Professor Cathy McKenzie is a pharmacist delivering pioneering research in Southampton. She recently started as Professor of Intensive Care Pharmacy at the University of Southampton. This is the first full professorial role for a pharmacist in intensive care in the UK. Through this new post, she aims to deliver new advances in pharmacy for patients receiving intensive care. She is also an Honorary Consultant Pharmacist in Critical Care at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). Her research has been supported by the UHS Research Leaders Programme . She shares how she got to this point in her career and what she hopes to achieve in the role. What is intensive care pharmacy? Intensive care pharmacy is a well-developed career pathway for clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Those working in this area provide clinical pharmacy care for patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). They ensure pharmacotherapy is safe and effective when our patients are severely unwell. Intensive care pharmacy involves clinical practice, education, research and leadership. In clinical practice, we attend multi-professional ward rounds and adjust pharmacotherapy for kidney and liver failure. We take medication histories on admission and discharge from ICU. We prescribe, and intervene on clinical colleagues’ prescribing, to ensure safety and optimise medication. We provide education on pharmacotherapy in intensive care for the patient and the multi-professional team. In addition, we devise evidenced-based guidelines with our colleagues. We also conduct, collaborate and lead in pharmacotherapy research in intensive care. I have a special interest in the care of patients who are severely agitated and in delirium and need support on how best to manage their pharmacotherapy when they are unwell. I am also interested in novel interventions in sepsis, deprescribing and polypharmacy. How have you arrived at this point in your career? I have worked in ICUs for over 30 years. This has given me a wealth of pharmacological knowledge and experience. My professorial role has been springboarded by a Research Enhancement Award from NIHR Applied Research Collaborative Wessex and a UHS Research Leaders Programme award. These led me to successfully secure an NIHR Senior Clinical Practitioner Award . The NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre’s Perioperative and Critical Care theme has also provided the perfect environment for my research to thrive. What do you hope to achieve in this new role over the coming years? Over the next five years, I would like to lead a multiple site randomised controlled trial into intravenous thiamine for prevention and treatment for delirium in the intensive care unit. I also wish to focus on deprescribing and reducing polypharmacy in the ICU. I also intend to continue to chair the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) pharmacology and pharmacotherapy section until the end of 2026. This is a new venture for ESICM. I am working with medical, nursing and pharmacy colleagues on a position paper for clinical pharmacy in ICU with ESICM. I am passionate about engaging pharmacy professionals in research. Pharmacy professionals think they can’t do it, but they really can. I will continue to supervise my post-doctoral, PhD and predoctoral fellows, and critical care and wider pharmacy colleagues, alongside Dr Andy Fox and Dr Emily Smith. And together, we will grow the research culture in pharmacy at UHS. I will collaborate and partner with my multi-professional colleagues across Southampton. It really is a great place to conduct research for patient benefit. Finally, I will continue in my role as editor in chief for Critical Illness, an e-book published by Pharmaceutical Press . This is a world-leading resource that seek to ensure dynamic evidenced based prescribing in intensive care. I would like to thank Professor Michael Grocott, Professor Roxanna Carare, Mr James Allen and Professor Diana Eccles for their support in creating this role for me.

