Researchers at the University of Oxford have launched a human challenge trial to look at what kind of immune response can stop people from becoming re-infected. The team, led by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre Director Professor Helen McShane (pictured right), also want to find out how the immune system reacts to a second … Read more
News for Antimicrobial Resistance and Modernising Microbiology
New study finds strong immune response following COVID-19 vaccination
A new study has found that 99% of people generate a robust immune response against COVID-19 after just one dose of the Pfizer vaccine, and that after two doses levels of protection were even stronger. The PITCH (Protective Immunity from T cells to COVID-19 in Health workers) study, led by Oxford and Sheffield Universities with … Read more
Two doses of vaccine offer same protection from COVID as prior infection, study finds
Two doses of either the Pfizer or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine offer similar protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection to that coming from natural immunity after infection, an ongoing study of healthcare workers has found. None of the 1,456 healthcare workers at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust who had received two vaccines had a symptomatic infection … Read more
Lateral flow devices found to be useful in screening OUH staff for coronavirus
Infection prevention and control clinicians and researchers at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) have been outlining the OUH’s experience of deploying self-administered home-based lateral flow testing of its staff. In a letter published in the Journal of Infection, they said that 46,503 home-based SARS-CoV-2 lateral flow tests had been performed by asymptomatic OUH hospital staff. Of … Read more
Lateral flow devices detect most infectious COVID-19 cases, study shows
Researchers from the University of Oxford, working with Public Health England, have used NHS Test and Trace data to find out why some individuals pass COVID-19 on to their contacts more easily than others, and if lateral flow tests are sufficient in detecting those who are most infectious. Using information from over a quarter of … Read more
Prior COVID-19 infection offers protection from re-infection for at least six months
A new study suggests that individuals who have previously had COVID-19 are highly unlikely to contract the illness again, for at least six months following their first infection. The study, done as part of a major collaboration between the University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust, was published today as a … Read more
COVID antibodies wane within months, healthcare workers study shows
Antibodies to COVID-19 fall by half in less than 90 days, and antibody levels peak lower and fall faster in younger adults, an ongoing study of staff at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has revealed. The findings, published on the pre-print server medRxiv, also showed that antibodies to the virus last longer in people … Read more
Prof Sarah Walker receives OBE
Professor Sarah Walker, the Oxford BRC’s Co-theme Lead for Antimicrobial Resistance and Modernising Microbiology, is to receive an OBE. Prof Walker, Professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology at the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Medicine, was recognised for services to academia and the COVID-19 response. She is the chief investigator and academic lead for … Read more
Evaluation of LamPORE rapid Covid-19 tests show high levels of diagnostic sensitivity
Scientists from the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Medicine have today published their evaluation of LamPORE, a novel diagnostic platform for detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA. This technology, which combines loop-mediated isothermal amplification with nanopore sequencing, has the potential to analyse thousands of samples per day on a single instrument. The full evaluation paper was published … Read more
Oxford assay excels in comparison of SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests
New research shows that, in a head-to-head comparison of five tests used to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, an assay developed by an academic partnership led by the University of Oxford and one manufactured by Siemens had the most accurate results. The study comparing these ‘immunoassays’ has been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, as part of … Read more
Mild COVID-19 symptoms might not result in positive antibody test, research finds
Oxford researchers have found that COVID-19 antibody tests might not give a positive result if people have only had mild symptoms, like loss of taste and smell. Microbiology and data experts from the Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Oxford made the initial findings, published as a pre-print, as part … Read more
AI test identifies COVID-19 within an hour in emergency departments
University of Oxford scientists specialising in infectious disease and clinical machine learning have developed an artificial intelligence test that can rapidly screen for COVID-19 in patients arriving in emergency departments. The initial findings of the ‘CURIAL’ AI test, which has been supported by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), appeared in a preprint paper. The test … Read more
Varying risk of COVID-19 to health workers revealed
A study at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust has revealed the different levels of risk faced by healthcare workers dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. In a major collaboration with the University of Oxford, almost 10,000 staff were tested both for presence of the virus responsible for COVID-19 and antibodies to the virus. In … Read more
Oxford-based citizen science project reaches three million classifications in fight against antibiotic resistance
The Bash the Bug citizen science project has achieved three million classifications, after seeing a rapid increase in participation over the last two months. Hosted on the Zooniverse platform, Bash the Bug has over 20,000 volunteers worldwide helping researchers to understand and predict which strains of tuberculosis bacteria will be resistant to which antibiotics. The … Read more
Large-scale COVID-19 infection and antibody test study launched
Some 20,000 households across England are being contacted to take part in the first wave of a major new government study to track the COVID-19 coronavirus in the general population. The study will help improve understanding around the current rate of infection and how many people are likely to have developed antibodies to the virus. … Read more
Common antibody test can be adapted for COVID-19, study finds
Research led from Oxford has found that an immunological assay commonly used to measure antibodies, antigens and proteins in biological samples can be specifically adapted to detect and quantifying COVID-19 antibodies. The investigations by the National COVID Testing Scientific Advisory Panel were co-ordinated by Prof Derrick Crook at the University of Oxford. The trial involved researchers at … Read more
Oxford researchers to play key role in fight-back against COVID-19
Researchers supported by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre will play a crucial role in tackling the current COVID-19 pandemic, ranging from the development of a new vaccine to developing the most effective drug treatments for people who have contracted the virus. A team from the Oxford Vaccine Group and the University of Oxford’s Jenner … Read more
NIHR Oxford BRC Senior Research Fellows named
The Oxford BRC is delighted to announce the appointment of seven new Senior Research Fellows. They were chosen from an extremely strong field of 47 applicants from across the scientific and clinical community because they demonstrated that their research was high impact and of high quality . They were also able to demonstrate leadership, independence … Read more
BRC researchers elected Fellows of Academy of Medical Sciences
Three Oxford BRC-supported researchers are among eight University of Oxford scientists elected to join the prestigious Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) this year. The BRC researchers among the new Fellows are: Professor Helen McShane, Professor of Vaccinology in the Nuffield Department of Medicine, Deputy Director of the Medical Sciences Division and Director … Read more
Oxford medical researchers win prestigious national awards
Four leading healthcare academics in Oxford have received a prestigious national award. The University of Oxford professors have been named National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigators in recognition of their “outstanding contribution to clinical and applied health and social care research”. The successful candidates are all prominent researchers in the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre … Read more