Covid-19: How Northern Ireland has fared better than the Republic of Ireland
September 2020 - Dr Chris Colvin is Senior Lecturer in Economics at Queen’s University Belfast. In Ireland, the Covid-19 statistics have been used to highlight contrasting performances of the island’s two jurisdictions
Dr Chris Colvin
Irish Times
Population Density Does Not Doom Cities to Pandemic Dangers
September 2020 - “Since the early days of the pandemic, there have been a number of articles speculating whether COVID-19 will spell the end of cities, [and] some articles suggested that COVID-19 was spurring an exodus from cities to suburbs as a way to escape the ... virus,” says Deepti Adlakha, an environmental health researcher at Queen’s University Belfast.
Dr Deepti Adlakha
Scientific American
Self-disinfecting surfaces could help protect us from COVID-19 – here’s how
October 2020 - Queen’s University Belfast, we’re developing another protective solution: self-disinfecting surfaces. Our team has created materials that can kill infection-causing microbes upon contact, helping to prevent the transmission of contagious diseases.
The Conversation
How do coronavirus researchers avoid catching COVID-19?
October 2020 - Grace C Roberts, Research Fellow in Virology, Queen's University Belfast - he virus that causes COVID-19, as part of our global quest to understand, and hopefully overcome, this pandemic.
Grace C Roberts
ENCA
‘Possibility’ Northern Irish COVID-19 patients moved to hospitals in Republic
October 2020 - Queen’s University Belfast Professor of Molecular Virology Dr Ultan Power said it would be difficult to know as yet whether Irish hospitals would have to take Northern Irish patients.
Dr Ultan Power
Extra.ie
What has been the impact of Covid-19 on Northern Ireland’s economy?
October 2020 - Graham Brownlow, Queen’s University Belfast - Given the resurgence of the virus and a bigger fall in Northern Ireland’s GDP than expected, policy is focused on restoring public health and maintaining some stability of jobs and incomes. But delays in tackling underlying economic weaknesses will have long-term costs.
Graham Brownlow
Economics Observatory
Coronavirus Northern Ireland: Six deaths and 923 cases reported by Department of Health
October 2020 - Queen's University virologist Dr Connor Bamford has said that only an urgent overhaul of the test and trace system can prevent the need for the third lockdown over the Christmas holidays.
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
NI virologist Bamford warns of increase in Covid deaths in coming weeks without second lockdown
October 2020 - Virologist Dr Connor Bamford has said there will be an increase in the number of people dying from Covid-19 in the next "one or two weeks", but a lockdown would limit those figures.
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
‘Triple Challenge’ of a new world to dominate agenda of HCC Conference
October 2020 - Chris Elliott OBE, founder of the Institute of Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast, will give a presentation on the need for integrity in global food supply chains after Covid.
Professor Chris Elliot
AgriLand.co.uk
Northern Ireland’s circuit breaker lockdown: why now and will it work?
October 2020 - Grace C Roberts, Queen’s University Belfast; With COVID-19 cases rising rapidly and 83% of beds in intensive care currently occupied, things have not been going well in Northern Ireland.
Dr Grace Roberts
Australian Times
Man with flu-COVID infection found in the US – but he’s not the first
November 2020 - David Courtney, Queen’s University Belfast - As many of us get closer to our first COVID-19 winter, we have many things to feel optimistic about: vaccine results are on the horizon, mortality rates for those infected have fallen and established therapeutic strategies, such as treatment with the antiviral drug remdesivir, seem to be reducing illness.
Dr David Courtney
Australian Times
Expert warns virus deaths set to rise in North but infections falling
November 2020 - Virologist at Queen's University Belfast Dr Connor Bamford warned that the next two weeks would be crucial in determining whether the Executive's schools 'experiment' has worked.
Dr Connor Bamford
Independent.ie
Coronavirus: Can NI 'learn to live' with Covid-19?
November 2020 - Dr Connor Bamford, a virologist at Queen's University Belfast, said the system must undergo a "complete revamp".
Dr Connor Bamford
BBCONE.co.uk
All ICU beds in Altnagelvin and Belfast City hospitals now full with Covid-19 virus patients
November 2020 - Queen’s University virologist Dr Connor Bamford warned that the next two weeks will be crucial in determining whether the Executive’s schools ‘experiment’ has worked and if, as First Minister Arlene Foster has said, we are able to learn to co-exist with the virus.
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
No room for complacency even if Covid death rates in Northern Ireland appear to be falling
November 2020 - "The next two weeks are likely to see an increase in deaths," said Dr Connor Bamford, virologist at Queen's University.
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
Coronavirus and Flu at the Same Time? Yes, You Can Be Sick with Both.
November 2020 - At this stage of the pandemic, we are aware of many patients that, through sheer bad luck, have experienced a flu-COVID co-infection. David Courtney, Postdocotoral Research Fellow in Molecular Virology, Queen's University Belfast.
Dr David Courtney
The National Interest
If we want to beat Covid, we have to think like virologists
November 2020 - Grace C Roberts, Research Fellow in Virology, Queen’s University Belfast … Around the world, virologists in labs are constantly handling samples of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as part of our global quest to understand, and hopefully overcome, this pandemic.
Dr Grace Roberts
The Print
Feature: Concerns grow over delay in cancer treatment amid coronavirus lockdown
November 2020 - Joe O'Sullivan, a consultant clinical oncologist based at Northern Ireland Cancer Centre in Belfast and a professor of Radiation Oncology at Queen's University Belfast, explained to Xinhua how the health service throughout the first coronavirus wave tried to prioritise those most in need of treatment.
Joe O'Sullivan
china.org
Up to 2,000 cancer cases may have been missed because of Covid-19
November 2020 - "And we've had Professor Mark Lawler from Queen's University in Belfast and our initial results suggest that there is a similar impact on cancer services in the north of Ireland and in the United Kingdom as we have had ourselves here."
Professor Mark Lawler
irishexaminer.com
How the spice trade survived the Covid-19 pandemic
December 2020 - Chris Elliott, a food safety professor at Queen's University Belfast who led the study, believes fraud has increased in the past six months. "The prices paid are absurd - they should be going up because of the problem. [logistics] related to Covid [and increasing demand], but that's not happening," said Elliott.
Professor Chris Elliott
BBC News Indonesia
Is it possible to have covid-19 and flu? US data shows yes
November 2020 - David Courtney, a postdoctoral researcher in Molecular Virology at Queen's University Belfast, UK, he says that cases of coinfection may be underreported because doctors rarely test patient samples for any other virus besides the new coronavirus at the current stage of the pandemic.
David Courtney
https://www.pptasaude.com
Where will Northern Ireland be six months from today? Three experts make their predictions
December 2020 - Following the news that the Pfizer vaccine will begin to be rolled out from next week, the Belfast Telegraph asked three experts - independent Sage member Dr Gabriel Scally, Ulster University senior economist Dr Esmond Birnie and Queen's University virologist Dr Connor Bamford - what lies ahead in the coming months.
