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

Southampton researchers have launched a new collaboration to speed up progress in 3D cell modelling. The models they develop will be used to expand respiratory disease research. This could lead to new drugs and therapies being identified. SoCRATES is driven by experts from the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). It brings together scientists from the University of Southampton, other academic centres and industrial partners. They are exploring how new treatments for respiratory diseases can be developed in a shorter time frame, with higher success rates. Modelling human disease Cell and tissue models are grown from human cells. They are an essential tool for understanding, preventing and treating disease. These models have conventionally been grown in flat, two-dimensional layers. In contrast, cells in 3D environments can grow or interact with their surroundings in all three dimensions. This means they are more representative of the human body. Dr Mirella Spalluto and Professor Paul Elkington are colleagues in the NIHR Southampton BRC’s Respiratory and Allergy theme. They led the development of the new working group. SoCRATES is short for Southampton Cellular Research And Tissue Engineering Systems. Dr Spalluto said: “SoCRATES is like our headquarters where we bring our unique skills to the table. Together, we are trying to understand diseases armed with the latest tools and techniques. “But we're not just sticking to the old playbook. We're shaking things up with cool 3D models that mimic the real deal. This gives us a better shot at identifying new treatments for diseases with the maximum chance of success.” Pioneering research Researchers at Southampton General Hospital have access to clinical samples from patients. They can be used to create 3D cell models for a wide range of medical conditions. This includes Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) - a rare genetic disorder that affects several organs and gets worse over time. Dr Claire Jackson, who is part of the NIHR Southampton BRC, has developed a model to test the effects of drugs and infections. The techniques are also being used beyond lung disease, such as to understand infection, cancer and other important diseases. Discover more on the SoCRATES website.

Charities and partners across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are helping more local people take part in research. They marked successes from the partnership’s second year at a special event in Southampton city centre. It took place at Central Hall on Tuesday 26th March. Dr Karen Underwood from University Hospital Southampton (UHS) was a keynote speaker at the event. Raising Voices in Research is increasing uptake and diversity in research. A key goal is to determine how research can better involve a range of communities. Shaping research The project connects UHS with various local organisations. It is led by Action Hampshire. Other partners include NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, regional National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR) research partners and the University of Winchester. Dr Karen Underwood, Director of Research and Development at UHS, said: “We can all make a difference in the world. Each one of us has a unique voice and perspective to contribute. It is through our collective efforts that we can lead equitable and truly meaningful research. “We must make sure the research we do is the research that people need. This means engaging those who are seldom heard, underserved or experiencing the greatest health inequalities. “It is encouraging to see new relationships growing through this project and we are committed to building on this momentum together.” Voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations were also involved in the delivery of the project. They shared their communities’ views to help shape research. Nicky Judd from Action Hampshire said: “This project has once again shown what an effective bridge VCSE organisations are to help us hear from and work with diverse communities. The insights that experts by experience have shared is gold dust! “It’s exciting to see how much researchers learned through their interactions with these communities, and how they adapted their research methods as a result. Several communities told us this was the first time they have felt really heard.” Putting learning into practice The project launched in December 2022. In its first phase, a series of workshops took place to hear from local communities about what matters to them. It was then awarded an additional £150,000 in September 2023. This investment brought the project’s total funding to almost £250,000. Phase two has seen VCSE organisations work with researchers to embed recommendations from phase one into practice. Alongside this work, training is being co-designed between communities and the University of Winchester. This will help share the work of Raising Voices in Research further. The newly formed Hampshire & Isle of Wight Research Collaborative has met throughout both phases of the project. It brings together those active in research or engagement who have a common aim and desire to make sure diverse communities voices are heard. Working in partnership The partner organisations and their communities have co-developed a Local Plan for Research. It contains recommendations to help recruit patients in an inclusive and diverse way. Seven VCSE groups returned from phase one to take part. They are: Basingstoke Hindu Society Drop the Mask CIC Recapture Life Sight for Wight St Deny's Activity Group, Winchester GoLD, and Yellow Door They were joined by eight new organisations: Work Better Innovations Bridge to Unity Portsmouth City of Sanctuary Motiv8 South Breakout Youth Portsmouth Pride Yellow Brick Road Projects, and Step by Step Dr Matt Nisbet from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board said: “The NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight are incredibly pleased to support this piece of work. We see the impact of research in all our work. In my role as a GP, I see the direct impact of research daily. “I extend my sincere thanks for everyone who has taken part in this work and hope its reach continues beyond today.” The project’s findings will now be evaluated. They will then be shared with partners, communities and NHS England.

