- Architecture,
design and 3D visualisation/virtual reality expertise at the GSA will partner
with interdisciplinary expertise from across the UK to deliver ground-breaking
research to help prevent the spread of AMR - Partners
include microbiologists, medics,
bacteriologists and other practitioners including the practice of Channel 4’s
“Supervet” (Fitzpatrick Referrals Ltd). - A total of £2M was awarded by the AHRC to 11 projects,
almost one third of which was allocated to three GSA-led projects
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) projects led by
architecture and design researchers at The Glasgow School of Art have attracted
over £600k of funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) it
was announced today, 13 July 2017. The funding was allocated for projects using
an interdisciplinary approach to address one of the greatest problems facing
the world today. The GSA has been successful in attracting support for three
different £250,000 research projects, more than any other institution in this
round of funding. The projects will see the GSA partnering with colleagues in leading
Higher Education institutions from across the UK and with other specialists
including Fitzpatrick Referrals Ltd, the ground-breaking practice of Noel
Fitzpatrick, Channel 4’s “Supervet”.
“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), especially resistance
to antibiotics, is a growing global problem. We are facing a rise in the number
of bacteria becoming resistant to existing antibiotics without an increase in
new antibiotics or new treatments. It is clear that an interdisciplinary
approach is needed to tackle these challenges and make a step change in
addressing antimicrobial resistance.”
to antibiotics, is a growing global problem. We are facing a rise in the number
of bacteria becoming resistant to existing antibiotics without an increase in
new antibiotics or new treatments. It is clear that an interdisciplinary
approach is needed to tackle these challenges and make a step change in
addressing antimicrobial resistance.”
Arts and
Humanities Research Council
Humanities Research Council
A total of £2M was awarded to 11 projects. The three
successful GSA-led projects are:
successful GSA-led projects are:
- Relationship between ventilation and AMR in
homes: a project to investigate how contemporary housing design affects
indoor microbes and what the effects of this might be on anti-microbial
resistance. It will be led by experts at the GSA’s Mackintosh Environmental Research Unit (MEARU) in
partnership with microbiologists in the department of Civil Engineering at the
University of Leeds. The project comes out of the AHRC supported HEMAC (Health
Effects of Modern Airtight Construction) research. Principal
Investigator is Professor Tim Sharpe of MEARU. - RIPEN In the first study of its kind, RIPEN will use a
mix of design, visualisation and other approaches to explore how nurses
understand and respond to the priorities and consequences of AMR. Expertise in healthcare design from the GSA will partner with expertise in nursing,
history, health services research and service design from King’s College
London, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of the Arts London and
Imperial College London. The project comes out of the AHRC supported HAIVAIRN (Healthcare
Associated Infection Visualisation and Ideation Research Network) research. Principal Investigator is Dr Colin MacDuff
from the School of Design at the GSA - AMRSim: A Microbial Reality Simulator: helping
to visualise bacteria to ensure effective infection prevention and control (IPC) in small animal veterinary
practices. The research will see experts in design for health & care, spatial design, and virtual
reality and 3D programming from the GSA partnering with leading veterinary
bacteriology and pathology, and environmental psychology experts from the
University of Surrey, together with Fitzpatrick Referrals Ltd, the
ground-breaking practice of Noel Fitzpatrick. The project arose from research previously
undertaken under the AHRC funded visionOn project. Principal Investigator is Professor Alastair Macdonald from the School
of Design at the GSA.
·
“The application of design is helping to devise
innovative solutions to many issues facing contemporary society,” says Professor Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow
School of Art. “One of the most important
challenges is increasing antimicrobial
resistance where our experts
in environmental research and design in age, health and care have already undertaken
ground-breaking projects working with a wide range of interdisciplinary
partners.”
innovative solutions to many issues facing contemporary society,” says Professor Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow
School of Art. “One of the most important
challenges is increasing antimicrobial
resistance where our experts
in environmental research and design in age, health and care have already undertaken
ground-breaking projects working with a wide range of interdisciplinary
partners.”
“These AHRC AMR grants will now enable teams
of experts led by researchers at the GSA to co-design responses to three key
challenges – build up of microbes in new housing, spread of AMR in hospitals
and community health, increase of Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in small
animal veterinary practice – and to make real and tangible difference to
people’s lives.”
of experts led by researchers at the GSA to co-design responses to three key
challenges – build up of microbes in new housing, spread of AMR in hospitals
and community health, increase of Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in small
animal veterinary practice – and to make real and tangible difference to
people’s lives.”