Trained volunteers are supporting older patients to stay active during their hospital stay in a compassionate research study. The selfless work is helping stop muscles getting weaker and the body from losing fitness when they’re not moving for a long time. This can lead to better outcomes. Dr Stephen Lim is carrying out this project thanks to an NIHR Advanced Fellowship. It is called PIVOT : Promoting Increased physical actiVity in hospitalised Older adults with Trained volunteers. Dr Lim is a Consultant Geriatrician at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). His research is supported by the UHS Research Leaders Programme . He speaks about his research career and what he hopes to achieve during his fellowship. What is the focus of your fellowship? My project aims to encourage older adults in hospital to stay active. This helps prevent muscle wasting and physical deconditioning - a decline in their physical function, fitness and muscle strength due to prolonged inactivity, such as bed rest. We're doing this by training hospital volunteers to work alongside physiotherapists. These volunteers engage patients in chair-based bedside exercises or take them for short walks, helping to reduce sedentary behaviour. This is an implementation feasibility study. This means we're testing how well this approach works in different hospital settings. The original trial, which formed the basis of my PhD, was conducted in Southampton. Now, thanks to the fellowship, we’re expanding to a multicentre trial across three hospitals, with a fourth acting as a control site. We're exploring how different contexts – such as hospital size and volunteer availability – affect the success of the intervention. We’re also investigating what adaptations might be needed to roll it out across the NHS. Building on this work, we have also collaborated with researchers from the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre to test the feasibility of training hospital volunteers to engage with older adults living with frailty to exercise and eat well following their hospital stay. Why is this research necessary? Hospitals are essential when someone is unwell, but they can also contribute to physical decline in older patients. A change in environment often leads to increased dependency, such as meals being brought to them and tasks being done for them. Being unwell also reduces energy levels and appetite. This all means they move less. Research shows that 30-60% of older adults lose physical function during a hospital stay. This loss can significantly impact their quality of life. Our goal is to preserve that function as much as possible, helping older people maintain independence and wellbeing. Why did you apply for the NIHR Advanced Fellowship? The NIHR Advanced Fellowship is designed for postdoctoral researchers. It’s been incredibly valuable. It funds both my clinical and research time, allowing me to continue working as a Consultant Geriatrician at UHS, while also leading a research team. This dual role means I can stay connected to clinical practice, and ensure my research is grounded in real-world needs. How has research career support enabled you to apply for this fellowship? The UHS Research Leaders Programme provided important protected research time which allowed me to develop my NIHR fellowship application. The Southampton Academy of Research (SoAR) were supportive and provide guidance, advice and signposting to experienced researchers who provided input into my fellowship application. I had guidance from mentors, some now retired, who reviewed my application and provided sound advice. The university’s Research and Innovation Services (RIS) team and NIHR Research Support Service’s input were both helpful. The helped organise reviewers and mock interviews to help prepare me for the fellowship application process. Having experienced researchers and other senior colleagues within Southampton review my application proved invaluable. Their feedback really strengthened my application. What impact has the fellowship had on your career? It’s been transformative. The fellowship has given me the time and resources to focus on delivering the study, developing as a researcher and building a research team to deliver on our programme of work in healthy ageing research. It supports mentorship, training, and collaboration. I’ve been able to present at global conferences, expand my research network, and strengthen my leadership skills. It has given me the opportunity to take on leadership roles with the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Wessex and NIHR Research Delivery Network. What advice would you give to others considering a fellowship? Go for it! Fellowships can be career-defining. They give you protected time and open doors for growth. My advice is to start preparing early, ideally a year in advance, and aim high. NIHR values ambition, not just for your personal development but for your team, your organisation, and most importantly, for patients. Think about how your work can contribute to the wider research community to improve health and care outcomes. What do you value about your work? I love being able to do both clinical work and research. Seeing patients helps me identify real-world problems and research gives me the tools to find solutions. It’s incredibly rewarding to translate clinical challenges into research questions, and work with others to improve patient care.