Southampton researchers are investigating if a handheld device used to track astronauts’ muscle health could soon also benefit patients. The technology provides an easy-to-use way of measuring muscle health. It could help inform the treatment of patients with conditions like sarcopenia, Parkinson’s disease or stroke. Muscle loss in space The MyotonPRO is a smartphone-sized device which measures the properties of muscles. It works through a ‘tap and listen’ or 'Mechanical Dynamic Response' method. This involves applying a gentle mechanical impulse to the muscle and measuring how the tissue responds. This is used to estimate the muscle’s stiffness. Researchers used the device to monitor the muscle health of astronauts before, during and after a few months on the International Space Station (ISS). The international team on the Myotones project was led by Prof Dieter Blottner at Charité University in Berlin and researchers from the University of Southampton funded by a grant from the UK Space Agency were Prof Maria Stokes, Dr Martin Warner and Paul Muckelt. Microgravity conditions in spaceflight mean astronauts’ bodies aren’t subjected to the workload they are used to on Earth. This means their muscles don’t have to work very hard to perform tasks onboard the spacecraft. This puts astronauts at risk of muscle weakness and bone loss, with up to a 20 percent decrease in skeletal muscle mass over a month. To counteract this, astronauts onboard the ISS perform an exercise programme for around two hours a day, six or seven days a week. Until now, monitoring the effectiveness of this programme has only been possible with pre- and post-flight checks. This was due to a lack of appropriate equipment. Findings published in Nature Scientific Reports show the astronauts’ exercise regime was effective in preserving most muscle groups. However, crucial lower leg muscles showed signs of deterioration. Checking patients’ muscle health Paul Muckelt was the UK Research Fellow on the Myotones project and is a PhD student at the University of Southampton. He undertook a large proportion of the data collection for the research into astronauts’ muscle health. Now he’s looking at how Myoton technology can complement assessment of patients in hospitals and also understand mechanisms of dysfunction to develop treatments, as part of his role at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). His work sits within the Centre's Perioperative and Critical Care theme, in a team led by Prof Peter Worsley. “Because it’s a relatively small, easy-to-use technology,” Paul explains, “it could be used by different healthcare professionals in a hospital to monitor patients at different stages of their treatment.” In particular, his new team are interested in whether the device could be used to check hospital patients for sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle mass and strength associated with ageing. It is a common cause of frailty, fractures and falls in later life. People with sarcopenia take longer to recover from surgery. Extended periods of inactivity such as bed rest in hospital can also accelerate the condition. An objective test for sarcopenia could therefore help inform decisions around their treatment. The Southampton team have conducted several studies to ensure use of Myoton technology is accurate and reliable, including the protocol used for the astronaut study.  In collaboration with clinical physiotherapists and researchers in Ghana, the Southampton team have also published research in the Ghana Medical Journal. That study showed that it is possible to use the MyotonPRO to measure muscle stiffness reliably in people with Parkinson’s disease. ‘Revolutionise healthcare’ Studies of astronauts in space provide a useful model for what happens on Earth when muscles become weak due to ageing or not being used. This could be due to injury, joint diseases or neuromuscular disorders. The Southampton team is very well placed for translating their research directly from space to studying sarcopenia in the BRC. Prof Stokes and Dr Warner are also part of the Perioperative and Critical Care team at the BRC. Dr