomedical Imaging Unit (BIU) are joint University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton facilities. They have both received silver Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) awards. LEAF aims to help labs become more environmentally friendly. Actions include learning how to save plastics, water, energy and other resources. The University has also celebrated a third success this spring with the Harrowven group in the School of Chemistry. Cutting-edge research PCD is a rare condition that leads to chronic lung, ear and sinus infections. The PCD lab supports diagnosis and enables vital research into the condition. Professor Jane Lucas leads the national PCD service in Southampton. She is part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). Several BRC-funded PhD students also work in the lab. The BIU, which also received a silver award, provides state-of-the-art facilities, research and diagnostic services in high resolution microscopy. It also provides non-invasive imaging of small to medium-sized animals for medical research. Gemma Fryatt, who is a laboratory technician in the PCD diagnostic and research team, said: “This is a fantastic achievement. It is brilliant to receive recognition for our teams’ hard work in addressing sustainability issues. “The awards will motivate us as we work towards our gold LEAF submissions.” Environmental impact of research LEAF was developed by University College London. The University of Southampton signed up to the framework in 2021. Since then, there have been four silver and 27 bronze awards. You can see the full list here. Peter Morgan, Technical Manager in the School of Geography and Environmental Science, played a lead role in encouraging labs to engage with LEAF. He said: “Laboratories are workplaces that often have a high carbon footprint due to the complex activities undertaken in them. Scientific equipment can use a lot of energy and a lot of waste can be produced. For example, many labs will use single-use plastics. “Many people feel they want to help make the University more sustainable, but addressing issues in labs can be daunting. LEAF is a toolkit developed specifically to help those working in labs address sustainability issues in their workplaces.” Read more about the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework.

Parents of children with severe milk and peanut allergies have told how their lives have been changed by a pioneering clinical trial. The Natasha Trial uses daily doses of everyday food products, taken under medical supervision. This can train the bodies of children and young people to tolerate an allergen. The approach is known as oral immunotherapy (OIT). It is hoped this will allow children with food allergies to live without the fear of a potentially fatal reaction. The three-year trial is funded by The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation. It is led by researchers at the University of Southampton, University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and Imperial College London. #MakeAllergyHistory Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died aged 15 from a severe food allergic reaction. The £2.5 million Natasha Trial is the first major study to be funded by Natasha’s Foundation, set up by her parents Nadim and Tanya. So far, a total of 139 children, aged 2 to 23 years, have started treatment on the trial. It is being run at five hospitals, including UHS. Four other sites are expected to join later. Hasan Arshad is a Professor of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of Southampton and Head of the Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Service at UHS. He is Chief Investigator of the trial and part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. He said: “We must wait until the trial is complete for the full picture, but we are very pleased with the results we are seeing so far.” Changing children’s lives Thomas Farmer from Ashurst, New Forest, was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy when he was aged one. When he joined the Natasha Trial in March 2023, he could not tolerate even half a peanut. By January 2024, he was eating 6 peanuts a day – a dose he will keep in his diet. He is taking part at the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility located in Southampton General Hospital. His mother Lauren said: “Having food allergies can be really difficult and isolating. As parents, who have lived with managing a peanut allergy for nearly ten years, we knew we wanted to see if there was a way to understand it better and help to manage the allergy. “Our journey on the Natasha study has been amazing so far. From day one we have felt that our son has been the number one priority throughout, and has had the best possible care given to him.” She added: “Knowing that Thomas can now tolerate six peanuts a day has taken away so much anxiety around food. It will also hopefully mean that he will be able to eat a wider variety of food as we won’t be so concerned about accidental exposure. “For Thomas to be able to achieve all this with no medicine – just off the shelf foods – is amazing.” Thomas said: “I wanted to do the study so I can help people with the same allergy as me and to be a positive role model to others who may be going through the same as me.” Future treatment If successful, the trial will provide the evidence for the treatment to be made available on the NHS. Offering the treatment more widely would be a step forward for people with food allergies and their families, and help to tackle the growing allergy epidemic. Hospital admissions for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to food have more than tripled in the last 20 years in the UK, with young people most likely to be affected. Using everyday products to treat food allergies would also be a cheaper alternative to expensive pharmaceuticals, saving the NHS money. Tanya Ednan-Laperouse said: “We are so happy that some children with peanut and milk allergies are already seeing the benefits of using everyday foods under medical supervision to treat their allergic disease. “If Natasha were alive today, this is exactly the type of research she would have loved to be part of. “This is a major first step in our mission to make food allergies history. We look forward to seeing the final results.”

