Covid-19 spread: Liverpool varsity partners industry on anti-viral technologies

SCIENTISTS at the University of Liverpool are developing new anti-viral technology that will limit the transmission of Covid-19 from touching contaminated surfaces in areas such as hospitals, train stations, restaurants and shops. 

Scientists at the University, as part of a local consortium, have been awarded three Innovate UK grants to develop new anti-viral technology that will limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) from touching contaminated surfaces in areas such as hospitals, train stations or restaurants and shops.

According to the University’s e-Alumni Newsletter for March 2021, the consortium involves researchers from the University’s Open Innovation Hub for Antimicrobial Surfaces alongside local industry and partners.

It will use Innovate UK funding to create anti-viral surfaces that will mitigate the potential of the virus to spread from surfaces that people come into regular contact with.

Covid-19 has proven to be particularly resilient and can remain active on plastic and glass surfaces for several days which poses a significant barrier to resuming public services, reopening hospitality and welcoming workers back to their offices.

The projects will target three main applications: anti-viral coatings to create reusable face visors and goggles with high optical performance; a transparent anti-viral touch screen coating for ticket machines used widely in public transport and healthcare; and a point-of-sale cleansing system for the retail sector to rapidly disinfect card readers after every use.

The University’s Open Innovation Hub for Antimicrobial Surfaces has a strong track record in surface science research and innovation and will use its extensive industrial partnerships and supply chains to develop these new smart anti-viral and anti-bacterial surface technologies.

The first two projects are in partnership with Gencoa Ltd and its supply chain, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and will involve end-users Northern Rail and Alder Hey while the final project is being developed with Biaccon Ltd supported by several collaborators including BIRA.

In a related development more than 500 students from the School of Medicine, including Maddie Boyers have offered support with the vaccination programme and other Covid efforts across the city.

Meanwhile, the university’s professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed has been named Chair of the Commission of Human Medicines (CHM).

The CHM provides independent expert advice to ministers on the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines. It is an advisory non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care.