Warner, Associate Professor at the University of Southampton and co-senior author on the astronaut study paper, said: “This technology and the use of passive muscle stiffness as a muscle health indicator could be used by many health professionals during clinical assessments. Widespread uptake could revolutionise healthcare in neuro-musculoskeletal, critical care and geriatric medicine, rehabilitation and precision medicine.” Prof Stokes, Professor of Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation at the University of Southampton, said: “As with any novel technology, however accurate it might be, it needs to be practical for using in a clinical environment. The fact that using the MyotonPRO device could fit into astronauts’ busy schedules is very promising for use with patients on wards or in outpatient clinics. It takes less than 30 seconds to get a recording and the results appear immediately on the screen of the device or can be downloaded to a computer.” Top image: NASA astronaut using the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) onboard the ISS (credit: NASA) Lower image: Paul Muckelt using the MyotonPRO device (credit: Institute for Life Sciences)

New research suggests a molecule naturally found in coffee and fenugreek could potentially help slow age-related muscle loss. Southampton researchers, working as part of an international collaboration, have shown trigonelline may help to prevent muscle wasting in older age. The consortium was led by Nestlé Research in Switzerland and the National University of Singapore’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine). The study results have been published in Nature Metabolism. Preventing age-related muscle loss Sarcopenia causes a loss of muscle mass and function in older age. As it progresses, it can cause people to become weak, frail and to lose their independence. This research builds on a previous collaborative study that described novel mechanisms of human sarcopenia. It involved researchers from the Universities of Southampton, Melbourne, Tehran, South Alabama, Toyama and Copenhagen. Mitochondria are the energy powerhouses in our cells. One important problem during sarcopenia is that the mitochondria produce less energy. At the same time, the amount of NAD+ in our cells declines. The researchers wanted to see if trigonelline could counteract these changes. Testing trigonelline Trigonelline is a molecule naturally found in coffee and the herb fenugreek. It can also be made by the body in small amounts from vitamin B3. The researchers discovered older people with sarcopenia had less trigonelline in their blood. They took muscle samples from people both with and without sarcopenia, and grew these in a laboratory. In both cases, adding trigonelline increased the amount of NAD+ in the muscle samples. Feeding trigonelline to worms and mice improved their mitochondrial activity. It also helped to maintain their muscle strength and prevent muscle wasting as they aged. Opening new research avenues Dr Vincenzo Sorrentino, Assistant Professor at NUS Medicine, said: “Our findings expand the current understanding of NAD+ metabolism with the discovery of trigonelline as a novel NAD+ precursor, and increase the potential of establishing interventions with NAD+ producing vitamins for both healthy longevity and age-associated diseases applications.” Jerome Feige, Head of the Physical Health department at Nestlé Research, said: “We were excited to discover, through collaborative research, that a natural molecule from food cross-talks with cellular hallmarks of ageing. The benefits of trigonelline on cellular metabolism and muscle health during ageing opens promising translational applications.” Prof Keith Godfrey at the University of Southampton was involved in the study.  He leads the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre's nutrition, lifestyle and metabolism theme. Prof Godfrey said: "This laboratory-based research has shown trigonelline has the potential to help maintain muscle health in older age. We now need to test this in clinical trials with people, to see if trigonelline can help prevent or treat sarcopenia.”

