Southampton researchers have developed a digital tool to support nutrition focused assessments in children. Good nutrition is important for children’s growth and development. This can be difficult to assess during remote consultations. A team of international nutrition experts and dietitians in Southampton have developed a nutritional awareness tool to help this challenge. It is known as the Pediatric Remote Malnutrition Application (Pedi-R-MAPP). The app has been advanced with global partners, iterated in workshops and trialled with hundreds of patients at Southampton Children’s Hospital. Dr Luise Marino, a Clinical Academic Paediatric Dietitian at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), led the project. She is also part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and the Southampton Academy of Research (SoAR) Research Leaders programme. The project included Southampton's Professor Mark Beattie, Professor Anne-Sophie Darlington and Dr James Ashton. The team published their latest work in the journal Clinical Nutrition. Digital transformation During the COVID-19 pandemic, most healthcare appointments began to take place via video call. Many dietitians felt unprepared for this transition. Almost half had no formal training in delivering remote consultations. Dr Marino said: “In March 2020, the British Dietetic Association developed guidance on remote consultations. However, it soon became clear that a digital tool would be easier for dietitians to use.” In response, a group of European experts devised the Remote Malnutrition Application (R-MAPP). This provided a structured approach for remote nutritional assessments for adults. The authors gave their permission for the tool to be adapted for use in children, which led a Southampton team to focus on Pedi-R-MAPP. They sought input from 20 nutrition experts around the world. They also conducted a survey which had almost 600 responses from nutrition professionals. International team This latest research developed Pedi-R-MAPP into a digital tool. The team used the IDEAS framework (Integrate, Design, Assess and Share) to gather feedback. A team of specialist paediatric dietitians reported a 98% agreement with the summary advice provided by the tool compared to their own clinical assessment. On average, it took less than two minutes to complete per consultation. Dr Marino said: “I hope this new tool can help provide a structured approach for healthcare professionals to complete nutrition assessments from anywhere in the world. It could help reduce variation in practice and identify children who may need more targeted nutrition support.” She added: “It could also provide helpful guidance on how often nutrition reviews are needed.” Pedi-R-MAPP is available to use here.

Southampton’s Professor Cyrus Cooper has been recognised with the Royal Osteoporosis Society’s highest honour. The Linda Edwards Award recognises his outstanding achievements in the field of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis causes bones to weaken, making them fragile and more likely to break. It affects over three million people in the UK. Prof Cooper is driving new research as Professor of Rheumatology and Vice-Dean of Medicine at the University of Southampton. He is also part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre’s Nutrition, Lifestyle and Metabolism theme. World-leading research For over four decades, Prof Cooper has been at the forefront of pioneering research to improve bone health. This includes 20 years as Director of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre. He has published extensively on the causes and prevention of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and sarcopenia. In 2015, he was awarded an OBE for services to medical research. Key research contributions include the discovery of an association between mothers not getting enough Vitamin D in pregnancy and their children having reduced bone mass. This was a ground-breaking development that had a major influence on public health policy. Pregnant women are now routinely advised to take vitamin D supplements. Highest level of recognition The award is bestowed by the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS). It will be presented to Prof Cooper at the ROS conference in September, where he will give a guest lecture. Prof Cooper said: “As a member of the ROS since 1987, it is a particular pleasure to receive this prestigious award. It is also wonderful to have participated in the journey through the Board, Scientific Chair, Chairman and Trustee. “I am indebted to all my colleagues and teams at the universities and foundations which have allowed me to continue this journey through 40 years of research, education and enterprise in osteoporosis.”

A new study in Southampton is exploring the effects of soluble fibre on the immune system. Fibre is essential for healthy digestion – with strong evidence that diets higher in fibre are associated with a lower risk of certain diseases, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This latest study will investigate if fibre supplements could boost immune health in older people. Researchers are recruiting around 70 participants aged over 60 in the Southampton area. The research is led by Professor Philip Calder from the University of Southampton and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. Increasing fibre intake Half of the study’s participants will take a soluble corn fibre supplement each day for 12 weeks. The other half will take a placebo supplement. They will all complete questionnaires about their diet and gut health. They will also be asked to provide blood, urine and poo samples. The research team will use this information to assess any improvements in immune function, inflammation and gut bacteria. Immune system explained The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues and organs. They work together to protect the body from infection and other diseases. As with most other parts of the body, the immune system becomes weaker with age. This results in reduced vaccination responses and an increased risk of infection. Research has shown that a person’s diet influences their immune system. Fibre helps to maintain “healthy” gut bacteria, which supports immune health. Taking part Participant visits will take place at the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility at University Hospital Southampton. The study is open to people aged 60 and older. They must be in generally good health and living in the community. All participants will have their travel expenses covered. Please email E.Baker@soton.ac.uk or call 07584368983 to find out more.

