News in brief
Allergy analyses and prestigious professorships: News from the College
Here’s a batch of fresh news and announcements from across Imperial.
Stories written by Ryan O'Hare
Threat monitoring
Imperial leads new consortium to study threats from new SARS-CoV-2 variants
Imperial researchers will lead a new consortium of UK virologists to study the effects of emerging mutations in SARS-CoV-2.
Targeting Tremors
Non-invasive brain stimulation helps to ease tremors
UK researchers have used electrical pulses to help suppress the tremors typically found in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.
Blood plasma
Blood plasma treatment has limited effect for sickest COVID-19 patients
Treating critically ill COVID-19 patients with blood plasma from people who have fought off the disease has limited impact on patient outcomes.
Survival benefit
Arthritis drugs may reduce mortality and time in ICU for sickest COVID patients
Treating critically ill COVID-19 patients with drugs typically used for arthritis may significantly improve survival, a landmark study has found.
Vaccine Collaboration
Vaccine collaboration could overcome cold chain issues for RNA-based vaccines
Imperial vaccine researchers are collaborating with industry partners to develop RNA vaccines stable at temperatures up to 40C.
Easing seizures
Medical cannabis eases seizures in childhood epilepsy
Medicinal cannabis could offer patients significant relief from intractable epilepsy, but cost and access barriers remain, a review has found.
People Power
Citizen scientists help accelerate COVID-19 research with their phones
Thousands of people around the world have helped Imperial accelerate COVID-related research by recruiting their smartphones while they sleep.
Audio
Tune in
Podcast: Statin side effects, vaccine latest and pandemic politics
In this edition: The nocebo effect of statins, the latest on Imperial’s COVID-19 vaccine and a former PM talks pandemic.
Critical Care
Arthritis drug effective in treating sickest COVID-19 patients
Critically ill COVID-19 patients treated with an arthritis drug are significantly more likely to have improved outcomes, a study has found.