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
Great Infrastructure Helped UAE Become a Major Food Hub
November 2020 - “I believe in certain principals of food integrity. The food that we eat must be safe and nutritious. We must protect and respect our planet and all those people who work right across the system to put food on our plates. Science, technology and engineering are going to have a massive role in our future food system,” said Christopher Elliott, Professor at Queen's University in Belfast.
Professor Chris Elliott
khaleejtimes.com
Coronavirus: Virologist welcomes news of vaccine
November 2020 - A VIROLOGIST from Queen’s University Belfast has welcomed news of a vaccination to fight against Covid-19, with Dr. Connor Bamford giving The Impartial Reporter his thoughts on the momentous news.
Dr Connor Bamford
impartialreporter.com
The ‘Magnificent Seven’ principles that can help Welsh red meat
November 2020 - “We were delighted that Professor Elliott, one of the world’s most respected experts on food security, was able to address our virtual conference. “Viewers were very interested in his views on how the Covid-19 pandemic has influenced the food industry …”
Professor Chris Elliott
agriland.co.uk
Covid-19 has 'devastating' effect on medical research charities
November 2020 - Prof Grieve of Queen's University says the sector needs urgent support. His research involves investigating how the heart responds to stresses which ultimately lead to heart failure. "Covid-19 has put people with heart and circulatory conditions at greater risk," he said.
Professor David Grieve
bbc.co.uk
Shielding the Vulnerable Using a Risk Calculator – Here’s Why It Won’t Be Enough
November 2020 - Andrew Kunzmann is Patrick G. Johnston Fellow, Queen’s University Belfast. In recent weeks, there have been controversial proposals to ask older, more vulnerable adults to isolate from society, while younger adults build herd immunity to COVID-19.
Andrew Kunzmann
homelandsecuritynewswire.com
Why using an algorithm to work out who should get the vaccine first would be a mistake
November 2020 - Andrew Kunzmann, Patrick G. Johnston Fellow, Queen's University Belfast … Separating households for months isn’t a workable solution, especially for families with informal caring responsibilities – and employers may be hesitant to allow low-risk workers who live with high-risk adults to work from home.
Andrew Kunzmann
staffordshirelive.co.uk
InterTradeIreland webinars offer a blueprint for action
December 2020 - In his webinar on business model innovation for post crisis growth, he outlines the key steps to help businesses withstand the external pressures of change caused by Covid-19 and adapt to grow… The series includes talks by international expert on innovation management, Professor Oliver Gassman, and Queen’s University Belfast management lecturer and entrepreneurship expert, Dr Lisa Messina.
Dr Lisa Messina
bizplus.ie
Queen's virologist Ultan Power to indulge other passion of Waterford hurling this weekend
November 2020 - An internationally respected virologist based at Queen's University will indulge his other passion this weekend when his beloved Waterford hurling team play in the Munster final.
Professor Ultan Power
irishnews.com
NI mouth cancer spike – sexually transmitted HPV virus linked to tonsil problems
November 2020 - Helen Mitchell, a statistician at the NI Cancer Registry at Queen’s University Belfast, said that the rate of mouth cancer diagnosis per capita – as opposed to hospital admissions – is actually slightly lower in NI at 13.1 people per 100,000, than in England, at 13.6. Wales is even lower at 10.8 patients while Scotland is the highest of any UK region at 17.7 patients.
Helen Mitchell
Newsletter.co.uk
Christmas get-togethers possible in Northern Ireland as London and Dublin hold key Covid talks
November 2020 - Queen's University virologist Dr Connor Bamford sounded a warning. "The virus is still out there," the Belfast expert said. "We have to be very careful, as any relaxation of restrictions will inevitably lead to an increase in the number of cases and people getting sick and dying."
Dr Connor Bamford
belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Prof Sir Paul Curran Award For Excellence In Academic Journalism 2020 Goes To Connor Bamford
November 2020 - Dr Connor Bamford, a Wellcome Research Fellow in virology and antiviral immunity. Years after the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, will we look back and recall where we were when we first considered a virus that was claiming lives and terrifying the population of a Chinese city the size of London?
Dr Connor Bamford
globaladvisors.biz
Why cities are not as bad for you as you think
December 2020 - "From what we’ve learned about how the virus spreads, the risk of infection is higher in crowded indoor spaces…bars, meatpacking plants, industrial warehouses, nursing homes, prisons, and cruise ships, not cities,” says Deepti Adlakha, an assistant professor in environmental planning at Queen's University, Belfast
Dr Deepti Adlakha
bbc.com
How did the old spice road survive during the pandemic, when transport routes closed, but demand inc
November 2020 - Quality control at processing plants has become even more important in the pandemic. There have always been fraudulent activities in the spice trade - a study of oregano, for example, found that up to 40% of batches were fake . But Chris Elliott, a food safety professor at Queen's University Belfast who led the study, believes fraud has increased over the past six months.
Professor Chris Elliott
comisarul.ro
Coronavirus Q&A: QUB professor Dr Ultan Power on Pfizer vaccine breakthrough and whether it is a gam
November 2020 - Scientists have reached a breakthrough in the war against Covid-19 as preliminary analysis shows that a possible vaccine can prevent more than 90% of people from catching the virus.
Dr Ultan Power
BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
Queen's University professor Ultan Power says speed at which coronavirus vaccine is being developed
November 2020 - Queen's University Professor Ultan Power has said Monday's vaccine announcement is "very exciting news indeed". The expert virologist told Belfast Live it normally takes years to develop a vaccine and the speed at which this breakthrough has come "shows that literally mountains can be moved".
Professor Ultan Power
belfastlive
Covid-19 vaccine breakthrough hailed as game-changer
November 2020 - First Minister Arlene Foster said the news was "significant", and it has also been welcomed by Queen's University virologist Dr Connor Bamford as a major breakthrough in the treatment of the virus.
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
One in four pet owners admit to missing vet appointments during pandemic
November 2020 - “These survey results reveal yet more worrying, secondary impacts of the pandemic, with pet owners reluctant to visit a veterinarian and animal health suffering as a result,” said Dr Simon Doherty, senior lecturer in Animal Health & Welfare at Queen’s University Belfast and former president of the BVA.
Dr Simon Doherty
MRCVS Online
Coronavirus vaccine no silver bullet, warns QUB virologist
November 2020 - QUB Dr Connor Bamford; As the Executive prepares to debate the effectiveness of Northern Ireland's Covid restrictions on Thursday, a leading virologist has warned that even a vaccine will not be the instant "silver bullet" that many were hoping for and that changes to our lives will be in place for some time.
Dr Connor Bamford
BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
Expert warns virus deaths set to rise in North but infections falling
December 2020 - Virologist at Queen's University Belfast Dr Connor Bamford warned that the next two weeks would be crucial in determining whether the Executive's schools 'experiment' has worked. "Over the next two weeks we are likely to see the number of deaths push up," he warned, "but the hope is that the restrictions have been put in place in good time.
Dr Connor Bamford
independent.ie
Huge queues of ambulances at Northern Ireland hospitals 'only the beginning'
December 2020 - Dr Connor Bamford, a virologist at Queen's University, said case numbers "will only get worse" after non-essential retail, close-contact services and parts of the hospitality industry reopened last weekend.
