Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), part of Health Innovation Manchester, brings together world leading academic and NHS partners to drive health research forward.

The MAHSC Seminar Series showcases the great discovery and clinical science being undertaken within Manchester and its impact on the health of the local population.

The series gives a local platform to the nationally and internationally renowned scientists of MAHSC, to share their work with clinical, non-clinical and university colleagues but also crucially members of the wider community seeking insight into innovations in the delivery of healthcare.

It was just over a year ago that we first heard of a new coronavirus that would become a global pandemic. In Greater Manchester, we commenced one of the largest collaborative efforts to understand, collate, and disseminate evidence. The latest MAHSC seminar focused on demonstrating some of these activities and a call to arms for the future.

Prof Pam Vallely and Professor Paul Clapper helped to develop the Greater Manchester Testing strategy and started the seminar with an insight into COVID-19 testing in a presentation called: ‘SARS-CoV-2: A Virology Call to Arms’.

Prof Pam Vallely said: “Here in the North West we are really well placed to be a region where the fight against Covid and unfortunately likely future pandemics, can be lead.”

Other speakers presented from a variety of different backgrounds, contributing international ideas and perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers and topics included:
Dr Marcello Morciano – SARS-CoV-2: Effect on care homes
Dr Hui Guo – SARS-CoV-2: Testing times
Hannah Waterson and Greg Williams – SARS-CoV-2: A Global Perspective
Dr Omer Ali – SARS-CoV-2: Developing a Post-ICU service and Long COVID
Cath Wasiuk and Anne Clayson – SARS-CoV-2: Innovations in teaching and training during a global pandemic
Prof Kay Poulton – SARS-CoV-2: An Immunogenetics Call to Arms.