Relationship between
ventilation and AMR in homes
ventilation and AMR in homes
The relationship
between ventilation and AMR in homes research, which will be led by the experts from the
GSA’s Mackintosh Environmental Research Unit (MEARU), will build on MEARU’s
earlier work communicating the importance of proper ventilation to residents of
new build housing (undertaken in partnership with Hanover Housing Association)
in order to help minimise build-up of bacteria.
between ventilation and AMR in homes research, which will be led by the experts from the
GSA’s Mackintosh Environmental Research Unit (MEARU), will build on MEARU’s
earlier work communicating the importance of proper ventilation to residents of
new build housing (undertaken in partnership with Hanover Housing Association)
in order to help minimise build-up of bacteria.
In the early 19th century, the way that houses were
designed led to considerable improvements in public health, largely as a result
of improvements in sanitation, but also access to fresh air and sunlight. In
recent years however, commercial interests and building legislation have
largely dictated design issues. During this time the ways that buildings have
been designed and constructed has changed significantly, mainly as a response
to issues of climate change.
designed led to considerable improvements in public health, largely as a result
of improvements in sanitation, but also access to fresh air and sunlight. In
recent years however, commercial interests and building legislation have
largely dictated design issues. During this time the ways that buildings have
been designed and constructed has changed significantly, mainly as a response
to issues of climate change.
Improved thermal performance and increasing
airtightness has been able to isolate the building from the external
environment, which will have benefits in terms of reduced CO2
emissions, lower running costs and better comfort. However, it is becoming
increasingly clear that levels of ventilation, and consequent standards of
indoor air quality (IAQ) are reducing and there is emerging evidence that this
might have negative health impacts.
airtightness has been able to isolate the building from the external
environment, which will have benefits in terms of reduced CO2
emissions, lower running costs and better comfort. However, it is becoming
increasingly clear that levels of ventilation, and consequent standards of
indoor air quality (IAQ) are reducing and there is emerging evidence that this
might have negative health impacts.
People – especially vulnerable groups such as the
old and very young – spend a great deal of time in the home, and so any change
to the indoor biome may significantly affect occupants’ health. This study aims
to close this gap in knowledge by undertaking an assessment of contemporary
housing to determine the ventilation characteristics and related this to the
presence and nature of microorganisms in the home, with the specific aim of
identifying factors that would impact on the presence and proliferation of
anti-microbial resistant microorganisms.
old and very young – spend a great deal of time in the home, and so any change
to the indoor biome may significantly affect occupants’ health. This study aims
to close this gap in knowledge by undertaking an assessment of contemporary
housing to determine the ventilation characteristics and related this to the
presence and nature of microorganisms in the home, with the specific aim of
identifying factors that would impact on the presence and proliferation of
anti-microbial resistant microorganisms.
It anticipated that this could lead to change in
the way that we design buildings, in particular ventilation provision, and the
project will aim to address this through a programme of academic, industry and
public dissemination.
the way that we design buildings, in particular ventilation provision, and the
project will aim to address this through a programme of academic, industry and
public dissemination.
RIPEN
RIPEN
(Re-envisaging Infection Practice Ecologies in Nursing) builds on visualisation
of pathogens work undertaken by the GSA in partnership which Robert
Gordon University, NHS Grampian, NHS Lanarkshire and GAMA Healthcare Ltd
(Re-envisaging Infection Practice Ecologies in Nursing) builds on visualisation
of pathogens work undertaken by the GSA in partnership which Robert
Gordon University, NHS Grampian, NHS Lanarkshire and GAMA Healthcare Ltd
Antimicrobial
resistance (AMR) and its consequences pose serious threats to health and
welfare globally. Across the world nurses constitute the largest professional
healthcare workforce and typically nurses have numerous daily interactions with
healthy and ill individuals, family members, community groups and other care
professionals. As yet, however, the profession has not leveraged its full
potential to prevent AMR advancing or to countenance the consequences of
failure.
resistance (AMR) and its consequences pose serious threats to health and
welfare globally. Across the world nurses constitute the largest professional
healthcare workforce and typically nurses have numerous daily interactions with
healthy and ill individuals, family members, community groups and other care
professionals. As yet, however, the profession has not leveraged its full
potential to prevent AMR advancing or to countenance the consequences of
failure.
The RIPEN
study seeks to address the question: How can relevant arts and humanities approaches help nurses to
re-envisage their infection control practice ecologies in response to
antimicrobial resistance?
study seeks to address the question: How can relevant arts and humanities approaches help nurses to
re-envisage their infection control practice ecologies in response to
antimicrobial resistance?
In doing so it will investigate four subsidiary
questions:
questions:
How do groups of hospital and community based
nurses understand and respond to the priorities and consequences of AMR within
the context of their everyday working lives?
nurses understand and respond to the priorities and consequences of AMR within
the context of their everyday working lives?