Top European scientists, including Southampton’s Professor Janis Baird, say new policies on food could transform the way we eat. We assume that our choices about what to eat are entirely our own responsibility. Yet this is not entirely true - our choices are influenced by adverts and marketing, limited by the options we have available to us, and constrained by the money we can afford to spend. This is why a group of advisors, including Prof Baird at the University of Southampton, have told the European Commission that the transition to healthier, more sustainable diets cannot be left to consumers alone. Changing the ‘food environment’ Prof Baird, Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology at the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, helped put forward the recommendations to advise the European Commission on how to transform Europe’s food consumption to become healthier and more sustainable. Her work forms part of the NIHR Southampton’s Biomedical Research Centre’s Nutrition, Lifestyle and Metabolism theme. She was the only representative from UK academia to take part in the distinguished advisory group. The EU has, to date, focused on providing consumers with more information. Yet experts agree that this is not enough, as people choose food based on many factors including social and family factors, food availability and pricing. To make sustainable, healthy food an easy and affordable choice, the advisors say policies must unburden the consumer and address the whole ‘food environment’. This refers to anywhere where food is bought, eaten and discussed including shops, homes, schools, workplaces and, increasingly, digital media. Prof Baird said: "Policies and interventions should focus on changing the food system to ensure that consumers are exposed to healthier food environments. Without this, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, who lack the social and financial resources to make healthy food choices, will continue to have poor diets and high levels of overweight and obesity. "Interventions that modify the food system, for example through placement of healthier foods in more prominent locations, have greater potential to improve food choice for all groups regardless of their socio-economic background. This has been a focus of our work here in Southampton." Changing the food system to improve population health Europe’s current food system has a major impact on the food environment and on population health Obesity and overweight affect around 60% of adults and 30% of children in Europe, with higher levels among people from more disadvantaged backgrounds. Improving the quality of our diets could therefore help both the planet and our health. The Science Advice for Policy by European Academies (SAPEA) working group reviewed the scientific evidence to inform the recommendations. To promote healthy and sustainable food choices, the advisors recommended a range of evidence-based measures: They suggested changing food prices to make healthy items more accessible to all. This could be done by taxing sugar and meat or lowering taxes on healthy and sustainable options. Products could also be priced according to their environmental impact. They also suggested making healthy and sustainable foods more available and visible, for example by displaying them in more prominent places. They recommended restricting the advertising of unhealthy or unsustainable food. They suggest regulation is needed to reduce the amount of unhealthy fat, sugar and salt food contains, or add plant-based alternatives. This would need to be mandatory, as voluntary initiatives have not worked. They say it will be critical to create an environment that allows all stakeholders to work towards the goal of healthy and sustainable food, following fair rules. Prof Eric Lambin, member of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to the European Commission, said: “In order for Europe to achieve its health and sustainability goals, the way we produce, distribute and consume food must change. This cannot be left entirely up to the consumer. We hope our scientific advice and evidence will be the base for that.”

