Innovative Solutions

We all have a blood group, the best known being the ABO and Rh blood groups.
Receiving a blood transfusion from a donor that is not compatible can cause a transfusion reaction or even death. 
We are looking to develop universal blood components that could be transfused to patients irrespective of their blood group. These components would help to improve the safety of transfusion by reducing the risk of a reaction, speeding up transfusions in emergency situations where the patients’ blood group may be unknown, and simplifying the blood supply chain and decision making in transfusion.

Eating enough protein is crucial for maintaining the health of our muscles, but does the type of protein we consume matter? Proteins derived from animal sources (meat, eggs, dairy etc.) were once thought to be superior compared to other protein sources in their ability to support muscle health and growth. However, with growing concerns around the environmental impact of animal-based proteins, are non-animal-based proteins the new way forward? Should we all be turning to algae, plant or dairy-alternative protein sources to support the health of our muscles? This talk aims to answer these questions, ultimately evaluating the importance of where our protein comes from for muscle health and growth.

Rosalind Baynham is a 3rd year PhD researcher in the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Birmingham. Rosalind’s PhD studentship is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and investigates how stress impacts health and the role of health behaviours in our body’s response to stress. Rosalind will talk about how the foods you eat during stress could be protective or detrimental to your cardiovascular health.