Research in real life How Universities have contributed in the fight against Covid 19. Aims - To understand the contribution students, academics and staff in Universities have made in the battle against Covid 19. - To understand the different types of research being conducted. - To understand why Universities are important in this pandemic. #WeAreTogether #WeAreTogether is a campaign that highlights the incredible work Universities are doing in the fight against Coronavirus. Universities across the UK (and the world) are carrying out unprecedented work to fight Covid 19, whether that be via staff, research or manufacturing equipment. This movement is like no other documented and so the #WeAreTogether campaign showcases how everyone in society is benefiting from our Universities. #WeAreTogether Tweets Oxford University heads up research on Covid 19 Where would we be without our Universities? Oxford University is leading the way in pioneering research against the virus. Here are a few examples of their research. University contribution Universities including staff, academics and students have been hugely beneficial in the fight against Coronavirus. 1) Research, vaccines & testing What would the battle have looked like without our Universities? Considering the significant impact they have had so far? 2) Resources & people power It’s highly likely that a report will be released in years to come that investigates the true input 3) Supporting through the crisis (students & the of our Universities. community To get an idea as to the types of offerings the Higher Horizons partner Universities have contributed, we have broken down just a fraction of their support into 3 categories: - Research, vaccines & testing Keele University Researchers have volunteered to help the UK’s effort to increase coronavirus testing. • Keele students community have joined a team of highly qualified experts driving the UK’s effort to increase coronavirus testing at the new Lighthouse Lab at Alderley Park in Cheshire, led by Medicines Discovery Catapult, where they test tens of thousands of samples for Covid-19 infection. More information can be found here: https://www.keele.ac.uk/pharmacy- bioengineering/aboutus/news/2020/may/ Keele University Biomedical engineers are leading a project to unite engineers from across the world to help mass production of ventilators and testing surgical masks. • Professor Ogrodnik said: “As institutions we have access to some of the best engineering design minds in the world, some of whom are at home with time on their hands. We are suggesting that they could supply some of their spare time to focussing on solving the problems deriving from the More information can be found here: Covid-19 outbreak.” https://www.keele.ac.uk/discover/news/2020/april/keele-supports- national/effort-against-coronavirus.php Somerville College (Oxford University) Has published guidance for clinicians helping patients with covid-related anxiety, and advice on managing patients with diabetes during the pandemic. • Routine care of diabetes will be significantly disrupted. Interventions to improve self-education for diabetes may be limited but text-message interventions and self- More information can be found here: monitoring of blood https://www.some.ox.ac.uk/news/coronavirus-somerville-medics-stepping-up/ glucose are the most promising strategies. Somerville College (Oxford University) They have also helped carry out a COVID19 vaccine trial. • A fifth-year student who also teaches pre-clinical Somerville students, has been helping carry out a COVID19 vaccine trial and to coordinate to Oxford’s Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, assisting tutor and Somerville alumna Dr Liz Morris. More information can be found here: https://www.some.ox.ac.uk/news/coronavirus-somerville-medics-stepping-up/ Staffordshire University 75 students, all training to become Biomedical Scientists through a Degree Apprenticeship, are supporting with COVID-19 testing. • The students are based in hospitals as far as Hull and Plymouth, including several working in the laboratories serving St Thomas’ Hospital in London where the Prime Minister was receiving treatment. At the Royal Stoke Hospital, 10 students are working in laboratories undertaking COVID-19 testing and supporting clinical services across the Trust. More information can be found via this link: https://www.staffs.ac.uk/news/2020/04/degree- apprentices-join-covid-19-testing-frontline Staffordshire University A Professor at the University has played a pivotal role in designing a field ventilator to save lives in developing countries • Professor Nachi Chockalingam said: “This is a rapidly escalating situation and there is an urgent need for ventilators in low and middle income countries (LMIC). We know from our work with clinical partners from various regions that there will be a much greater need over the coming weeks and months due to the More information can be found via this link: https://www.staffs.ac.uk/news/2020/04/field-ventilators- rapid spread. developed-to-treat-covid-19-patients-in-developing-countries Harper Adams University Research has begun into a drone spraying trial – this would involve specialists using drones to spray disinfectant in Covid 19 infected hotspots. • Agricultural spray drones have been in use for a number of years in countries such as China, India, and the USA. While European regulations prohibit their use, Harper Adams University has been conducting trials, in association with government authorities and other partners, to enable their use for crop protection and weed control within the UK. More information can be found here: https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/news/203486/could-spray- drones-be-used-to-tackle-covid19-infection-hotspots Resources & people power Chester University Dietetics students have volunteered to support the NHS. • Sian O’Dell, final year Nutrition and Dietetics student at the University of Chester, said: The power of food and nutrition in all of our lives is essential for our health and can significantly aid patient recovery. Dietitians are an extremely important part of the patient care process.” More information can be found here: https://www1.chester.ac.uk/news/dietetics-students-answer- %E2%80%98call-arms%E2%80%99-against-covid-19 Chester University Staff have been involved in projects to produce protective face shields using 3D printers for NHS & social care workers. • The printers are now being run by the Faculty of Science & Engineering to produce the much needed durable and reusable face visors for staff on the frontline. To date over 500 face visors have been produced for Chester Hospital and Aintree University Hospital. More information can be found here: https://www1.chester.ac.uk/news/producing-face- visors-frontline-healthcare-workers Chester University Staff from Science & Engineering have provided a key ingredient for hand sanitiser. • Director of Weetwood Ales, Phil McLaughlin said: “We were struggling to source hydrogen peroxide to distribute our hand sanitizer. That’s when we approached the University of Chester on the off chance that they had any stock in their laboratories. We were thrilled at how quickly they responded. More information can be found here: https://www1.chester.ac.uk/news/support-distillery-producing- hand-sanitiser-frontline-health-workers Reaseheath College Using a 3D printer Reaseheath have produced attachments which make surgical facemasks more comfortable to wear. • Andy Gould, has programmed his department’s 3D printer to make adjustable plastic clips which fit round the back of the head and have fixings for the elastic loops of the face mask. The design takes the pressure away from the back of the wearer’s ears while continuing to hold the mask securely. • Hundreds of the clips have been distributed across Cheshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire. They are so popular that there is More information can be found here: a current waiting list for over 300 https://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/staffs-efforts-make-a-difference- to-frontline-nhs/ University of Derby Have donated of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to hospitals that was developed at the University's Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering • Goggles, gloves, surgical masks, protective suits and cleaning materials would ordinarily have been used by nursing, allied healthcare, biomedical and forensic students, in the University’s labs. More information can be found here: https://www.derby.ac.uk/news/2020/university-donates- ppe-to-derby-and-burton-hospitals/ Keele University Keele have donated PPE from its teaching laboratories to the frontline workers. • “Professor Horrocks said: “We hope that the stocks held at Keele University can be donated to those working in the charitable sector who are providing care as well as schools providing emergency childcare cover.” More information can be found here: https://www.keele.ac.uk/discover/news/2020/march/lab- supplies/equipment-healthcare-workers-coronavirus.php Keele University Keele Pharmacy academics are making hand sanitiser on campus • Academics & technicians from the School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering have offered their expertise and the University’s laboratories to produce more hand sanitiser. Using a World Health Organisation approved formula, the team will produce sanitiser to support the needs of the local University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust. More information can be found here: https://www.keele.ac.uk/coronavirus/response/ourcontributions/pharma cy-laboratories/pharmacy-hand-sanitiser-coronavirus.php