Dr Connor Bamford
inkl.com
Viruses are experts at mutation – but there is no need to panic
December 2020 - Connor Bamford QUB… This new variant is associated with recent infections in England; no changes to severity of disease have been described.
Dr Connor Bamford
independent.co.uk
Senior nurse Joanna Sloan is first to receive Covid vaccine in Northern Ireland
December 2020 - Queen's University virologist Dr Lindsay Broadbent is among those who have volunteered to take part in the clinical trial, in what will be the first of its kind for the north.
Dr Lindsay Broadbent
irishnews.com
Survey finds pandemic had a major impact on children’s experiences and rights
December 2020 - Dr Bronagh Byrne from the Centre for Children’s Rights at Queen’s University Belfast said: “Findings show that many children were unaffected during coronavirus and, for some children, things were better. However, other children reported negative impacts since the beginning of the pandemic. Some groups of children were more likely to report negative experiences including children from migrant communities, those living in a detention centre, refugee camp or homeless centre and children with disabi
Dr Bronagh Byrne
Alphagalileo.org
Coronavirus: 310 more cases as school detections rise by 60%
December 2020 - Professor Ultan Power, professor of molecular virology at Queen’s University Belfast, said the fact that the two healthcare staff had been carrying epi-pens showed they were aware they had significant allergic reactions in the past.
Professor Ultan Power
irishtimes.com
MIL-OSI Global: How to keep COVID-safe this Christmas
December 2020 - Grace C Roberts, Research Fellow in Virology, Queen’s University Belfast. It’s Christmas 2020 and COVID-19 is unfortunately still here. Many people will be visiting loved ones, including vulnerable family members.
Grace Roberts
foreignaffairs.co.nz
'We are still in a very dangerous place', warns virologist Bamford
December 2020 - “QUB expert warns surge in cases could lead to fresh restrictions after latest lockdown ends”
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
New Coronavirus Variant: What Can We Learn from Spike Proteins?
December 2020 - QUB Connor Bamford … The new variant carries several peculiar changes to the spike protein when compared to other closely related variants and that’s one of the reasons why it’s more concerning than other, harmless changes to the virus we have observed before
Dr Connor Bamford
nationalinterest.org
'Tough months ahead but we can start to look forward': Politicians and public health experts on 2021
January 2021 - The coronavirus pandemic has thrust a range of politicians and public health experts into the spotlight. Lauren Harte spoke to some of those who have led Northern Ireland's fight against Covid-19 about how they have found the past year in the public eye … QUB Virologist Connor Bamford
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
Coronavirus Northern Ireland: 14 further deaths and 1,566 new cases reported
December 2020 - “Queen's University virologist Dr Connor Bamford said new measures may need to be taken if the six-week lockdown fails to bring infections down.”
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
Lockdown in NI 'a result of underfunding and chronic lack of nurses'
January 2021 - It comes as a virology expert warned Northern Ireland is "in the worst position it has ever been in" and is likely to endure at least three months of lockdown.
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
New lockdown for Northern Ireland
January 2021 - Connor Bamford, a virologist from Queen’s University, said: “We’re in a worse place than we were in March and I think it’s going to take at least three months to get the virus back under control.”
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland expert says new Covid strain could have been contained with better test and trace
December 2020 - Dr Lindsay Broadbent, from Queen’s University, Belfast, outlined her thoughts on the new variant of Covid-19 which appears to be concentrated in the south east of England.
Dr Lindsay Broadbent
Belfast Live
How Greek musicians weathered an economic crisis could help UK performers handle COVID fall-out
December 2020 - Ioannis Tsioulakis is a Senior Lecturer at QUB … This is especially true in places that have suffered long periods of austerity, such as Greece and the UK. Under COVID-19, the precarious condition of performing workers has reached such breaking point that many will be unable to continue in their careers.
Dr Ioannis Tsioulakis
neoskosmos.com
New coronavirus variant likely circulating in Republic, experts say
December 2020 - Prof Ultan Power of Queen’s University Belfast said the mutant strain may not be more dangerous but, assuming increased transmissibility is confirmed, it meant “more people are likely to become infected, quicker” and the more likely highly vulnerable groups such as older people are likely to become severely ill with the virus.
Professor Ultan Power
Irish Times
Rethink your Christmas plans to protect elderly and vulnerable is the call from the Chief Medical Of
December 2020 - Professor of Molecular Virology at Queens University Belfast, Ultan Power, says people travelling from abroad should not be coming home for the festive season.
Professor Ultan Power
kclr96fm.com
Charles Dickens wrote about the diphtheria crisis of 1856 - and it all sounds very familiar
January 2021 - QUB Professor Leon Litvack … Its scientific name, diphtheria, was conceived by Pierre Bretonneau and referred to the leathery membrane that develops in the larynx as a result of bacterial infection. It was dangerous, contagious and often fatal. The disease spreads in the same way as COVID-19 – by direct contact or respiratory droplets.
Professor Leon Litvack
Belfast Live
COVID ‘passport’ system will face great difficulties ahead of Ireland vaccination rollout
December 2020 - Professor Ultan Power of Queen’s University Belfast added that it would be much easier for private entities such as airlines to unilaterally require this.
Professor Ultan Power
extra.ie
Will The New Coronavirus Mutation Affect The Vaccine? Here's What You Need to Know
December 2020 - QUB Connor Bamford … The spike protein is also the basis of current COVID-19 vaccines, which seek to generate an immune response against it. But what exactly is the spike protein and why is it so important?
Dr Connor Bamford
sciencealert.com
Serious winter flu cases virtually wiped out in Northern Ireland
October 2020 - This is despite an increase in the number of people being tested. Back in October, this was foretold by virus expert Ultan Power of Queen’s University Belfast.
Dr Ultan Power
Newsletter.co.uk
Grassroots activism will give power to climate action
January 2021 - In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic seems to have provided alternative methods of working which might just provide this movement with a longevity that others have not had … QCAN (Queen’s Climate Action Network), started this summer by Jessica Scott and Chris Connolly at Queen’s University Belfast
Jessica Scott and Chris Connolly
ribaj.com
Queen’s research finds that ‘church is something other than a building’ during the Covid-19 pandemic
January 2021 - The research was conducted by Dr Gladys Ganiel, from the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s … New findings include a range of perspectives on how God may be working during the pandemic, with a strong emphasis on God coming alongside us during the pandemic.
Dr Gladys Ganiel
Newswise.com
NI approach to pandemic should be less inward-looking, virologist says
January 2021 - The race between different countries to deliver vaccines needs to recognise that people will have to travel and trade together, Dr Lindsay Broadbent QUB added.
Dr Lindsay Broadbent
Yahoo
One year since we first reported on this coronavirus – what we’ve learned, and still need to know
January 2021 - QUB Connor Bamford … A year ago, I wrote an article for The Conversation about a mysterious outbreak of pneumonia in the Chinese city of Wuhan, which transpired to be the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Connor Bamford
Foreignaffaris.co.nz
NI approach to pandemic should be less inward-looking, virologist says
January 2021 - Ms Broadbent, a research fellow at Queen’s school of medicine, said: “One benefit of Northern Ireland being associated with the UK is that there has been access to some very good protocols such as UK-wide genomic surveying work, which helped identify the UK variant and South African variant..