How can co-design and visualisation based
approaches help these nurses to identify and construct sets of meaningful
practices that optimise present prevention of AMR?
approaches help these nurses to identify and construct sets of meaningful
practices that optimise present prevention of AMR?
How can co-design, visualisation, history and other
relevant arts and humanities approaches help nurses to re-imagine and
re-envisage their infection control practice
relevant arts and humanities approaches help nurses to re-imagine and
re-envisage their infection control practice
ecologies in a future with minimal
or no effective antibiotics?
or no effective antibiotics?
What priority issues and other
questions does this initial enquiry raise, and how can these best inform policy
and planning, education and further research?
AMRSim: A Microbial Reality Simulator
AMRSim: A Microbial Reality Simulator will take the
work already undertaken by GSA led projects in the area of visualising the
spread of human pathogens into the area of small animal veterinary practice.
The research sees experts in design for health
and care, spatial design, 3D programming and virtual reality from the GSA
partnering leading veterinary bacteriology and pathology and environmental
psychology experts from the University of Surrey, and Fitzpatrick Referrals
Ltd, the ground-breaking practice of Noel Fitzpatrick
work already undertaken by GSA led projects in the area of visualising the
spread of human pathogens into the area of small animal veterinary practice.
The research sees experts in design for health
and care, spatial design, 3D programming and virtual reality from the GSA
partnering leading veterinary bacteriology and pathology and environmental
psychology experts from the University of Surrey, and Fitzpatrick Referrals
Ltd, the ground-breaking practice of Noel Fitzpatrick
Antimicrobial-resistant
bacteria are an established and growing issue in small animal veterinary
practice in the developed world. Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential for tackling the AMR
problem. The uptake of appropriate IPC is heavily influenced by human risk
perception and consequent behaviour and the way humans and animals interact
with the physical environment of the vet practice.
bacteria are an established and growing issue in small animal veterinary
practice in the developed world. Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential for tackling the AMR
problem. The uptake of appropriate IPC is heavily influenced by human risk
perception and consequent behaviour and the way humans and animals interact
with the physical environment of the vet practice.
The
problem is, people can’t see the bacteria on themselves, on animals, or on the
surfaces and objects they touch. This makes it difficult to prevent and control infection in the most
effective manner, as habits and standard practice are hard to change if you
don’t know what you are dealing with. While data exist to inform best practise
in infection control, they are usually published in academic journals,
thus having limited impact on how practitioners understand and practise IPC in
their working environment.
problem is, people can’t see the bacteria on themselves, on animals, or on the
surfaces and objects they touch. This makes it difficult to prevent and control infection in the most
effective manner, as habits and standard practice are hard to change if you
don’t know what you are dealing with. While data exist to inform best practise
in infection control, they are usually published in academic journals,
thus having limited impact on how practitioners understand and practise IPC in
their working environment.
Effective communication and teaching tools are therefore necessary to
ensure individuals’ understanding and behaviours are in line with scientific
recommendations.
ensure individuals’ understanding and behaviours are in line with scientific
recommendations.
Our previous
work in the human health environment has shown the power of ‘making the
invisible, visible’ by simulating infection control on a hospital ward using a
visual simulator. We shall build on this experience with a new,
multidisciplinary team with expertise in digital design, spatial design,
co-design, environmental psychology, veterinary practice, and microbiology.
work in the human health environment has shown the power of ‘making the
invisible, visible’ by simulating infection control on a hospital ward using a
visual simulator. We shall build on this experience with a new,
multidisciplinary team with expertise in digital design, spatial design,
co-design, environmental psychology, veterinary practice, and microbiology.
Using a
co-design process, we shall build a dynamic interactive virtual model (AMRSim –
A Microbial Reality Simulator) of the vet practice that takes human, animal and
microbial data from the real world, and makes them ‘come alive’ in a visual
way. Importantly, the model will allow the normally invisible bacteria to be
‘seen’ as they multiply and spread through the indoor environment on people,
animals and surfaces.
co-design process, we shall build a dynamic interactive virtual model (AMRSim –
A Microbial Reality Simulator) of the vet practice that takes human, animal and
microbial data from the real world, and makes them ‘come alive’ in a visual
way. Importantly, the model will allow the normally invisible bacteria to be
‘seen’ as they multiply and spread through the indoor environment on people,
animals and surfaces.
Actual
video footage will be used of the movements of humans and animals within a busy
vet practice and the procedures undertaken, including those intended to reduce
infection. The bacteria within the simulation will be introduced according to
what is known of bacterial infection (types, location, antibiotic resistance)
within vet practices from data already available.
video footage will be used of the movements of humans and animals within a busy
vet practice and the procedures undertaken, including those intended to reduce
infection. The bacteria within the simulation will be introduced according to
what is known of bacterial infection (types, location, antibiotic resistance)
within vet practices from data already available.