Professor Nicholas Harvey has been named as the new president of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). The IOF is the world's largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. Professor Harvey has years of experience at the forefront of osteoporosis research. He takes over the role from Southampton’s Professor Cyrus Cooper, who has been IOF President since 2017. ‘Honor and privilege’ Professor Harvey is the Director of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre. He is Professor of Rheumatology and Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Southampton. He is also part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. He has published more than 400 research papers. He is an Associate Editor of Osteoporosis International. He also serves on the editorial boards of other leading scientific journals in the field. Professor Harvey’s achievements have been recognised through numerous international awards. The most recent of these are the IOF Olof Johnell Science Prize, ORTOMED Medal and IOF CSA Medal of Achievement. Professor Harvey said: “It is a great honour and privilege to be afforded the opportunity to serve our global community as President of the International Osteoporosis Foundation. “I look forward with eager anticipation to working with the IOF’s global community of dedicated individuals and organisations in our shared mission to advance musculoskeletal health and fracture prevention for patients and populations. “It is a particular pleasure and privilege to follow in the footsteps of Professor Cyrus Cooper, a preeminent figure in our field, and a long-time mentor, colleague and friend. His enormous contributions to both the IOF and the wider field represent a wonderful legacy, and I know that the entire IOF family shares my heartfelt gratitude." Enduring legacy The IOF network involves committees of scientific researchers. It has over 330 patient and medical organisations, universities and fracture liaison services. Together, they work to make fracture prevention and healthy mobility a global healthcare priority. Professor Harvey’s election to the role of IOF President was approved by the newly elected IOF Board for the term 2024-2028. This convened before this year's World Congress of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases. The Board has four members from each of the six world regions. This reflects the IOF’s global vision and commitment to equitable representation. It also approved the appointment of Professor René Rizzoli as IOF Treasurer, and Professor Jean-Yves Reginster as IOF General Secretary. IOF CEO Dr Philippe Halbout welcomed the new IOF President. He also thanked Professor Cooper for his service at the helm of IOF over the past seven years. He said: “I very much look forward to working with Professor Harvey as we embark on a journey to grow and strengthen the global osteoporosis field. At the same time, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to Cyrus Cooper. It has been an honour and immense privilege to work with him in advancing the IOF vision and missions. His legacy will endure indefinitely.” Professor Cooper said: “I could not be more pleased with this outcome. Professor Harvey’s long-standing dedication to the Foundation, his skill and experience as former Chair of the Committee of Scientific Advisors and his world-class contributions to the field of osteoporosis make him the perfect choice to lead IOF into the future. It is wonderful to know that I am leaving the Presidency in such capable hands as the Foundation progresses its mission worldwide.”

Dr Nathan Brendish has been honoured with a prestigious Young Investigator award. His research is advancing rapid tests that help stop the spread of hospital infections. The international prize recognises excellence in research and encourages growth at a top scientific level. Dr Brendish is a NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Infectious Diseases and General Internal Medicine at the University of Southampton. He is also part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). He was presented the award at the ESCMID Global annual congress. The event took place in Barcelona at the end of April. Award-winning work The prestigious award is presented by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). Dr Brendish’s work focuses on point-of-care-testing for respiratory viruses and other infections. The innovative approach cuts diagnosis times. He has spearheaded four landmark trials within Professor Tristan Clark’s research group. This work forms part of the Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection theme at our NIHR Southampton BRC. Showcasing findings ESCMID Global brings together experts and specialists working in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases. There were over 18,000 attendees this year. Award recipients have the opportunity to deliver a lecture on their research. Dr Brendish’s lecture was entitled ‘Getting to the point of point-of-care testing.’ It considered the future of this approach and its importance for patient care. Dr Brendish said: “It is a great honour to receive this young investigator award. “The support I’ve received from the NIHR Southampton BRC has been instrumental in achieving this significant milestone. I am proud to contribute to important work focused on improving care for patients with infectious diseases.”