Professor Nicholas Harvey is leading calls for urgent change to improve the treatment of osteoporosis around the world. He has led a landmark Position Paper by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). The new paper, published in Osteoporosis International , identifies barriers and solutions to global care. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes bones to become weak and fragile. This increases the risk of fractures from impacts and falls. It affects around 500 million men and women worldwide. The IOF Position Paper is endorsed by more than 85 national and global organisations in the field. Professor Harvey is the IOF President. He is Director of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre and part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. What’s the problem? Around one in three women and one in five men aged over 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture in their remaining lifetimes. The new paper identifies a number of key obstacles to effective care. These include limited availability of bone density (DXA) scanning and outdated treatment criteria that rely solely on bone mineral density (BMD). Prof Harvey said: “This is an urgent global health issue. To make real progress, we need global advocacy, updated reimbursement policies, and national commitment to implementing fracture prevention strategies based on modern risk assessment methods.” Professor Eugene McCloskey, Chair of the IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors, added: “Osteoporosis is now a manageable condition, yet advances in prevention and treatment have not translated into equitable care, particularly in under-resourced regions.” What needs to change? The IOF is calling on the World Health Organization and national health authorities to support a reframing of osteoporosis care. Specifically, the IOF is advocating for a greater focus on overall fracture risk, rather than just bone density. This would mean looking at things like age, previous fractures and other health factors - even if a scan isn’t available. Consistent use of this approach would help ensure that patients who are most vulnerable can access life-saving therapies. The paper also offers further solutions to help improve the treatment of osteoporosis around the world. Read the full Position Paper in Osteoporosis International

Dr Callum Highmore is a first author on the new paper Southampton researchers have shown a technique they developed could rapidly identify the most effective antibiotic for each patient. The study results, published in the journal npj Antimicrobials and Resistance , could be used to create a faster test to determine which antibiotic a patient should be given. This would help reduce the overuse of unnecessary and ineffective antibiotics – one of the main drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Preventing delays AMR is a global public health challenge that threatens to reverse advances made in modern medicine over the past 80 years. It was associated with 4.95 million deaths in 2019. This is estimated to increase to 10 million annually by 2050. AMR occurs when bacteria develop defences that make them ‘resistant’ to a certain antibiotic, meaning they are not killed by it. Currently, the main way to identify which antibiotic will treat a particular infection are antibiotic sensitivity tests. These require any bacteria causing the infection to be cultured in a laboratory. Antibiotics are then added to see which are most effective at killing the bacteria. Many infections are caused by a virus instead of bacteria. In these cases, no antibiotic will be effective at treating the infection. This is because antibiotics cannot kill viruses. The current testing process can take up to 48 hours (two days). GPs therefore often prescribe an antibiotic in the interim to prevent the patient’s infection from getting worse. Since they have little to go on, this antibiotic is often ineffective at treating that particular infection. The prevalence of AMR is accelerated by overuse of unnecessary or ineffective antibiotic treatments. This delay in getting test results therefore contributes to overuse of antibiotics and exacerbates the rise of AMR. Testing the new method The researchers previously developed a technique called Multi-excitation Raman spectroscopy (MX-Raman). This uses lasers to analyse the composition of a single drop of a bodily fluid. This technology can be used to analyse the composition of a patient’s sample. The lasers create tiny vibrations within the molecules, with different molecules vibrating in different ways. It can provide results in seconds. The new study was the next stage of a collaboration between experts from the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton. It was delivered within the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and the National Biofilms Innovation Centre. In this study, the team analysed 20 isolates of the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa taken from the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis to see if MX-Raman could speed up infection diagnosis. The researchers used a combination of MX-Raman and computational analysis analyse each bacterial sample. This allowed them to accurately identify which samples contained antibiotic resistant bacteria, and which antibiotics would be most effective at treating each participant’s infection. “These are excellent results that show our MX-Raman method is effective at identifying antimicrobial resistance in real clinical pathogens,” said Dr Callum Highmore, who was a first author on the paper. “We now aim to build on this success to develop a much faster diagnostic test for direct use on patient samples, helping to cut unnecessary antibiotic use and stem the rise in antimicrobial resistance.”

