Acute Paediatrics Research at Queen’s
Queen's dedicated researchers have been at the forefront of developing innovative treatment protocols, advancing our understanding of paediatric illnesses, and improving the quality of care for young patients facing acute medical conditions.
Their work not only contributes to the well-being of children but also shapes the future of paediatric medicine, ensuring that young patients receive the best possible care and support during critical moments in their health journeys.
Queen's University Belfast continues to be a leader in acute paediatrics research, making a lasting impact on the healthcare landscape for children and their families.
TREATMENT FOR PAEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
The Paediatric Research Group based at the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine includes academics and clinicians from across Northern Ireland. The Principal Investigators Dr Thomas Waterfield and Dr Helen Groves lead a programme of research focusing on paediatric infectious diseases.
Dr Waterfield’s current studies include the NIHR funded Empirical Antibiotics for Suspected UTI in Young infants (EASY) trial, comparing oral and parenteral antibiotics for urinary infections affecting young infants.
The Febrile Infants Diagnostic assessment and Outcome (FIDO) study investigates the best approach to assessment and treatment of suspected sepsis in young infants and several associated projects using multiple omics techniques to identify novel biomarkers of Paediatric Sepsis.
RESPIRATORY RESEARCH POST-PANDEMIC
Dr Groves's research studies include the INHALER cohort study examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on subsequent viral-wheeze and asthma development in young children and alongside Dr Waterfield is leading on the NI HSC R&D Division and Asthma + lung UK funded PRECISE study, which aims to investigate the role of point-of-care respiratory virus testing to direct corticosteroid use in preschool aged children with acute wheeze.
Dr Groves is also a co-investigator on the large pan-European, Canadian and US multi-centre CAR-CF trial which aims to characterise antibody responses to COVID-19 in children and adults with cystic fibrosis.
DISABILITIES AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS IN CHILDREN
Queen's has been at the forefront of research into disabilities, developmental disorders and autism in children, conducting groundbreaking studies that shed light on the underlying causes and effective interventions for these conditions.
- Stem Cell Discovery sheds lights on cause of developmental disorders
- Parenting a child with autism: Social work support
- Adaptation and resilience in families of individuals with down syndrome
- Research suggests deaf children more at risk of developing emotional wellbeing issues
- The Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of Interventions for Children with Visual Impairments
CHILD CENTRED TEACHING AND CARE
Clinical Academics within Queen’s Centre for Medical of Education (CME) and across the School of Medicine are involved in a wide range of clinical and educational scholarly activity. Through innovative and translational educational research, Queen’s proactively strives to help develop the next generation of high-quality compassionate and caring healthcare professionals.
- Children’s perspectives on using tablet computers in early years of school
- Participatory learning theories used to teach in play based practice
- An Exploration of the Child’s Experience of Staying in Hospital from the Perspectives of Children
- Queen’s students supporting children in care
- Patient and public involvement in paediatric medical education
CHILD CENTRED TEACHING AND CARE
- ‘I’m too busy to teach’. Tips for teaching when time is tight | ADC Education & Practice Edition (bmj.com)
- ‘I'm a doctor, not a teacher’: the roles and responsibilities of paediatricians in relation to education | ADC Education & Practice Edition (bmj.com)
- Addressing recruitment and retention in paediatrics: a pipeline to a brighter future
- Motivational interviewing: Teaching doctors the skills to address childhood obesity
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CHILD CENTRED TEACHING AND CARE
- Translational simulation in action: using simulation-based multidisciplinary teaching to introduce ward-level high-flow oxygen care in bronchiolitis - PMC (nih.gov)
- Enhancing perceptions of paediatrics and stimulating specialty recruitment using simulation - PMC (nih.gov)
- ACTup: advanced communication training simulation enhanced by actors trained in the Stanislavski system
- Familiarity with the clinical environment, achieved by priming, improves time to antibiotic administration in a simulated paediatric sepsis scenario: a randomised control trial
ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH AND YOUTH WORK
Researchers at Queen’s are committed to advancing knowledge of adolescent mental health, thus improving youth work, care and overall well-being, exploring strategies and interventions to support the psychological and emotional health of young individuals during a critical stage of their lives.
IMPACT OF COVID-19
Research at Queen's University Belfast is delving into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's paediatric care, examining how disruptions and changes in healthcare delivery have impacted the well-being and access to essential services for young patients.
- Neonatal nursing during the pandemic
- Transitioning to adulthood from residential childcare during COVID-19: Experiences of young people with intellectual disabilities
- Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children: A prospective multicentre cohort study
- Survey finds pandemic had a major impact on children’s experiences and rights
- Fifteen-minute consultation: A practical approach to remote consultations for paediatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Delayed Access and Uptake of Care for Children During Covid-19 – Irish Medical Journal (imj.ie)