Stroke risk for patients with traumatic brain injuries is at its highest in the four months following injury and remains significant for up to five years post-injury, finds a new systematic review led by a team at the University of Birmingham. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global health problem affecting over 60 million people…

A study of top-flight UK rugby players – carried out by the University of Birmingham in collaboration with the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Premiership Rugby, and Marker Diagnostics – has identified a method of accurately diagnosing concussion using saliva, paving the way for the first non-invasive clinical test for concussion for use in sport and other…

The University of Birmingham has embarked on a new collaborative research project with the University of Cambridge, aiming to confirm whether selective P2X7 receptor blocker drugs can be repurposed to treat patients with secondary brain damage. Funded by almost £1 million from the Medical Research Council, the project will be carried out in two phases over…

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…