Dr Lindsay Broadbent
TheNational.scot
Serious winter flu cases virtually wiped out in Northern Ireland
October 2020 - Back in October, this was foretold by virus expert Ultan Power of Queen’s University Belfast.
Dr Ultan Power
MSN.com
LIVE UPDATES: Coronavirus - NI people told ‘do not book a summer holiday’ by top government minister
January 2021 - QUB Lindsay Broadbent … said: “We have to be realistic that this virus is worldwide, it has spread worldwide, you cannot just have an inward-looking approach to this pandemic.
Dr Lindsay Broadbent
Newsletter.co.uk
Covid-19: Will new strains make the virus more difficult to control?
January 2021 - One year on, virologist Dr Connor Bamford of Queen’s University Belfast has spelt out the knowledge gaps. The first is how will SARS-CoV-2 evolve, adapt and change over the next year in the face of natural or acquired immunity through vaccination?
Dr Connor Bamford
Irish Times
We Fact-Checked 5 Common Bogus Claims About Vaccines and COVID-19
January 2021 - While the latter point is good news for those who do fall ill, Dr Connor Bamford, a research fellow in virology at Queen’s University Belfast, warns new variants could cause problems on a community and countrywide level as more people become infected.
Dr Connor Bamford
Vice.com
Coronavirus pandemic: the health benefits of living in densely populated cities
January 2021 - "From what we've learned about how the virus spreads, the risk of infection is greatest in crowded indoor spaces ... bars, refrigerators, industrial warehouses, nursing homes, prisons and cruises, not in cities," says Deepti Adlakha, professor environmental planning assistant at Queen's University, Belfast, UK
Dr Deepti Adlakha
BBC
QUB begins research on COVID-19 blood vessel damage
January 2021 - The project is being led by Professor Alan Stitt from Queen’s University Belfast and Dr Roger Preston from The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).
Professor Alan Stitt
syncni.com
Seven challenges and trends the food industry can expect in 2021
January 2021 - Professor Chris Elliott of Queen’s University Belfast expressed faith in the UK’s food security, he admitted that he had concerns about the honesty of some global markets … especially as we look to be just getting started when it comes to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
Professor Chris Elliot
newfoodmagazine.com
QUB-led clinical trial completes recruitment of ICU patients with COVID-19
January 2021 - The REALIST COVID-19 trial is led by Professor Danny McAuley and Professor Cecilia O’Kane, both researchers from the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen’s University.
Professor Danny McAuley and Professor Cecilia O’Kane
syncni.com
What is an endemic illness? Term’s meaning explained.
February 2021 - “Many of these mutations will result in non-viable viruses, unable to infect or replicate. But a small number of these mutations might result in an advantageous change. For example, they may allow the virus to get into host cells quicker or make the jump to a new, different host,” Dr Grace C Roberts, a virologist at Queen’s University Belfast wrote.
Grace C Roberts
inews.co.uk
Coronavirus might become endemic – here’s how
February 2021 - Endemic viruses are those that have constant presence within a geographical area. Such viruses are all around us, though they vary by location – QUB experts Grace C Roberts.
Grace C Roberts
The Conversation
COVID vaccines and Brexit borders: what is happening in Northern Ireland?
February 2021 - QUB Peter John McLoughlin - The situation has been made worse by unhelpful rhetoric prompted by the COVID crisis. Chief among these was the EU's announcement that it intended to trigger a clause in the Brexit deal in order to stop the movement of COVID vaccines between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.
Peter John McLoughlin
BigNewsNetwork
Oxford jab 'cuts spread of Covid by two-thirds', study finds
February 2021 - Researchers said that the first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab offers protection of 76% up to three months and may reduce transmission by 67%, with efficacy rising to 82.4% after the second dose 12 weeks later.
Ultan Power
Belfast Telegraph
Does Covid-19 impact male fertility? Experts urge caution about new evidence
January 2021 - Sheena Lewis, a professor emeritus at Queen's University Belfast in Ireland, shared similar thoughts via email: "My concerns are that the men with COVID had substantially higher body weight and were on a number of therapeutic treatments.
Sheena Lewis
Edition.CNN.com
Coronavirus variants: are they really more deadly? Here's what scientists know so far
January 2021 - QUB Virologist David Courtney … One certainty during a pandemic is that the virus will mutate. SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is no different. But how concerned should we be about the new variants of the virus that are arising in places such as the UK, South Africa and Brazil? Are they more lethal or more transmissible than the original virus?
Dr David Courtney
The Conversation
Cold-chain goods major cause of infections
February 2021 - Christopher Elliott, Professor of Food Safety at Queen's University, UK, says: "It is becoming increasingly clear that the novel coronavirus can survive longer at low temperatures."
Professor Chris Elliot
ChinaDaily.com
QUB 'green economist' Professor John Barry on how pandemic can help us tackle climate emergency
February 2021 - Professor John Barry chats to David Roy about how the pandemic offers valuable lessons on how to deal with climate change
Professor John Barry
Irish News
Tighten our defences to block South Africa strain
February 2021 - Dr Connor Bamford, a research fellow at Queen's University, also expressed concern at evidence suggesting the current vaccines might be less effective against this strain.
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
When – or will – life ever go back to normal?
March 2021 - “According to Dr Grace Roberts, a research fellow in virology at Queens University Belfast, “with Covid-19, it seems that children have milder illness, while more severe disease tends to appear in people over 60”
Grace C Roberts
Irish Times
Vaccine update: ROI could see new surge in Covid cases
March 2021 - Dr Ultan Power, Professor of Molecular Virology at Queens University Belfast said the decision to suspend it may have caused more harm than good: "I heard figures that this week because of the suspension in the Republic, 40,000 people are not going to be vaccinated …"
Professor Ultan Power
Planet Radio
Risk of ‘cancer epidemic’ can’t be underestimated – researcher
March 2021 - “Prof Mark Lawler, chair in translational cancer genomics at Queen’s University Belfast, said the pandemic is “wreaking untold damage for Irish citizens and particularly Irish cancer patients”.”
Professor Mark Lawler
Irish Times
Backlog of a half-million endoscopies and rising during the pandemic, report finds
March 2021 - Co-author Professor Mark Lawler, Professor of Digital Health, Queen's University Belfast and Scientific Director DATA-CAN, the U.K.'s Health Data Research Hub for Cancer said: "These data provide yet more evidence of the disastrous impact of COVID on cancer services and ultimately cancer patients. The precipitous drop in endoscopic services nationally (to less than 10% of pre COVID levels) is extremely worrying.
Professor Mark Lawler
MedicalExpress.com
How the "dumbest theory" works that can lead you to make wrong financial decisions
February 2021 - Some economists are waiting for a sharp correction in the markets as equity returns have exploded amid one of the worst economic crises in decades in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The problem with bubbles is that you only have the certainty that we are facing one of them when they burst, says John Turner, professor at Queen's University Belfast.