Southampton researchers have found patients would like more support when sharing the results of their genetic test with at-risk relatives. New research by Dr Lisa Ballard, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, has revealed these patients may struggle to pass on what is often seen as bad news. Her work forms part of the Data, Health and Society theme within the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. Bearer of bad news Genetic tests are offered to patients if their health condition could be caused by changes in their genes. A sample of blood, saliva or body tissue is sent to a genetic testing laboratory to be analysed. They are mainly used to diagnose rare and inherited health conditions, and some cancers. Yet when patients receive their results, they not only have to come to terms with these themselves. They are also expected to share them with any members of their close family who may also be at risk. “It’s a very hard thing to have to do,” Dr Ballard explains. “As a patient, you might have cancer yourself and have undergone genetic testing to find out the reason. You are coping with your diagnosis and your condition… and then you’ve got to go and tell your relatives.” Dr Ballard’s research has found many people struggle to do this. This may be because they are coping with their own diagnosis, they don’t feel like it’s a good time to share bad news, or they are worried about how their relative will react. “Being burdened with having to pass that information on, and wondering how your relative’s going to react,” she says. “It’s not the best news to have to tell someone.” Why do relatives need to know? When relatives are told about genetic test results, and how it might affect them, it can be empowering. They can choose to contact their doctor to get the information they need to decide whether to go ahead with genetic testing themselves. If they decide to go ahead with it and discover they do have an increased risk of a condition, they can then go for additional checks or reduce their risk through medication or surgery. Sometimes patients are not sure exactly what information they should share. This may lead to relatives not realising the importance of the information, therefore, not making an appointment to speak to their GP about what this information means for them. Others will decide certain relatives do not need to know, when actually they do. For example, if the change (variant) is in BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, which raises the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, they may not think it relevant to inform their male relatives. But these genetic changes put men at higher risk of other cancers, like prostate cancer, and can be passed on to their children. All this points towards a need for greater support for patients, to help ensure relatives find out all they need to know to be able to act. “Many patients would like to be the ones informing their relatives,” said Dr Ballard. “They don’t think an out of the blue call from a health professional is appropriate. But they would like support doing it.” Developing online support As part of her research, Dr Ballard reviewed support currently provided to help patients share their genetic test results with relatives. This was published in the European Journal of Human Genetics. She found that only one study provided an apparently effective intervention, however that intervention was in a small number of patients, so the effectiveness was not proven. None of the studies were based in the UK and none used online support. Based on this observation, she is now developing online tools to support patients with this difficult task. “My next step is to design a digital intervention that patients can be directed to,” said Dr Ballard. “It shouldn’t add to the health professional’s workload, and a patient can work through it in their own time.” She hopes this will provide patients with the support they need to inform their relatives. “It’s a unique situation, because we go through our healthcare having lots of test results, like blood tests, and they’re just about us and that’s easier to manage,” explains Dr Ballard. “But as soon as you enter into the world of genetics, a result may not just tell you something about yourself - it may tell you something about your relatives too.”

Clinical research in Wessex is in good health and there are lots of new ways to take part, Professor Saul Faust has told BBC’s Politics South. The Southampton professor praised the public’s ongoing response to clinical trials while highlighting a growing network of research hubs in the region. Prof Faust is the Clinical Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) Wessex. He is a professor at the University of Southampton and theme lead at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. The programme is available to view in full for one month on BBC iPlayer. The interview starts at 7 minutes and 15 seconds. ‘Public are really engaged’ Sunday’s broadcast considered the future of clinical research in the wake of COVID-19. Prof Faust explained there is a good pipeline of work stretching into the future. “The public are really engaged,” said Prof Faust, when questioned over the willingness of people to continue stepping up. “They are really willing to come forward and take part in trials, both in hospitals and out in the community.” “We’ve seen ongoing investment from some of the big pharmaceutical companies and SMEs to come to the UK and work with us to get their trials done,” he added. In the Wessex area, Prof Faust said, collaboration has been key. By bringing together universities, local authorities, the NHS and the new infrastructure of Wessex Health Partners - everyone involved in health and care research is working together as much as possible. However, he pointed out there is still more work to do, moving forward. “Clinical trials are really important to the health of the economy,” he explained. “Life sciences is one of the biggest sectors in the country. Successive governments have invested in life sciences and the NIHR and we now have a duty to work across sectors, public and industry, to make sure we’re able to explain what we need to do, and then involve the public in clinical trials.” Looking to the future When asked about the health of life sciences in the south of England, Prof Faust set out his ideas for future improvements. “We need to make trials easier for people to take part in, and easier for the NHS to do as part of routine care,” he said. “That involves training our entire workforce including those working in social care - how to do research as part of their daily jobs. And we need the public to keep coming forward.” The NIHR CRN in Wessex has a network of four research hubs up and running, which invite people from local communities to come and take part in clinical trials. These are based in Southampton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Weymouth. “We’ve been able to open research hubs in all these places, and our newest hub in Weymouth is right in the middle of one of the most socially and economically deprived coastal communities in the country,” said Prof Faust. “We’re open there and we need people to come forward to take part in all these trials.”

