A pioneering trial is testing whether exercising before heart surgery can help patients recover faster and improve long-term outcomes. The CardioFit trial is delivered through the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). It is supported by the Heartbeat charity. Patients with cancer are already routinely offered ‘prehabilitation’ at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). The hospital is now breaking new ground by investigating its impact on patients with heart condi

Deliberately infecting volunteers to test new whooping cough vaccines has been shown to be safe in research. A team at University Hospital Southampton has developed a safe method of ‘controlled human infection’, where volunteers are infected with whooping cough bacteria without causing any illness. This can be used to study the infection in detail and to help develop and test new and improved vaccines. The researchers have shown that the method was safe, even when volunteers

Researchers have delivered the UK’s first dose in a new trial using an investigational mRNA vaccine to protect people against potential influenza pandemics such as avian flu (also known as ‘bird flu’). The research will assess the safety and immune response of an investigational mRNA-based A(H5) pandemic influenza vaccine candidate, mRNA-1018, commonly circulating in birds, with pandemic potential. The study is supported by the National Insititute for Health and Care Research

Research is stepping out of hospitals and into the heart of our communities. This approach is helping to break down barriers, tackle health inequalities and ensure discoveries benefit everyone. Caroline Tiza is a Senior Engagement and Inclusion Manager at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). She shares insights from a recent community workshop in St Denys, Southampton. Embedding research inclusion in our workforce It is vital that we increase research awareness and inclus

Researchers at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) are leading a large study to reduce children’s overuse of reliever inhalers linked to severe asthma attacks. Children with asthma who use a high number of blue reliever inhalers are several times more likely to have severe asthma attacks, which can be life-threatening. The Prescription Alerts for Reliever Inhalers in Children (PARC) study is offering these children an enhanced check-up, led by a specialist nurse. The resea

Behind every breakthrough are people whose daily work often goes unseen - but whose impact is extraordinary. One of them is Anastasia de la Haye. She has been working at University Hospital Southampton for five years and leads the respiratory research lab. She is funded by both the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and Clinical Research Facility (CRF). We sat down with her to explore what a day in her world looks like, and what advice she has for the next generation

A UK study has shown that a vaccine can protect people against paratyphoid fever. Paratyphoid fever affects over two million people globally each year. Yet no licensed vaccine is currently available. The clinical trial involved six UK sites, including University Hospital Southampton. Volunteers took part locally at the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility (CRF). The new oral vaccine was shown to provide significant protection. There weren’t any safety concerns. ‘Major

A human challenge trial has shown a new vaccine could offer better protection against whooping cough. This follows a new report that highlights that 2024 whooping cough numbers were at their worst in 30 years. Whooping cough is a serious and sometimes deadly disease. It affects millions of people worldwide each year. Vaccines for whooping cough are already part of routine childhood immunisations in the UK. However they don’t provide lifelong protection. They also don’t

A new trial will see if giving steroids to babies with suspected bacterial meningitis improves survival and long-term outcomes. The trial is known as Better Outcomes in Babies with Bacterial meningitis (BOBBi). It will investigate whether this treatment helps more babies survive without long-term difficulties. Patients will take part across the country, including at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). Preventing long-term problems Bacterial meningitis affects about 350 bab

University Hospital Southampton and primary care services are leading a trial to test the nasal flu vaccine in one-year-old children . The FluSNIFF study is inviting families to take part at around 100 GP practices across the UK. Three hospital sites are also taking part. The trial is being led by co-chief investigators Professor Saul Faust and Dr Alasdair Munro from the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility. It is exploring whether the nasal spray flu vaccine, currentl

An expanding pill trialled in Southampton could soon offer a new and affordable weight loss treatment. It follows a successful clinical trial at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). Participants in Southampton took part at the NIHR Clinical Research Facility at UHS. The treatment was developed by Oxford Medical Products (OMP). OMP partnered with the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) for the trial. They also partnered with the NIHR Bristol BRC, and the North

A major new trial has found surgery is the most effective treatment for a common sinus condition, helping to inform future care for...