John Turner
BBC
COVID Vaccine And Asthma: Why Most Sufferers Won’t Be Prioritised In The Next Phase Of Rollout
February 2021 - In a way it is good news for asthmatics: the evidence so far indicates that they are no more likely to suffer from severe COVID than people without asthma. Some studies have even shown that asthmatics have a slightly reduced chance of dying from COVID. Grace C Roberts works for Queen's University, Belfast.
Grace C Roberts
Global Advisors
Beware the Bitcoin-ARK-Tesla Connection
February 2021 - Regulators and policy makers must sometimes feel their task is thankless when it comes to reining in the consumer-led euphoria sweeping cryptocurrency and financial markets amid Covid-19 … William Quinn and John Turner of Queen’s University Belfast, in their comprehensive 2020 history of financial bubbles (which doesn’t include tulips)
John Turner, William Quinn
Bloomberg
Sam McBride: After darkness, light: Reasons for real hope
February 2021 - “If you consider that a year ago we had no vaccine at all and now have a third of the Northern Ireland population vaccinated – it’s just phenomenal,” says Professor Ultan Power.
Dr Ultan Power
Newsletter
Giving kids a break is the best way for them to 'catch up' after a year of disruption
February 2021 - Pre-Covid research from the US has been referenced in support of extending school days, but studies have not provided evidence of positive impact on attainment. Dr John McMullen is an educational psychologist at QUB.
Dr John McMullen
The Guardian
Three NI scientists getting to the heart of the matter
March 2021 - When COVID hit, the team couldn't keep delivering the programme … Professor Andriana Margariti (41) is originally from Greece and now lives in Belfast after many years in London. She is a professor at Queen's University Belfast in the Department of Vascular and Regenerative Medicine and her team has discovered a gene that increases the risk of blood vessel damage in people with diabetes
Professor Andriana Margariti
Belfast Telegraph
Women in Science: Challenge yourself… you might just find a career you love
February 2021 - The trial was postponed because of Covid-19 but it’s hoped the vaccines will be administered to calves at the institute before the end of the year … Prof. Cosby is head of virology at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute’s Veterinary Sciences Division and also an emeritus and honorary professor of microbiology at Queen’s University Belfast.
Professor Louise Cosby
Agriland
Teachers, and not politicans, should decide pupils' futures, says expert
February 2021 - Tony Gallagher, Professor of Education at Queen's University Belfast was speaking after the UK Government's new educational recovery tsar said longer school hours and terms extended into the summer to tackle the impact of Covid-19 on children would be considered alongside extra hours for sports and music.
Professor Tony Gallagher
Belfast Telegraph
Covid has shown church is about more than a building
March 2021 - At the last meeting of the Irish Inter-Church Committee, members reflected on Something Other than a Building, the recent publication by Dr Gladys Ganiel of Queen's University Belfast.
Dr Gladys Ganiel
Irish News
Is Food Sold Through Social Media Safe?
March 2021 - Covid-19 has been a boon for home-based food businesses … Professor Chris Elliott, director of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast, called food sold via the internet “the wild west of the food market".
Professor Chris Elliot
Food Service Foot Print
QUB virologist praises country’s Covid response but urges caution
February 2021 - Dr. Connor Bamford, a virologist at Queen’s University, Belfast, said: “I think the vaccine [roll-out] worldwide is going really well, and if you look across the UK, most of the regions are similar.
Dr Connor Bamford
Impartial Reporter
Low-paid forced to isolate 'should get £400 a week'
February 2021 - A group of academics and scientists have written to Stormont's Department for Communities calling for more financial support for those on low incomes to help drive down Covid rates. QUB Ultan Power …
Professor Ultan Power
Belfast Telegraph
Caution urged to ensure end at last to shutdowns
February 2021 - Dr Connor Bamford, Queen's University Belfast virologist "The cautious approach announced by the Prime Minister is to be commended, although I do not believe it is cautious enough and it lacks a reliance on improvement in key data such as numbers of new cases, hospitalisations, the R-rate, and presence of variants of concern.
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
Coronavirus Northern Ireland: Schools not 'major source' of virus transmission
February 2021 - It comes as Queen's University virologist Dr Connor Bamford has warned opening schools before April will result in Northern Ireland enduring another deadly surge of Covid-19.
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
Five things on the Executive's agenda ahead of lifting current coronavirus restrictions
February 2021 - The Kent variant, for instance, is though not to cause more severe illness, but could be up to 70% more infectious and more transmissible by children. Speaking last month, QUB virologist Connor Bamford...
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
QUB virologist praises country’s Covid response but urges caution
February 2021 - Dr. Bamford QUB compared the process in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Dr Connor Bamford
Impartial Reporter
Questions grow over what the contrasting paces of jab rollouts in NI and Republic will mean
February 2021 - "... vaccine rollouts might work, there will be a nervousness with travelling too far until people are comfortable and consumer confidence starts to grow again". However, according to Dr Connor Bamford, a virologist from Queen's University Belfast …
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
Veterinary Fears For Animal Health In Pandemia
February 2021 - Dr. Simon Doherty, senior professor of Health and Wellness Animal, Queen's University Belfast. Almost half (47%) of the pet owners surveyed said that their veterinarians offered digital or remote consultations, an increase of 20% compared to the period before the pandemic.
Dr Simon Doherty
revisitapetcentre.com
One year of coronavirus in Northern Ireland: How well has Stormont handled the pandemic?
February 2021 - Dr Lindsay Broadbent, a virologist at Queen's University Belfast, said a measured response was still necessary. "Confusing messaging around Christmas and a delay to implement restrictions resulted in much higher case numbers, compounded by a variant (B1.1.7) that was 50% more transmissible.
Dr Lindsay Broadbent
Belfast Live
Covid vaccines 'starting to kick in'
February 2021 - Lindsey Broadbent is a Virologist at Queens University Belfast researching the body's immune response to Coronavirus. She says she is 'cautiously optimistic' about the future, thanks to the Covid jabs.
Dr Lindsay Broadbent
Planet Radio
PSNI has third highest stop and search rate in UK
March 2021 - “The stop and search figures come after a joint VICE World News/The Detail investigation which uncovered that people from BAME backgrounds received a disproportionate number of Covid-19 fines in Northern Ireland last year … “Stop and search is not felt generally, it is felt very specifically and unevenly by particular groups in society”, said Dr Topping Criminology QUB expert.
Dr John Topping
thedetail.tv
Banishing Covid restrictions completely may take years – it could become an annual winter virus
March 2021 - “Dr Ultan Power told the News Letter that not only do we face the threat of new pandemics engulfing our society in the future, but it could be years before the last vestiges of Covid restrictions are finally abandoned.”
Dr Ultan Power
Newsletter.co.uk
Covid: More than 700,000 vaccine first doses given in NI
March 2021 - “QUB Professor Ultan Power told Good Morning Ulster that at least 80% of the population of Northern Ireland should have two doses of a coronavirus vaccine before travel to Europe is allowed again.”