Researchers have taken a major step towards identifying millions of ‘silent spreaders’ of tuberculosis. A new study led by researchers from our NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) has identified a group of biological markers that are found in high levels among infectious patients. Scientists aim for the findings to pave the way for a simple test to speed up diagnosis. This could help stop the spread of the infection, which affects an estimated ten million people around the globe each year. The study was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the UK Medical Research Council. Findings have been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight. World’s most deadly infection Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's deadliest infectious disease. It kills more than one million people each year, according to the World Health Organisation. Researchers from our NIHR Southampton BRC collaborated with experts around the world on this new study. They carried out the most detailed analysis ever undertaken of blood markers for the bacterial infection. The team used a novel technique to identify a set of six proteins that are highly accurate in pinpointing TB. Lead author Dr Hannah Schiff, an NIHR Clinical Lecturer at the University of Southampton, said as many as three million cases were missed last year. Most of the undiagnosed cases were in developing countries. Dr Schiff added: “TB remains a global catastrophe. Our efforts to control the spread are hindered by inadequate testing, which is slow and reliant on specialist equipment and labs. “A third of people who get infected go undiagnosed and remain infectious. “In our study, we combined a new measurement technique with deep mathematical analysis to identify these six new markers of TB disease. “It could lead to a transformative alternative to diagnosing the condition – a simple test that detects proteins in the bloodstream whose levels differ between people with TB, healthy individuals, and those suffering from other respiratory illnesses.” Global research TB is spread when infectious people cough, sneeze or spit. While it mostly affects the lungs, it can devastate any part of the body. Cases in the UK increased to around 5,000 last year. They are expected to continue rising in 2024, according to the UK Health Security Agency. The study was undertaken with experts from the University of Cape Town in South Africa and Cayetano Heredia University in Peru. Academics leading the investigation studied proteins found in the blood of people with active TB in Africa and South America. They compared the biomarkers to those found in healthy people and patients with lung infections. They identified 118 proteins that differed significantly between the groups. The experts then narrowed these down to six proteins that can be used to distinguish contagious patients with TB from people in good health or with lung conditions. The research was published for World TB Day, on Sunday 24th March, which is held to raise awareness and to step up efforts to end the global tuberculosis pandemic. Study co-director Dr Diana Garay-Baquero, also from the University of Southampton, said the findings are a roadmap to developing a new TB test. This could be as simple as the lateral flows used during Covid. Dr Garay-Baquero added: “The new markers we discovered are truly exciting. The important work now is to develop these into tests that can be used for the millions of people who are transmitting TB without knowing it. “As the Covid-19 pandemic confirmed, we ignore highly infectious airborne diseases at our peril.”

Four Southampton professors have been recognised as outstanding research leaders by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Professors Diana Baralle, Saul Faust, Nick Francis, and Robert Read have each been appointed as NIHR Senior Investigators. This prestigious honour underlines their status among the most prominent and prestigious researchers in the UK. The Southampton awardees are all driving new research at the University of Southampton. They are also part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). New appointments The NIHR has appointed 43 new Senior Investigators in 2024. This brings the College of NIHR Senior Investigators to 200 active members. Senior Investigators are leaders of patient and people-based research within the NIHR research community. Diana Baralle is a Professor of Genomic Medicine and Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Medicine. She is also part of the Respiratory and Allergy theme at the NIHR Southampton BRC. Prof Baralle leads a research group that investigates the role of RNA and splicing in genetic disease, new methods for genetic diagnostic testing, and the causes of rare disease syndromes. She said: “I am absolutely delighted to be named NIHR senior investigator following on from being an NIHR research professor. I am pleased to continue being a champion and ambassador for the NIHR.” Nick Francis is a Professor of Primary Care Research. He is also part of the Microbiology, Immunology and Infection theme at the NIHR Southampton BRC. His research focuses on finding new solutions to reduce infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance. Prof Francis said: “The NIHR is the main funder of research to improve health and care in the UK. I have been lucky enough to have received NIHR funding for my programme of research on improving the management of infections in primary care. “I am therefore absolutely delighted to have been recognised as an NIHR Senior Investigator. I look forward to continuing to support and work with this important national institution.” Renewed awards Professor Rob Read is Chair of Infectious Diseases and leads the Microbiology, Immunology and Infection theme at the NIHR Southampton BRC, alongside Professor Saul Faust. They have been reappointed as NIHR Senior Investigators. Professor Read was first appointed in 2018 and said: “I am really pleased and honoured that my NIHR Senior Investigator Award has been renewed for a further three years. This has been made possible by the excellent and collaborative environment in which we all work.” Professor Faust received Senior Investigator recognition in 2020. He said: “I’m incredibly honoured to receive this prestigious award for a second term. It is important recognition for the amazing work going on in Southampton to improve people's health." The researchers join other NIHR Senior Investigators based in Southampton. They include professors Cathy Bowen, Jackie Bridges, Peter Griffiths, Mike Grocott, Andrew Lotery, Maria Stokes and Tom Wilkinson. Acting as ambassadors Successful applicants receive a discretionary award of £20,000 a year to fund activities that support their research. Funding is awarded for four-year appointments on the recommendation of an independent committee. Senior Investigators act as an ambassador for the NIHR in the wider system. As senior members of the NIHR Academy, they help develop the next generation of outstanding health and social care researchers.