New equipment and technologies will increase health research across the region, following a major funding boost. Over £1.7m is being invested in Wessex by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The funding is part of £96 million awarded to NHS organisations across England. The new equipment and technology will help find new ways to prevent and treat diseases. University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHSFT) will receive around £900,000. Five other NHS Trusts will also receive a share, together with the South Central Ambulance Service. Improving research delivery This latest investment will support research within a new NIHR Wessex Experimental Medicine Network. The equipment it provides will improve access to cutting-edge clinical trials for patients. This includes vaccine trials across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight. The 93 organisations awarded funding across the UK are all part of the NIHR’s wider infrastructure. This includes Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) and Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs), as well as the NIHR’s Clinical Research Network. Dr Karen Underwood, Director of Research & Development at UHSFT, said: “We are delighted that Wessex has secured funding for new state-of-the-art equipment. “It will enable more people from across the region to take part in research supported by our NIHR-funded centres and facilities. “We look forward to working with regional partners to deliver on this great opportunity.” State-of-the-art equipment This funding call is the first of a series that will increase equipment and technology for research. In Southampton, the funding will pay for four new pieces of equipment. Three of these will boost the NIHR Southampton BRC’s ability to translate scientific discoveries into patient benefit. First, the Agilent Seahorse CF Pro Analyser will help researchers to measure cell function. The technology will be used in various fields such as ageing, cancer and critical care. The Scintigraphy workstation will align Southampton with other major centres engaged in liver surgery. This will mean more people can take part in vital clinical trials. A new DEXA scanner will enable measurement of bone health across the lifecourse. It will increase Southampton’s capacity to support long term follow-up BRC cohort studies. Southampton's Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) will also get a new Ga-68 generator. This cutting-edge technology will enhance imaging capabilities for experimental cancer medicine research.

Southampton researchers are exploring how a father’s obesity may impact their children’s risk of dementia. The national study is funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK and led by Lancaster University. Professor Keith Godfrey from the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is leading the Southampton team. Alzheimer’s research Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. It affects around 600,000 people in the UK today. Previous studies have found changes in the brain may be present up to 20 years before symptoms appear. Research shows lifestyle factors can increase a person’s chances of developing the disease. These include smoking, physical inactivity and drinking too much alcohol. Family-based risk The research team will analyse data on three generations of people who took part in the Framingham Heart Study - a long-term research project in the US to identify common factors that contribute to heart disease. They will compare participants’ memory, thinking skills and brain structure. This will help to determine if there is a difference between people with fathers who are obese, compared to those who are not. Researchers will also work with mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease to study changes in the brains of adult offspring. Informing prevention Results from this study could provide new strategies to reduce cases of Alzheimer’s disease in the future. Prof Godfrey is a Professor of Epidemiology and Human Development at the University of Southampton and lead for Nutrition, Lifestyle and Metabolism in the NIHR Southampton BRC. He said: “Research has shown that a mother’s health and lifestyle choices before conception and during pregnancy have a profound impact on their children’s future health. “The importance of the father’s diet and lifestyle before conception is only now being recognised. Up to 40% of dementia cases can be linked to lifestyle factors, and recent evidence suggests that paternal obesity could be one of these factors. “We hope this project will provide key insight into whether paternal obesity increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It could offer an opportunity for interventions to reduce the number of cases of this distressing disease.”