By
‘seeing’ the interactions of animals, humans, and bacteria within space and
time it will be possible to improve efforts to prevent bacteria entering and
spreading through the physical environment, and improve their removal when they
do.
‘seeing’ the interactions of animals, humans, and bacteria within space and
time it will be possible to improve efforts to prevent bacteria entering and
spreading through the physical environment, and improve their removal when they
do.
It is our intention that the experience we gain in
developing and using AMRSim will be applied more widely, such as for teaching
students and to simulate other indoor environments where biosecurity is
paramount.
developing and using AMRSim will be applied more widely, such as for teaching
students and to simulate other indoor environments where biosecurity is
paramount.
Dr Colin MacDuff from the GSA will also be part of
the team working on the “Lifting the Lid on Bacteria” project led by Dr Catherine
Stones at the University of Leeds which seeks to design ambient communications
to improve hygiene in primary school toilets,
the team working on the “Lifting the Lid on Bacteria” project led by Dr Catherine
Stones at the University of Leeds which seeks to design ambient communications
to improve hygiene in primary school toilets,
Ends
For
further information on the GSA contact
further information on the GSA contact
Lesley
Booth
Booth
0779 941 4474
@GSofAMedia
For
further information on the AHRC contact:
further information on the AHRC contact:
Natasha
Stanton
Stanton
Tel: 01793 41 6021
Notes for
Editors
Editors
The Arts and Humanities Research Council
The Arts and Humanities Research Council funds world-class, independent
researchers in a wide range of subjects: history, archaeology, digital content,
philosophy, languages, design, heritage, area studies, the creative and
performing arts, and much more. This financial year the AHRC will spend
approximately £98 million to fund research and postgraduate training in
collaboration with a number of partners. The quality and range of research
supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and
cultural benefits and contributes to the economic success of the UK but also to
the culture and welfare of societies around the globe. You can find out more
information via www.ahrc.ac.uk or following us on Twitter at @ahrcpress, on
Facebook at Arts and Humanities Research Council, or Instagram at @ahrcpress
researchers in a wide range of subjects: history, archaeology, digital content,
philosophy, languages, design, heritage, area studies, the creative and
performing arts, and much more. This financial year the AHRC will spend
approximately £98 million to fund research and postgraduate training in
collaboration with a number of partners. The quality and range of research
supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and
cultural benefits and contributes to the economic success of the UK but also to
the culture and welfare of societies around the globe. You can find out more
information via www.ahrc.ac.uk or following us on Twitter at @ahrcpress, on
Facebook at Arts and Humanities Research Council, or Instagram at @ahrcpress
The expert
teams who will deliver the research projects are:
teams who will deliver the research projects are:
The relationship between ventilation and AMR
in homes
in homes
- Principal Investigator: Professor
Tim Sharpe The Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh School of Architecture
Environmental Research Unit - Co-Investigator: Dr Gráinne
McGill The Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh School of Architecture
Environmental Research Unit - Co-Investigator: Professor
Catherine Noakes, University of Leeds, Dept. of CivilEngineering - Co-Investigator: Dr Louise
Fletcher University of Leeds, Dept. of Civil Engineering
RIPEN
- Principal Investigator: Dr
Colin MacDuff, The Glasgow School of Art, School of Design - Co-Investigator: Professor
Anne Marie Rafferty, King’s College London, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing
and Midwifery - Co-Investigator: Dr Alison
Prendiville, University of the Arts London, London College of Communication - Co-Investigator: Professor
Kay Currie, Glasgow Caledonian University, School of Health and Life Sciences - Co-Investigator: Dr Enrique
Castro- Sánchez, Imperial College London, Dept. of Medicine - Co-Investigator: Dr
Caroline King, Glasgow Caledonian University, School of Health and Life
Sciences - Co-Investigator: Dr Sarah
Rhodes, University of the Arts London, Central Saint Martin’s College - Co-Investigator: Professor
Rick Iedema, Centre for Team-based Practice & learning in Health Care,
Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London.
AMRSim: A
Microbial Reality Simulator
Microbial Reality Simulator
- Principal Investigator:
Professor Alastair Macdonald, The Glasgow School of Art, School of Design - Co-Investigator: Dr
Matthieu Poyade The Glasgow School of Art, School of Simulation and
Visualisation - Co-Investigator: Dr Filbert
Musau, The Glasgow School of Art, Mackintosh School of Architecture - Co-Investigator: Professor
Mark Chambers , University of Surrey , Veterinary Medicine & Science - Co-Investigator: Dr
Kayleigh Wyles , University of Surrey , Psychology - Co-Investigator: Professor
Roberto La Ragione , University of Surrey , Veterinary Medicine & Science - Fitzpatrick Referrals Ltd.