Title: Health Protection Research Unit in Respiratory Infections
Funder: Department of Health and Social Care

Abstract: We are a dynamic team of doctors, scientists and nurses at Imperial College London (Imperial), consistently ranked among the top-ten universities globally. We accomplish innovative research to protect the public from respiratory infections such as flu, TB and pneumonia, which spread through populations causing waves of serious illness and death. Respiratory disease is prioritised in the NHS Long Term Plan and we have built a long-standing, deep partnership with Public Health England (PHE) by working with NHS hospitals, national GP networks and community-based civil-society organisations in underprivileged areas. Our existing HPRU has a strong track-record of translating cutting-edge laboratory research into cost-effective practical solutions to address major unmet public health needs. For example, we designed and evaluated new national screening programmes for TB infection, discovered drug-resistance to new anti-flu drugs and improved winter illness forecasting to inform NHS planning. Our vision for this second-round HPRU includes addressing PHE s new top priorities through research that improves clinical practice, modernises diagnostic services and informs public health policy, particularly for vulnerable populations. We jointly set objectives with PHE, with advice from patients and the public (represented on our Advisory Board). Our research focusses on questions fundamental to preventing respiratory infection such as: &ldquo;Why doesn t the flu vaccine work better in the elderly?&rdquo; &ldquo;How can we help the NHS deal with winter pressures?&rdquo; &ldquo;How should PHE prepare for the introduction of new interventions to reduce the high level of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection in babies?&rdquo; &ldquo;How can we prevent spread of TB and use new genomic tools to hasten its elimination?&rdquo; Addressing these questions will help PHE make the most efficient use of taxpayer s money to protect the public from highly-contagious respiratory infections. Potential outcomes include: New vaccination strategies through linking population data and laboratory studies to understand limitations of existing flu vaccines; New tools to help World Health Organisation (WHO) choose the components which will be most effective in the flu vaccine each year; Better understanding of delays in flu and TB patient pathways across NHS services and how to reduce delays that lead to severe disease in older patients; New laboratory tools to help PHE monitor the impact of new RSV treatments and vaccines; Better prediction and containment of TB and flu outbreaks. Our diverse research community provides a first-rate training environment that has already launched the careers of several future leaders in public health; staff development will remain a priority.

Lay abstract: We are a dynamic team of doctors, scientists and nurses at Imperial College London (Imperial), consistently ranked among the top-ten universities globally. We accomplish innovative research to protect the public from respiratory infections such as flu, TB and pneumonia, which spread through populations causing waves of serious illness and death. Respiratory disease is prioritised in the NHS Long Term Plan and we have built a long-standing, deep partnership with Public Health England (PHE) by working with NHS hospitals, national GP networks and community-based civil-society organisations in underprivileged areas. Our existing HPRU has a strong track-record of translating cutting-edge laboratory research into cost-effective practical solutions to address major unmet public health needs. For example, we designed and evaluated new national screening programmes for TB infection, discovered drug-resistance to new anti-flu drugs and improved winter illness forecasting to inform NHS planning. Our vision for this second-round HPRU includes addressing PHE s new top priorities through research that improves clinical practice, modernises diagnostic services and informs public health policy, particularly for vulnerable populations. We jointly set objectives with PHE, with advice from patients and the public (represented on our Advisory Board). Our research focusses on questions fundamental to preventing respiratory infection such as: &ldquo;Why doesn t the flu vaccine work better in the elderly?&rdquo; &ldquo;How can we help the NHS deal with winter pressures?&rdquo; &ldquo;How should PHE prepare for the introduction of new interventions to reduce the high level of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection in babies?&rdquo; &ldquo;How can we prevent spread of TB and use new genomic tools to hasten its elimination?&rdquo; Addressing these questions will help PHE make the most efficient use of taxpayer s money to protect the public from highly-contagious respiratory infections. Potential outcomes include: New vaccination strategies through linking population data and laboratory studies to understand limitations of existing flu vaccines; New tools to help World Health Organisation (WHO) choose the components which will be most effective in the flu vaccine each year; Better understanding of delays in flu and TB patient pathways across NHS services and how to reduce delays that lead to severe disease in older patients; New laboratory tools to help PHE monitor the impact of new RSV treatments and vaccines; Better prediction and containment of TB and flu outbreaks. Our diverse research community provides a first-rate training environment that has already launched the careers of several future leaders in public health; staff development will remain a priority.

Research activity codes: 2.6 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (AETIOLOGY)
Health categories: INFECTION