Dr Ultan Power
bbc.co.uk
Coronavirus: NI scientists play 'global role' in response
March 2021 - “Dr David Simpson, a senior lecturer at The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen's University, said the work undertaken so far had been able to detect the Kent and South Africa variants of the virus.”
Dr David Simpson
bbc.co.uk
Niamh Griffin: UK's roll of vaccine dice could be a boon to Ireland
March 2021 - “Queens University Belfast virologist Connor Bamford had been worried about risks for partially-vaccinated people, but three months into the experiment, he too is less concerned.”
Dr Connor Bamford
Irish Examiner
Coronavirus: NI scientists play 'global role' in response
March 2021 - “Danny McAuley is a professor of intensive care medicine at Queen's University Belfast and said more than 100 patients took part in the trial, which is ongoing. "Our trial is all about exploring the best treatment for patients," he said. "Whenever you come into hospital with lung failure you can get standard oxygen therapy or you can get higher flow oxygen therapy or you can get ventilation via a face mask.”
Professor Danny McAuley
BBCNI.co.uk
Does the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine cause blood clots?
April 2021 - “However, it’s possible countries that have been mainly administering these mRNA vaccines, such as the US, just haven’t been looking as hard at this issue – this could change,” says Dr Connor Bamford, virologist at Queen’s University Belfast.
Dr Connor Bamford
Sciencefocus.com
You could be protected from Covid by the common cold
April 2021 - Matthew James, Research Assistant, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast … The good news is that this appears to include SARS-CoV-2 – the virus responsible for COVID-19. In a new study, rhinoviruses have been shown to suppress the replication of this virus.
Matthew James
BelfastLive.co.uk
Covid NI: Another rise in new cases but no further deaths reported
April 2021 - QUB Dr Lindsay Broadbent, a vaccine trial volunteer, said: “Vaccines are an amazing invention and when I had the opportunity to participate in the COVID-19 vaccine trial I was happy to volunteer. Taking part in a trial is a small way that I can contribute to the fight against COVID-19."
Dr Lindsay Broadbent
BelfastLive.co.uk
Hutchins Roundup: Corporate borrowing costs, COVID mortality, and more
April 2021 - Black individuals were the first and hardest hit by COVID-19, dying at a rate 2.2 times higher than their share of the general population by early April of 2020. This Black-white mortality gap was driven by Black women, find Graziella Bertocchi of University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Arcangelo Dimico of Queen’s University Belfast.
Reggio Emilia and Arcangelo Dimico
Brookings.edu
How To Make Solitude Work In Your Favor
April 2021 - Self-efficacy is the belief in your ability to achieve something, and it’s associated with better coping,” says Jenny Groarke, PhD, a psychology lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast
Dr Jenny Groarke
Iknowallnews.com
Covid-19 measures to be eased in North
April 2021 - Virologist at Queens University in Belfast, Lindsay Broadbent, believes now’s the right time to ease restrictions in the north
Dr Lindsay Broadbent
Oceanfm.ie
Indian Variant Emerging From Parts Of Maharashtra Becomes Focus Of Global Research
April 2021 - However, the fatality of the variant is still unknown. Based on the virology researcher Grace Roberts of Queen’s University, Belfast findings, this variant is around 20 percent more transmissible than the earlier form.
Grace C Roberts
news.abplive.com
How worried should we be by the Indian Covid variant?
April 2021 - Grace C Roberts, Research Fellow in Virology, Queen's University Belfast … COVID-19 cases in India are rising sharply and a specific variant of the virus – B1617 – is becoming increasingly common there.
Grace C Roberts
BelfastLive
Coronavirus restrictions: It's too soon to think of having visitors over, warns scientist
April 2021 - Dr Connor Bamford, a virologist from Queen's University in Belfast, said it is vital that relaxations are paced properly to stop a further spike of Covid-19.
Dr Connor Bamford
BelfastTelegraph
Covid vaccine weekly: uk closes its borders to india to safeguard effects of vaccination
April 2021 - This variant is a double mutant, explains Grace Roberts, research fellow in virology at Queen’s University Belfast. Both of the key mutations it carries are thought to have the potential to make it less susceptible to vaccination. One of them may also make it more transmissible than early forms of the virus.
Grace C Roberts
GlobalAdvisors.biz
Most people have adapted well to living during pandemic according to academic
April 2021 - Dr Ciaran Mulholland from Queen's University found that some of us have even thrived over the past year, even through the various lockdowns and restrictions.
Dr Ciaran Mulholland
itv.com
Dr. Lavery on Achieving Safe Care for Esophagogastric Cancer During COVID-19
April 2021 - Anita Lavery, MD, MRCP, a medical oncology registrar at Queen’s University Belfast, discusses achieving safe care for patients with esophagogastric cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anita Lavery
onclive
Dr. Lavery on the Decline in Esophageal Cancer Diagnoses in Ireland During COVID-19
May 2021 - Anita Lavery, MD, MRCP, a medical oncology registrar at Queen’s University Belfast, discusses the decline in esophageal cancer diagnoses in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anita Lavery
onclive
This 'double mutant' variant is adding fuel to India's COVID-19 crisis
April 2021 - “That's something that occurs quite a lot in viruses,” says Grace Roberts, a virologist at Queen's University Belfast. “Surface proteins evolve more rapidly, especially with a new virus, [as] it wants to evolve to bind cells better.”
Grace C Roberts
NationalGeographic.com
Sun holidays could be off the cards if the number of travel-related Covid cases continues to climb
May 2021 - Dr Connor Bamford, a virologist from Queen’s University Belfast, said there is “always a real risk that movement of people will spread the virus.”
Dr Connor Bamford
Independent.ie
Extra resources needed for ‘tens of thousands’ of long-Covid patients – CUH medic
May 2021 - Even if only 1% of people who contract the virus develop long Covid, it will present challenges for health services, epidemiologist Dr Andrew Kunzmann from Queen’s University in Belfast
Andrew Kunzmann
IrishExaminer.com
Northern Ireland Is More Fearful Of The Corona Virus Variant From The UK Than India
May 2021 - A Virus Expert at Queen's University Belfast, Dr Lindsay Broadbent said that the new variant of the corona virus (Covid-19) originating from India
Dr Lindsay Broadbent
TribunNews.com
We must take Indian variant seriously, NI expert warns
May 2021 - “Virologist Connor Bamford, of Queen’s University, Belfast, warned that the public has to take it seriously, but does not believe the Executive is moving too fast with its opening up plan.”
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegraph
Coronavirus versus the Spanish flu
May 2021 - “As news of the global spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) emerged, global financial markets reacted pessimistically and behaved in ways not seen since the 2008 financial crisis … Chris Colvin a senior economics lecturers at Queen’s University Belfast”
Dr Chris Colvin
Netwerk24.com
Covid-19: Scientists urge final push for NI reopening
May 2021 - Dr Andrew Kunzmann, an epidemiologist at Queen's University Belfast, told BBC News NI that the simplest of steps could make a big difference in the recovery roadmap, including continuing to meet up outdoors to socialise when possible.
