Monitoring health of nation during 2012 Olympics

A clinical monitoring system that receives data from 3,000 GP practices played a crucial role in helping to safeguard public health during the London 2012 Olympics.

QSurveillance, a not-for-profit partnership between The University of Nottingham, healthcare software provider EMIS and ClinRisk Ltd, monitored the UK for outbreaks of infections such as vomiting and diarrhoea that could have affected people attending the Games.

The system provided key data for The Syndromic Surveillance Report developed by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). It analysed and interpreted real-time health information to identify potential public health threats and alert the NHS.

Dr Julia Hippisley-Cox, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and General Practice at the University and co-founder of QSurveillance, said: “With such a large population influx during London 2012, ensuring that response to public health issues could be immediate and effective was essential and for that, regular, accurate data was needed.

“With access to 3,000 GP practices across the UK, we were able to provide immediate updates 100% of the time, on trends and hot spots for symptoms by analysing patient consultations. It was an honour to have been involved in such an important project for the UK.”

No major threats were detected throughout the monitoring period.

Bank offers internship grants to students

Small and medium-sized businesses are to benefit from grants of £1,500 from Santander to help them employ University of Nottingham students.

The Santander internship programme will provide 10 grants to businesses in the region which want to employ students for a 12-week internship until the end of June 2013. The grant from Santander represents 50% of the student’s salary, with the business funding the remainder.

Mike Carr, Director of Business Engagement at the University, said: “We are very keen to support local businesses and have a range of programmes to do this. The Santander internship programme adds to this portfolio of support activity and means that local small and medium sized companies have even more incentive to take on a talented University student to help improve their performance. We are keen to talk to any businesses that are interested in taking part in the Santander internship programme, or would like to find out about the range of services that we offer to businesses.”

For more on the Santander Internship programme call Steve Upcraft on 0115 74 84 555, or go to www.ingenuitygateway.com/santander-internships

University’s research links with rising power Brazil

The Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham have strengthened their collaborations with Brazilian institutions after securing research funding.

Academics have won funding from the São Paulo Research Foundation to undertake joint research, including magnetic resonance imaging; how chemicals in the brain affect moods, which will lead to new medications to prevent anxiety and depression; Brazil’s rise (it overtook the UK economy in 2011); urban water quality management.

Nottingham’s Professor of Genetics and Conservation, Olivier Hanotte, also won funding to work with Brazilian colleagues to examine how cattle can adapt to different tropical environments and the fitness of hybrid cattle.