Mersey Marvels

Liverpool has a proud history of excellence in public health and infectious diseases research. Join TV’s Prof. Tom Solomon as he takes you on a whistle-stop tour of Liverpool, from the 1832 cholera pandemic in the slums of Liverpool, to our modern-day firsts in fighting emerging infections. Find out just what is special about Liverpool and why we are leading the way in tackling infectious diseases.

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever virus is one of the world’s most dangerous viruses, with a mortality rate of around 30%. It is spread by tick bites and there is currently no vaccine for this disease. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone has become acutely aware of what a lateral flow test is, with most people having used one at least once in the last 4 years. But how do they actually work? And what does it take to make one? In this talk we will explore how to make a lateral flow test and what happens when you try to make one for one of the world’s most dangerous viruses.

Digital media is everywhere, and often used to communicate important information to the masses. But what happens when information is distorted, either unintentionally or deliberately? What are the challenges that it brings to culture, politics, and everyday life?  And how do we address this, given the power of the big technology companies? Kay will be discussing how we can use digital itself – such as digital media, data analytics and AI – to help us research our digital society for public good, to ensure that communities can make informed decisions during times of extreme risk.