Andrew Kunzmann
BBC.co.uk
Scientists reminded young people to stay safe until vaccinated
May 2021 - “Dr Ultan Power, professor of molecular biology at Queens University Belfast, says reducing restrictions is a huge step in the Covid-19 record, we need to remember the Key Public Health Messages.”
Dr Ultan Power
pressfrom.info
Delta variant: NI reduces time between Covid-19 vaccine doses
June 2021 - Queen's University Belfast virologist Dr Connor Bamford backed the move to decrease the time between vaccine doses, saying it was likely to decrease the spread of the variant.
Dr Connor Bamford
BBC.co.uk
Delta Variant and COVID-19 Vaccines: What to Know
June 2021 - “It seems this variant can get past our first dose of vaccine,” says Queen’s University Belfast virologist Connor Bamford, according to the BBC. “So, we need to make sure as many people as possible get their two doses and even think about decreasing the length between dose one and two because that’s going to be critical going forward.”
Dr Connor Bamford
TodayHealthline.co
Northern Ireland ‘may have to delay opening’ amid fears of a surge in cases
June 2021 - Dr Connor Bamford, a virologist at Queen’s University, outlined the position on Monday after scientists called for England to delay the lifting of all restrictions on June 21 — dubbed ‘Freedom Day’ — for a few weeks.
Dr Connor Bamford
BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
Calls for clarity as confusion grows over travel rules
May 2021 - There are growing calls for clarity on the matter as a virologist from Queen’s University in Belfast warned the Indian variant is likely to be the dominant strain in Northern Ireland by the summer.
Dr Connor Bamford
BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
Covid in Ireland: Delay plans to open by two weeks to get young people jabbed, says expert
May 2021 - Andrew Kunzmann, of Queen’s University in Belfast, said that cases could “rise quite quickly” over the early summer months.
Andrew Kunzmann
Irish Times
The Covid effect: clearing the cancer backlog
June 2021 - Mark Lawler, professor of digital health at Queen’s University Belfast and scientific lead at DATA-CAN, says the data suggests cancer services now need to be operating at 130% of pre-Covid levels.
Professor Mark Lawler
Raconteur.net
COVID CHAOS Can I travel to North Tyneside, Leicester, Hounslow, Bedford, Blackburn, Bolton, Burnley
May 2021 - Grace Roberts, research fellow in virology, Queen's University in Belfast … Roberts writes in The Conversation: "This is because of a mutation it carries called L452R, which affects the virus’s spike protein …"This is the 'key' the coronavirus uses to unlock our cells."
Grace C Roberts
TheSun.co.uk
Most primaries stopped teaching languages in lockdown
July 2021 - Dr Ian Collen, of Queen’s University Belfast, author of the report, said: “The most disadvantaged pupils are the most likely to have been negatively affected by the impact of Covid-19, experiencing greater disruption to their language learning and fewer international opportunities.
Dr Ian Collen
TES.com
'Worrying' rise in younger people admitted to hospital with Covid as cases soar
July 2021 - A SPIKE in coronavirus cases has led to a "worrying" rise in younger people being admitted to hospital, a leading virologist has warned. QUB, Dr Lindsay Broadbent said however the rollout of the vaccination programme meant that "we're in a much better position" than the January peak, when more than 1,000 inpatients were treated with the virus and non-Covid services came to a "standstill".
Dr Lindsay Broadbent
Irish News
Covid vaccine myths debunked: facts speak for themselves... jabs are saving lives
July 2021 - Queen’s University virologist Dr Connor Bamford explained: “Ordinarily, vaccine trials are very risk averse whereas with the Covid vaccines, they were already thinking about the later phases while carrying out the earlier phases…
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Telegrah
Child in Northern Ireland admitted into intensive care after contracting Covid-19
July 2021 - Queen’s University virologist Dr Connor Bamford, responding to the report, told the BBC more caution had to be taken around protecting children from Covid-19, including in school settings.
Dr Connor Bamford
Independent.ie
Coronavirus Northern Ireland: Latest breakdown shows age range of people getting Covid here
July 2021 - Queen’s University virologist Dr Connor Bamford, says current modelling shows that case numbers will likely increase further in coming weeks, peaking higher than we’ve seen them, before subsiding in late summer/autumn … "This wave is unlike previous epidemics in that we’re seeing the effects of the vaccination rollout in a massively reduced impact on people getting really sick and dying.
Dr Connor Bamford
Belfast Live
NI virus professor: Tiny ‘hardcore’ of anti-vaxxers causing ‘significant problems’
July 2021 - Dr Ultan Power of Queen’s University Belfast – who has been vocal throughout the pandemic about the risks posed by coronavirus – made the remarks as uptake of vaccines is slowing down.”
Dr Ultan Power
Newsletter
Belfast becomes UK’s most Covid-infected city
July 2021 - “It’s not going in the right direction,” said Dr Ultan Power, a respiratory virus specialist at Queen’s University Belfast, who predicted it would be “another week or two” before there was a “clear indication” of the same kind of turnround seen in Scotland and parts of England.
Dr Ultan Power
Newsgroove.co.uk
RSV: what is it, and why are child cases surging in the wake of COVID?
July 2021 - Grace C Roberts - Research Fellow in Virology, Queen's University Belfast … Hospitals in the UK are seeing a rise in children suffering from severe respiratory infections. This includes an unseasonal surge in an infection called the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), in children as young as two months old.
Grace C Roberts
BigNewsNetwork
‘I dread to think how ill I would’ve been without Covid jabs’: Londonderry woman Claire Allan
August 2021 - Claire’s sentiments are echoed by Dr Connor Bamford, a virologist at Queen’s University Belfast, who said even though the vaccines are “not perfect”, they are a crucial step in preventing serious illness or death.
Dr Connor Bamford
Newsletter
Your summer hayfever could actually be symptoms of the Delta variant, according to expert
August 2021 - Dr Lindsay Broadbent, a Covid-19 expert from Queen's University Belfast, told RSVP Live that she urges everyone who feels like they have these symptoms, to get tested. "It's really difficult to differentiate between the Delta variant and other illnesses that may present in a similar way, such as hayfever or general colds and flus," Dr Lindsay explained.
Dr Lindsay Broadbent
rsvplive.ie
Health service not equipped to treat long Covid patients, says expert
August 2021 - Dr Andrew Kunzmann, an epidemiologist from Queen’s University Belfast, said that long Covid seems to affect 10 to 15 per cent of people who get the virus.
Andrew Kunzmann
IrishTimes.com
‘It’s not fair we force our children to be infected’
August 2021 - “There’s a real risk of a blow up of Delta in September. ”The webinar also heard concerns about people not receiving their second jabs in Northern Ireland. Dr Andrew Kunzmann, an epidemiologist at Queen’s University Belfast, said he believed part of the problem was people getting infected after vaccination.
Andrew Kunzmann
Independent.ie
Cancer community fights back against Covid-19 related delays
July 2021 - “We are looking to urge the public, cancer patients, policy makers and cancer professionals to rally to ensure that Covid-19 doesn’t continue to undermine our fight against cancer. The scale of the problem is frightening,” says Mark Lawler, a Board member of the European Cancer Organisation, from Queen’s University, Belfast.