Southampton researchers are advancing a quick and accurate method to diagnose bacterial infections. Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infection. They are becoming less effective due to overuse in recent years. Researchers in our NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) are developing a new tool to diagnose infections in minutes. This could help counter antimicrobial resistance. Dr Callum Highmore is driving the project forward. He shares his journey to date and how he is being supported by a one-year BRC Postdoctoral Bridging Fellowship. How did you become interested in research? Conducting research gives you a small role in peeling back the big mysteries of the universe, which is an unmissably cool prospect. Working on clinical research has the potential to improve lives at scale. To me, no career could be more worthwhile and interesting. I completed my PhD at Southampton in 2018, which focused on improving food safety through microbial detection methods. My PhD coincided with the launch of the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), and I was lucky enough to be offered a position as an NBIC Research Fellow. Through this position I have been able to develop my own research path and interests, which has led me to this project. What is the healthcare challenge that you are seeking to address? Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health challenge. It threatens to reverse advances made in modern medicine over the past 80 years. AMR was associated with 4.95m deaths in 2019, and this is estimated to increase to 10m annually by 2050. Its prevalence is accelerated by the overuse of unnecessary or ineffective antibiotic treatments. A culture-free rapid diagnostic tool is needed to recommend effective antibiotic treatments for increasingly adaptive infections. Bacteria culture tests are the standard approach for identifying what type of bacteria caused an infection. They are time-consuming and labour-intensive, and delays can negatively impact clinical outcomes. What do you hope to achieve in your research at the BRC? My Fellowship is aiming to move our rapid diagnostic technology from the lab bench to patient samples. We are using an innovative technology called Multi-Excitation Raman Spectroscopy to cut diagnosis times from days to minutes. Our pilot data shows it can detect antimicrobial resistance across different types of bacteria. This Fellowship serves to de-risk our future work by applying our methodology to samples from cystic fibrosis patients with respiratory infections. The findings will support a larger study to develop an AI-powered diagnostic tool that uses laser wavelengths to identify whether bacterial cells in clinical samples are resistant to antibiotics. Long term, I hope to see this technology up and running in the clinic! How would you sum up your fellowship in three words? Sputum, bacteria, lasers What's it like being an early career researcher in Southampton? Research at Southampton is great! We have access to brilliant technologies and expertise here, and strong links with national and international collaborators. Thanks to my involvement with the NBIC, I've had the opportunity to lead my own research projects. I've also benefitted from internal and external funding sources. What advice would you give other early career researchers? Ensure you have space for creativity in your life. Whenever possible, don’t check your emails at home. Take advice from others with a pinch of salt. There are so many routes through a research career, and everyone has a unique situation.