Aspiring medics joined LifeLab’s summer school to gain hands-on experience and support their university applications. Dozens of young people from across the UK were based in LifeLab at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) for the annual summer school. They explored the world of medicine through hands-on experience, tours and expert insights, including at the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility (CRF). LifeLab is a collaboration between the University of Southampton, University Hospital Southampton and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. Developing new skills Experience Medicine with LifeLab is a two-day course during the summer holidays. It is intended for students in years 9 to 11 who are interested in studying medicine at university. LifeLab have run it every year since 2013, in collaboration with professionals at UHS and the University of Southampton’s Faculty of Medicine. This year’s attendees had the opportunity to gain experience practicing clinical skills. They were supported by the Faculty of Medicine’s student ambassadors. The skills included venesection, cannulation, suturing, blood pressure and urine testing. Paramedics Ben Channon and Neil Bizzell from the critical care team’s ambulance service trained them how to respond to a trauma scenario, where someone has been injured. They also had to use their knowledge of anatomy to work through a series of patient case studies and try being a ‘medical detective’. Seeing the hospital After an introduction to research, the students were given a tour of our CRF by Lisa Berry, Lead Research Matron. This gave them an understanding of how doctors run medical research trials and studies to improve the care given to patients. Attendees also had a tour of the hospital’s Acute Medical Unit by Dr Ben Chadwick. This gave them the chance to learn more about how our doctors treat patients on the wards. Useful tips and advice Current medical students shared what their typical day looks like. They also answered questions from attendees about their experience. Attendees heard an inspiring keynote from Dr Stephen Downey, who talked about his unconventional route to university, and how he overcame challenges to achieve his dream. The course finished with a session run by the Faculty of Medicine’s admission team, which parents or guardians could attend. This gave useful tips and insights on how to make their application to study medicine at university stand out from the crowd. This was followed by a Q&A session, where the students and their families could ask the team questions about the admissions process. Kate Bartlett, Developing Talent Lead at LifeLab, said: “The summer school is a highlight for me. Seeing the young people so inspired by what they see and hear is incredible. It makes all the hard work worth it! “Being able to inform students on what doctors do and the different routes you can take is so worthwhile, especially when we see them come back as medical students themselves.” One student said their favourite part of the course was having the chance to practice clinical skills, as   they had never done this before. “I have never had the opportunity to experience these things, and I loved it,” they said. “It really showed me that medicine was the correct route for me.” Parents said the summer school was a ‘great experience’ for their child. They also said it helped them decide whether a career in medicine was the right choice for them. “It gave amazing practical experience,” said one parent, “and improved understanding of what a career in medicine is all about.”

New research will develop an online tool to support how genetic risk is shared with at-risk relatives. Dr Lisa Ballard has been awarded funding from the NIHR to help with sharing this kind of health information. Some diseases, like certain types of cancer, can be passed down through families. This means if someone has an inherited disease, their close relatives (like parents, siblings, or children) might also be at risk. But nearly half of these relatives never find out, which means they miss the chance to get tested, screened or take steps to stay healthy. The NIHR Doctoral Award will also enable Dr Ballard to complete a PhD over the next three years. It will form part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre’s Data, Health and Society theme. With this new award, Dr Ballard plans to use Lynch Syndrome – a condition that increases the risk of developing some cancers – as a case study. Lack of awareness Up to 200,000 people in the UK are estimated to have Lynch syndrome. The condition increases the risk of bowel cancer, womb (endometrial) cancer and some other cancer types.  It is usually diagnosed by genetic testing. However, fewer than 10% of the estimated cases in the UK have been identified. This means that most people living with Lynch syndrome are unaware they have it. Delayed diagnosis limits access to screening programmes and preventative treatments. This has the potential to impact survival rates. Need for more support Patients who are diagnosed with rare and inherited health conditions are expected to share their results with family members who may also be at risk. However, Dr Ballard’s previous research has found that many people struggle with this responsibility. 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. These findings highlight the need for greater support. The digital tool will guide individuals diagnosed with Lynch syndrome through the process of sharing inherited risk information with relatives. It will offer tailored content, emotional support and practical tools. These will help users identify who to inform, what to say and how to approach these conversations with confidence. The hope is that this will lay the foundation for similar tools to support families facing other inherited conditions. In fact, Dr Ballard is working with colleagues at the University of Sheffield on a complementary project. This is funded by the Motor Neurone Disease Association and aims to bring the same support to families living with inherited motor neurone disease. Dr Ballard, a Senior Research Fellow and Health Psychologist at the University of Southampton, said: “This research has the potential to make a significant impact on families living with Lynch syndrome. By increasing the likelihood that individuals with a hereditary cancer diagnosis share this information with at-risk relatives, the tool could help extend health spans, save lives, and reduce costs for the NHS.”

