Media round-up: COVID-19 and the University of Liverpool
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the University of Liverpool has proudly been at the forefront of the COVID-19 research programme of innovation and discovery, as well as a key player in supporting our NHS and the Liverpool City Region. Many of our research colleagues and other University staff have been excellent spokespeople for these new developments, often making local national news. We have collected some highlights from these media features to further spread the pioneering work of our University.
Research in the news
- Professor Calum Semple of the Institute of Translational Medicine, and member of the national Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has contributed to the vital ongoing research around the virus and its impact on our society:
- Study into black and ethnic minority deaths in the UK co-authored by Professor Semple: Coronavirus: Increased risk of infection behind higher ethnic minority deaths, Sage report suggests, Independent, 3 June 2020
- Study of almost 17,000 COVID-19 patients around risk factors for the disease led by Professor Calum Semple: Being male or overweight can lead to more serious COVID-19 hospital admissions, Medical Xpress, 30 April 2020
- Professor Tom Solomon discussed the potential of Remdesivir to treat Covid-19 on BBC Breakfast: Professor Tom Solomon (Institute of Infection and Global Health) interviewed about the use of Remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 (>2:08:57) or on Professor Tom Solomon’s YouTube channel, 27 May 2020
Opinion leaders
- Professor Tom Solomon, Director of the UK Emerging Infections Research Unit, joined a panel of scientists for a coronavirus debate: Channel 4 : Can Science beat the virus?, 22 April 2020
- Professor Matthew Baylis, Epidemiology and Population Health, discussed localised approaches to lockdown measures on BBC Radio Merseyside (at 7min35sec), 27 May 2020
Pioneering cultural progress
- Professor Dame Janet Beer, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Liverpool, recently took part in Liverpool City Council’s Mersey Waves podcast, alongside Mayor Joe Anderson and the Chief Executive of Liverpool BID, Bill Addy. The podcast discusses how Liverpool will come together to recover from the impact of COVID-19, and the crucial role of our organisation in the continued, co-ordinated response to the virus: https://www.merseywaves.co.uk/19
- Lecturers from the University’s Department of Psychology have launched the ‘Coping with COVID’ podcast to provide support to medical, allied health professions and nursing students working in the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although aimed at NHS workers, the episodes cover helpful topics such as sleep, alcohol and resilience to protect or improve your mental health during these, and other difficult circumstances: https://blubrry.com/coping_with_covid_podcast/
For more information and research stories, please visit the University news site or the COVID Hub, where you can read more about the University of Liverpool researchers behind this transformative work and their priorities.