Rising to the challenge of COVID-19

Researchers at the University of Huddersfield have been rising to the challenge of Covid-19, here are some examples of their work.

Life-saving lullabies

A team of researchers is working with a group of women in the African country of Zambia to create songs to warn against the dangers of coronavirus. They are harnessing the power of song to spread vital healthcare messages – including Covid-19 precautions – among African women. The project – titled Life-Saving Lullabies – has earned major funding from Britain’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and has been developed by Dr James Reid and Professor Barry Doyle at the University of Huddersfield in collaboration with Professor David Swann at Sheffield Hallam University.

Pregnancy during the pandemic

Professor of Global Health Padam Simkhada and PhD researcher Pasang Tamang have co-published a report on the current knowledge of the effect of Covid-19 on pregnant women and babies. The article titled ‘Pregnancy and Covid-19: Lessons so far’ has been published online by the Healthy Newborn Network (HNN). The Huddersfield researchers collaborated on the research with colleagues at the University of Bournemouth and its Centre for Midwifery, Maternal and Perinatal Health. The article includes advice to expectant mothers on how to avoid the virus. It includes postponing any social events such as baby showers and using telephone or online appointments, rather than face-toface appointments, for pregnant women who have signs of Covid-19 or who are selfisolating.

The ‘Coronavirus Generation’

Dr Andy Mycock collaborated with colleague and Leverhulme Trust Research Fellow Dr Tom Loughran on the analysis of a major survey exploring the impact of the pandemic on young people. During late March and early April 2020 it surveyed 1,535 young people, aged 16-25. 91% of those who responded said that they are strictly adhering to government advice. But there are negative strains on young people’s family relationships and 65% of young people said they were worried about their mental health in light of Covid-19. The report makes a series of recommendations, including a call for the Government to establish a National Young Person’s Response Unit.

Using steroids to combat Covid-19

Huddersfield researchers, Dr Hamid Merchant and Dr Syed Shahzad Hasan, explored the use of steroids to combat Covid-19 in severely ill patients. They examined the use of corticosteroids such as dexamethasone on hospitalised Covid-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who were on respiratory support. Their findings revealed that using steroids could have saved lives. Their research has been published in the Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine. Oxford University’s RECOVERY trial came to similar conclusions as the Huddersfield researchers, leading to the UK government’s decision that dexamethasone could be made available to patients, a move being followed around the world.

Digital learning revolution

As students went into lockdown digital learning became the new normal. Professor Rupert Ward’s new book, ‘Personalised Learning for the Learning Person’, calls for a radical overhaul in education that embraces digital technology to deliver specialised learning. Professor Rupert Ward was the Project Lead for iDEA – Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award – a free online programme that develops digital, enterprise and employability skills. Launched in January 2017, iDEA has been adopted in over 100 countries around the world, and has been in particular demand during the Covid-19 pandemic, with an additional 1.25m ‘badges’ – iDEA’s informal digital learning awards – completed since March 2020.

Local food producers step up to the lockdown challenge

As consumers joined the long queues for their shopping and supermarkets ran out of essentials, local food producers and suppliers, such as farm shops, rose to the challenge of the Covid-19 crisis, meeting a rapid rise in demand. Dr John Lever, who researches food systems and supply chains in the University’s Centre for Sustainability, Responsibility, Governance and Ethics, produced a report that charted the rise to prominence of local suppliers. Dr Lever has provided his expertise to the Huddersfield Sustainable Town initiative, by outlining a regional approach to food system reform and predicts that sourcing food locally could become the new normal.

COVID-toes warning

At the height of the Covid-19 crisis symptons of the virus were continually being discovered, not least a relatively unknown symptom known as COVID-toes.

If left undiagnosed this condition can result in possible limb amputation and the spread of infection is greater. Dr Leanne Atkin sounded the alarm after witnessing a sharp increase in the amount of patients being referred to vascular clinics, with similar symptons to arterial disease but, who tested positive for Covid-19.

Dr Atkin is a member of the University’s Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention and through her work as a Vascular Nurse Consultant at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, comes into regular contact with patients and was able to witness first-hand the impact of Covid-19.

Helping health staff suffering skin damage from face masks

Covid-19 highlighted the problems that can arise with face masks being worn for long periods of time by healthcare professionals. Although face masks offer invaluable protection, they can cause significant skin damage. Professor Karen Ousey, Director of the Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention at the University of Huddersfield, was part of a team that conducted detailed research into the pressure damage that can be caused by a wide range of medical devices, including face masks. The findings and recommendations include keeping the skin clean, well-hydrated and moisturised and that barrier creams should be applied at least half an hour before masks are put on. Professor Ousey also urges members of the public to visit the National Wound Care Strategy webpage, which offers wide-ranging advice on wound care and pressure ulcers.

University loans DNA sampler to the Government for Covid-19 testing

As well as donating large quantities of protective gear for frontline health workers, scientists at the University of Huddersfield responded to a request from the Government for high-tech equipment to increase the testing of the public for coronavirus. A network of facilities known as Lighthouse Labs was established, but to scale up their work the Government needed larger numbers of advanced polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines. These can take a tiny sample of DNA and amplify it so that it can be studied in detail. The School of Applied Sciences was able to loan its ThermoFisher 7500-Fast PCR machine, used for forensics courses, which helped the Government with its target of carrying out 100,000 Covid-19 tests every day.