Southampton researchers will lead a major international project to help develop responsible and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI). AI is having a growing influence on our society and experts say it will have a growing impact over the coming years. It has the potential to transform how healthcare is delivered. The new project, known as Responsible AI UK (RAI UK), will support research to develop AI that improves lives. The leadership team includes Professor Dame Wendy Hall from the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). Driving collaboration Prof Dame Hall is a Regius Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton (UoS) and lead for Data, Health and Society in the NIHR Southampton BRC. Her role in RAI UK will focus on international partnerships. She said: “AI will change the way we live and work for the better – but an interdisciplinary approach to regulation and safe AI is vital. “The UK can become the dominant force for responsible and trustworthy AI with this investment. “The work undertaken by the Responsible AI UK team and our partners will put the UK at the forefront of AI’s future for the good of humanity.” Developing trust RAI UK will fund multi-disciplinary research and work across academia, business, and the public sector. Prof Gopal Ramchurn, Professor of Artificial Intelligence at UoS, is RAI UK’s principal investigator. He said: “We don’t need to fear artificial intelligence. It won’t threaten humanity, but it has huge potential to influence how society operates in the future. “AI should not only be technically safe and accountable, but its impact on its users, their wellbeing and rights, and the wider society needs to be understood for people to trust it. “Our role in RAI UK will be to bring together experts from diverse disciplines and cultures from across the world to address the most pressing AI challenges in key sectors. We will help ensure that we all enjoy the productivity gains it promises to deliver." World-leading tech The funding boost is part of a series of investments in AI by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Technology Secretary Chloe Smith said: "Despite our size as a small island nation, the UK is a technology powerhouse. Last year, the UK became just the third country in the world to have a tech sector valued at $1 trillion. It is the biggest in Europe by some distance and behind only the US and China globally. "The technology landscape, though, is constantly evolving, and we need a tech ecosystem which can respond to those shifting sands, harness its opportunities, and address emerging challenges. The measures unveiled today will do exactly that.”

Southampton researchers are investigating a new drug that could help people with asthma. The drug targets a gene that makes people more likely to develop asthma, called ADAM33. It could offer fresh hope for patients whose asthma is unresponsive to existing treatments. Southampton’s Dr Hans Michael Haitchi is leading the international study. Aiman Alzetani, a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at University Hospital Southampton, is also involved. Both are researchers in the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. They are part of the Respiratory and Allergy theme, which is developing new approaches that help reduce the risk of developing asthma. Understanding asthma Asthma is a common lung condition that causes breathing difficulties. Over 12% of people in the UK will receive an asthma diagnosis in their lifetime. The exact cause of asthma is unknown. However, there are several genes that make people more likely to develop the condition – including ADAM33. Previous research suggests that this gene changes the structure and function of the airways with more smooth muscle around them and associated airway ‘twitchiness’ (hyper-responsiveness). This means the walls of the airways are thicker and narrow too much in response to asthma triggers. This makes it difficult to breathe. There are no existing treatments that target the underlying structural airway changes. Collaborative research The new study brings together researchers from around the world. They include Prof Jonathan K Watts from the University of Massachusetts and Prof Christian Ottensmeier from the University of Liverpool. It follows an earlier study by the Southampton group that found 'switching off' the ADAM33 gene could stop asthma. Together with Prof Watts they have developed a new asthma drug, called anti-ADAM33 oligonucleotides, to investigate this further. Dr Haitchi is an Associate Professor in Respiratory Medicine at the University of Southampton. He said: “We believe that our ADAM33 specific oligonucleotides will allow us to target characteristics of the disease that are not treated by current asthma drugs. “Our aim is to develop a new therapy that helps patients who aren’t responding to existing treatments.” This pre-clinical study is funded by a UKRI grant from the Medical Research Council – Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme.

