A digital remote care solution including a mobile phone app is helping Covid-19 patients manage their symptoms at home after being developed with the support the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN). The app developed by medical software company, Dignio, has been implemented by Dudley CCG and allows patients stay at home safely, thus avoiding…

Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited the COVID-19 vaccination centre for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) staff on February 17 2021. Their Royal Highnesses, joined by The Right Honourable Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, visited the hub here at the…

Scientists at the University of Birmingham have shown that a novel low molecular weight dextran-sulphate, ILB® could play a key role in treating open angle glaucoma (OAG), a neurodegenerative disease that affects over 70 million people worldwide and causes irreversible blindness. OAG develops slowly over many years.  Excessive matrix deposition (fibrosis) within the eye’s main…

An international team of scientists and engineers have been awarded a grant of £768K by UKRI as part of the Newton Fund’s Agile Response Call to develop high performance, low cost ventilators for use in low to middle income countries, it has been announced today. Prompted by a shortage of ventilators in low income countries…

From hand sanitisers and nasal sprays to improved PPE, the University of Birmingham’s School of Chemical Engineering and Healthcare Technologies Institute (based here in the ITM) have made significant contributions to the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, staff set up a manufacturing facility at the Collaborative Teaching Laboratory to produce hand sanitiser, desperately…

A company working with experts from the University of Birmingham and King’s College London has been awarded funding by Innovate UK to produce custom-fitted, reusable, medical grade facemasks that will fit all people regardless of age, sex or ethnicity. MyMaskFit will focus on producing masks at FFP3 standard, which filter 99% of aerosols.  The FFP3 standard…

A nasal spray that can provide effective protection against the COVID-19 virus has been developed by researchers at the University of Birmingham based here in the ITM, using materials already cleared for use in humans. A team in the ITM’s Healthcare Technologies Institute formulated the spray using compounds already widely approved by regulatory bodies in the…

A new spray for treating severely painful blisters, mouth ulceration and oral scarring in patients with a rare genetic skin condition is being developed by researchers in the Healthcare Technologies Institute, based here in the ITM. The spray is designed for patients with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a condition that causes the skin to blister and tear…

A method for detecting traumatic brain injury at the point of care has been developed by scientists at the University of Birmingham based here at the ITM. Using chemical biomarkers released by the brain immediately after a head injury occurs, researchers are able to pinpoint when patients need urgent medical attention. This saves time in…

A UK trial into the effectiveness of giving blood to trauma patients before they come to hospital has recently introduced an innovation that, if proven to be successful, could be adopted across the country. Previously, only doctors could recruit patients to the RePHILL (Resuscitation with Pre-Hospital Blood Products) trial. The RePHILL team have developed a…