I usually say that as a research topic ‘Long Covid’ found me.
In March 2020 I was busy with my research in cancer early diagnosis, learning health systems and artificial intelligence for improving diagnosis in primary care. I caught COVID-19 in mid-March, just before the first lockdown, with moderate symptoms; cough, fever, but my blood oxygen levels were fine.
Environmental issues like climate change can bring up a wide range of feelings for people at different times. The feelings that arise are typically (though not always) uncomfortable ones, related both to the impacts of climate change and our sense of how they are being handled by people in positions of power.
A decade ago, Imperial medical student John Chetwood darted from his Varsity hockey match to try his hand at another competition, with a different prize at stake. It was the inaugural IGHI Health Innovation Prize, giving UK university students the opportunity to win cash towards their global health idea.
John was one of five finalists to face our panel of judges at the Dragon’s Den-style final, and took home the top prize of £2,000 towards his new diagnostic tool for an aggressive type of bile duct cancer.
Since then, teams from all across the country have competed in our annual competition, now in its 10th year and growing, with £10,000 up for grabs for the top team.
Having access to a healthy environment is important for our health and wellbeing. Yet what a healthy environment means to people varies. Everyone’s unique situation and past experiences will influence their views.
In addition, when it comes to supporting healthy environments, what may be a priority for policymakers might not be important to the public. Research funders therefore face difficult decisions when deciding how to focus their work in this area.
The Institute of Global Health Innovation hosted their third World Patient Safety Day event on the 17th September, with the theme of safer maternal and newborn care. The aim of this year’s World Patient Safety Day was to raise awareness of maternal and newborn safety and engage different stakeholders – from healthcare professionals to decision-makers – in adopting strategies to improve them. This virtual event was chaired by Dr Mike Durkin, IGHI’s Senior Advisor on Patient Safety Policy and Leadership, and included a range of speakers and panellists. Throughout the event a graphic artist created a live illustration that captured key messages, displayed above.
Being admitted to hospital can be a distressing for anyone.
In 2015, the United Nations (UN) established the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve a better and more sustainable future globally by 2030. This includes the UN’s target to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and give one billion more people quality healthcare.
IGHI is home to a team of staff who are skilled and passionate about their roles. Our talented people are the reason we’re able to tackle some of the most pressing global health challenges through cutting-edge innovation.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have a significant impact on populations around the world. Affecting the heart and blood vessels, they are responsible for more deaths across the globe than any other cause.
Assistive robotic devices (ARD), machines controlled by a person to help carry out a task, are increasingly being explored for their potential to help deliver healthcare.
In 2019, the UK government launched a five-year research programme dedicated to making autonomous systems (such as robots to support older people at home) safe for public use. The appetite for advancing healthcare with robotics is driven by the multiple benefits these devices can offer, including freeing up healthcare staff for other tasks and minimising human error.