Highlights from the Centre in 2019
2019 was a big year for the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research. Read on for some of our highlights...
A further five years of the Centre
In March, we announced the re-funding of the Centre for a further five years, with an additional £2 million committed by Asthma UK.
Since our launch in 2014, we have been at the forefront of research making a real difference to the lives of those affected by asthma – contributing to important advances in topics such as air pollution, Vitamin D supplementation and the effectiveness of the flu vaccine in asthma. We’re delighted to be able to build on this work as part of the renewal.
Read the blog from Mon Fletcher, about what it means to secure the renewal
Read the full story on the Usher Institute website
Our Annual Scientific Meeting 2019
Our renewal was announced by Centre Co-Directors, Professors Aziz Sheikh and Chris Griffiths, among friends and supporters at our Annual Scientific Meeting 2019.
Taking place in London, our ASM was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the Centre, our achievements and what really sets us apart.
Read the highlights from our ASM 2019
New PhD students and graduations
A key focus for the renewal is our postgraduate training programme, and we were delighted to welcome five new PhD students in October. Based across our partner institutions, each of our PhD students are undertaking a unique project in the field of applied asthma research.
Read more about our new students
We’ve also been celebrating the graduations of some of our initial cohort of PhD students. A further three graduated in 2019, bringing our total to five graduates so far from the Centre – and this looks set to grow in 2020.
See who graduated in summer 2019
Alongside our PhD students, we recently celebrated another graduation – as Professor Fernando Martinez, Chair of our International Advisory Board, was awarded Honorary Doctor of Medicine from the University of Edinburgh.
Read more about Fernando’s graduation
Research successes
We’ve had funding successes, including former Centre PhD student, Dr Io Hui, who was awarded an Innovation Grant alongside Professor Hilary Pinnock, from the Chief Scientist Office/Asthma UK.
Building on Io’s PhD project, the funding will enable continued research into the development of digital solutions to support asthma self-management.
Read the news story about Io's funding
And not forgetting publications from Centre members, which continue to build as our research activity grows.