Experts are calling for a population-wide strategy to reduce damaging childhood experiences. Southampton’s Professor Keith Godfrey has contributed to a new report published by a cross-party parliamentary group. The group informs policy decisions and public debate relating to childhood. It is chaired by MP Steve McCabe and Baroness Floella Benjamin. The latest report recommends ‘roads to recovery’ to curb adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ‘Serious burden’ ACEs are stressful or traumatic experiences. They can have a huge impact on children and young people throughout the rest of their lives and even across generations. Professor Godfrey is a Professor of Epidemiology and Human Development at the University of Southampton. He is also a theme lead at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. He said: “ACEs have lasting impacts that impair a child’s ability to fulfil their potential. At a population level their consequences place a serious burden on the healthcare system, limit economic productivity and make a major contribution to disparities in society. “The cost of inaction is substantial. We can, and must, do better in preventing adverse child experiences and in mitigating the life course consequences.” Call to action The new report calls for number of new measures, including a national ACE strategy, enhanced data collection and research, and cross-sector collaboration. Steve McCabe MP said: “The fact that ACEs can blight the entire life courses of individual children and their families is something that is ignored and obscured by stigma and shame. The individual tragedy of ACEs transmits a legacy of misery that can devastate entire communities. “The roadmap laid out in our Report is a call to action – a promise of resilience and recovery that a UK Government can and will deliver to its future generations. ACEs are and must be a national public health issue.” National need The new report was prepared by a working group of over 30 experts across the country, including several people with lived experience. Lead author Helen Clark said: “This is the approach that unites economic and social justice because the UK works best when it can harness the abilities and talents of all of its citizens…now and in the future.” Viki Veale, Senior Lecturer in Early Years and Primary Education at St Mary’s University and Trustee at Tactyc, said: “Communities need a population–wide national strategy with a public health approach rather than targeted initiatives which stigmatise and deter those who are most in need of help. “ACEs have a ripple effect, contributing to ever higher levels of mental and physical illnesses, social disintegration and cycles of violence and substance abuse. It is about crafting a legacy of care and proactive protection for every child and family touched by the shadow of adverse experiences.” The report, titled Adverse Childhood Experiences: Roads to Recovery, is available to view here.

Dr Helena Fisk has been honoured with The Nutrition Society STEM4Britain Award. The award recognises scientific excellence at an early career stage in nutritional science. She was presented the award in the Houses of Parliament at the annual STEM4Britain poster competition on Monday 4th March. Investigating omega-3 and obesity Dr Fisk’s research focuses on understanding associations between the immune system, inflammation and disease, particularly in relation to ageing and obesity. She is looking at the effects of consuming nutrients such as omega-3, probiotics and vitamin D in these areas of human health. Omega-3 is found in some nuts, seeds and fish. Dr Fisk is a Research Fellow at the University of Southampton. Her research forms part of the Nutrition, Lifestyle and Metabolism theme at our NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. She received the award for her research on obesity and omega-3. The title of her poster was ‘Profiling the inflammatory status of adipose tissue and evaluating the actions of omega-3 fatty acids in obesity’. Sharing her research with MPs STEM4Britain highlights ground-breaking and frontier UK research to Members of both Houses of Parliament. The awards encourage dialogue and engagement between early-stage researchers and MPs. It also raises the profile of Britain’s early-stage research scientists and engineers. Hundreds of applicants were shortlisted to just 30 finalists within the biology and biomedical sciences theme. These finalists were invited to present at the event. Dr Fisk was selected for her award out of eight finalists presenting work in the field of nutrition. She said: “I am delighted to receive The Nutrition Society STEM4Britain Award 2024. I was honoured to share my research with Members of Parliament, academic researchers across a variety of themes, and industry professionals. “The event was an excellent showcase of ground-breaking research across a wide range of biology and biomedical themes. It was also an excellent opportunity to communicate the importance of my research to individuals outside of research and my field of interest. “With the event occurring on World Obesity Day and the day after Global Omega-3 Day, it was the perfect time to highlight the importance of my research, and what this means for public health within the UK and globally.” Image credit: The Nutrition Society Pictured left to right: Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chair of the Parliamentary and Scientific committee; Dr Helena Fisk, University of Southampton and NIHR Southampton BRC research fellow; Prof Wendy Hall, Honorary Programmes Officer for The Nutrition Society, King’s College London.

