Site Logo
Oxbridge science facilities leading race for C-19 vaccine

UNIVERSITY researchers based within the so-called “Golden Triangle”, where London connects with the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, have taken leading roles in the UK’s Covid-19 response, including a presence in key initiatives including the government’s Vaccine Taskforce and the private sector led Ventilator Challenge UK.

Three Covid-19 Oxford University-based projects were among the first to benefit from a share of £20m in government investment to fund trials and develop manufacturing processes to produce a vaccine at a million-dose scale. The team at the Jenner Institute is starting clinical testing shortly. A further project will examine how existing treatments could be repurposed to treat coronavirus.

Cambridge’s Covid-19 initiatives include a new testing laboratory being established by AstraZeneca, GSK and Cambridge at the University’s Anne McLaren Building. This facility will be used for high throughput screening for Covid-19 testing and to explore the use of alternative chemical reagents for test kits in order to help overcome current supply shortages.

Meanwhile, the University of Cambridge Department of Engineering has adapted modelling tools originally designed to improve the efficiency of factories to manage the flow of patients at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Elsewhere at the University, researchers in the department of Computer Science and Technology have developed a new app, which will be used to collect data to develop machine learning algorithms that could automatically detect whether a person is suffering from Covid-19 based on the sound of their voice, their breathing and coughing.

In Milton Keynes, the National Biosample Centre, which was opened in 2015 and is the largest facility in the UK for storing and processing biological samples, has been converted into the UK’s biggest Covid-19 testing centre. Meanwhile, underlining the collaborative approach to R&D, Mologic Ltd, located at Bedford Technology Park, is also working on a Covid-19 point-of-need diagnostic tests with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and St George’s, University of London.

Further joint initiatives are underway to the east of the Arc. Researchers at the University of East Anglia are working with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn and the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital to trial a portable coronavirus kit which could be rolled out to test NHS staff in weeks. The trial is led by researchers in Oxford.

Sue Foxley, Research Director at Bidwells, the Cambridge-based property agency, commented: “The embedded culture of collaboration and innovation in the science and technology sector has been fundamental to the advances made. The evidence across the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, ranging from diagnostic testing, manufacturing processes and potential vaccines, illustrates the power of the cluster.”

Related Stories
Back to School: Managing the risk of Legionella
Are our washrooms ready for the return to school? Having adapted rapidly to lockdown conditions, re-opening facilities is more complex. Whether buildings have been partially or fully closed, a major concern is Legionella prevention.
EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE: A LESSON IN LIFE SAFETY FROM HOCHIKI EUROPE
Leading life safety manufacturer, Hochiki Europe, has hosted a virtual roundtable in which experts discussed the pressing issues that surround life safety in our educational facilities. The online panel talk, available to watch online, comes as part of the manufacturer’s efforts to uphold high standards within the fire safety sector and support its industry partners in doing the same.
FAST FIT WITH FORBO
Forbo Flooring Systems’ Fast Fit collection encompasses an array of adhesive free products in sheet, tile and plank formats for maximum flexibility. This includes its Coral Click entrance matting system, Allura Click, Allura Ease, Allura Puzzle and Colorex Plus ranges, as well as its award-winning adhesive free sheet vinyl: Modul’up.
HL designs new Mo Mowlam academy
The Mo Mowlam Academy, formally known as Pathways School, is operated by the Horizons Specialist Academy Trust (the Trust) and is one of seven schools in the Trust’s portfolio. Currently catering for up to 70 pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs from its present site in Grangetown, the replacement building allows the Trust to increase its capacity creating much needed space for 100 pupils – 30 primary and 70 secondary. The new facilities also create more dynamic and inspirational learnin...
SUMMER SECURITY MATTERS
With summer approaching and educational facilities preparing to close for the holidays, it is essential to ensure security is in place. Here, Scott Copeland, Category Manager at IronmongeryDirect, outlines some of the actions that can be taken to secure school buildings to help prohibit theft, damage and vandalism of the facilities. Despite local ‘School Watch’ initiatives, unfortunately, many education facilities fall victim to criminal damage over the summer break when buildings are empty. Not only do...

Login / Sign up