Southampton researchers are advancing a new technology, already used in space exploration, to search for signs of diseases. The technology, called Raman spectroscopy, will be on show at the prestigious Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in London in July. It is already used in NASA’s rover Perseverance, which is looking for signs of life on Mars. Looking for life on Mars The technology is being advanced by Prof Sumeet Mahajan. He is part of the Microbiology, Immunology and Infection theme at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). Raman spectroscopy uses vibrations and light to reveal the 'chemical fingerprint' of a substance. It offers the potential of non-invasive scans to diagnose diseases such as cancers or osteoarthritis. Prof Mahajan, lead researcher and Professor of Molecular BioPhotonics and Imaging at the University of Southampton, said: “NASA is looking for molecules that might have represented life, and we are looking for molecules in living patients to diagnose diseases.” Airport-style scanner for disease The work forms part of a multimillion-pound programme called InLightenUs. It is based at the University of Edinburgh and funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Prof Mahajan is part of the project. Prof Richard Oreffo, Professor of Musculoskeletal Science at the University of Southampton and another researcher in our BRC, is also involved. “InLightenUs is based on the premise that we can transform diagnostics,” explained Professor Mahajan. “Currently the norm is invasive and takes a long time, for example a biopsy is taken and sent for analysis. Our proposal is to diagnose instantly through Raman spectroscopy and other InLightenUs technologies. “Our ultimate vision is a walk-through arch, similar to an airport scanner, which would scan your body instantly up to a 10cm depth for all different diseases, providing an immediate diagnosis. It wouldn’t use any biopsies or harmful radiation.” This vision is for 2050 and beyond, but is expected to begin making an impact before the close of the decade. “Within five years, I predict we will be using a combination of techniques developed within the InLightenUs programme to scan to several millimetres beneath the skin to help diagnose diseases such as melanoma or osteoarthritis,” said Professor Mahajan. Prof Mark Bradley, Director of the InLighenUs project, said: “I am delighted that we are able to share the work and vision of our interdisciplinary research team with the wider public. It shows the power of bringing together the disciplines to enable step changes in health technologies and their application. It is also allowing and growing the next generation of early career researchers.” Interactive exhibit The researchers will showcase the technology at The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition. Their exhibit will use a replica Mars rover, singing bowls and a ‘Rainbow Resonator’ to show how the technology works. Members of the public will be able to drive the replica Mars rover over Martian-style terrain. They will also be able to use its integrated Raman spectroscope to hunt for ‘life’. University of Southampton PhD students Jake Kleboe and Hiroki Cook built the replica rover. Jake said: “The rover moves across a simulated Mars surface, demonstrating ‘light firing’ laser techniques to identify materials by revealing their ‘chemical fingerprint’. It demonstrates to the public how the Perseverance Rover is using light to detect molecules of life on Mars.” “We will showcase how innovations in disease detection technology on Earth go hand in hand with amazing discoveries in space,” added Hiroki. “Visitors will be able to play our Hunting for Aliens game by piloting the rover to search for ‘life’, and compete for a spot on the leader board.” Running a mallet around the rim of the singing bowls makes them hum, in an acoustic portrayal of how vibrations behave. The Rainbow Resonator has balls that vibrate at different frequencies according to the colour of the light behind them. This shows how different molecules vibrate and scatter different colours. People will also be able to take ‘biopsies’ from mannequin patients. They will then be able to use ‘Dr Raman’, a semi-automated microscope, to determine which tissues are healthy and diseased. There are a total of nine exhibits at the event, which typically attracts more than 13,000 visitors. It will take place at the society’s headquarters in central London from 4 to 9 July. Image: Hiroki Cook, Professor Sumeet Mahajan and Jake Kleboe with the replica Mars rover. Image credit: University of Southampton

A new study is investigating a COVID-19 booster vaccine designed to protect against multiple variants. People are taking part in research hubs across the Wessex region, supported in Southampton by the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility (CRF). UK-wide research effort More than one million people have taken part in COVID-19 research across the UK. Thanks to their efforts, we now have effective vaccines and treatments. Professor Saul Faust is Director of the NIHR Southampton CRF and Clinical Director of the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) Wessex. He said: “Public participation in COVID-19 research is still vital to enable effective treatments to be identified, evidenced and made available to NHS patients. “We are inviting people to take part in this important study for a vaccine that may protect against multiple variants, including the Omicron variant.” Take part in the study The new COVID-19 booster vaccine has been developed by Moderna. The NextCOVE Study is open to people aged 18 and older who have received a COVID-19 vaccine and at least one booster dose. We can also enrol young people aged 12 to 17 who have received a COVID-19 vaccine. People can take part in one of four Wessex Research Hubs: Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Weymouth. Qualified participants will receive payment for their trial-related time and travel. Please visit www.nextcovestudyuk.com to find out more. Ongoing research A number of approved COVID-19 vaccines are now available, but it is still very important to take part in new research. Different vaccines and dose schedules are needed for different groups of people. Several COVID-19 vaccine studies are still running in the UK, which need more volunteers to step forward. Dr Patrick Moore, Principal Investigator and Co-Director of the NIHR CRN Wessex, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the response from our local communities in the search for better vaccines. “I would like to thank these volunteers for their continued support and for stepping forward to take part in our vital ongoing research. “It is important we continue the fight against COVID-19 and its evolving variants, to develop new and improved vaccines to protect the most vulnerable and inform future vaccine booster programmes." For general information about COVID-19 research studies, please click here.