Professor Mark Lawler
cancerworld.net
Queen’s University Study Finds Oxygen Treatment For Covid Can Free Up ICUs
August 2021 - Professor Danny McAuley, chief investigator and professor and consultant in Intensive Care Medicine at the Royal Victoria Hospital and Queen’s University, said the pandemic has placed a huge strain on hospital resources. “Over the Covid pandemic, we’ve seen a large number of patients requiring high levels of oxygen and admission to ICU for invasive ventilation, causing a huge strain on staff and beds,”
Professor Danny McAuley
laois-nationalist.ie
Another respiratory virus "hidden" by the Covid pandemic is spreading among children
July 2021 - The RSV, in particular, is affecting " a full year of newborns who did not encounter many pathogens while Covid restrictions were in place, " Grace Roberts, a virology researcher at Queen's University Belfast, noted in The Conversation
Grace C Roberts
scienze
North-south project to bring together top academics from across Ireland to tackle climate change
November 2021 - Professor Jennifer McKinley, Director of the Centre for GIS and Geomatics in the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen’s University, added: “Delivering excellence in research and training that brings substantial environmental, societal and economic benefits is at the centre of our ambitious interdisciplinary Network to deliver whole-system solutions.
Professor Jennifer McKinley
Belfast Telegraph
Peatlands: The race to protect NI's valuable ecosystems
November 2021 - Graeme Swindles, professor of geography at the School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, argues that "healthy peatlands could have a hugely positive impact on our climate targets".
Professor Graeme Swindles
BBC
Hedgerows were historically planted as barriers between fields, now they are havens for wildlife
November 2021 - "Hedges should be right up there as one of the things that we can use to stop the impact of climate change being so severe," says ecologist Ian Montgomery of Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland
Ian Montgomery
BBC
Academics: Climate science has spoken, it is time now for climate action
November 2021 - The mixed response to the outcome of the COP26 climate conference should not detract from the importance of science informing how we respond to the planetary crisis.
Professor Mark Emmerson and Professor John Barry
Newsletter
Almost two-thirds of species at deep-sea hydrothermal vents ‘at risk of extinction’
December 2021 - The study from Queen’s University Belfast academics has led to 184 deep-sea species being added to the global Red List of Threatened Species.
Evening Standard
Climate Alliance Falls Short When It Comes to Shareholder Votes
December 2021 - Just 13 of 46 NZAOA members voted on climate-related shareholder proposals, researchers at University College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast and University of Edinburgh said in a report to be released Wednesday.
Yahoo.com
Just 13 of 46 NZAOA members voted on climate-related shareholder proposals, researchers at Universit
November 2021 - Dr Emma Berry from the School of Psychology at Queen’s co-led the project … “In Northern Ireland, people recycle twice as much as they did 15 years ago and 10% of this is plastic. “ For many people, recycling has become part of their everyday routine …”
Dr Emma Berry
Packaging South Asia
Seaweed used to feed cattle in trial aimed at cutting methane emissions
November 2021 - The trial, which is being led by academics from Queen’s University, Belfast, will involve seaweed harvested from the Irish and North seas being added to animal feed in the participating farms.
The Press and Journal
Queen’s researcher leads efforts to protect newly recognised oyster species
October 2021 - Work is under way in Malaysia to protect a rare new species of oyster discovered by a team led by a Queen’s University researcher. “Official validation helps manage sustainability as scientists have more influence in encouraging the government and those who fish to protect it” Dr Julia Sigwart, Queen’s University.
Dr Julia Sigwart
Belfast Telegraph
New oyster species named by Belfast expert to be protected in sustainability project
October 2021 - Dr Julia Sigwart QUB explained: “Official validation helps manage sustainability as scientists have more influence in encouraging the government and those who fish to protect it. It also ensures it has the best possible market value when it is sold as food.
Dr Julia Sigwart
ITV
Research shows how plastics threaten marine biodiversity
October 2021 - New research at Queen's University Belfast highlights the impact that microplastics are having on hermit crabs, which play an important role in balancing the marine ecosystem.
DailyHunt.in
Queen’s expert co-chairs global meeting to strengthen culture and climate change science
December 2021 - Dr Will Megarry from Queen’s University’s School of Natural and Built Environment is co-chairing a global meeting to strengthen synergies between culture and climate science in the fight against climate change.
Dr Will Megarry
syncni.com
We must make computers like the human brain to save planet, says QUB expert
October 2021 - Modern computers must become more like the energy-efficient human brain in order to save the planet, according to a Queen’s University academic. Professor Roger Woods said it was “a global necessity” in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the water required to cool data centres already causing shortages.
Professor Roger Woods
Belfast Telegraph
Capturing and converting CO2 simultaneously
October 2021 - Chunfei Wu, Reader at the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast, spoke about the possibilities of scaling up the technology.
Chunfei Wu
thechemicalengineer.com
NI farm trials to test willow’s ability to reduce methane emissions
October 2021 - It’s one of a range of sustainable, natural resources, including seaweed, under investigation by the Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) at Queen’s University Belfast with the potential to reduce agricultural emissions by as much as 50%
agriland.co.uk
Sustainable Christmas trees: an ecologist's buying guide
December 2021 - Article created by Paul Caplat QUB: If you celebrate Christmas, chances are you are planning to decorate a tree (or have already). But how do you make an informed and environment-friendly choice?
Paul Caplat
bignewsnetwork.com
Northern Ireland lagging behind other UK regions in the reduction of carbon emissions
November 2021 - John Barry, Professor of Green Political Economy at Queen's University, said the cost of doing nothing is immense. "It is in the very difficult context of Covid-19 that local authorities must consider the meaningful, lasting and interrelated benefits of decarbonising across all sectors, confronting the climate crisis, and harnessing the economic opportunities of local climate action," he said.
Professor John Barry
Irish News
FP McCann launches carbon reduction programme
December 2021 - FP McCann’s R&D Team will work alongside Dr Jacek Kwasny and Professor Su Taylor from Queen’s University Belfast throughout this drive to lower carbon emissions.
Dr Jacek Kwasny and Professor Su Taylor
constructionenquirer.com
Inside the Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement at Cal State
October 2021 - The impact of divesting on the international fossil fuel industry is a little more complicated, said Theodor Cojoianu, a finance lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast and a member of the Platform on Sustainable Finance at the European Commission.
Theodor Cojoianu
Northcoastjournal.com
NI agriculture: Is it a case of 'green' versus growth?
November 2021 - "Farmers are the stewards of the land, they have particular challenges," says John Barry, professor of green economics at Queen's University Belfast.
Professor John Barry
BBC
Fighting between hermit crabs and microplastics: how pollution threatens marine biodiversity
October 2021 - Gareth Arnott, project leader for the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University School of Biological Sciences, concludes: 'This study provides an overview of the potential of microplastics to alter important aspects of animal behavior that are critical for survival and reproduction. We need to investigate further how microplastics affect their behavior and consequences, armed with this knowledge to support change to protect our ecosystem. "
Gareth Arnott
greenreport.ie