Image credit: UK Biobank/Dave Guttridge Bone health expertise in Southampton has underpinned one of the biggest health studies in the world. Professor Nicholas Harvey designed and oversees the bone and body composition scanning protocol for the UK Biobank imaging study. The study recently marked a record-breaking milestone. It collected the brain, body and bone scans of its 100,000th volunteer. Professor Harvey presented the latest imaging research in a celebration event at the Royal Society in London. One billion scans The UK Biobank imaging project is transforming research into diseases like dementia, heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. It is the world’s largest ever imaging study. It is collecting scans of brains, hearts, abdomens and bones in volunteers. To date, there have been more than one billion scans from 100,000 volunteers. This is allowing scientists to see how organs change before a disease takes hold. Combined with other volunteer data, it can also help research into how and why people get stick as they age and what to do about it. The study confirms the UK’s position at the very forefront of life sciences research internationally. Southampton expertise Professor Harvey is Director of the University of Southampton's MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre. He is a key part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and an NIHR Senior Investigator. His protocol design has captured detailed imaging for the project. This has spanned DXA bone density and body composition, MRI brain, heart and abdomen, and carotid ultrasound, in all 100,000 volunteers. At last Wednesday’s celebration event, Professor Harvey presented new work in collaboration with Universities of Bristol and Manchester. This is developing novel image-based measures of the knee and hip in the prediction of osteoarthritis. The presentation was followed by a private reception at the Houses of Parliament. This included an address from the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. A ‘staggering achievement’ Prof Harvey said: “It is a huge privilege to oversee the DXA bone and body composition scanning for this unique and internationally leading study. It is a great pleasure to subsequently use the data in cutting edge analyses undertaken at our MRCLEC and NIHR Southampton BRC. “Recruitment of 100,000 comprehensively-imaged volunteers is a staggering achievement. It reflects the amazing vision, hard work and perseverance of the UK Biobank leadership, team and expert advisors.”

Southampton researchers have led the development of a new scoring system to guide care for people with asthma that is difficult to treat. WATCH (Wessex AsThma CoHort of difficult asthma) is a real-world research study based at Southampton and the Isle of Wight. It allows patients with difficult-to-treat asthma to take part in research alongside their clinical care. First established 10 years ago, it forms part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)’s Respiratory and Allergy research theme. Over 700 patients have now joined WATCH. It has led to many international research collaborations. It has also produced a series of results that have given new insights into the nature of more severe asthma and how that might be better treated. The latest study from WATCH is the first to assess the effect of having multiple health conditions (multimorbidity) on difficult-to-treat asthma. It has been published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine . The results have now been used to the create the MiDAS scoring system . This helps doctors identify which patients with this type of asthma are most likely to need extra care. Identifying patients most in need Asthma is a condition that makes it hard to breathe. Some people have a type that does not get better easily, even with treatment. These patients often have other health conditions too, such as anxiety or being overweight. Having multiple health conditions at the same time like this is known as ‘multimorbidity’. Until now, doctors haven’t had a good way to measure how this affects asthma. The WATCH study found that multimorbidity is common in patients with difficult-to-treat asthma. It also showed this is associated with worse asthma control, a higher risk of their symptoms deteriorating, a poor quality of life and more inflammation. Developing the scoring system The researchers found that there were seven common health problems that were associated with worse asthma severity in patients with difficult-to-treat asthma. They used these results to create the Multimorbidity in Difficult Asthma Score (MiDAS) initially working with colleagues in Serbia. The higher the score, the more likely a person is to have worse asthma symptoms, feel more anxious or depressed, and have a lower quality of life. Working with researchers at four overseas centres across three continents, the score was then tested on people from Australia, Singapore and the USA. It was found to work well in these other countries. Treating the whole person Doctors can now use MiDAS to quickly spot which asthma patients might need more help to address wider healthcare needs alongside their asthma. The researchers hope this will lead to better, more personalised care. The WATCH study is led by Southampton’s Professor Ramesh Kurukulaaratchy, Dr Anna Freeman and Professor Hans Michael Haitchi. Professor Kurukulaaratchy said: “Our findings from the WATCH study show that purely focussing on lung health is not enough to treat patients with this type of asthma. “Instead, doctors need to treat the whole person, taking all of their conditions into consideration. Now, with the MiDAS scoring system, they are able to do this easily.”

