The University of St Andrews has announced the establishment of two new Global Research Centres aimed at advancing knowledge and solutions in global health and climate change. One of these, the Centre for Neonatal Sepsis, will concentrate on the critical issue of neonatal sepsis a life-threatening infection affecting babies under 28 days old. This condition is a leading cause of infant mortality worldwide, accounting for around 5.1 million cases and more than 800,000 deaths annually, with the majority occurring in low- and middle-income countries where infections are often healthcare-associated and complicated by antimicrobial resistance.

The new interdisciplinary Global Research Centre will tackle neonatal sepsis in Scotland and Africa by uniting experts from the UK and Africa to develop innovative healthcare solutions that improve survival and outcomes for vulnerable newborns. Led by Professor Nicholas Feasey, Sir James Black Chair in Medicine at the University of St Andrews, the Centre will collaborate with local healthcare providers and draw on expertise across Medicine, Geography and Sustainable Development, Mathematics and Statistics, and Philosophy to create sustainable strategies for preventing neonatal sepsis, reflecting St. Andrews’ commitment to global health equity through international partnerships. Additionally, the University announced the launch of the Global Research Centre for Changing Climates, which will adopt an interdisciplinary approach to understand the complex challenges of climate change and develop solutions to address this urgent global issue.

As climate change increasingly affects both the environment and human societies, the centre will unite researchers from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities at St Andrews and internationally. It will explore interdisciplinary topics such as climate extremes and their effects on health and migration, the philosophy of climate science, and the impacts on ancient and historical societies. This comprehensive approach aims to position the University of St Andrews as a global leader in innovative, interdisciplinary climate research. Dr James Rae, Reader in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, noted, “The next 600 years of St Andrews’ history will unfold under a radically different climate. The university is uniquely positioned to integrate research across physical, economic, social, and cultural dimensions of changing climates to address this critical global challenge.

Source: https://news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/the-university-of-st-andrews-announces-two-new-global-research-centres/