An exercise app for a common lung condition that was developed by Southampton researchers has been recommended for use in the UK. The myCOPD app is designed to help patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to manage their condition. It was created by a team led by Prof Tom Wilkinson at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. The app has now been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Social Care (NICE) for an exercise-based treatment, known as pulmonary rehabilitation. It is one of the first health apps to be endorsed by NICE in this way. Exercise as treatment Pulmonary rehabilitation, or pulmonary rehab for short, is an exercise programme for people with lung disease. It also helps give them a better understanding of how they can manage their condition. COPD affects more than a million people in England. It is estimated that a further two million remain undiagnosed. The progressive condition causes coughing, wheezing and breathing difficulties. Infections like a cold or the flu can cause ‘exacerbations’, where their condition worsens and can require hospital treatment. Of those who complete an in-person course of pulmonary rehab, 90 percent report being more active and having a better quality of life afterwards. They feel less tired and breathless when doing day-to-day activities, and can walk further. Research has found they also have fewer exacerbations, GP appointments and trips to A&E. Empowering patients The problem with in-person pulmonary rehab is that not many people turn up. Less than 13% of people invited attend. This could be because sessions are in working hours, mixed gender or too far away. The myCOPD app allows people with COPD to exercise at home at a time that suits them. It can be used anywhere with an internet connection, on a tablet, phone, computer or smart TV. They can also use it to keep a record of their medication and lung health, and get support to give up smoking. Patients can also choose to share these records with their doctor. The app is intended to support, rather than replace, their existing NHS care. It has grown in popularity over the last five years, with a particular increase seen after COVID-19 restrictions. “During the COVID-19 pandemic we became the leading provider of pulmonary rehab in the country,” says Prof Wilkinson, “because you couldn’t do it face-to-face, you could only do it through digital platforms.” Evidence-based apps The app, myCOPD, is the first of a series developed by my mhealth to help patients manage a variety of health conditions. These apps are already being used by over 120,000 patients, and around half of all NHS Trusts and Integrated Care Boards. The company, my mhealth, is a spin-out from the University of Southampton. Originally developed for UK patients, their apps are now also available in India, and the US. “These apps are not just things you might have on your phone,” explains Prof Wilkinson, Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Associate Dean for Enterprise at the University of Southampton. “We’ve treated them like medical devices. They’ve gone through MHRA and NHS approval processes, all the governance around medical technologies and a series of very formal clinical trials. This has led to NICE recommending myCOPD for pulmonary rehabilitation.” Developing the app further Prof Wilkinson is now working with Prof Michael Boniface to develop mySmartCOPD. This is taking the myCOPD app, and using it to build an early warning system. This will use artificial intelligence (AI) to alert healthcare providers if a patient with COPD needs additional treatment, for example during exacerbations. They are testing this in a clinical trial, to see if this early warning system can prevent the patient’s condition from getting worse and avoid the need for emergency care in hospital.