Discoveries by Southampton researchers on how bacteria defend themselves against viruses could be key to tackling antibiotic resistance. Finding new ways to fight bacteria is a pressing concern due to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistant bacteria are not killed by antibiotics. Viruses that attack bacteria, known as phages, offer a promising alternative. Unpicking how bacteria protect themselves against phages, and how phages overcome these defences, could be a significant step in defeating antibiotic resistant bacteria. Bacterial defences Phages only attack bacteria, and are harmless to human cells. They look like a syringe with spider legs. They inject their DNA into the bacterial cell. In this way, they hijack it, making it produce more copies of the virus. The cell then bursts open and releases the new phages to attack other bacteria. New research, published in the journal Cell , is the first to describe how a bacterial defence mechanism against phages, called Kiwa, works. Dr Franklin Nobrega is an Associate Professor at the University of Southampton. His work forms part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)’s Microbiology, Immunology and Infection theme. “In Māori mythology, Kiwa is a divine guardian of the ocean and its creatures,” he says. “In bacteria, Kiwa also acts as a guardian, defending against phages, and are one of the most common defence mechanisms bacteria have.” Researchers used advanced imaging techniques to study the interaction between phages and Kiwa at a molecular level. They found Kiwa is made up of two components, called KwaA and KwaB. This duo works together to form a kind of chainmail around the bacteria, preventing the phage DNA from entering. KwaA acts like a sensor, detecting the presence of a phage. This alerts KwaB, which binds to the phage DNA and turns it off before it can take over the cell. Using a ‘decoy’ Some phages have evolved a clever way to break through this two-step security system. They release a ‘decoy’ protein called Gam. This tricks KwaB into attacking them, while the real phage DNA slips through. Unfortunately for the phages, and us, Kiwa is one of many defence mechanisms bacteria have. Another is called RecBCD, which also detects and attacks phage DNA. While the decoys work well against both systems independently, when they combine phages can’t break through.   Dr Nobrega explains: “In a similar way to how hackers are constantly looking for ways to bypass security systems, phages have evolved ways to breach the defences of bacteria. “But just as tech companies adapt by releasing their latest update with improved security features, bacteria have evolved their own molecular firewalls in the shape of Kiwa and RecBCD.” Tackling a global threat Antibiotic resistance could kill ten million people a year by 2050, and costs the NHS £180m every year. Dr Nobrega and his team at the University of Southampton are collecting phages that have the potential to overcome bacterial defences. They have identified over 600 different types to date. They are inviting people to collect a sample of dirty water and post it into the lab for analysis. Dirty water provides the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and phages. “By improving our understanding of how these defence mechanisms operate, we can work out how to exploit weaknesses and select phages which have the best chance of breaking down the bacteria,” says Dr Nobrega. “The more samples we are able to obtain, the better our chances of finding the best phages for the job.” The research was funded by The Royal Society, Wessex Medical Research, Welch Foundation, National Institutes of Health and Simons Foundation. The Phage Collection Project is supported by the NIHR Southampton BRC.