Southampton researchers will co-lead a new £9.4 million centre to improve care for people with rare lung diseases. The research centre will speed up diagnosis and treatment of rare respiratory diseases. Thousands of people around the world could benefit from the new collaboration. The LifeArc Centre for Rare Respiratory Diseases is a partnership between Universities and NHS Trusts. It is co-led by Southampton with partners in Edinburgh, Nottingham, Dundee, Cambridge, and at University College London. It is supported by six other clinical partners across the UK. Collectively common A rare disease is one that affects fewer than 1 in 2,000 people. Over 300 million people are living with rare diseases worldwide. Of those, one in 20 are related to respiratory conditions. While rare on their own, collectively they create significant social and economic costs. The collaboration will create a UK-wide bank of anonymised tissue samples and models of disease. This will enable researchers to advance pioneering therapies. Scientists hope to lower the risk of investment for research in this area and boost public awareness. The research centre is co-led by Professor Jane Lucas at the University of Southampton. She is part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. Prof Lucas leads the national primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) diagnostic centre in Southampton. PCD is a rare, inherited condition that leads to chronic lung, ear and sinus infections. Prof Lucas said: “The LifeArc centre provides an exciting opportunity to advance new therapies for people with rare lung diseases. The collaboration between UK institutions will speed up delivery of novel therapies for clinical trials. “In Southampton, we will lead the development of high throughput pre-clinical models to assess effectiveness of treatments for primary ciliary dyskinesia. “We will work with patient organisations and academic collaborators to develop the infrastructure, including biobanks, registries and scientific expertise. This will ensure the Life Arc Centre is the ‘go to’ place for developing new treatments.” Working in collaboration The centre is funded by LifeArc, a not-for-profit medical research charity. It is supported by several patient groups. These include Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis, Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease, LAM Action, PCD Research and PCD Support UK. Professor Kev Dhaliwal from the University of Edinburgh is leading the new centre. He said: “Patients and their families are at the heart of our centre. By bringing together the four UK nations’ community of researchers, patient groups, clinical experts, NHS trusts and by coalescing industry, investors and wonderful colleagues around the world, we are sharing resources and committed to developing new therapies for everyone afflicted with rare lung disease. “We are very grateful to LifeArc for supporting the centre on our journey of collaboration across the UK with a mission and purpose to innovate and translate for patient benefit.” ‘New and significant hope’ Former BBC News journalist and presenter, Philippa Thomas, has a rare incurable condition that damages the lungs. Philippa’s condition has stabilised but for many people, the disease can be severely life-limiting. Philippa explains: “There is so little research funding for rare respiratory diseases. Getting treatment - let alone an accurate diagnosis - really does feel like a lottery. It is also terrifying being diagnosed with something your GP will never have heard of. “I am overjoyed at the prospect of a new LifeArc centre for Rare Respiratory Diseases. It represents new and significant hope for patients and their families. Hope that we can speed up and bring together the provision of essential information, access to specialised care, new clinical trials, and above all a future with a cure.” This centre is one of four new LifeArc Translational Centres for Rare Diseases. They have been set up to address unmet needs. Dr Catriona Crombie, Head of Rare Disease at LifeArc, said: “Each centre has been awarded funding because it holds real promise for delivering change. These centres also have the potential to create a blueprint for accelerating improvements across other disease areas.”

Families on the Isle of Wight have been taking part in a ground-breaking research project for over 34 years. Researchers in Southampton have been monitoring the health of over a thousand people on the Isle of Wight from when they were born. Studying this large group, known as a cohort, over many years is revealing new insights into allergies and asthma. This is building understanding of the conditions and helping identify new or improved treatments. Many members of the cohort are now parents themselves, and have put their own children forward to be included in the cohort. This means that three generations of the same families – parents of the birth cohort, their children and their grandchildren, have provided valuable data for research. Parents, children and grandchildren The Isle of Wight Birth Cohort was established in 1989. It is one of the oldest and most comprehensively studied birth cohorts. There are now over 600 children in this ‘third-generation’ group, who are being assessed at six years of age as part of an ongoing project. Southampton researchers are investigating the prevalence, environmental risk factors, genetic susceptibility and progression of the conditions. They are led by Prof Hasan Arshad from the University of Southampton and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). The cohort has informed over 100 research publications, helping researchers better understand asthma, eczema and food allergies - especially how these conditions might change over someone’s lifetime. Investigating allergies and asthma Members of the cohort have taken part in seven follow-up studies to date, at ages one, two, four, 10, 18 and 26 years. Prof Arshad is now leading an eighth follow-up study. This will last between 18 months and two years. Members of the cohort will answer a comprehensive questionnaire before attending a health check at David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight. There they will have tests to check their lung function, allergic sensitivity and nitric oxide levels, which indicate inflammation of the airways. It is being funded by the David Hide Asthma and Allergy Charitable Trust, sponsored by the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, and supported by the NIHR Southampton BRC. Prof Arshad, Professor in Allergy & Clinical Immunology at the University of Southampton and an honorary consultant with Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said: “In many ways, the Isle of Wight birth cohort provides a unique wealth of information. Being able to study asthma and allergic diseases across three generations helps us to understand how genetics and environmental exposures influence health across generations. “I would like to thank the families that have been so committed to this research over many years. Your contributions will help families for many generations to come.” Image credit: BBC South News