Researchers are working with parents who have experienced pregnancy loss to improve care and support. The initiative is named the Roberta Project. It is part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre's (BRC) Data, Health and Society research theme. The University of Southampton project aims to change how personal information is used by health services. Empowering communities The NHS currently collects and shares patient medical data to improve its care. However, it usually discounts everyday information about people’s lives. Now, Southampton researchers want to develop a new model. This will give parents more control to decide how their data could be used to support others. Professor Age Chapman is leading the initiative. She is head of the university’s Digital Health and Biomedical Engineering Research Group. She said: “Health-related data outside of the NHS is increasingly important for improving health and wellbeing, but how can we be sure it is being handled with care, transparency and consent? “The Roberta Project is about empowering communities to say where they want data to be used, so their voices and experiences can be at the very core of maternal support.” Developing a 'data trust' As part of the project, researchers will ask parents to share information from everyday tools. These include fitness trackers, wellbeing apps or diaries. Professor Dame Wendy Hall is director of the University’s Web Science Institute. She leads the BRC’s Data, Health and Society Theme. “Data collected with consent is more inclusive and, above all, impactful for new research or improving care,” she said. “We ultimately want to develop a ‘data trust’ – a framework for data governance – which puts families who have experienced early pregnancy loss at its centre. “It would allow them to collectively decide how their information is used to shape support for those who may be affected by miscarriage in the future.” Using Roberta’s story The Southampton team are conducting workshops among community groups with lived experience of pregnancy loss. They will also include clinicians, policymakers and legal experts. These sessions use scenarios featuring a fictional character named Roberta. She navigates pregnancy after loss using digital health tools, such as phone apps. Professor Michael Boniface is project co-lead and an associate director of the Web Science Institute. “Sadly, some tools fail to account for pregnancy loss, often continuing to send notifications after a miscarriage,” he said. “Roberta’s story helps participants surface these challenges and reimagines what respectful, inclusive digital health design might look like.” The researchers hope the Roberta Project can serve as a national model for more equitable use of non-NHS data in tackling challenges across health and care. Read more about the Roberta Project at: www.southampton.ac.uk/wsi

Ceri and Harry took part in a clinical trial at University Hospital Southampton. Thousands of premature babies at risk of serious infection will be protected against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this winter. A single long-lasting injection will be made available on the NHS for the first time from September. The immunisation is known as nirsevimab. It is approved around the globe following years of clinical research. The HARMONIE study, co-led by experts in Southampton, suggested the antibody jab could help ease winter pressures on the NHS. It was a collaboration between Sanofi and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Southampton researchers are welcoming news of the NHS roll-out. They are thanking families in the south who took part in vital research to support the treatment. Common winter virus Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects 90% of children by the age of two. It is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation in young children. It can lead to life-threatening pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis, a lung infection. Data shows that babies born prematurely are three times more likely to need hospital admission due to RSV. They are also ten times more likely to need intensive care, compared to full-term babies. Fewer hospital admissions The NHS will roll out nirsevimab to protect around 9,000 UK babies born before 32 weeks this year. If 95% of eligible infants receive the injection, it is estimated there could be nearly 350 fewer hospital admissions this winter. Nirsevimab offers six months’ protection in a single dose. Unlike a vaccine, nirsevimab provides infants with ready-made immune protection. It will replace monthly injections of palivizumab. This was previously offered to a smaller number of vulnerable babies. In addition, nirsevimab will be offered seasonally to eligible high-risk infants and young children with complex heart, lung or weakened immune system conditions. Research impact The international HARMONIE study was co-led by experts from the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility. Over 8,000 babies took part across the UK, France and Germany, including at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). The study found the injection reduced numbers needing hospital treatment by over 80%, paving the way for the treatment’s approval around the world. Dr Katrina Cathie, UHS consultant paediatrician, was the Southampton study lead. She said: “Babies born very prematurely are significantly more vulnerable to hospitalisation from RSV. These infants often have underdeveloped lungs and their immune systems are not as robust as full-term babies. “I’m really pleased that this preventative treatment is being offered to premature babies for the first time in the UK. The antibody jab can offer immediate protection for these young lives. It will hopefully reduce hospital admissions and ease pressures on the NHS this winter. “This roll-out all stems from years of clinical research into the treatment, and I would like to thank the thousands of families whose participation over the years has led to this transformative impact.” Ceri Cox, 33, and her son, Harry, 2, took part in the international trial at UHS. She said: “I wanted Harry to be protected as much as he could against RSV. I know quite a bit about the virus from working as a paediatric nurse in a unit where we see a lot of children with RSV every year. It’s amazing that this immunisation will now be offered to young babies around the country. I hope we will see fewer little ones in our hospital this winter.” ‘Suit of armour’ In the UK, every year around 30,000 children under the age of five are hospitalised with RSV. It causes around 30 infant deaths. Nirsevimab works differently to the RSV vaccine offered to pregnant women. Vaccination boosts the mother’s immune system to make extra protective antibodies which are passed to the baby in the womb. This gives protection from birth. However, babies born before 32 weeks have limited or no protection from vaccinations given to pregnant women at the recommended time of around 28 weeks. John Stewart, Director of Specialised Commissioning at NHS England said: “For babies born very prematurely, the risk of contracting RSV in their first winter is high and extremely serious. “This new medication will provide vulnerable infants with their own suit of armour that protects against what can be a life-threatening infection. “I am delighted that we will be able to offer nirsevimab to protect these babies from this winter onwards and I’m extremely grateful to colleagues in specialist neonatal clinics across the country who will deliver this life-saving service.” Minister for Public Health and Prevention Ashley Dalton said: “This is excellent news for thousands of vulnerable babies and their families. By rolling out nirsevimab this September, we’re ensuring that our most at-risk infants, including those who are born too early to benefit from maternal vaccination, are protected in the best possible way.  “This rollout is a prime example of how this government is shifting the focus from sickness to prevention, as part of our 10 Year Health Plan.”

Young people, teachers, researchers and collaborators came to LifeLab for a vibrant evening of celebration. The 2025 Showcase event took place last week at the LifeLab facility at Southampton General Hospital. LifeLab engages children and young people with the science behind a healthy lifestyle. It is a collaboration between the University of Southampton, University Hospital Southampton and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. This academic year marked some significant milestones for LifeLab. Their work was recognised by a Royal Society for Public Health award, and an invitation to a Royal Garden Party. They welcomed their 17,000th student, and expanded their Early LifeLab programme for children in primary schools. Their Youth Panels continues to create outstanding resources. LifeLab’s influence The showcase event included thought-provoking presentations on the effect of LifeLab’s work on young people. The evening was opened by LifeLab Director and Programme Manager, Professor Kath Woods-Townsend. Professor Mary Barker delivered an inspiring talk highlighting the transformative impact of LifeLab. Dr Debbie Chase is Director of Public Health at Southampton City Council. She explored the benefits to the community. Sinead Holmes, Head of Access, Widening Participation and Social Mobility, spoke about the university’s Widening Participation Social Mobility report. Dr Chase said: “It was fantastic to see such creative work from all the young people who have participated LifeLab. “LifeLab continues to have an amazing impact for young people. Not just in teaching them about health and wellbeing, but it provides them the opportunity to develop leadership skills, science skills, the ability to influence people and then put all that on their CV. It’s such a great opportunity for them.” Young people take the stage   Students from the NxtGen Researcher programme took to the stage to present their own research projects. They also shared the positive influence LifeLab has had on their lives.   Members of the Youth Panel also shared their findings on key issues. These included ultra-processed foods, climate change and the role of AI in medicine. Professor Lucy Green also spoke about the Impact Case Studies Go Wild! project . This was a collaboration between the Youth Panel and researchers in the university’s Faculty of Medicine. A special night Jamie Clinton, Science Teacher at Warblington School, said: “It was a privilege to be invited to LifeLab’s Showcase. “LifeLab has enriched our school curriculum by engaging our students in practical activities that we don’t have the resources for in our school. It allows us to meet inspirational scientists who make a difference in the world. This is inspiring our students to become scientists, and producing resources that make our students better scientists. Thank you LifeLab!” The event was vividly brought to life by Emma Paxton. Her infographic of this year’s Showcase will be proudly displayed in LifeLab’s facility at the hospital. Professor Woods-Townsend said: “The Showcase is always a special night for us. Hearing the reflections of the people who take part in LifeLab is so rewarding because you genuinely get to see what the impact has been for them.” To find out more about LifeLab, visit www.lifelabonline.org